Harry Blackstone, Jr.

Harry Blackstone Jr.
Blackstone in 1976.
Born	Harry Blackstone Jr. (1934-06-30)June 30, 1934 Three Rivers, Michigan, USA
Died	May 14, 1997(1997-05-14) (aged 62) Loma Linda, California
Occupation	Magician
Predecessor	Harry Blackstone Sr.
Spouse(s)	Gay Blackstone
Children	4

Harry Blackstone Jr. (June 30, 1934 – May 14, 1997) was an American stage magician, author, and television performer.

Blackstone was born Harry Bouton Blackstone Jr. 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.

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 sneakers, and he appeared on several commercials for Jiffy Pop popcorn.

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.

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. His recurring segment was known as "Backstage with Blackstone."