Though it was nearly five decades ago, Gay Blackstone can still vividly recall the first time she was sawed in half onstage. Her screams were an intended element of the illusion, but nerves and fear made them genuine that time. For Ms. Blackstone, that gig assisting the master illusionist Harry Blackstone Jr. turned into a love affair and, later, marriage. After her husband died in 1997, Ms. Blackstone moved center stage and went on to a successful career as an illusionist, coach, producer and director. “I think for many years, no one really thought of the need for women to be the magician,” Ms. Blackstone said.

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Persons: Gay Blackstone, Blackstone, Harry Blackstone Jr, ” Ms, can’t, ” Organizations: Academy of Magical Arts, Ms Locations: Los Angeles