He is

Professional magician and hypnotist.

Magic is

“It’s the science-fiction of the live theater.”

Prestidigitates Where

He performs at restaurants and night clubs, at conventions and at schools all over the country.

Shall We Trance?

He once aided in tracking a rapist by hypnotizing a policeman to remember a suspect’s license plate number. This worked and it cracked the case. He was given a “CITIZEN’S AWARD” from the Chicago Police Department for this work.

Philosophy

“You ought to do what you enjoy doing. If you can take a hobby and make a living out of it, it puts you ahead of most of the people.”

From Cleveland

Born there. Toiled in promotion department of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, then was a disc jockey. Then went into sales, “which brought me to Chicago.” Single, he lives in West Rogers Park.

Magic Start

“When I was small I used to try Houdini stuff, get chained up and try to escape.” When he settled here, “I’d see magicians at the New York Lounge, at Schulien’s [where family members do magic], at the Pickle Barrel restaurant. I think [magician] Heba Haba Al at the Pickle Barrel hired me to fill in. Eventually the New York Lounge hired me. I worked at the Ivanhoe.”

What It Takes

To be a magician, “You have to be good with your hands. Beyond that, be a good talker, have some stage presence, be a bit of an actor.”

From Magic To Cubs

“When I started making a living with magic I suddenly didn’t have a hobby. That’s not good.” So he became an avid Cubs fan.