Johnny Paul

Johnny Paul ( 1912? - August 20, 1991) was born and raised in Chicago.

He began as a comedy bartender, combining juggling with drink mixing.

In the 1930s he started doing close-up magic in the Gay Nineties room at the La Salle Hotel in Chicago, becoming one of America's first bar magicians. Later he went on to do trade show work.

In 1946 he opened Johnny Paul's Magic Lounge near Chicago and had his own thirty minute TV show. He also performed at conventions, nationwide, for Caterpillar, a well known manufacturer of heavy equipment, for some 27 years.

Johnny's "Jazz" Cups and Balls was never the same twice, making it up as he went along.

He opened two supper clubs in California before moving to Las Vegas in 1959. He became the featured magician at the Showboat Hotel in 1962, performing as "the Amusing and Confusing Johnny Paul." He later became the Hotel's entertainment director, which he held until his retirement in June 1990.

He was a member of the SAM and I.B.M. Chicago's Ring 43.

Family

Wife: Winnie; daughter: Anina Arnone; sons: John, Jr. and James.