Posted: Wed., May. 14, 1997, 11:00pm PT

Harry Blackstone dies at 62

Magician carried on father's legacy

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Magician Harry Blackstone, who carried the torch for an earlier era of magic that thrilled generations before TV, has died. He was 62. Blackstone died Wednesday at Loma Linda U. Medical Center in Loma Linda, apparently from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Blackstone's late father, Harry Blackstone Sr., was a legend and a contemporary of Houdini.

Harry Blackstone Jr. carried on his father's legacy by performing his signature tricks. Woody Allen's 1987 play "The Floating Light Bulb" was named after such a trick.

Blackstone Jr. was born on June 30, 1934, in Three Rivers, Mich. He studied at Swarthmore College and received a bachelor's degree from USC in 1958. In the mid-1950s he served with the U.S. Army Security Agency.

Blackstone Jr. performed around the world, and in later years produced magic shows for TV. In later years he lived in Redlands, and continued performing until recently.

Blackstone was married twice. He is survived by his second wife, Gay, and several children by his first marriage.