Blackstone's Famous Illusions
on the Auction Block in LA
Magician Harry Blackstone's
famous sawing-a-woman-in-half illusion, including
the whirling 30-inch buzz saw blade, will be offered at a "Monsters
& Magic"
auction, November 15.
The public
sale will be conducted in Los Angeles and on eBay by Julien
Entertainment of Hollywood (www.JulienEntertainment.com) in association
with
Odyssey Auctions (www.autographs.com) of Corona, California.
In addition
to the Blackstone Collection, the auction includes classic special
effects equipment plus famous props, posters and paraphernalia from
numerous
"Frankenstein" movies and other horror, fantasy and sci-fi
favorites.
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"More
than 400 stage illusions, costumes, original artwork, signed documents
and
other items from the estates of internationally-known father and son
magicians,
Harry Blackstone Senior and Junior, are in the sale. The Blackstones
entertained generations of audiences around the world, and remain the
timeless
image of the magician in coat tails and top hat," said Darren Julien,
President
of Julien Entertainment
"The
stage illusions are consigned by the widow of Blackstone Junior, Gay
Blackstone, who performed as her husband's assistant and magically survived
the
buzz saw tricks hundreds of times."
The opening
bid on the famous buzz saw illusion will be $8,000. Each major item
in the sale will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed
by
Blackstone and Julien. Instructions on the secret of each magic trick
are
included.
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"Another
Blackstone crowd-pleaser in the auction is the floating light bulb in
which an illuminated bulb seemingly hovers over the audience by itself.
Developed in the mid 1930s, it is still one of magic’s
most cherished
illusions," explained Julien.
Among the
highlights of the sale is a magnificent, one-of-a-kind 1924 original
poster painting for Blackstone Sr. declaring: "Biggest Necromantic
Exposition on
Earth - BLACKSTONE - Greatest Magician World Has Ever Known."
Other famous
illusions from the Blackstone Collection include: "Alice Through
The Looking Glass," "Radio Cabinet," "The Crystal
Casket," "Tire Illusion,"
Robert Harbin's "Pink Zig Zag Girl," Doug Henning's "Fire
Cage," and
Blackstone's famous final-act production number, "The Cannon and
Triple Trunks."
The auction
also features legendary items from the collection of ardent sci-fi
fan, Forrest J. Ackerman, editor of "Famous Monsters of Filmland"
magazine, and
from the estate of Hollywood special effects genius, Kenneth Strickfaden,
who
created the props for such famous films as "Frankenstein,"
"Flash Gordon" and
"The Wizard of Oz."
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Detailed
descriptions of the illusions and other historic props and costumes
offered in the sale are contained in a full-color auction catalog available
for
$15 from Odyssey. Buyers can view, track and bid immediately using the
online
"Monsters and Magic" auction catalog at www.autographs.com.
Free digital
catalogs are available on request by calling (800) 996-3977.
The sale
will be conducted at the Hotel Sofitel, 8555 Beverly Blvd., in Los
Angeles, beginning at 11am, Saturday, November 15. Bidding also will
be
conducted online at www.autographs.com and eBay.
Gay Blackstone
will be on hand Friday evening, November 14, during the lot
viewing and reception at the hotel, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., to demonstrate
many of the
world-famous illusions included in the auction.
For additional
information, contact Julien Entertainment at P.O. Box 691789,
Hollywood, CA 90069. Phone: (310) 836-1818. Fax: (310) 836-1616. E-mail:
[email protected]. Web sites: www.JulienEntertainment.com
and
www.autographs.com.
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