05/15/2026
Lecture on Wednesday June 3rd!
Our next meeting at Nitty Gritty in Sun Prairie will be Wednesday, June 3rd. We are pleased to announce we will have a lecture by Tom Dobrowolski starting at 6:30 PM. There is no charge for current Ring #31 members and a $20 dollar charge for non-members. Please forward this information to any magicians that you think might be interested. Note that we will not be in our usual room, we will be in the larger room with walls that extend to the ceiling so sound from the dining room should not be an issue.
Tom performs in the Chicago style of magic that was made popular by the tableside magicians in bars and restaurants across Chicago. More information about Tom is below. Hope to see you at the lecture.
“Tom is outstanding presenting the magic of his mentor. Watch Tom own the room, be in the moment, all the while having a good time himself along with his spectators. To sum things up, Toms’ performance is FUN! Anyone seriously wanting to better their show needs this lecture.”. - Bill Malone
“Hi Tom�I really enjoyed your lecture last night. After I got home, I was talking with Max Maven about your idea of …. Again, thanks for a thought-provoking lecture.
All the best, Eugene “ - Eugene Burger
“Just a quick note to say again how much I enjoyed your lecture.
I’ve been a panelist for Aaron Fisher Conjuror’s Community for almost nine years. I’m also a Past President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, a member of The Magic Circle, and a member of The Magic Castle. Max Maven and Eugene Burger were two of my mentors, so you can imagine how many lectures and performers I’ve seen in my 40 years in magic.
I was telling Aaron that your lecture is easily among the top four I’ve ever attended—for its clarity, instantly usable material, the quality of real‑world, proven effects, and your teaching and performing personas. Honestly, it’s been a long time since I’ve had that much fun at a lecture—not to mention walking away with six effects I immediately put to use.”
December 2025
Rolando Santos
Past President, International Brotherhood of Magicians
Recipient, Medallion of Honor — Lifetime Achievement Award
Who is Tom Dobrowolski?
Magic Performer, Lecturer, Demonstrator, Lifelong Student of the Art and Chicago Guy, Tom Dobrowolski has been studying and performing magic for over 55 years. A life-time Chicago area resident, Tom was exposed early on to great magic and was fortunate to have mentors like Jim Ryan, Jay Marshall and Tommy Edwards. He is well known as one of the few remaining performers carrying forward the legacy of classic "Chicago Style" magic—a fast, funny, and intimate brand of close-up and stage performance born in the city’s iconic magic bars.
His many years of experience include performances as diverse as cruise ships and Hawaiian resorts, birthday parties and illusion shows, walk around, close up and TV appearances. Tom has been an active participant on the Chicago magic scene for many years. His friends include magicians from around the world. His unique brand of magic reflects their creativity as well as his own. This, combined with his extensive knowledge of magic, enables Tom to find innovative solutions when developing new and reworking classic magic effects.
His “Big Four Poker”, “In The Hands Wild Card”, “Snowstorm in Chicago” and “OiATER” (oil and water) downloads (BBM) have become best sellers and recognised as standards in the world of magic.
Tom has done 2 Penguin Live lectures the most recent in 2022 features classic Chicago Style Magic, the magic of his dear friend and mentor James Patrick Ryan, “The Darling of the Geritol Set”.
Tom has also published a series of highly acclaimed contributor driven lectures/lecture notes. Most recently Tom began co-publishing (with several of his magician friends) a monthly magic journal “The Disclaimer” a digital magazine. Tricks only. No advertisements. Basically, it is like reading a chapter from a good magic book. They just finished their 5th year of publishing.
Tom’s goal in everything he teaches is to provide strong fun magic that you will learn and perform.
Featured performer at the “Magic Capital Close Up Convention”, “MAES Convention, “Gateway Close Up Convention” , “Edinburgh Magic Club” (Scotland), “Hullusion Magic Convention (Hull, UK) , Private Teach In with John Bannon (Hippodrome Casino London U.K.) and many more.
Tom’s 2026 Lecture”A.I. - Artful Intelligence”
A collection of high-impact, worker-approved magic.
• Singing Bowl – Curtis Kam – Common sense, Science, Pearls and magic. “Consider the oyster”
• BBQ Ribs Coins Across - Jeremiah Zuo – Yeah, I’ll explain the title.
• Four (?) Card Monte – Mark Tams – A game you can’t lose.
• Einstein Trick – Self working classic updated. You’ll use this one right away.
• Where’d I Leave That – Tom Dobrowolski - If I’m doing just one trick this is it.
• Blackjack for Brother John – David Kuraya– A “packet’ trick Brother John would love
• Poor Uncle Joe # 2 - Jack Carpenter – The story of the demise of my Poor Uncle Joe the world’s worst gambler and cheat.
• It’s All Good Man – Albert Chou – A secret in a lie in selected playing cards
• Blind Lemon Aid - Curtis Kam – The trick that’s over before it begins
• Aloha from Chicago – Tom Dobrowolski – My closer for platform and stage
Plus: Demonstrations of best-sellers OiATER , Big Four Poker, ITHWC and his recent Snowstorm in Chicago which got a 90 % review from Craig Petty
