Harry Blackstone, Sr.
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Harry Blackstone (September 27, 1885 - November 16, 1965) was a famed magician. Blackstone was born Harry Bouton, and was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He began his career as a magician in his teens and was popular through World War II as a USO entertainer. He was often billed as The Great Blackstone. His son Harry Blackstone, Jr. also became a magician.
Blackstone spent the last years of his life performing at The Magic Castle, a magical attraction in Hollywood, California. He died in November 1965 at the age of 80. He was interred close to his former home in Colon, Michigan where the main street was renamed Blackstone Avenue in his honor.
Books carrying Harry Blackstone's byline were ghostwritten for him by his friend, Walter B. Gibson, who also created, in 1941, the comic book Blackstone the Magician Detective and the 1948-49 radio series, Blackstone, the Magic Detective.
In the Cartoon Network animated series Totally Spies, there is a villain named Bluestone the Great, who pretended to disappear for years in order to steal back his priceless relics once he was gone. The character is likely based on Blackstone due to his magical theme and the similarity in name.
