I.B.M. British Ring 25th Annual Convention 1961

The 25th Annual Convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25 — the Silver Jubilee Convention — takes place 13th–17th September 1961 in Harrogate, with Convention Headquarters at the Royal Hall and events at the Lounge Hall, the Crown Hotel and the Summer Pavilion. Under the presidency of Francis Haxton, with the Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor F. W. Allum, J.P., sending his welcome and International President C. L. Schmitt sending his greetings, the week brings together visitors from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Rhodesia, the United States of America, Eire, India, Spain and the West Indies for the Official Opening and Cigarette Sorcery, the Civic Reception, Ball & Cabaret, the Mammoth Dealers’ Demonstration and the Grand Dealers’ Magical Trade Fair, Close-Up Magic Sessions and two special sessions by Jerry Andrus, Walter E. Cummings’ Sleight of Hand Clinic, the Hospital Shows, the Ladies’ Afternoon, the Competition for the British Ring Shield, More Classics in the Modern Manner, the Convention Banquet and After Banquet Gala, Children’s Playtime, Jerry Andrus’ lecture, the Micro Magic Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy, the Gala of Mystery at the Royal Hall and the midnight New Era Magic Co., closing on Sunday with the Convention Service and the Installation of Peter Warlock as the new President.

President Francis Haxton welcomes all members of the British Ring and visitors from here and overseas to the Silver Jubilee Convention, describing it as a great honour to preside on such an occasion. Having seen ‘The Ring’ grow from small beginnings into the large and successful organisation it is today, he pays tribute to the enthusiastic and untiring efforts of Hon. Secretary Bill Stickland and his committee, extends a special welcome to the artistes and organisers who have come from all parts of the world, sends good wishes for a speedy recovery to members who are sick and cannot be present, and thanks the Mayor of Harrogate, his Council and officials for placing all the facilities at the Convention’s disposal. The Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor F. W. Allum, writing in June 1961 on behalf of himself and his colleagues, is delighted that the International Brotherhood of Magicians will hold its Conference in Harrogate in September, extends a warm welcome to the delegates and their ladies, looks forward to entertaining old friends as well as new ones — the Convention having visited Harrogate before — and hopes the visit will enhance Harrogate’s position as the leading conference town in the north of England. The International President of the I.B.M., C. L. Schmitt, is exerting every effort to be with the British Ring for its Silver Jubilee Convention and, should he be unable to attend, sends the warmest greetings and best wishes of the Officers, Directors and Members of the I.B.M., looking forward to extending ‘Hands across the Sea’ in person.

Overseas visitors are welcomed from Australia (Mr. and Mrs. Ron Taggart and Charles Wicks), Belgium (Max Henry and Pavano), Czechoslovakia (Eduard and Dagmar Mazakian, Mila Trnka and Lubos Vondracek), Denmark (Niels Staalo and F. H. Pedersen, ‘Finelli’), France (Claude Rix and Marie Thérèse), Germany (Helga and Horst Müller and H. R. Von Heldt), Holland (Nic and Bob Niberco, Henk Vermeyden and Ted Winkel), Rhodesia (Mr. and Mrs. Stan Chatfield), the United States of America (Mystic Craig, Carolyn Trask — First National President of International Magigals — and Dr. Victor Trask, Dr. and Mrs. John Henry Grossman, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hawbecker, Mr. and Mrs. George Boston, Jerry Andrus and Walter E. Cummings), Ireland (Arthur Jenkins, Hon. Treasurer of the Irish Ring No. 85, I.B.M.), India (Mohammed Khalil and M. F. Gareh), Spain (Señor and Señora Fernando Maymo, President of the Circulo Español de Artes Magicas, and Señor Jorge Maymo) and the West Indies (George D. Day). The Mayor of Harrogate will receive the Overseas Visitors at the Council Chambers, Municipal Offices, at 11.0am on Saturday 16th September. Convention Headquarters is the Royal Hall, where events are announced on the fixture boards at the Registration Office; two Registration Desks (one for delegates who have previously registered, one for those registering at the Convention) are open throughout, the rule ‘Admission only by badge’ will be strictly enforced, official Convention Stewards (distinguished by arm bands) are anxious to assist newcomers, and Professor E. Duployen is Official Interpreter to the British Ring.

The Convention opens on Wednesday 13th September. The Grand Dealers’ Magical Trade Fair — ‘Your Shop Window’ — directed by Eddie Dexter, opens at 9.30am in the Royal Hall Annexe, with fifteen dealers exhibiting. The Fair runs on Wednesday 9.30am–6.30pm, Thursday 9.30am–8.30pm, Friday 11.30am–6pm (the later opening allows member dealers to attend the A.G.M., and the 6pm closing allows Banquet attendance), Saturday 9.30am–8.30pm and Sunday 9am until mid-day. The Dealers’ Trophy, presented by Mystic Craig for the most attractive stand and currently held by Corinda, is judged on Wednesday at 5pm by E. Pollard, Esq., Display Manager, by courtesy of Busby’s Ltd. of Harrogate; the Welfare Stand, near the Dealers’ Trade Fair, offers dozens of novelties at very reasonable prices. At 2.45pm the Walter Garrard Trio plays in the Royal Hall, and at 3pm the President, Francis Haxton, officially opens the Convention, followed at 3.15pm by ‘Cigarette Sorcery’, a competition for the best trick, routine or manipulation with cigarettes sponsored by Messrs. W. D. & H. O. Wills, Ltd., with prizes of £10, £6 and £4 and Alastair as compère. At 5.30pm the Close-Up Magic Session, organised by Fred Lowe, takes place at the Crown Hotel with Fred Robinson, Ken De Courcy, Mo Howarth and Jack Morrison. From 8.30pm to 12.30am the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate, Councillor and Mrs. F. W. Allum, give the Civic Reception, Ball & Cabaret at the Royal Hall (reception 8.30pm–9pm), when the Overseas Visitors are introduced, with dancing to the Walter Garrard Dance Orchestra and a cabaret compèred by Harold Taylor. The Giant Tombola, arranged by George Smallwood, is in aid of the Benevolent Fund.

Thursday 14th September begins at 9.45am with the Mammoth Dealers’ Demonstration in the Royal Hall, arranged and announced by Eddie Dexter, in which fourteen dealers each take a ten-minute slot from Inzani-Henley Studio of Magic to The Wizard’s Den, with a warning bell at nine minutes. At 2.30pm the Ladies’ Afternoon in the Ballroom of the Crown Hotel presents ‘Pottery Making’, a talk and demonstration by Pam and Henry of the De Lacy Pottery, Harrogate, followed by afternoon tea, bingo and entertainment by Magiciennes, while Wilfred Tyler’s Hospital Shows take the British Ring to the patients at The Yorkshire Home (Ken Green, Mo Howarth, Tony King, Harold Vernon, Marjorie Waddell, and Alfred Gabriel and Cecilia) and at the Harrogate General Hospital’s Children’s Ward (Le Slie, Fred Barton, Reg Hallam, Tom Harris, Cyro and the I.B.M. Clowns led by Will Norman). At 3.30pm Jerry Andrus presents the first of two special sessions of close-up magic in the Lounge Hall (a ticket for one session is issued to each delegate; the second is on Friday at noon). At 7.45pm Alastair introduces the twenty entrants in the Competition for the British Ring Shield at the Royal Hall, judged by Geoffrey Buckingham (Chairman), W. W. Baxter, Esq. (Harrogate Conference Secretary), Dr. J. H. Grossman, Milton Woodward and Henk Vermeyden, with Cyro as Stage Manager, Alfred Gabriel as Musical Adviser and Jack Potter as Timekeeper. At midnight in the Crown Hotel Ballroom comes the first presentation in England of Mystic Craig’s latest film, ‘Micro Card Magic’, with Bro. John Hammon, in colour and sound.

Friday 15th September opens at 10am prompt with the Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers in the Royal Hall (members only) under Chairman Francis Haxton, with the Reverend Michael Seacome as Returning Officer; the Harry Kaye Memorial Album will be on view at the Registration Desk throughout the Convention, and all members and visitors are invited to record their names in it in remembrance of the late Harry Kaye. At noon Jerry Andrus gives his second close-up session in the Lounge Hall. At 2.15pm Peter Warlock introduces ‘More Classics in the Modern Manner’ in the Lounge Hall, with Jack Avis, Frank Boynett, Louis Histed, Edward G. Love, Jack Morrison, Claude Rix, Gus Southall and Cecil Tebbett, and Sam Patience at the piano (admission by ticket). At 3.30pm Mystic Craig introduces Walter E. Cummings, formerly Chief Instructor at the Chavez College of Prestidigitation, in ‘The Sleight of Hand Clinic’ (by ticket only). The Convention Banquet at the Crown Hotel (6.30pm for 7pm), with Les Downham as Toastmaster and Faustina Hernandez at the piano, brings toasts to The Queen, the County Borough of Harrogate (proposed by Ron Bishop, response by the Mayor), the British Ring I.B.M. (proposed by Dr. John Henry Grossman, response by the President) and the Ladies and Visitors (proposed by Milton Woodward, response by Jerry Andrus), with a gift from Mystic Craig for the holder of the lucky menu number. At 10.30pm (doors open 10pm) the After Banquet Gala at the Royal Hall, compèred by Alastair, presents Robert Swadling and Valerie, Arthur Pollard (‘Almost a Magician’), The Mazakians (Czechoslovakia), Ted Winkel (Holland), John Todd and Jill and Devolyn and Irene, with the Walter Garrard Orchestra and, during the interval, the presentation of the British Ring Shield and Trophies by the President (admission by ticket only).

Saturday 16th September starts at 10.30am with Wilfred Tyler’s Children’s Playtime at the Summer Pavilion, opened by the I.B.M. Clowns and featuring Charles Bowyer as host, Wally Ashton and his Living Marionettes, Roy Darnley, Arthur Leo, Edwin, The Martinos and Eddie Dawes and Amy. At 11am the Mayor receives the Overseas Visitors at the Council Chambers, and a Close-Up Magic Session takes place in the Lounge Hall. At 2.30pm prompt Mystic Craig introduces Jerry Andrus, the internationally famous author, originator and close-up magician, in a lecture in which films will amplify the talk and demonstration (admission by ticket only). At 4.30pm Fred Lowe organises the Micro Magic Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy in the Foyer of the Crown Hotel Ballroom, with eleven competitors judged by Señor Maymo (Spain), Donald Crombie and His Honour Ernest Wethered. The International Brotherhood of Magicians (British Ring) presents International Stars of Magic in a Grand Gala of Mystery at the Royal Hall at 5.30pm and 8.30pm, with the programme arranged by Wm. G. Stickland, Paul Graham as Stage Manager and Harold Taylor as compère: Graham & Angela Walsh, Mila Trnka (Czechoslovakia), Larry Spencer (the 1960 winner of the British Ring Shield), Claude Rix and Marie Thérèse (France), Bruce Allan and Nic and Bob Niberco (Holland) in the first half, and Graham & Angela Walsh, Helga & Horst Müller (Germany), Jerry Andrus (U.S.A.), the Duo Mazakians & Vondráček (Czechoslovakia), Walter E. Cummings (U.S.A.) and Jeffery Atkins and Company in ‘The Illusions of the Masters’ in the second. At midnight the New Era Magic Co. presents its demonstration somewhere in the basement of the Headquarters Hotel.

The Convention closes on Sunday 17th September with a special undenominational Convention Service at the Royal Hall at 10am, conducted by the Reverend Michael Seacome, M.A., A.R.C.M., Vicar of Barnwood, Gloucester and Official Chaplain to the British Ring, followed at 12.15pm in the Ballroom of the Crown Hotel by the Installation of Peter Warlock as the new President and, at 12.30pm, a Cocktail Party under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Dexter. Au revoir until we meet in 1962.

Several of the Gala artistes — Jeffery Atkins, Jerry Andrus, Walter E. Cummings, The Mazakians and Nic and Bob Niberco — also appear in a B.B.C. Television programme, ‘International Magic’, compèred by David Jacobs, pre-recorded on 12th September and to be transmitted on Saturday 23rd September at 9.25pm. Greetings to the Convention are sent by the International Brotherhood of Magicians (International President C. L. Schmitt, 1st Vice President Irving M. Lewis, International Secretary A. L. Baldwin, M.D., International Treasurer & Executive Secretary Thomas A. Dowd and Linking Ring Editor Alvin R. Plough), and The Magic Circle invites everyone to continue the magical ‘Merry-Go-Round’ at its Festival of Magic at the Scala Theatre, London, 9th–14th October. Event organisers include Wm. G. Stickland and Jeffery Atkins (Gala Show), Jeffery Atkins (Registration), Francis Haxton (Banquet), Eddie Dexter (Dealers’ Exhibition), Robert Johnson (Outside Attractions and Publicity), George Smallwood (Tombola), Peter Warlock (Lectures, ‘More Classics in the Modern Manner’ and Souvenir Programme), Geoffrey Robinson (New Era), Poppy Stickland (Ladies’ Afternoon), Alastair (Shield Competition), Mystic Craig and Will Norman (Films), Wilfred Tyler (Children’s Playtime and Hospital Shows) and Fred Lowe (Close-Up and Micro Magic).