First annual Soapy Smith Wake at the Wizard's Club of Chicago.

he year 2012 had four "wakes" held in Soapy Smith's honor. The newest wake, the first, and hopefully, annual, Soapy Smith wake was held in Chicago, Illinois at the Wizard's Club, in combination with the organizations 80th Anniversary Party. The Wake was hosted by professional magician, and big Soapy fan, Keith Cobb, who attended the annual event every year at the Magic Castle. Keith decided Chicago needed its own event, and considering Soapy had traveled to Chicago on several occasions it certainly warrants a party of its own.
      The above video was edited and placed on Youtube by Keith, who stated that it was late due to technical issues with the video. We are happy to see that Keith was able to fix the problems and show us how much fun everyone had in Chicago. Keith is such a big fan of Soapy's that he used to travel from Chicago to Hollywood just for the Soapy Smith Night event held annually at the Magic Castle. We here at the Soapy Smith Preservation Trust are very proud of Keith's accomplishments in his personal business ventures as well as his honoring Soapy in such a grand way. If you have not done so yet I think some encouragement and thanks are due him!
      I would like to personally thank Keith Cobb for his wonderful devotion. He had some magnificent plans and saw them through. I would also like to thank the Wizard's Club of Chicago for allowing the Soapy Smith wake to coincide with their own anniversary. I hope we can work together to make this event an annual one.   

Links and sources
The Grifter: Home
The Grifter: Soapy wake advertisement
The Grifters Gameroom: Home     

The Wizard's Club of Chicago: Home

 








Keith Cobb
June 2, 2012
December 31, 2011
June 15, 2011
June 29, 2010
July 16, 2008

"He is genial and generous, enjoys a fight, pays his debts, gives his last dollar to whoever wants it and steals the first dollar the next man is rash enough to expose to view."

—Henry James, San Francisco Call, February 27, 1898.