Blanco -- the well-traveled local magician who entertained kids at the library, families at Chaffee Zoo, passersby at The Big Fresno Fair and probably somebody you know at a birthday party -- died Monday after a hush-hush bout with cancer. He was 51.
In his pre-Fresno days, Blanco spent nearly 20 years on the casino circuit in Las Vegas. He played the role of Lucky the Clown for Circus Circus. He once taught Macy's employees the art of clowning before the Thanksgiving Day Parade. He was a graduate of the Ringling Bros. Clown College.
"He knew the end was near, but he would also say he had to get ready for shows," said Jill Bedford, Blanco's fiancée. "Up until 12 hours before the end, he was still planning for shows. In his mind, he was going to get up tomorrow and he was going to start rehearsing. That's the kind of person he was."
Determined is a good word for it.
Growing up in Queens, N.Y., Blanco fell in love with magic as a teenager. To earn money for equipment, he became a street performer at 17. He would save his money, then run to the magic shop and buy a new book of tricks. Eventually, he was a magician, a clown, mime, a juggler and comedian.
A self-taught carpenter, Blanco also made and sold his own props to magicians through his company, Props Unlimited.
"He could do anything," said Paul Gross, owner of Fresno-based magic shop Hocus Pocus. "He was a real student of the art. He was invested in every aspect of the art."
It was Gross who brought Blanco to Fresno in 2005. After performing at Circus Circus and Excalibur in Las Vegas, Blanco learned the casinos would be cutting back on family entertainment and took a job working for Gross at Hocus Pocus. He did everything from teach classes to building the stage inside the store.
Blanco also took on magician gigs all over town -- so many, in fact, that he eventually left Hocus Pocus to perform full time.
It's not uncommon to hear someone say they first saw Blanco at a kid's birthday party. He did fundraising events, private parties, performed in restaurants, made the local TV rounds, put on shows at Fresno's annual Rogue Festival and was a regular at the library's summer reading program, among other things.
"He was proud that his entire life, he never worked outside of his field," Bedford said. "Fresno was endearing to him because he would be able to do the small family shows and birthday parties. He loved connecting one-to-one with his audience. He loved the real family atmosphere. A 10-year-old little boy is going to remember the magician at his birthday party. That's an American icon."
News of Blanco's death was a surprise to many. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in January, but kept it quiet. He only recently decided to tell his magician friends, Bedford said. Hocus Pocus responded by hosting an auction to raise money for his medical bills.
"He's a performer," she said about his decision to keep his cancer battle private. "He wanted to put his best face and his best foot forward. He intended all along to beat this thing. He wanted to come back strong."
Instead, he will be remembered by friends June 6 with a night of entertainment at Full Circle Brewing Co. that is open to the public. There will also be a private graveside ceremony, Bedford said.
But the public event will be like that last show that Blanco never got to put on. It will have performers of all sorts -- music, belly dancers, a juggler -- plus a raffle and auction to help with medical costs.
"I'm getting messages from all around the world," Bedford said. "He really was much bigger than Fresno. I'm thoroughly impressed and honored to be a part of his life."
Anthony Walter Blanco
Born: June 4, 1960
Died: May 28, 2012 Occupation: Magician
Survived by: Jill Bedford, fiancee
Service: "An Evening to Honor Tony Blanco" will be June 6 at Full Circle Brewing Co., 620 F St., Fresno. It will include performances plus raffle and auction items. 6:30 p.m. Suggested donation $10
Written by Mike Osegueda - Fresno Bee
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