The Competition for the New Silver British Ring Shield
Stage 24 September 1964 19:30 Winter Gardens
Organised and introduced by Alastair at the Winter Gardens. Entrants in order of appearance: 1. John Howell (St. Leonards-on-Sea); 2. Christopher Cox (Isle of Wight); 3. Tommy Talbot (Woking); 4. Harry Dewhirst (Blackpool); 5. Joyce Martino (Blaydon-on-Tyne); 6. Charlie Spratt (Prudhoe-on-Tyne); 7. Nugeni and Karen (Canterbury); 8. Granville Anstee (Newport); 9. Sam & Joy Mallinson (Huddersfield); 10. Stuart Good (Sheffield); 11. Ian Adair (Kilmarnock); 12. Karno (London); 13. Geoff Ray & Pat (Shrewsbury); 14. W. J. Haylock-Eyre (Bexleyheath); 15. Christine (Barnsley); 16. Peter Riley (London); 17. Ali Bongo (London); 18. Douglas Gregg (Hull); 19. Maisie (Blackpool); 20. Dennis Gardner (Nottingham); 21. The Eldanis (Middlesbrough); 22. Peter Scarlett (Portslade-by-Sea). Judges: Geoffrey Buckingham (Chairman), Oswald Rae, Louis Histed, Werner Hornung, George Hill, George Blake and Claude Rix. Stage Manager: Anthony List, assisted by Roy Currie. Musical Director: Alfred Gabriel. Timekeeper: Jack Potter. Holder of the Shield: Gordon Watts & Shirley (1963 winners).
Competition details & rules
Prizes: The New Silver British Ring Shield and Cash Prize of ÂŁ10, awarded for the presentation of the most entertaining magical act and held for one year. The Conventioneers Trophy, for the greatest originality shown in either effect, method of presentation and held for one year. The Craig Trophy, for the best performance by a lady magician, held for one year (not to be confused with the Craig Trophy awarded as the Dealersâ Trophy â see the Dealersâ Magical Trade Fair). In addition: the Theo Speaker Cup and Cash Prize of ÂŁ5 for the runner-up, held for one year; Third Prize ÂŁ3; the Tom Harris Cup (Comedy) and Cash Prize of ÂŁ5.5.0, kindly donated by Tom Harris; and the Dittia Shield (Manipulation).
Rules: The competitions are open to all paid-up members of Ring 25, the British Ring. No bar is placed upon the number of awards that can be obtained by a successful competitor: a male winner of the British Ring Shield who presented the most entertaining and at the same time the most original act could qualify for two awards, and a lady competitor equally successful would be entitled to all three awards. The length of act should not exceed ten minutesâ playing time; a warning light is flashed at the end of nine minutes, and any competitor exceeding ten and a half minutes is automatically disqualified, the disqualification being announced from the stage immediately before the appearance of the next competitor. The judges consist of five members of the Ring, the local Entertainments Manager and the editor of the local paper (this composition may vary according to location). An Umpire, a senior official of the Ring, has complete powers to accept or reject the judgesâ decisions; if he rejects them he must place his decision and reasons before the Committee.
Instructions to the Judges: Three awards require judgment. The Shield goes to the most entertaining magical act, considered first from the point of view of general entertainment, as if seen in a concert, dinner or other show; then the entrance and exit, stage setting, condition of apparatus, dress, deportment and elocution, the nature of the tricks and the reaction of the audience (for a silent act, the effectiveness of the mime). Judges are not looking for new tricks and must not be biased by advanced technical ability that would only be apparent to a magician. The second award is for originality (newness of effect, a novel presentation employing twists on standard effects, entertainment value and an adequacy of mystery), the concern mainly of the magicians on the panel. The third award is for the best lady performer. Each judge writes down the best four acts, adding the performers entitled to the second and third awards if they do not qualify in the first four places, seals the paper in the envelope provided and hands it to the Umpire, without discussing the decision with other judges.
Important to competitors: allowing ten minutes for each turn, competitors should work out their approximate time of appearance and report to the Stage Manager half an hour before time due. For the guidance of competitors a red light will be flashed after nine minutes of every act.
