[image: magician]
 

 
 The Art of MAGIC

John Railing
 Prestidigitateur Extraordinaire

Tuesday, November 27
 5:30-8:30pm
 The Lounge at Iwan Ries
19 South Wabash
Cocktails at 5:30, presentation 6:00-6:30 followed by discussion and more cocktails.  
$40 helps to defray the costs of drinks, cigars, and sandwiches. 
Reservations are required.

[railing]John Railing is widely considered to be one of the country’s top close-up magicians.  Based in Chicago, he performs regularly for an impressive roster of celebrities, entertainers, and leading corporate executives; and he has performed for presidents, foreign dignitaries, and heads of state from around the world.  John’s specialty is sleight-of-hand magic. He combines his delightful personality with an amazing repertoire of fascinating effects using cards, coins and balls, in addition to an array of baffling illusions and, mental tricks.

John first performed professionally while attending law school over thirty years ago. After practicing corporate law in Cincinnati and abroad, John settled in Chicago and was the featured magician appearing nightly at the renowned Pump Room restaurant for several years in the early 80s. His various TV appearances have included twice being seen nationally on the Today show. He has also written and published several magic effects, including a feature in Playboy magazine and a series of “Awesome Tricks” books for the younger audience.

While maintaining an extensive schedule performing for over one hundred private engagements each year, John was also an options futures trader with a seat on the Chicago Board Options Exchange for six years, from 1981- 1987.  In the last fifteen years, John has consulted on film and stage productions, created illusions for trade fairs and corporate shows, and has produced a myriad of products for the magic and toy industries. This has included a yearlong contract with David Copperfield to assist with retail and magic for his new restaurant and entertainment complex, several licensed toys, magic related candy packaging, magic books, and various other projects involving 3-D printing, optical illusions, and puzzles. He was the technical advisor and co-author on a series of thirteen magic books for Scholastic Books called “Magic University.”   John recently finished working on another series of magic kits for Scholastic called “The Ultimate Magic Club.” John created, wrote and produced this series of ten magic sets, each with its own DVD. It was regarded by the magic fraternity as the best magic package of all time and has sold over half million copies.

John lives in the Chicago area with his wife, Sheila, and their three children, Maxwell (18), Mia (15) and Macey (8).

About the Cigar Society of Chicago

ONE OF THE OLDEST AND greatest traditions of the city clubs of Chicago is the discussion of intellectual, social, legal, artistic, historical, scientific, musical, theatrical, and philosophical issues in the company of educated, bright, and appropriately provocative individuals, all under the beneficent influence of substantial amounts of tobacco and spirits.  The Cigar Society of Chicago embraces this tradition and extends it with its Informal Smokers, University Series lectures, and Cigar Society Dinners, in which cigars, and from time to time pipes and cigarettes, appear as an important component of our version of the classical symposium.  To be included in the Cigar Society's mailing list, write to the Secretary at CigarSociety@logicophilosophicus.org.