........ By TIKVAH FEINSTEIN . . ..................Times staff . ........ .....Almost everyone has heard the loud ech-oing clank of a jail cell being slammed shut -as they sit in the audience of a movie theater..................................... . ......Few experiences could be as shat- tering as having a barred door shut on a tint steel and concrete cell and being left inside, the key turning in the lock. Once that cell door is locked, it's locked until the police officer opens it. Right? . .................. ......As far as Coraopalis Police Chief Howard White was concerned, right. He even placed a $5 bet that his jail was escape proof. Because Harry Houdini hadn't been on the scene for 38 years and only a few individuals in the world are capable of pulling off a jail-escape caper, he felt it was a safe bet. So did mayor Joseph DiVito. . .....Wrong. Pittsburgh magician Jay Leslie proved saturday that Houdini's secrets didn't die with him and the Coraopolis jail isn't escape proof, although he doesn't rec-commed anyone else visiting the place.. .....Forty-five minutes after Jay Leslie was locked in Coraopolis jail call number four, striped except for swim trunks, his clothes locked in another cell, subjected to a thorough body search by chief white, the magician was out. So were the mayor and the chief -out Five dollars each. ....... ......Leslie appeared nervous outside the Coraopolis Municipal Building as time for the event neared and the crowd peaked. Leslie predicted that he could "most prob- ably" break out. it was his first attempt. . ......When I perform this people will say "It's impossible." - but he did it. hopefully people will take that feeling with them and perhaps go on to try something impossible themselves". ................................. ......He covered the camera in the cell block with a towel, hung a canvas across the hall of the police department, asking people to stay back seven feet so the secret wouldn't be revealed. leslie was escorted into the cell with his hands restrained behind his back. The door was slammed shut. The bystanders waited and waited. ......Twenty minutes later a clank was heard from behind the canvas. "maybe it's the door" someone said. One-half hour...still no word. Silence. Thirty five minutes, another clunk was heard . . ......Five minutes after that, hands and arms bruised, the magician appeared with fifteen minutes left on the hour he'd given himself to escape. He was fully clothed, his hair dampened by perspiration but his expression triumphant. "It was much harder then I expected". Leslie told the crowd as the officials dug for their wallets. ......In the prison block the chief got another surprise: four automobile tires and three cases of soda pop which had been locked in a different cell were piled neatly on the floor of yet a third different cell, number four. ......White wants to know how three prison cells were opened, but Leslie isn't saying. ......Leslie did say however that secrets are bought and sold to other magicians. We wonder how much a prisoner would pay for this one?

Only a handfull of people in the world can claim success at the ultimate challange escape.
Jay Leslie is one of them.

In a motivational speech titled "Impossibilities", Jay inspires people of all ages to break out of their mold. Impossible escapes and other thought provoking stunts captivate their attention. Tricks of a magical nature inspire the audience to use critical thinking. Jay reveals the greatest secret in life, how to be successful. By adopting the principles of successful people Jay has become successful and will demonstrate the same can be done for anyone with the desire to achieve.

For more details call (714) 847•5311
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