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"Harry Blackstone," says Calvin Trillin in The New Yorker, "is
regarded as one of the finest magicians in the country - the leading example of
the formal tradition of grand illusion." Today, Harry Blackstone Jr. passed
away, however his magic remains in our hearts and minds....
Every time Harry Blackstone stepped on stage for a performance, he brought with
him the legacy of an American theatrical tradition that dated back over a
century. Harry Blackstone was the gifted son and professional heir of The Great
Blackstone, America's legendary creative magical genius who led the art of stage
magic and illusion to heights never achieved before his era. The son did a great
deal more than merely following in his father's footsteps. Harry Blackstone was
an author, an actor, an inventor, a casino showroom headliner, a TV personality,
a teacher, a father, and the creator and performer of the longest running magic
and illusion show ever to play Broadway.
No magician in history has been more honored by his peers than Harry Blackstone.
In March, 1994, Harry Blackstone was named a recipient of the prestigious
Masters Fellowship, presented by the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences. Named
'The Magician of the Year" in 1979 and 1985 by the Academy of Magical Arts,
Harry was the "International Ambassador of Magic" for both the Society
of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magic. He and his
wife, Gay, are Honorary Life Members of the Academy of Magical Arts at the
Hollywood Magic Castle. He was also the recipient of the coveted "Star of
Magic" an honor bestowed to only 11 other magicians in history, including
his father. On June 12, 1994 Harry was made an honorary member of the
International College of Surgeons. Since the College's founding in 1936, there
have been only 14 other honorary members including one other from the
entertainment- industry, Bob Hope.
Born in Colon, Michigan, "The Magic Capitol of the World", Harry's
career in magic began at the age of six months, appearing and disappearing in
his father's Illusions. Under the master's watchful eye, young Harry grew up
learning the elements of his exacting craft. He performed such world-famous
Illusions as The Floating Light Bulb, The Vanishing Birdcage, The Dancing
Handkerchief, and the frightening Buzzsaw, all of which he learned and perfected
with his father's guidance and encouragement.
Far from satisfied with repeating the feats of his father, Harry developed
the art of magic into something both uniquely and arrestingly modern, injecting
not merely innovation, but transcending the stage barrier to touch his audiences
with a presentation that was not only reverent of the past, but very much of the
present, of the future and of his own creation. As he had put it, "What I
am undertaking is the challenging, but delightful task of bringing this
magnificent art to even higher levels, building on what has gone before,
injecting a modern, innovative presentation that is very much of the present, of
the future and of my own creation."
Harry proved the popularity of this modern approach in 1980, when after touring
the U.S. and setting box office records in 16 major cities, he arrived at the
Majestic Theater on Broadway, where to unanimous rave reviews he presented the
longest running magic and illusion show in the history of the New York theater.
His show continued to receive rave reviews and standing room only audiences in
its world-wide tours, most recently performing in Manila, Philippines during
December, 1990; Lausanne, Switzerland in July, 1991; Madrid, Spain, in May, 1992
and Buenos Aires, Argentina, in June, 1992.
Harry then set his sights on television. He starred in three of his own magic
specials (one for PBS and two for HBO). He has also appeared as a guest on
numerous other television shows such as "Donahue," "The Today
Show," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Tonight Show Starring
Johnny Carson," "The Arsenio Hall Show," "The Smothers
Brothers Comedy Hour," the NBC pilot of "Mandrake, the Magician,"
"The New Mickey Mouse Club" and "Hart to Hart."
Harry has also appeared on international television in the BBC's "The
Children's Royal Variety Gala" from London; "The Blackstone Family TV
Special" for NTV-Japan; "Sabado Noche" and "The Juan Tamariz
Show" from Madrid, Spain, and Thames TV's "The Best of Magic."
And in November, 1991, he hosted the "International Magic Awards," a
two-hour television special originating in five countries on three continents
and seen by half a billion people worldwide. But if you had asked him which were
his favorites, he would have mentioned two: his role as "Dr. Mephisto"
on the NBC-TV daytime drama "Santa Barbara," and his recurring segment
"Backstage With Blackstone," where he taught conceptual mathematics
through magic to viewers on the daily PBS series "Square One TV." This
show was nominated for a 1991 Emmy.
When it came to performing live, Harry Blackstone's versatility and
inventiveness allowed him to be equally comfortable in such diverse settings as
China, appearing with the Shanghai Circus; and on stage at the Tropicana Hotel
in Atlantic City, where reviewers unanimously proclaimed his 90-minute magic
review the Show Of the Year."
To unanimous critical acclaim, Blackstone continued to present his unique
"Magic of Music and Music of Magic" in symphonic halls throughout the
country. This performance was an examination of the four thousand year history
of mystery, with live illusions, full stage graphics and an entire symphony
orchestra.
Away from the bright lights, Harry continued to meet with success in a broad
spectrum of entertainment-related careers. In 1985 he was honored as
"Speaker of the Year" by the International Platform Association. He
co-authored three books (The Blackstone Book of Magic and Illusion, There's One
Born Every Minute and My Life As A Magician released in the summer of 1991 and
re-edited his father's Blackstone's Secrets of Magic.
Blackstone designed and inaugurated a line of four magic kits, "The Magic
World of Blackstone" (manufactured by Pressman Toys), for beginners to
advanced, which have become the-largest-selling magic items in U.S. history. In
1990, an additional line of beginning, intermediate, and advanced magic items
were released (by JAK-PAK INC.) both in the U. S. and overseas.
In 1990, Blackstone designed and produced magic illusions and special effects
for the New Kids on the Block "Magic Summer Tour" and subsequent
"No More Games Tour." Over three million new fans in 70 cities saw the
magic of Blackstone for the first time. Currently, the U.S and international
tours of the Reggae star, Shabba Ranks, feature Magic by Blackstone.
Harry's most recent return to Broadway was in conjunction with "The Boys
Choir of Harlem and Friends on Broadway," "This was a unique
opportunity in every sense," said Blackstone. Blackstone not only created
illusions specific to the show but was one of several guest performers,
including Michael Bolton, Phylicia Rashad, Jazz great, Kenny Burrell and members
of the Metropolitan Opera.
In 1985, on the 100th anniversary of his father's birth, Harry donated the
original floating light bulb, designed and built by Thomas Edison, and the
original Casadega Cabinet, used in his father's "The Spirit
Handkerchief" illusion to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D C..
It was the first ever donation in the field of magic accepted by the
Smithsonian.
Harry always had a love of education and knowledge. He attended Swarthmore
University in Pennsylvania and after a three year tour of duty with the U.S.
Army in Korea, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from
University of Southern California. Harry later attended the University of Texas
for graduate work in theater and broadcasting. In May, 1993, Harry dedicated the
Blackstone Theater Collection in honor of Harry B. Blackstone III at California
State University, San Bernardino.
Through his magic, Harry Blacktone Jr. touched the lives of millions of people
around the world. ... and now, his legend lives on in our hearts. Here's to
Harry Blackstone Jr. - May 14, 1997