Gay Blackstone and Sotheby’s Auctioning Blackstone Effects, CostumesInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

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…

Gay Blackstone

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.

This story has a point other than to name-drop that I met Gay Blackstone upon the introduction of Mark Wilson at the Magic Castle. Ms. Blackstone is auctioning many items from her collection of magic costumes, illusions, effects and promotional materials from both Harry Blackstone, Sr. and Harry Blackstone, Jr. The auction is being handled by Sotheby’s and eBay and will finish up in a week from now. I have bid on many items with the hope of winning at least one.

You should check out the collection. There are incredible items for sale including some of the most famous Blackstone pieces. As you would expect, Ms. Blackstone is using the auction to further the interests of magic. She wrote, “because I’ve been entrusted with upholding the Blackstone family’s rich heritage and, as an official Ambassador to the Society of American Magicians (SAM) as well as the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM), we’re donating a portion of the proceeds to each organization.?

I encourage you to visit and bid in the auction. Magic has been blessed by the thoughtfulness and contribution of the Blackstone family and this is just the latest example of those blessings.