Kitchen, Inez (Inez Nourse). Early Scrapbook of Blackstone the Magician Photographs. Kept by Blackstone’s first wife, Inez Nourse (later Kitchen), and filled with nearly 500 candid images of Blackstone and his “gang” on some of the troupe’s earliest cross-country tours. Images depict Blackstone performing an overboard packing box escape, dressed for his show with his company, and in other professional poses, but primarily depict personal, joyful moments off stage. Several pages filled with real photo postcards of William S. Hart, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and other film stars of the era, one or two signed. Several candid images show Pete Bouton at Chaplin’s legendary studio. Most images date to the 1920s. Oblong 4to, being a stock album, most pages bearing five or more images, the majority mounted with photo corners. Rear board damaged but holding. A unique and personal record of the triumphant Blackstone tours of the 1920s, the first steps on his climb up the ladder of fame. Should be seen. As much a personal travel album as anything else, the vernacular photos in this collection show Blackstone and his family – including his first wife, his brother Pete, and other members of his company – touring California and playing the roles of tourist as well as they played their parts on stage. Scenes in the scrapbook show the company at the Cave of the Winds, outside Thayer’s Magic Shop (holding a Talking Teakettle and Talking Vase), at various farms (including an ostrich farm), in front of theaters and movie studios, relaxing at various beaches, the Selig Zoo, as well as capturing moments with Blackstone’s favorite wolfhound, his vanishing camel, assistants behind the theaters dressed for the show, and countless other never-before-seen scenes.