Jim Krzak

James Stephen Krzak (? - December 1, 2009), a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp., was a close-up bar magician that performed magic at O'Donnovans (formerly Schulien's) in Chicago and at Hackney's in Wheeling.

Krzak would sometimes bill himself as the Amazing El Smootho

After a stint in the Marines, Krzak returned to Chicago and began a long career with the phone company. But on the side he worked as a magician a few nights a week, first at the New York Lounge and then at Schulien's, which had a long tradition of offering close-up magic.

He continued when Schulien's closed and O'Donovan's opened in 1999. He did his last show the weekend before his death.

References

• http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=james-stephen-krzak&pid=136776616

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obit-krzak-03-dec03,0,5849869.story

• http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=209457