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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Monmouth was the lifelong home of internationally
3renowned illusionist William Mozart Nicol, also known as The
4Great Nicola; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Great Nicola was a talented inventor and
6showman who devised innovative apparatuses in his Monmouth
7workshop that inspired the grand stage illusions performed by
8today's most celebrated magicians; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Great Nicola's extensive world travels
10delivered goodwill in the form of a popular American
11entertainment to the far reaches of civilization; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The Great Nicola's collecting of exotic animals
13for zoos and production of travel films with his partner helped
14educate the Western world about the natural wonders and
15civilizations of Asia and Africa; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The Great Nicola and his brother, The Great
17Chalbert, learned their craft from their father, a Scottish
18immigrant known as Nicoli the Great, demonstrating that
19immigration contributes to the enrichment of the cultural
20fabric of the United States; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The Great Nicola was an internationally known
2celebrity who, despite touring world capitals and befriending
3royalty, chose to maintain his primary residence in rural
4Illinois, which he believed offered a quality of life lacking
5in metropolitan centers; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Monmouth is the burial place of The Great Nicola,
7his magician father and brother, and his pet elephant, Nizie,
8used in one of Nicola's most famous stage illusions; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Monmouth is developing a professionally curated
10museum, celebrating and interpreting the rich history of
11Western Illinois and the innovators, such as The Great Nicola;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Warren County History Museum maintains in its
14collection artifacts associated with The Great Nicola, and
15through an annual event known as The Great Nicola Magic
16Festival, they provide educational programming and
17entertainment celebrating the history and art of magic; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Great Nicola Magic Festival will enhance
19tourism opportunities in Illinois and contribute to the
20economic development of Western Illinois; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we wish The Great
2Nicola Magic Festival organizers success in their efforts to
3create and sustain an annual festival celebrating the legacy of
4The Great Nicola and the craft he helped popularize; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That we declare April 21, 2018 as "Magic Day in
7Monmouth"; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
9presented to the City of Monmouth and the Warren County History
10Museum.