In 1978 Harry Blackstone Jr. came to Wilmington to  perform an evening magic show at the DuPont Theater.

I decided that I would attend and talked to members of the DKOM to find out who else might attend so that I could arrange a gathering at my house if it was possible for Blackstone to join us.  I got this idea because in 1952 while living in Baltimore and a member of the Society of Osiris magicians club I  was scheduled to have a monthly meeting at my parents’ house. Senior members in Osiris (about eight in the group who would attend) said Harry BlackstoneSr. was performing that week at a downtown theater and that I should invite him..  They knew that traveling magicians liked to do something more interesting than going back to their hotel room and waiting for the next day’s performance.  I called the theater and was able to contact Harry Sr. who told me that his wife, son and he would be glad to join us.  It turned into a successful party.  Somewhere along the evening he asked me what I did in magic and I pulled out my OKITO coin box and did a short effect and he called his wife over and asked me to repeat it for her.  Wow.  What a compliment.  Later he asked me if he could possibly have a scotch and soda.  I hesitated and said “just a moment”,   My father kept no whiskey in the house and I went to my next door neighbor and asked if he could make me a drink for a guest.  He said no problem and came out with what I later found was a bourbon and water.  After taking it down to our club basement and giving to Harry Blackstone he took a sip paused  and then stared me in the eye.  Neither of us made a comment. 

I had an older sister who stayed upstairs who I noticed later had Harry Jr. up there and they were talking about tap dancing and doing simple steps.  Overall the evening turned out ok.  I wasn’t asked for another drink. 

In any event this experience emboldened me to think Harry Jr. might attend a social evening after his show at the DuPont Theater.  First, I had to find out about how many DKOM members had tickets for the show.  About six or seven were scheduled.  I talked to my wife Ruth and she graciously said she could handle that.  Harry’s week of magic had started and I called him and told him of my plans.  He agreed to attend but since his two daughters were with him and his wife Gay could I please have a couple of young people attend also.  My next door neighbor friends said their two girls could make it.  It looked like we would have about sixteen or eighteen total so Ruth began to prepare.

Lee Allen called and said he and  his friend who owned a second hand limo were coming and would drive Blackstone, Gay and two daughters to my house when they were ready after the show.  When they arrived I found out that when the limo pulled up to the hotel entrance and Blackstone and family came out and got in a problem arose.  The limo wouldn’t start.  The three men got out and stared at the engine with the hood up.  Fortunately a busboy who had just finished work at the hotel was leaving and offered to help by getting his VW to jumpstart the limo.  Lee Allen told me it must have been an interesting picture to watch.  Great! 

         They arrived at my home  the evening started and everything  went smoothly.  All seemed to enjoy the food and beverages and it was a social success.  If you look at the pictures taken you may recognize a few people

People began to leave around 1AM and note the picture of Harry Jr. beginning to fade.  I drove him and his family to a motel on Rte. 40 and they expressed their thanks for our hospitality.  It was an event that has remained in my mind for nearly 30 years