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Harry Blackstone Jr.
1934 - 1997
The Canadian Conservatory of Magic is proud to present its special section dedicated to the ephemeris of conjuring. This section explores the fascinating history of magic throughout the year, highlighting significant events, iconic artists, and innovations that have shaped this art. We invite enthusiasts and the curious to dive into the captivating world of illusion and magic and celebrate this extraordinary heritage.
Magic in history
Titre 6
01
May
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Proctor's 58th Street - New York
1909: Thurston - Metropolis Theatre - New York
1919: Thurston - Park Theatre - Youngstown, OH
1995: "The Magic of David Copperfield XVI: Unexplained Forces" airs on CBS
2006: "David Blaine: Drowned Alive" airs on ABC
Titre 6
03
May
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Proctor's 58th Street - New York
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
1919: Thurston - Park Theatre - Youngstown, OH
1947:
- Birth of Doug Henning
- Visit the Doug Henning exhibition (exclusive to members)
Titre 6
05
May
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1903:
- Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
- Thurston - Keith's Theatre - Boston
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Proctor's 58th Street - New York
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
1919: Thurston - Court Theatre - Wheeling, WV
1920: Blackstone - Auditorium - Ottumwa, IA
Titre 6
07
May
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1903:
- Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
- Thurston - Keith's Theatre - Boston
1906: Leon Herrmann - Olympic Theatre - Chicago
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
1919: Thurston - Court Theatre - Wheeling, WV
1983: "Magic!!! Starring Harry Blackstone" airs on PBS
Harry Blackstone was in Minnesota in April 1983 to record a special program for television station KTCA. He gave three performances at the Orpheum Theatre to a select audience who were left speechless by his grandiose illusions
Titre 6
09
May
1853: Robert Houdin - Sadler's Wells Theatre - London
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1903:
- Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
- Thurston - Keith's Theatre - Boston
1906: Leon Herrmann - Olympic Theatre - Chicago
1908: Kellar confirms Thurston as his successor at Ford's Theatre in Baltimore
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Jersey City
1911: Death of Sigmund Neuberger (Lafayette) at 40 years of age
1919: Thurston - Court Theatre - Wheeling, WV
1921: Premiere in the United Kingdom of the film "Terror Island" starring Harry Houdini and Jack Brammall. The film was directed by James Cruze and distributed by Paramount Pictures
Titre 6
11
May
1853: Robert Houdin - Sadler's Wells Theatre - London
1902: Thurston - Masonic Temple Theatre - Chicago
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1906: Leon Herrmann - Olympic Theatre - Chicago
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Jersey City
1918: Houdini - Hippodrome - New York
Titre 6
13
May
1853: Robert Houdin - Sadler's Wells Theatre - London
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Jersey City
1912: Harry Bouton & Co. - Nixon Theatre - Philadelphia
Titre 6
15
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
Titre 6
17
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
Titre 6
19
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
1980: Premiere of the show "Blackstone" at the Majestic Theater in New York for 104 performances
1997: "David Blaine: Street Magic" airs on ABC
Titre 6
21
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1868: Louis Hasselmayer, a magician born in Vienna in 1838, performs at the White House for the President of the time: Andrew Johnston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
1967: Birth of Greg Frewin
Titre 6
23
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1908: Okito - Coliseum Theatre - Seattle
1933: Cardini - Palladium Theatre - London
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
Titre 6
25
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
Titre 6
27
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
Titre 6
29
May
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1905: Leon Herrmann - Alhambra Theatre - New York
Titre 6
31
May
1873: Birth of Nate Leipzig
Leipzig was a pioneer of magic, using everyday objects rather than boxes, cabinets, and other sophisticated gadgets. An optician by trade in his early career, he devoted himself entirely to the stage. He was the first magician to receive the Magic Circle Gold Medal in London for his exceptional talent. He also became president of the Society of American Magicians
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
2013: Premiere of the film "Now You See Me" starring Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman. The film is directed by Louis Leterrier and distributed by Summit Entertainment
Titre 6
02
May
1848: Robert Houdin - St. James Theatre - London
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1904: Adelaïde Herrmann - Opera House - Chicago
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Proctor's 58th Street - New York
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
1919: Thurston - Park Theatre - Youngstown, OH
1940: Cardini - Loew's State Theatre - New York
1976: "Magic, Magic, Magic" with Harry Blackstone Jr. airs on CBS
Titre 6
04
May
1865: Birth of Jean Henry Servais Le Roy
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1903:
- Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
- Thurston - Keith's Theatre - Boston
1906: Adelaïde Herrmann - Proctor's 58th Street - New York
1908: Kellar gives his last professional performance at Ford's Theatre in Baltimore
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
1925: Thurston - Ford's Theatre - Baltimore
Titre 6
06
May
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1903:
- Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
- Thurston - Keith's Theatre - Boston
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
1919: Thurston - Court Theatre - Wheeling, WV
1992: Comedian Steve Martin presents his character The Great Flydini for the first time on "The Tonight Show," hosted by Johnny Carson and broadcast on NBC
1996: "Champions of Magic" airs on ABC
Titre 6
08
May
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1903:
- Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
- Thurston - Keith's Theatre - Boston
1906: Leon Herrmann - Olympic Theatre - Chicago
1919: Thurston - Court Theatre - Wheeling, WV
2020:
- Death of Roy Horn (aged 75)
- Visit the Siegfried & Roy exhibition (exclusive to members)
- Profile of Siegfried & Roy in Zombie magazine no. 5
Titre 6
10
May
1853: Robert Houdin - Sadler's Wells Theatre - London
1875: Kellar - Teatro Solis - Montevideo, Uruguay
1902: Creation of the "Society of American Magicians" (SAM)
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1906: Leon Herrmann - Olympic Theatre - Chicago
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Jersey City
1919: Thurston - Court Theatre - Wheeling, WV
1986: Penn & Teller's sixth appearance on the comedy show "Saturday Night Live" on the NBC network
Titre 6
12
May
1853: Robert Houdin - Sadler's Wells Theatre - London
1902: Kellar - Victoria Theatre - New York
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1906: Leon Herrmann - Olympic Theatre - Chicago
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Jersey City
1930: Thurston - Alvin Theatre - Pittsburgh
1994: "David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic" airs on CBS
Titre 6
14
May
1853: Robert Houdin - Sadler's Wells Theatre - London
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard, Moscow, Russia
1910: Thurston - Majestic Theatre - Jersey City
1928: Death of Max Auzinger, alias Ben-Ali-Bey (aged 88)
1997:
- Death of Harry Blackstone Jr. (aged 62)
- Visit the Harry Blackstone Jr. exhibition (exclusive to members)
Titre 6
16
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1904: Kellar - Grand Opera House - Philadelphia
1908: Thurston becomes Kellar successor
1909: Death of Leon Herrmann (aged 42)
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
Titre 6
18
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1917: Death of John Nevil Maskelyne (aged 78)
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
1996: "Hidden Secrets of Magic" airs on NBC
Titre 6
20
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
Titre 6
22
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1933: Cardini - Palladium Theatre - London
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
2002: "David Blaine: Vertigo" airs on ABC
Titre 6
24
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1935: Thurston marries Pauline Mark, an assistant who had been in the show for a few years
1947: Blackstone - Metropolitan Theatre - Seattle
1995: "Houdini: Unlocking His Secrets" airs on NBC
Titre 6
26
May
1865: Robert Heller - Melodeon Theatre - Boston
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
2017: Opening of the exhibition "ILLUSIONS - The Art of Magic" at the McCord Museum in Montreal (the exhibition ended on January 7, 2018)
Titre 6
28
May
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1910: Thurston marries Beatrice Foster, his assistant for the past seven years
1974: Premiere of "The Magic Show" with Doug Henning presented at the Cort Theatre in New York
1982: Premiere of the film "The Escape Artist" starring Raul Julia and Griffin O'Neal. The film was directed by Caleb Deschanel and distributed by Warner Bros.
Titre 6
30
May
1876: Kellar - Baldwin's Academy of Music - San Francisco
1903: Houdini - Establishment Yard - Moscow, Russia
1949: Birth of Jean-Pierre Vallarino
1997: "Melinda: First Lady of Magic" airs on CBS
May 16, 1908
One of the most famous magic performances of the last century occurred at Ford’s Theater on May 16, 1908. That year, the eminent magician Harry Kellar embarked on his farewell tour. Upon his retirement, he wanted to “pass the wand” to the next great magician. Thurston was known for a stage show so elaborate that his props filled eight train cars. Kellar decided that his successor should be Howard Thurston, who was more famous then Houdini at the time. At his performance in Baltimore, Kellar ceremoniously placed his cape upon Thurston’s shoulders, crowning him the reigning magician.