“David Blaine is the greatest magician who ever lived.” Howard Stern made that on-air proclamation, a sentiment echoed by Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller, who referred to Blaine’s Street Magic as “the best TV magic special ever done.” Blaine was just twenty- three when Street Magic first aired on ABC, transforming televised magic by turning the camera on the audience. Spectators at home could feel the visceral reaction of people being astonished. The New York Times went on to declare that Blaine had “taken a craft that’s been around for hundreds of years and done something unique and fresh with it,” while The New Yorker prominently stated “he saved magic.” LIVE STUNTS “Buried Alive,” Blaine’s first live stunt, was a feat even Houdini was unable to do in his lifetime. Entombed in an underground plastic box beneath a three ton water tank for seven days with no food and little water, Blaine would draw strength from the 75,000 visitors who came to the event beside the Hudson River, topping foot traffic at both the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty combined. Upon emerging Blaine remarked, “I saw a vision of every race, religion, and age group banding together.” LIVE ON STAGE In 2014, having revolutionized modern magic and mesmerized audiences worldwide for nearly 20 years, Blaine embarked on his first-ever live tour. It was his dream to put everything he worked for into one show. With a death-defying stunt and series of jaw-dropping magic effects, he marked his Middle East debut with a show at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace. On May 30th 2017, David launched his first-ever North American tour, of 40 cities, beginning in San Diego, CA. It was an unforgettable interactive experience that both shocked and amused. An experiment in and of itself, the tour evolved as it moved across the country as David Blaine continued to push the limits and attempted new feats for the first time live in front of his audiences. In 2019, Blaine announced his first-ever tour of the UK and Ireland, the ‘Real or Magic’ tour which received rave reviews. “David Blaine is arguably the best magician currently living on this planet” said Charlie Wilks writing for broadwayworld.com. He went on to say “the evening feels like a once in a lifetime experience. If Blaine ever performs again, beg, borrow or steal to get a ticket.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Collection is hosted by Brad Gilmore.

A production of Gilmore Media LLC.© 2025 Gilmore Media LLC. All rights reserved.

For inquiries, contact Brad at [email protected] or visit bradgilmore.net.

Brad Gilmore is a Houston-based multimedia personality, author, and producer who has built a career at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and storytelling. Known to fans as The BOAT (“Best of All Time”), Brad has hosted and produced programming across ESPN Radio, CW39 Houston, and Reality of Wrestling alongside WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.He is the creator and host of The Collection, a podcast where he sits down with some of the most influential figures in film, television, and music. Brad is also an accomplished author, with forthcoming titles including Why We Love Back to the Future: 40 Years of Fandom, Flux Capacitors, and Timeless Adventures (Mango Publishing, 2025). His interviews, live events, and media work reflect his passion for pop culture and his gift for making conversations both insightful and entertaining.Beyond the microphone, Brad is committed to building platforms that spotlight creativity, amplify voices, and connect communities through media.