Harry Blackstone Jr.

Harry Bouton Blackstone Jr. (June 30, 1934 – May 14, 1997) was an American stage magician, author, and television performer.^[2] He is estimated to have pulled 80,000 rabbits from his sleeves and hats. ^[3]

Early 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 as a prop in his father's act.^[4]

Career

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.

Blackstone created four levels (beginner to advanced) of magic kits that were the best selling in the field.^[5] In the early 1970s, he promoted a "PF Magic Wedge Kit" on a television commercial for PF Flyers sneakers,^[6] and he appeared on several commercials for Jiffy Pop popcorn.

Harry Blackstone Jr., Pittsburgh, 1981

In 1985, on the 100th anniversary of his father's birth, Blackstone donated to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. the original floating light bulb — designed and built by Thomas Edison — and the original Casadega Cabinet, used in the "Dancing Handkerchief" illusion. This was the first donation accepted by the Smithsonian in the field of magic.^[7]

Blackstone appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show, Donahue, The Today Show, Reading Rainbow and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. He also made occasional appearances as the mysterious Dr. Mephisto on the TV soap opera Santa Barbara. Of his several TV specials the PBS two-hour special was unique due to the intros by some of The Muppets. Blackstone's PBS Square One TV, where he used magic tricks to teach mathematics to young people was a favorite of his.^[8] His recurring segment was known as "Backstage with Blackstone."

Blackstone also designed the illusions used on SeaWorld's water show featuring the DC Comics super heroes. They included The Joker cutting Batgirl up into multiple pieces, a variation of a classic multi-box illusion, and the first use in many years of the Jarrett pedestal to vanish Wonder Woman.

Blackstone and his wife Gay created and produced the special effects for "The Magic Summer Tour" for New Kids on The Block, as well as their "No More Games Tour". He also did special effects for Alice Cooper, Michael Jackson ("The Victory Tour"), Earth, Wind and Fire, and Jane's Addiction with Perry Farrell.

During his career, Blackstone toured the U.S. extensively. Notably, his Magnificent Musical Magic Show played in 156 U.S. cities and Broadway opening in May 1980, where it played 118 performances.^[9]

Blackstone received the Academy of Magical Arts Magician of the Year Award in 1979 and 1985.^[1] Blackstone performed at the prestigious FBI National Academy Association retrainer session in Chicago in 1980 where he was the featured performer at the formal closing banquet. At the time of his death he was the most highly awarded magician of all time.

Death and legacy

Blackstone lived in Redlands, California.^[10][11] He died May 14, 1997 in Loma Linda, California at the age of 62 due to pancreatic cancer.^[1] After his death, much of his performance equipment was sold off in two highly publicized auctions held by Sotheby's and Darien Julian. 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. David Copperfield houses the Tire Vanish (performed by Harry Blackstone Sr.) in his museum of magic. Touring illusionist Aaron Balcom now uses the Owen-built Clown Jammer. Washington state performer John Walton uses his menacing Buzz Saw. Dutch illusionist Hans Klok and Darren Romeo perform the famous "Blackstone Floating Light Bulb" illusion under a licensing agreement with Blackstone Magik Enterprises Inc. It is one of only two magic illusions to have Intellectual Properties.^[12]

The Performing Arts Theater at Redlands East Valley High School is now named in his honor.^[13][14] His widow, Gay Blackstone, is the former president of The Magic Castle in Hollywood.^[15]

Gay Blackstone appeared in the season 8 Pawn Stars episode "Tricky Ricky," in 2014, and sold a vanishing birdcage prop used by both Harry Sr. and Harry Jr. to Rick Harrison for $2,600.

Books

• Blackstone, Harry, Jr., and Charles Reynolds and Regina Reynolds. The Blackstone Book of Magic and Illusion (1995) 248 pages. ISBN 1-55704-177-6; ISBN 978-1-55704-177-7. (New York: Newmarket Press, 2002). ISBN 1-55704-492-9
• Blackstone, Harry, Jr. There's One Born Every Minute (Los Angeles, Ca, U. S. A.: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc, 1976. Softcover. ISBN 0-87477-329-6, ISBN 0-87477-056-4.
• Blackstone, Harry, Jr. My Life As A Magician Paperback (Aladdin: 1992-05-01) ISBN 0-671-64436-X ISBN 9780671644369.
• He also re-edited his father's Blackstone's Secrets of Magic. Paperback ISBN 0-87980-260-X ISBN 978-0879802608 ^[7]

References

External links

• Blackstone Magik, Inc., History of the Blackstones.
• "Harry Blackstone, Jr". Magician, Educator, and Author. Find a Grave. May 24, 2001. Retrieved August 17, 2011. 
• Harry Blackstone Jr. performance on YouTube.