‘A Modern Take On A Lost Chicago Tradition’
“There was the well-known New York Magic Lounge in Lincoln Square, the famous Schulien’s in North Center, and South-Side club Little Bit O’ Magic,” the lounge says on its website.
“They were all places to see magic happen up-close and personal, providing an exciting and unforgettable experience. They pioneered what is now known as the ‘Chicago Style’ of magic; magic right at your table.”
Check out Andrew Zimmern’s recent visit to the Magic Lounge for the Travel Channel:
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See also:
* Heba Haba Al, a legend at the legendary New York Lounge.
* “In the `40s and `50s, [Schulien’s] became the kind of place that had an earthy neighborhood clientele as well one of conventioneers who were coming to Chicago for the kind of pleasures that conventioneers are known for,” Jay Pridmore wrote for the Tribune in 1986.
“The out-of-towners would start at Schulien`s, because Matt knew what they wanted most: fantasy. Gangsterish memorabilia helped, but when Matt learned the trade of magic, customers played right into his hands. If Chicago was a place where the visitors could suspend the rules of social conduct, Matt Schulien would suspend their disbelief by doing the amazing card tricks that still are done in Schulien`s by some of the city`s better magicians.
“Matt became so well-known that when Life magazine did a spread on Chicago in the `50s (when our city`s vulgar ways were a fascination to the national press generally), a picture of Matt throwing a deck of cards against the wall was on the cover.”
More, from the Dynamite Magic Shop:
“In the early part of the 20th century, legendary bar magician Matt Schulien threw a deck of cards against the wall of his tavern and left a spectator’s selection stuck in place. Little did he realize that he had created one of the most memorable and dramatic card tricks of all time.
* Bit O’ Magic was also featured in the Tribune.
* “At its height, a half-dozen magic bars flourished in Chicago,” Kevin Pang wrote for the Trib in 2009.
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WGN at the Chicago Magic Lounge:
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Comments welcome.
Posted on September 12, 2016