Harry Blackstone, Sr.

Harry Blackstone, Sr. (born September 27, 1885, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died November 16, 1965, Hollywood, California) was an American magician who entertained audiences at the turn of the 20th century and into the 1950s. Nicknamed the Great Blackstone, he was noted for performing the dancing handkerchief, the vanishing birdcage, and the floating light bulb (see magic).

(Read Harry Houdini’s 1926 Britannica essay on magic.)

Blackstone was born in Chicago. He received a magic trick for his eighth birthday and quickly became enamoured with the artistry of illusion and sleight of hand. When Blackstone was 14 years old, he had his first paying performance.

In 1904 Blackstone and his brother, Pete, created a vaudeville act called Straight and Crooked Magic, a comedy and magic show. The two were highly successful and began touring throughout the United States after changing their name to Fredrik, the Great and Company. That name, which was reminiscent of the Prussian ruler Frederick the Great, took on negative connotations with the outbreak of World War I, and Blackstone began performing as Blackstone the Magician, with his brother as his manager. He continued to tour for more than three decades and was among the last of the great magicians.

Blackstone, who often wore a white bow tie and black coattails while performing, toured as part of the United Service Organizations (USO) shows during World War II. He retired from touring in the 1950s, remaining in Hollywood, where he appeared on various television variety shows. His son, Harry Blackstone, Jr. (1934–97), was also a famous magician.