Harry Blackstone Jr. Appeared in a CigArrest Commercial

 Magicians have long brought their stage presence to television, but one vintage commercial took Harry Blackstone Jr. somewhere unexpected: a pitch for CigArrest, a product marketed to people trying to quit smoking.

The archived spot is listed as a 1987 commercial featuring Blackstone. Instead of inviting viewers into a theater, it uses the magician’s familiar showmanship to deliver a direct message about changing a habit. That makes the clip a curious crossover between magic, celebrity advertising and the public campaigns of the 1980s.

Blackstone Jr. was a natural fit for a television audience. A magician’s work depends on attention, timing and personality—qualities that also help a short commercial stand out. Even without a stage or elaborate illusion, his appearance gives the ad a touch of theatrical flair.

The product itself has its own place in advertising history. CigArrest was promoted as a smoking-cessation aid, and contemporary coverage questioned some of the success claims made for it. The commercial is best viewed today as an archival snapshot of how products were marketed at the time, rather than as health guidance.

For magic fans, the clip offers a small but memorable glimpse of Blackstone Jr. outside the theater. It’s a reminder that magicians’ public personas can travel well beyond the stage—and sometimes turn up in the most surprising places.