Sunday evening found us at the Magic Castle attending the annual commemorative Soapy Smith Wake and giving that legendary con man and bunco artist a warm send-off. 😉 For a little bit of back ground, check out our previous post.

This event has been going on for roughly 13 years and we’ve attended on a fairly regular basis. It’s a lot of fun and there’s entertainment and gambling of all types using vintage gambling equipment (that alone is quite a treat to see). The proceeds from the event are for the Dai Vernon Foundation, 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to offering support, recognition, educational opportunities and financial aid during times of hardship to serious performers and students of the art of magic. The high point of the evening is when Jeff Smith, the great grandson of the legendary Jefferson Smith (aka “Soapy Smith”) leads a toast to Soapy’s spirit.

Below are just a few pictures from the evening:

Of course, there’s getting ready for the grand affair… 🙂

And another selfie, just to be sure…

 

And now she’s ready- all dressed up and ready to head off to Skagway and the Klondike. 🙂

And now for the grand entrance…

Looking FABULOUS!

And once inside, the proceedings really took off… 🙂

Like a couple of cold-time con artists or politicians, here Jeff Smith, a descendant of the late departed Soapy Smith and yours truly share a moment of camaraderie. The vision going through my mind was two con artists trying to get the best of each other. 😉

And here we are debating the legitimacy of an ore sample from one of Soapy Smith’s mines…

It was a lot of fun being there and we definitely had a good time. It’s a pity that the event is held on a Sunday or we would have stayed a lot longer. Until next year, RIP Soapy!