Blackstone, Harry

Blackstone, Harry (b. Harry Boughton)

(1885–1965) magician; born in Chicago. In a career that began in vaudeville in 1904 and continued on to television in the 1960s, he enjoyed his greatest success touring with a full evening magic show (1920–50). Although he featured elaborate "effects" magic—a floating lightball, a vanishing birdcage—he was also adept at sleight-of-hand and card tricks, all abetted by his distinguished looks and bearing.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.