Magic Collection of Jim Rawlins Part III

Blackstone, Harry (Henry Boughton). Harry Blackstone Beer Trick Beer Mug. Circa 1940. Heavy “sham” glass beer mug owned and used by Harry Blackstone Sr. in his stage show. Accompanied by an LOA from George Johnstone, Blackstone’s assistant. Johnstone’s letter explains how the glass was used by Blackstone in great detail: “The glass beer mug was used after Harry produced the giant beer bottles from the empty (?) box. One of the bottles contained real beer Harry filled the mug you now own and offered it to the band leader in the orchestra pit. He refused, saying it was too much beer for him to drink on the job. One of our girls handed Harry a smaller glass, about the size of double whiskey shot glass. Harry poured the contents from the big into the small glass and gave it to the band leader. The beer glass you own is not a [legit] one. It is thick glass but looks like it holds a lot of beer…’taint so!!”