Harry Blackstone, Jr. (June 30 1934 – May 14 1997) was an American stage magician, author, and television performer. He received the Magician of the Year Award in 1979 and 1985. He appeared as a guest on the The Tonight Show, Donahue, The Today Show, and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. His performances were also a regular feature in the Square One Television series on PBS. He was born 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 in his father's act. Rather than utilize the routines his father developed, Blackstone developed his own and modernized his performance. He famously performed during the half-time show at the 1987 Orange Bowl, in which many parts of the act went horribly wrong. Four of the five tricks Blackstone performed failed due to missed cues and poorly designed props. Blackstone lived in Redlands, California for many years. He died May 14 1997 in Loma Linda, California, aged 62, due to complications arising from pancreatic cancer. The Performing Arts Theater at Redlands East Valley High School is now named in his honor, and his widow, Gay Blackstone, is the current president (as of 2006) of the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
