Gay Blackstone and Sotheby’s Auctioning Blackstone Effects, Costumes

Gay Blackstone

I had the wonderfully, good fortune of meeting Gay Blackstone a couple of years ago at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. She was so gracious, kind and, most importantly, patient with all of my questions about her life as the wife and chief assistant to Harry Blackstone, Jr.

Ms. Blackstone looks so youthful, I thought maybe she was actually a daughter of Harry Blackstone, Jr.In fact, I wasn’t sure that she wasn’t a daughter until she spoke more about her experiences.

When Ms. Blackstone asked where I was from, and I told her Detroit, she recounted a story about how the malpractice of a local Detroit hospital almost resulted in paralysis after she was injured in the show. Then, and only then, was I sure that this was the true Ms. Gay Blackstone ? wife of Harry Blackstone, Jr. for over 20 years.

I spoke with Ms. Blackstone and Mark Wilson for almost thirty minutes and will remember the evening forever. It is hard to explain the feeling I experienced and I have only had it with one other celebrity ? President Clinton. Both President Clinton and Ms. Blackstone made me feel as if I was the entire focus of their attention. Clearly I was not in either case but the feeling was there. She took time to ask about my interests in magic, my familyand even whether I had a chance to visit Colon, Michigan.

This story has a point other than to name-drop that I met Gay Blackstone upon the introduction of Mark Wilson at the…
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Magician Fined for Driving Motorcycle Blindfolded

An Indian newspaper
is reporting that magician Samrat Shankar was fined by local police for
riding his motorcycle blindfolded and without a helmet. He was left
with the choice of explaining how he could drive safely while
blindfolded or pay the fine.
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Former Blackstone, Sr. Assistant, Josephine Shaw Passes

Josephine Shaw passed away on November 4, 2002 at the Eliza Jennings
Home in Cleveland, Ohio. Ms. Shaw was 90 years old and had worked in
many occupations during her life including as one of Blackstone, Sr.’s
beautiful assistants.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports,
“She was selling tickets at a theater in her native Milwaukee in 1930
when magician Harry Blackstone Sr. spotted her and hired her for his
act. She appeared on stage wearing lavish gowns but declined to
participate in the highlight of the show, when Blackstone appeared to
cut a woman in half using a rotary power saw.”

Our prayers are with Ms. Shaw’s family and friends. She will be missed.

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Magician Gets Nailed To Stop Exposure of Secrets

Mark Mysterrio was "stiff, sore and smiling Friday after spending about 12 days on a bed of nails to break a 'Guinness Book of World Records' record" reports the Pocono Record. The record-breaking stunt was to help stop the exposure of magic secrets.

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