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EspañolHARRY BLACKSTONE, SR.
'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 was in the mode of courtly elegant predecessor magicians like Howard Thurston and Harry Kellar. He often wore white tie and tails when performing, and he traveled with large illusions and a sizable cast of uniformed male and female assistants. For a number of years he toured in the midwest, often performing throughout the day between film showings.
Blackstone remained silent during much of his big stage show, which was presented to the accompaniement of a pit orchestra and such lively tunes of the time as "Who," "I Know That You Know," and "Chinatown."
Among his especially effective illusions was one in which a woman lying on a couch and covered with a gossamer shroud appeared to float high in the air and then vanish, as Blackstone pulled off the covering. In another illusion, a woman standing in a cabinet in front of many bright elongated incadescent light bulbs seemed to be pierced by them when the perforated front of the cabinet was thrust back and the bulbs pushed through (to the accompaniment of her dramatic scream). His "Sawing a Woman in Half," involved an enormous and noisy electric circular saw.
In a gentler turn was his "Vanishing Bird Cage," an effect in which a score or more of children were invited to join him on the stage and all "put their hands on" a tiny cage holding a canary. Blackstone lowered the cage and then seemed to toss it into the air: bird and cage "disappearing" in the process.
Among his lovelier effects was "The Garden of Flowers," in which countless bouquets of brilliant feather flowers appeared from under a foulard and on tables and stands until the stage was a riot of color. "The Floating Light Bulb," was perhaps his signature piece. In a darkened theatre, Blackstone would take a lighted bulb from a lamp and float it, still glowing, through a small hoop. He would then come down from the stage and the lamp would float out over the heads of the audience.
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.
★ Harry Blackstone and Colon, Michigan
★ "The Magic Capital of the World" by Patrick West
★ Magic Web Channel: Harry Blackstone
★ Find A Grave: Harry Blackstone
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 was in the mode of courtly elegant predecessor magicians like Howard Thurston and Harry Kellar. He often wore white tie and tails when performing, and he traveled with large illusions and a sizable cast of uniformed male and female assistants. For a number of years he toured in the midwest, often performing throughout the day between film showings.
Blackstone remained silent during much of his big stage show, which was presented to the accompaniement of a pit orchestra and such lively tunes of the time as "Who," "I Know That You Know," and "Chinatown."
Among his especially effective illusions was one in which a woman lying on a couch and covered with a gossamer shroud appeared to float high in the air and then vanish, as Blackstone pulled off the covering. In another illusion, a woman standing in a cabinet in front of many bright elongated incadescent light bulbs seemed to be pierced by them when the perforated front of the cabinet was thrust back and the bulbs pushed through (to the accompaniment of her dramatic scream). His "Sawing a Woman in Half," involved an enormous and noisy electric circular saw.
In a gentler turn was his "Vanishing Bird Cage," an effect in which a score or more of children were invited to join him on the stage and all "put their hands on" a tiny cage holding a canary. Blackstone lowered the cage and then seemed to toss it into the air: bird and cage "disappearing" in the process.
Among his lovelier effects was "The Garden of Flowers," in which countless bouquets of brilliant feather flowers appeared from under a foulard and on tables and stands until the stage was a riot of color. "The Floating Light Bulb," was perhaps his signature piece. In a darkened theatre, Blackstone would take a lighted bulb from a lamp and float it, still glowing, through a small hoop. He would then come down from the stage and the lamp would float out over the heads of the audience.
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.
| Contents |
| External links |
External links
★ Harry Blackstone and Colon, Michigan
★ "The Magic Capital of the World" by Patrick West
★ Magic Web Channel: Harry Blackstone
★ Find A Grave: Harry Blackstone
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