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


Early life

Blackstone was born in Three Rivers,
Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
, 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.


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. In the early 1970s, he promoted a "PF Magic Wedge Kit" on a television commercial for
PF Flyers PF Flyers is an American brand of lifestyle shoes owned by Kassia Designs, LLC. Founded in 1937 by B.F. Goodrich, it is one of the original American sneaker brands. History In 1933, inventor Hyman L. Witman and rubber manufacturing company ...
sneakers, and he appeared on several commercials for
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popcorn. In 1985, on the 100th anniversary of his father's birth, Blackstone donated to the
Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...
in Washington, D.C. the original floating light bulb – designed and built by
Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventi ...
– 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. Blackstone appeared as a guest on ''
The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...
'', ''
Donahue Donahue is the Americanized version of Irish surname Donohoe, which, in turn, is an Anglicized version of the ancient Irish name "Donnchadh" (sometimes "Donncha"). Donncha was a common “first name” in 9th Century Ireland, and when the use of ...
'', ''
The Today Show ''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'' or informally, ''NBC News Today'') is an American news and talk morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It ...
'', ''
Reading Rainbow ''Reading Rainbow'' is an American educational children's television series that originally aired on PBS and afterwards PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go! from July 11, 1983 to November 10, 2006, with reruns continuing to air until August 28, 2009. 155 ...
'' and ''
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''. He also made occasional appearances as the mysterious Dr. Mephisto on the TV soap opera '' Santa Barbara'' and as fictitious magician Marcus the Magnificent on
Hart to Hart ''Hart to Hart'' is an American mystery television series that premiered on August 25, 1979, on ABC. The show stars Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, respectively, a wealthy couple who lead a glamorous jetset life ...
in 1981. Of his several TV specials, the
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two-hour special was unique due to the intros by some of
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. Blackstone's "Backstage with Blackstone" appearances on PBS's ''
Square One TV ''Square One Television'' (sometimes referred to as ''Square One'' or ''Square One TV'') is an American children's television program produced by the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) to teach mathematics and abstract ...
'', where he used magic tricks to teach mathematics to young people, was a favorite of his. He was a regular host of ''
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'' in the 1980s. Blackstone designed the illusions used on
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's water show featuring the
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superheroes. They included
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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 Wonder Woman is a superhero created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (pen name: Charles Moulton), and artist Harry G. Peter. Marston's wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byr ...
. Blackstone and his wife Gay created and produced the special effects for "
The Magic Summer Tour The Magic Summer Tour was the second major concert tour by American boy band, the New Kids on the Block. The tour supported their fourth studio album, '' Step by Step'' (1990) and their first compilation album, '' No More Games (The Remix Album) ...
" for
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, as well as their "No More Games Tour". He also did special effects for
Alice Cooper Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guillot ...
,
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
("The Victory Tour"),
Earth, Wind and Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million reco ...
, and
Jane's Addiction Jane's Addiction is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1985. The band consists of vocalist Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery. Jane's Addiction was one of the first bands fr ...
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. It opened in May 1980, and played 118 performances. Blackstone received the
Academy of Magical Arts The Magic Castle is a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It is in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California and it bills itself as "the most unusual private club in t ...
Magician of the Year Award in 1979 and 1985. He 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. He died on May 14, 1997, in Loma Linda, California at the age of 62 due to pancreatic cancer. After his death, much of his performance equipment was sold off in two highly publicized auctions held by
Sotheby's Sotheby's () is a British-founded American multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, an ...
and Darien Julian. Many of the pieces went to collectors scattered across the world, and numerous props have made it into actual shows. Las Vegas performer Scarlett now owns and uses his Topsy Turvy.
David Copperfield ''David Copperfield'' Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work, see is a novel in the bildungsroman genre by Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from inf ...
houses the Tire Vanish (performed by Harry Blackstone Sr.) in his museum of magic. Touring illusionist Aaron Balcom uses the Owen-built Clown Jammer. Washington state performer John Walton uses his menacing Buzz Saw. Dutch
illusionist Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It ...
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 be protected as intellectual property.) The Performing Arts Theater at
Redlands East Valley High School Redlands East Valley High School is a public English medium co-educational high school in Redlands, California, United States, near the San Bernardino Mountains. The school opened in the 1997-1998 school year as part of the Redlands Unified Sc ...
is named in his honor. His third wife and widow,
Gay Blackstone Gay Blackstone (born March 27, 1952) is an American television and stage producer, director, consultant, lecturer and author. She was president of the Academy of Magical Arts and was named one of "2007 Hollywood's Women of Distinction" by the Holl ...
, is the former president of
The Magic Castle The Magic Castle is a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It is in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California and it bills itself as "the most unusual private club in t ...
in Hollywood. Their daughter Bellamie is a television producer; Harry and Gay's other children include son Harry Bouton Blackstone III. Gay Blackstone appeared in the season 10 episode 14 ''
Pawn Stars ''Pawn Stars'' is an American reality television series shown on History and produced by Leftfield Pictures. The series is filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it chronicles the daily activities at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, a 24 ...
'' episode "Tricky Ricky," in 2014, and sold a vanishing birdcage prop used by both Harry Sr. and Harry Jr. to
Rick Harrison Richard Kevin Harrison (born March 22, 1965) is an American businessman, reality television personality, and owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop which is featured on the History series ''Pawn Stars''. Harrison and his father, Richard Benjamin ...
for $2,600.


Books

* Blackstone, Harry Jr., and Charles Reynolds and Regina Reynolds. ''The Blackstone Book of Magic and Illusion'' (1995) 248 pages. . (New York: Newmarket Press, 2002). * Blackstone, Harry Jr. ''There's One Born Every Minute'' Los Angeles, Calif.: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc, 1976. Softcover. . * Blackstone, Harry Jr. ''My Life As A Magician'' Paperback (Aladdin: 1992-05-01) . * He also re-edited his father's ''Blackstone's Secrets of Magic''. Paperback


References


External links


Blackstone Magik, Inc., History of the Blackstones
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Blackstone, Harry Jr. 1934 births 1997 deaths American magicians People from Three Rivers, Michigan People from Loma Linda, California University of Southern California alumni Deaths from pancreatic cancer Deaths from cancer in California Academy of Magical Arts Magician of the Year winners Academy of Magical Arts Masters Fellowship winners Academy of Magical Arts Performing Fellowship winners