Harry Blackstone, Jr.

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Harry Blackstone, Jr. (June 30, 1934 – May 14, 1997) was an American stage magician, author, and television performer.^[1]

He received the Magician of the Year Award in 1979 and 1985. He appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show, Donahue, The Today Show, Reading Rainbow, and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. His performances were also a regular feature in the Square One Television series on PBS.

Career and life

Blackstone was born in Three Rivers, Michigan, the son of noted stage magician Harry Blackstone, Sr. (also known as "The Great Blackstone").

As an infant, he was used in his father's act. Rather than utilize the routines his father developed, Blackstone developed his own and modernized his performance, though onstage he would on occasion perform a sequence of his father's illusions in a period setting

The Performing Arts Theater at Redlands East Valley High School is now named in his honor, and his widow, Gay Blackstone, is a former president of The Magic Castle in Hollywood.

In 1985, on the 100th anniversary of his father's birth, Harry Blackstone, Jr. donated to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. the original floating light bulb — Thomas Edison designed and built it — and the original Casadega Cabinet, used in the "Dancing Handkerchief" illusion. This was the first ever donation accepted by the Smithsonian in the field of magic.^[2]

Harry Blackstone, Jr. created four magic kits, from beginner to advanced, which were the best selling of all time.^[3]

It has been written that: "Perhaps his proudest work on television was his recurring role on PBS's Square One TV, where he used magic tricks to teach math to young people."^[4]

Death

Blackstone lived in Redlands, California for many years. He died May 14, 1997 in Loma Linda, California at the age of 62 due to complications arising from pancreatic cancer.

After his passing, much of his performance equipment was sold off in a highly publicized internet auction. Many of the pieces went to collectors, scattered across the world and numerous of the props have made it into actual shows. Las Vegas performer Scarlett now owns and uses his Topsy Turvy. Touring illusionist Aaron Balcom now uses the Owen-built Clown Jammer. Washington state performer John Walton uses his menacing Buzz Saw.

Books

• Blackstone, Harry, Jr., and Charles Reynolds and Regina Reynolds. The Blackstone Book of Magic and Illusion (1995) 248 pages. ISBN 1557041776; ISBN 978-1557041777. (New York: Newmarket Press, 2002). ISBN 1557044929
• Blackstone, Harry, Jr. There's One Born Every Minute (Los Angeles, Ca, U. S. A.: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc, 1976. Softcover. ISBN 0874773296, ISBN 0874770564.
• Blackstone, Harry, Jr. My Life As A Magician Paperback (Aladdin: 1992-05-01) ISBN 067164436X ISBN 9780671644369.
• He also re-edited his father's Blackstone's Secrets of Magic. Paperback ISBN 087980260X ISBN 978-0879802608 ^[2]

See also

• American Museum of Magic

References

External links

• Blackstone Magik, Inc., History of the Blackstones.
• Find a Grave, Harry Blackstone, Jr.
• Magic Web Channel, Magicians' Hall of Fame, Harry Blackstone, Jr.
• Youtube, Harry Blackstone Jr. performance.