I.B.M. British Ring 18th Annual Convention 1954

The 18th Annual Convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25 takes place 15th–19th September 1954 in Brighton, with Convention Headquarters at the Hotel Metropole and events at The Dome, the Grand Hotel, Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Palace Pier. Under the presidency of Oscar Paulson, with His Worship the Mayor of Brighton, Alderman Walter G. Dudeney, J.P., and I.B.M. International President C. James McLemore extending their greetings, delegates and overseas visitors from Australia, Belgium, France, India and the U.S.A. gather for a programme that includes International Magic, Close-Up Magic on Television via Marconi closed-circuit screens, the Competition for the British Ring Shield, the Presidents’ Parade, the Grand Magical Gala and the Initiation of Geoffrey Robinson as the new President.

President Oscar Paulson greets members with his customary good humour, promising a veritable maelstrom of mystical matter for everyone’s masterly mastication. He asks members to thank the workers they see around them and the munificent Brighton authorities for their wholesome hospitality, to spare a thought for those kept away by illness, and reminds everyone that “the Greats” are proud to rub shoulders with them. His Worship the Mayor of Brighton, Alderman Walter G. Dudeney, J.P., welcomes the delegates and hopes they will find time to enjoy the many and varied attractions Brighton has to offer, while C. James McLemore, International President of the I.B.M., sends official greetings from the world-wide organisation to one of its largest and finest Rings, praising its steady growth and its fine magazine, “The Budget”, and looking forward to exchanging visits with the Brotherhood’s other branches.

Hon. Editor Alan Kennaugh’s feature, “Brighton Magic”, introduces the people who make the Convention happen: Wm. G. Stickland, the inspiring force behind so many conventions; Geoffrey Robinson, President-Elect, compère and clown; Wilfred Tyler, who arranges the Children’s Matinee; Eddie Dexter, who directs the Welfare scheme; Jeffery Atkins at the registration desk; Percy Bee, Francis Haxton, Peter Warlock, Jack Potter, Eric Williams, Donald Crombie, Paul Graham, George Blake and Robert Johnson, with Voltaire, Edward Love, Tom Harris, Will Ayling and Freddie Carter among the bedroom-session regulars. He also looks back to the Ring’s founding by Oswald Rae in 1928 and the first convention at Cheltenham in 1931, and remembers John Gambling and Harry Kaye, whose pioneering spirit lives on — the Harry Kaye Memorial Album will be on view at the Registration Desk for members and visitors to sign.

Overseas visitors are welcomed from Australia (Charles Wicks, International Vice President for Australia, and Paul Dalton), Belgium (Stewart Revers), France (Jean Poisson, Guy Bert and Li King Si), India (H. M. Vakil and Eddie Joseph) and the U.S.A. (Mystic Craig, Dr. Zina Bennett, Elmer Eckam and Father Kelly), together with Lucille & Eddie Roberts making their first appearance in England. Convention Headquarters is the Metropole Hotel, where there are two Registration Desks open throughout, official hosts in ‘Ask Me’ rosettes, and fixture boards, a blackboard and the Convention Club for announcements. Badges are to be worn, and “Admission only by registration card” will be strictly enforced; the official photographers are Messrs. Gifford Boyd of Hastings, in conjunction with Souvenir Snaps of Brighton.

Wednesday 15th September opens at 2.30pm with a Grand Outside Stunt: Esme Levante’s Sensational Manacle Dive from the Palace Pier, wearing two pairs of regulation handcuffs, leg-irons, three padlocks and seven feet of chain. At 3.30pm the President officially opens the Convention in the Clarence Room and introduces the overseas visitors; at 7.45pm comes the Get-Together at the Metropole with dancing in the Winter Garden from 8pm to midnight and a buffet; and at 9pm, compèred by Freddie Carter, International Magic presents Will Ayling, Jean Poisson, Stewart Revers, Paul Dalton, Eddie Joseph and Dr. Zina Bennett before the interval, then Guy Bert, H. M. Vakil, Elmer Eckam, Charles Wicks, Father Kelly and Mystic Craig. Davenports’ Demon Den also opens in the Writing Room.

Thursday 16th September is Dealers’ Day. Judging for the Craig Cup — Mystic Craig’s trophy for the most attractive stand, currently held by Davenport and Co. — takes place at 10am, and at 10.30am in the Clarence Room twelve dealers and demonstrators appear in an order decided by ballot, announced by Eddie Dexter, before Hugh Cecil’s “An Act with a Punch” in the Winter Garden at 12.35pm. The Grand Dealers’ Exhibition fills the Octagon Room and the adjoining Dealers’ Corridor Annexe on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. At 2.30pm Marconi’s closed-circuit television brings Close-Up Magic on Television, presented by Geoffrey Robinson and Francis Haxton, with fifteen close-up performers. J. F. Orrin lectures on Mechanical Magic at 5pm, and at 8pm the Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton receive guests at the Grand Hotel, followed by dancing from 8.30pm until 1am to Percy Warden and the Grand Hotel Orchestra and a cabaret by Delvin and Sally, The Voltaires and Billy Sinclair, in evening dress.

Friday 17th September begins at 10am at Convention Headquarters with the Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers, for members only; voting papers must be left at the Reception Desk by Thursday. At 11.30am and 1.45pm at The Dome, Oscar Paulson introduces the Competition for the British Ring Shield, with thirty competitors, judged by J. Lea Axon, Arthur Culpin, T. H. Chislett, Levante, Fr. Kelly, Dr. Zina Bennett and Frank Baumforth; the Shield (£10, held by Elizabeth Warlock), the Theo Speaker Cup and £5 for the runner-up, a £3 third prize, the Conventioneers Trophy for the most original trick or routine, and the Craig Trophy for the best performance by a lady member are all at stake. The Group Photograph is taken at The Dome at 12.45pm. In the evening comes the Convention Banquet at the Café Anglais (7pm for 7.30pm) with the President in the chair and Paul Graham as Toastmaster, followed at 9.45pm in the Clarence Rooms by the Presidents’ Parade, with John Ramsay, Geoffrey Robinson, Ernest Wethered, Herbert J. Collings, Oscar Paulson, Dr. Zina Bennett and Wm. G. Stickland’s “Merry Midgets”, and Mystic Craig’s gift of a President’s Cup and Presidents’ Wands to past Presidents.

Saturday 18th September opens at 10.30am with Wilfred Tyler’s Children’s Playtime at Her Majesty’s Theatre, hosted by Horace King and featuring the Risto Troupe, the Vera Garbutt Juveniles, Drew Masters, Gladys Cole, Ali Bongo, Frederick Barlow, Esme Levante’s living marionettes and Ram Das and Kim. At 2.30pm in the Clarence Rooms the Pocket Trick Drive offers two silver tankards donated by Frank Baumforth, while the Giant Tombola raises funds for the Benevolent Fund. The Grand Magical Gala, “Stars of Magic”, plays The Dome at 2.30pm and 7.45pm, compèred by Geoffrey Robinson, with the Mystic Maids, Arthur Culpin, Claude Chandler, Elizabeth Warlock, Li King Si, Will Norman, Deveen and his Television Blondes, Lucille & Eddie Roberts, Paul Dalton and, topping the bill, The Great Levante with Esme Levante & Company. At midnight the New Era Company present their demonstration of tricks that will be “On the Market Soon” in aid of the Benevolent Fund, and Magic Films are shown in the Winter Garden.

Sunday 19th September closes the Convention. At 10.30am in the Clarence Rooms Gustave Southall lectures on Card Magic, followed by The Great Levante’s lecturette and demonstration, “The Thumb Tie”. At 12.15pm a Cocktail Party is held at which the Ladies are the guests of The British Ring, and the Initiation of the new President, Geoffrey Robinson, and Close of Convention follow.