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David Blaine puts on magic show for dangerous inmates

Daredevil magician David Blaine dazzled a packed house at a Manhattan show with his illusions, card tricks and the timeless yanking a rabbit out of a hat.

But the spectators were not the usual theatergoers shelling out more than $100 a pop for tickets.

The escape artist performed his Houdini-like tricks for some of the city’s most dangerous inmates, who were treated to the show by the Department of Correction, The Post has learned.

“How the hell does a killer get to watch a rabbit get pulled out of a hat?” a source asked of the hour-long show for high-security inmates on the sixth floor of the Manhattan Detention Complex, known as The Tombs.

One inmate had the illusionist autograph copies of his court papers. Another asked if he could use his powers to make the bars disappear from their cells, the source said.

Even rival Bloods and Crips members were able to find common ground in cheering loudly and acting as assistants for Blaine, the source added.

“He was levitating and teasing inmates with tricks on how to break out of here,” said one guard. “You know that isn’t happening.”

Some correction officers said they are more deserving of a show by Blaine, who in 2006 performed for prisoners in Louisiana and Arizona, than are the hardened criminals they watch over.

“I wish David Blaine would perform for us. I love that man. Besides, I think we deserve it more than them, don’t you think?” said one guard.

Sixty inmates attended the show on July 26, which Blaine performed for free, a department representative said.

“The Department of Correction uses positive reinforcement as one of many strategies to reduce inmate idleness and improve facility safety,” the rep said.

“Inmates who attended this event were being rewarded for good behavior.”

Those prisoners did not include the “worst of the worst” from the 9 South unit at The Tombs. On Monday, The Post reported that guards cater to prisoners in that unit, known as the “VIP Room.”