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Illusion77 Elite user 453 Posts 
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I was wondering if anyone had memories of Harry Blackstone Jr's smaller tour from the early 1980's, where he played night club type of venues with more of a one man show. I'd love to know more about this show, it's style, and if anyone has any set lists or information on the material he presented. Thanks.
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Stanyon Inner circle Landrum, S.C. by way of Chicago 3439 Posts
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From what I remember seeing Harry and Gay at the Pfister Hotel's Polaris Room in Milwaukee, Wi. and the Playboy Club in Chicago, Il., here we go:
Always lead off with the Vanishing Birdcage. Then there was (in no particular order) Zig-Zag Girl, Invisible/Brainwave Deck, Untying and Dancing Handkerchief, Floating Light Bulb, Mental Epic and The "Committee" w/ "Gonna do a card trick!", Rope Tie, Pseudo Pickpocketing (Watch, Wallet, Belt, Necktie and Shirt steals. I was on the committee in both locations. With my slight resemblance he had some funny byplay with me. Cheers! 
Stanyon
aka Steve Taylor "Every move a move!" "If you've enjoyed my performance half as much as I've enjoyed performing for you, then you've enjoyed it twice as much as me!" |
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Illusion77 Elite user 453 Posts
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Thanks Steve! That's great information.
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Tom G Inner circle SW Michigan 2912 Posts
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Saw a small show I think it was a high school auditorium. Cage, rope, silks, and he did have the small buzz saw (hand held) illusion, nothing big at all.
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FrankFindley Inner circle 1170 Posts
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Quote:
On Jan 11, 2023, Tom G wrote: Interesting. I never saw that one. In the ones I saw, he always did a bow sawing. Quote:
On Jan 9, 2023, Stanyon wrote: Same as I remember, except I never saw him do the floating lightbulb in a club setting. The bow saw may have substituted for that in the shows I've seen. |
hugmagic Inner circle 7752 Posts
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When Harry would come to Akron and work the supper club, we would do a variety of routines. He always opened with the birdcage, sometimes the Magic Menu, then usually the Invisible Deck, sometimes the Watch routine with the rabbit, Zig Zag or Sawing, light bulb and close with the Commitee.
We would set and write down the running order based on what he had done there the last time he worked there. Sometimes, we would do the red rag, or the snowstorm routine. Sometimes, he would not do a routine because he just felt the magican's where there to steal his lines. There was only one Harry. With that voice and stage presence, he could make a miracle out anything and entertain with anything.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Illusion77 Elite user 453 Posts
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Thanks Richard, I completely agree on Harry's stage presence. Can I ask you what the Magic Menu and Red Rag routine were? I'm not sure I saw Harry perform those routines. Also, did he do anything out of the ordinary with his Mental Epic routine?
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hugmagic Inner circle 7752 Posts
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Red Rag was his dad's routine for the Afghan bands. ...Why Fire Engines are red. The Magic menu was prediction effect invented by Dick Zimmerman in which people would call out ridiculous menu items for meal including the tip etc. It would all appear written inside an envelope that had been in full sight on and 8 1/1 x 11 sheet of paper. It was a good routine and got a lot of laughs.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Jmyers New user 1 Post
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I saw him at the tangiers in Akron , Ohio sometime in 1984 or 85. My father took me and I was 13 . I was called up on stage for the vanishing birdcage and I was offered the rabbit (which my dad wouldn’t let me have … I was so sad ). Then after the show my father took me backstage to the dressing room (one of the percs of dad being an Akron cop I guess ) and I was able to meet black stone jr and I believe his wife and talk to him. It was something that I’ll always remember as one of the most incredible nights of my life … I am sitting here tearing up just thinking about it … I know I’m a sap… oh well . I’m sure he signed something for me but it has gone missing and I can’t really remember what other effects there was but I do thjnk he did the floating light bulb and something to do with a mischievous handkerchief….
Thanks for letting me reminisce. My father passed a few years ago from brain cancer and I haven’t really thought fondly of him in a long time. This did me good. .
Jim Myers Akron, Ohio |
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GlennLawrence Veteran user Randolph NJ 360 Posts
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It wasn't a small show but I saw him at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater FL around 1984, that venue is probably 1500-2000 people. The 2 main things I remember most are the Buzz Saw and the Floating Light Bulb. If there was any show in the modern era that gave you the feeling of what it must have been like to see the classic formal stage magic shows of Magic's golden age, this had to be it!
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David Todd Inner circle 2857 Posts
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On Jun 22, 2025, GlennLawrence wrote: I'm sorry to say I never attended a live Blackstone Jr. performance, but thank goodness there is video footage existing to give a good sense of what his show was like in his prime. This one is Blackstone 'Live from Seattle' from 1979 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D3g4uhv4gA Also the television special made for PBS - 'Magic! Starring Harry Blackstone' , which doesn't seem to be posted on YouTube at the moment, but I believe it can be streamed via the PBS app. https://www.pbs.org/show/magic-starring-harry-blackstone/ Harry also appeared on a Disney Channel magic special - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyvhXjmwA-M . |
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David Todd Inner circle 2857 Posts
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On Jun 23, 2025, David Todd wrote: The PBS special 'Magic! Starring Harry Blackstone' can be viewed online here: https://www.tpt.org/magic-starring-harry......e-28045/ . |
Russo Inner circle So.California / Centl.Florida / retired Florida 1298 Posts
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Had the joy to have Harry Sr. call me Son (in the 60's). Wonder'd why. Then saw a picture of B.Jr. At the time we were like twins (have Sr's with self and separate one of Jr.s photos on my Den Wall), though never met Jr. My Wife did assist Blackstone Sr. at a SAM meeting (dancing Hank) and in an effect where She read B.Sr's. mind (in the Magic Castle). What Wonderful Memories.
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David Todd Inner circle 2857 Posts
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On Jun 25, 2025, Russo wrote: Oh, yes. I can definitely see that resemblance!  . |
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Magicians of old » » Harry Blackstone Jr. - Solo Show/Smaller Tour (2 Likes) | |
Posted: Jan 9, 2023 10:25 pm 
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