Does magic really exist? Fortunately, we’re not here to discuss this particular topic, but rather the fact that there are some people who have managed to make quite a lot of people really believe that it exists, regardless of whether that’s true or not. Magic tricks have become a form of entertainment that continues to grow as more appalling numbers show up and more risks are taken. Famous magicians have managed to build whole careers based around this unique talent and they pride themselves with the ability to leave us petrified.
But magic isn’t something that was invented so people could have something amazing to show off on the stages of big X’s Got Talent. It’s been around for a while and, over the course of history, we’ve known some famous magicians that have made it to the history books. Should we call them history grimoires? No? No, we’ll stop.
#10 David Blaine
David Blaine is widely known for his numbers of street magic, increasingly popular in the last decade or so. The peak of his career, however, had to be the time he sat on top of a 100-foot high and 22-inches wide pole for a grand total of 35 hours. At the end of it all, he took a leap of faith to a landing platform made out of cardboard boxes. The bad news is that he suffered a concussion. The good news is that he was alright in the end.
#9 Siegfried and Roy
When we think of traditional magic tricks, we think of people like Siegfried and Roy. Although they are most commonly known for the numbers they perform with white tigers and lions, they’ve also managed to impress audiences with their unique takes on classic magic tricks. They’re some of the most famous magicians ever, especially curtsy of their title as “Magicians of the Century” in the early 2000’s.
#8 Dante
You know someone means business when there isn’t surname to accompany their name. Although unrelated to the Dante who lined up the nine circles of hell, he’s doing pretty well in terms of fame. He used to tour the world, uttering the now famous words “Sim Bala Sim” and, after his death in 1955, people proclaimed that along came the end of the Golden Age of Magic.
#7 Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin
Undeniably one of the most famous magicians and illusionists of 19th century France, Houdin became influential enough to urge the renowned Harry Houdini to pick his stage name in honor of the French magician. He essentially fathered modern type magic, which relied a lot of illusions and tricks that presumed the ability to read minds.
#6 Harry Blackstone
In the 20th century, he was considered to be the World’s Master Magician. Today, we say his influence stretches even further, especially when you think about the fact that he came up with some of the most famous magic tricks. The super popular “sawing in half” and “vanishing cage” tricks? You can all thank Harry Blackstone for them.
#5 Penn and Teller
There was a time when magic was all about being dramatic and surprising, but the trend of comedic magic was starting to develop and to grow. Today, it’s a very popular form of magic shows and perhaps the best examples of this style are Penn and Teller.
#4 Lance Burton
Owner of two “Magician of the Year” titles, Lance Burton’s most impressive deed was when he managed to break out of the tracks of the Desperado, one of the tallest and speediest roller coasters in the USA. There was something completely risky there, make no mistake, as he made it by merely a few moments.
#3 Criss Angel
The list of accomplishments that might make your jaw drop performed by Angel is quite the lengthy one. One of his biggest tricks involved being chained underwater in a tank for 24 hours straight. He holds multiple titles and records, including a Guinness World Records Book one for managing to make 100 people disappear at once for a trick.
#2 Harry Houdini
A name pretty much equivalent to magic, Harry Houdini made the world stand still with his groundbreaking tricks and performances, most of which involved escaping from bounds, ropes, chains, and other inaccessible places. He once sued a police officer who’d claimed he’d helped him with a trick. Houdini won by opening the judge’s safe.
#1 David Copperfield
Commercially speaking, Copperfield is one of the most famous magicians, as well as one of the biggest commercial successes. The peak of his career had to be the time he managed to make the entirety of the Statue of Liberty disappear and reappear in front of live TV and a massive audience.
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