Shirk, Bill
William "Bill" Shirk Poorman (born 1945) is a retired American escape artist, actor, entrepreneur, and longtime Indianapolis radio personality. He uses his middle name (also his mother's maiden name), Shirk, as his professional surname. He is frequently billed as the "Modern Day Houdini" for his elaborate and death-defying stunts. Between 1976 and 1980, Poorman set eight world records, including the fastest escape from a straitjacket and the fastest jail break. His work as an escape artist inspired him to write, produce, and star as a fictionalized version of himself in the 1983 film "The Escapist". This collection contains material related to the production of "The Escapist" and Poorman's career as an escape artist.