The 8th Annual Convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25 takes place 24th–26th June 1938 in Malvern, with Convention Headquarters at the County Hotel and the Saturday entertainments at the Festival Theatre. Under the presidency of the Ring’s Founder, Oswald Rae, the weekend opens on Friday with the Opening Dinner at the County Hotel; continues on Saturday with the Competition for the British Ring Shield, a Magical Matinee at 2.45pm and the Grand Magical Entertainment at 7.45pm, compèred by Walter Kemp and topped by The Great Levante and His Assistants; and closes on Sunday with the Farewell Luncheon.
The British Ring welcomes members and visitors to its Eighth Annual Convention, held at Malvern with Convention Headquarters at the County Hotel. The Souvenir Programme lists the Ring’s officers: Oswald Rae (President); Herbert J. Collings, David Devant, Gus Fowler, Les Levante and Jasper Maskelyne (Vice-Presidents); a Committee of Stanley Cable, Ralph Chart, Harry Kaye, Archie Tear and J. Milton Woodward; and Wm. G. Stickland, “The Wand”, Dudsbury Crescent, Ferndown, Wimborne, Dorset (telephone Ferndown 444), as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. The Convention Committee is Harry Kaye and Les Levante, with Miss Tyler and Ralph Chart in charge of Reception. Portraits introduce Oswald Rae, Founder and President of the British Ring; Harry Kaye, Hon. Stage Director of all programmes; The Great Levante, Vice-President and star performer at Saturday evening’s Magical Entertainment; Walter Kemp, “The Inimitable Compere”; Herbert J. Collings (Col Ling Soo), Vice-President; and Wm. G. Stickland, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.
The Convention opens on Friday 24th June with the Opening Dinner at the County Hotel. The menu is Grapefruit en Cocktail; Consommé Printanière and Crème de Laitue; Turbot Duglère; Poulet Rôti à la Broche with Pommes Fondantes and Petits Pois au Beurre; Trifles aux Fruits and Glace au Marasquin; and Café. Messrs. L. Davenport & Co.’s Demon Den will be found on the First Floor of the County Hotel. Alternative accommodation to the County Hotel is offered at The Abbey Hotel, at 11/6 Bed and Breakfast or 20/- per day full board, with twin-bedded rooms in the annexe at 10/6 Bed and Breakfast or 18/6 per day full board; rooms may be booked direct or through Ralph Chart, Esq., c/o The County Hotel.
The Competition for the British Ring Shield, to be held by the winner for one year, is open to members only. Competitors are limited to seven minutes, and after six minutes the Stage Manager will give a warning; points will be awarded for Entertainment Value, Presentation and Originality, and the names of the Judges will be given on the Official Notice Board. The Souvenir Programme does not print the day or time of the Competition. The first prize is the British Ring Shield, presented by the Ring, together with Neyhart Rising Cards presented by Levante; second prize is a Vanishing Bird Cage Trick presented by Messrs. L. Davenport and Co.; third is apparatus to the value of One Pound from the Demon Den, presented by Ralph Chart, Esq.; fourth is a copy of “Wessex Wizardry” and a copy of “It”, presented by Wm. G. Stickland, Esq.; and fifth is “Hugards” Encyclopedia of Magic, presented by Cedric. Further consolation prizes have been offered, should the entries warrant it, by Messrs. Levante, Oswald Rae, Harry Kaye, Wm. G. Stickland and Walter Wandman.
On Saturday 25th June the Festival Theatre presents a Magical Matinee at 2.45pm, devised to please kiddies from 5 to 70. After the Overture by The Convention Orchestra the programme features Edward W. Beal (“Magic that Entertains”), Eric P. Wilson (“One Good Turn Deceives Another”), John Gambling (The Cambridge Magician), M. Wingate Kirk presenting his cheeky Scotch Doll “Sandy”, Eric Williams (“The Whimsical Wizard”), the Ever Popular Punch and Judy presented by Prof. W. H. Woodley, Oswald Rae (The Bewildering Humorist), Victor Peacock and His Magic Telephone, John Warrender (The Scottish Magician) and Djinn and His Magic, closing with The King. Ernst Burwell is Stage Manager.
At 7.45pm the Festival Theatre hosts the Grand Magical Entertainment, with Walter Kemp as Our Compère. After the Overture by The Convention Orchestra the first half presents Wm. G. Stickland, The Wessex Wizard, assisted by Poppy Gwynne; Fred Carter (The Gay Deceiver); Marelle’s Marvellous Marionettes; Lucille (“A Name to Conjure With”); and Col Ling Soo (“A Thousand and One Celestial Wisecracks”, as presented at Windsor Castle). After the Interval and a Selection by The Convention Orchestra come Raoul (Le Magicien Français, “Wonders Without Words”); Donald Crombie (The Magical Connoisseur); Rupert Howard (“Mental Phenomena”); H. Park Shackleton presenting “The Woes of a Wizard’s Assistants”; Syd Clarke (The Fiddling Funster); and, as the finale, The Great Levante and His Assistants, closing with The King. Harry Kaye directs the stage, with Maxwell Dyer as Musical Director.
The Convention closes on Sunday 26th June with the Farewell Luncheon at the County Hotel. The menu is Cream of Tomato; Salmon Mayonnaise; Roast Veal and Stuffing with Baked and Boiled Potatoes and French Beans; Fruit Tart and Cream and Strawberry Ices; and Coffee.
The President, Officers and Members of the British Ring hope that all members and visitors will have a thoroughly enjoyable time, and express their appreciation to all who have contributed towards the success of the Convention, including the Chairman and Council of the Urban District of Malvern and the inhabitants for their hearty welcome; Capt. Limbert, Mr. Panrucker and the staff of the Festival Theatre, and Mr. Ernst Burwell and the assistants of the Great Levante; Messrs. L. Davenport & Co. and the Press for valuable publicity; the Convention Committee and Hon. Secretary for their efficient organisation; Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Lanchester for their kind entertainment; the artistes, stewards and other members and friends, especially Miss Tyler and Mr. Ralph Chart (the Reception Committee); and Mr. J. Milton Woodward for generously supplying badge ribbons, together with the donors of prizes for the Competition.
The Souvenir Programme also carries greetings from members and friends. Oswald Rae of Reading bids everyone welcome to the Convention; Guss Davenport extends his greetings to all Brother Magicians; Gus Fowler sends greetings to all; Wm. G. Stickland and Poppy Gwynne, The Wessex Wizard, wish success to the 8th Convention and recommend “IT” (Interesting Tricks) to anyone requiring novel ideas; Harry Kaye of Bush Hill, London, N.21 trusts everyone enjoys the Convention; and The Great Levante, with Mrs. Levante and Esme, sends “A Cooee from Australia”. Further greetings come from Stanley Cable; Archie Tear of Northampton; Donald G. Crombie, M.I.M.C., of Wolverhampton; Morris Ross and His Magic Box of Enfield; John Ramsey of Ayr; Edgar H. Reid of Crosby, Liverpool; Eric Williams of Ledbury; H. Essler Kessen of Liverpool; H. Park Shackleton, “The Wizard of the North”; Raoul of Horsham; Richard Fitzgerald (“Uncle Dick”) of London, S.E.8; Bofeys and Valere; John Gambling of Cambridge; and Walter Wandman, who hopes to see everyone at Malvern. The back cover carries the advertisement of L. Davenport & Co., 204 High Holborn, W.C.1, makers of magical apparatus since 1898, for the Demon All Tricks Catalogue and the Demon Telegraph.
