I.B.M. British Ring 5th Annual Convention 1935

The 5th Annual Convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25 takes place 28th–30th June 1935 in Royal Leamington Spa, with Convention Headquarters at the Bath Hotel, Bath Street, and the Saturday entertainments at the Jephson Gardens Pavilion. Opened by the Ring’s Founder and President, Oswald Rae, the weekend brings together members and visitors for Friday’s Official Opening, Tea, Sensational Outside Attractions with The Great Levante, a Civic Reception given by the Mayor of Leamington at the Royal Pump Room and Baths, a Special Programme of Magic, Special Midnight Cabaret and Grand Magical Ball at the Palais-de-Danse; Saturday’s Official Convention Photograph, Children’s Charity Matinee and Grand Public Magical Entertainment; and the General Meeting, Sale of Apparatus and an Informal Entertainment on Sunday.

The British Ring welcomes members and visitors to its Fifth Annual Convention, returning to Royal Leamington Spa, host of the 1934 Convention. The Official Souvenir Programme opens with a portrait of Oswald Rae, Founder and President of the British Ring, and lists the Ring’s officers: Oswald Rae (President); David Devant, Gus Fowler, Laurance Glen and L. Bofeys (Vice-Presidents); a Committee of George Blake, Archie Byford, Harry Kaye, Walter Kemp and Milton Woodward; and Wm. G. Stickland, “The Wand”, Ferndown, Wimborne, Dorset, as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.

Convention Headquarters is the Bath Hotel, Bath Street, Leamington Spa. All members and visitors are requested to register there on arrival, when they will receive a Convention Badge admitting them to the Civic Reception and other facilities offered by the Corporation. The registration fee for non-members is 1s., and Convention announcements will be posted on a Notice Board at Headquarters. Non-members are invited to join the British Ring, with membership forms available during the Convention and particulars from the Secretary.

The Convention opens on Friday 28th June at 3pm with the Official Opening by the President at the Bath Hotel, followed by Tea at 3.45pm. At 4.45pm come the Sensational Outside Attractions: The Great Levante, handcuffed, chained and leg-ironed, will be thrown into the River Leam from the York Bridge — can he escape? — and will also present his marvellous £1,000 Steel Trunk Mystery, which will be on view at Messrs. P. H. Woodward & Co., Ltd., The Parade, Leamington, for three days prior to the Convention. At 8.15pm His Worship the Mayor of Leamington will receive members and ladies at the Royal Pump Room and Baths, with music by the Edna Willoughby Trio and light refreshments during the evening. A Special Programme of Magic follows, with Archie Tear and a Pack of Cards, George Davenport (‘Magic of 1935’), Donald Crombie (‘The Magical Connoisseur’), Wm. G. Stickland and “Jimmy” in Nautical Nonsense, Esler Kessen (Tricks and Stories), Oswald Rae (‘The Bewildering Humorist’) and Stanley Cable (Eastern and Western Magic).

The evening continues with a Special Midnight Cabaret arranged by Harry Kaye, with Walter Kemp as M.C. (evening dress): Milton Woodward and The Folly Girls; John Ramsey (‘Sleights from Ayr’); Beryl Meakin (‘Australia’s Funny Fat Girl’); The Great Levante, the Famous Australian Magician; Jack Crosbie (‘Six Feet of Art and Mystery’); Djinn and his Magic; Millicent Cooper, B.B.C. Soprano and Entertainer; and Alf. Greens and His Boys. The Grand Magical Ball and Cabaret takes place at the Palais-de-Danse from 9pm to 2am, with admission free to members and lady friends.

Saturday 29th June begins at 10.30am with the Official Convention Photograph, taken by Tom Hayter at the front of the Town Hall. The Jephson Gardens Pavilion then hosts a Special Charity Matinee for Children on Saturday afternoon (listed at 2.45pm in the day’s programme, and at 2.30pm on the Matinee’s own programme page), with part proceeds in aid of Local Charities. Walter Kemp is compère, and the programme features Oscar Paulson, Liverpool’s Favourite Childrens’ Entertainer; Uncle Dick (of The Mystic Two), Magical Clown; Djinn and his Magic; Archie Byford and his popular Punch and Judy; Eric J. Williams, ‘The Whimsical Wizard’ (‘Wizardry and Wisecracks’); Francis White (‘Seeing is not believing’); and Stanley Cable (‘Chinese Magic’). Harry Kaye directs the stage, assisted by Morris Ross, with incidental music by the Maxwell Dyer Orchestra.

At 7.45pm the Jephson Gardens Pavilion hosts the Grand Public Magical Entertainment, compèred by Walter Kemp. After the Overture by the Convention Orchestra come The Folly Girls, Raoul (‘Le Magicien Français’, ‘Wonders without Words’), Beryl Meakin, Wm. G. Stickland (‘The Wessex Wizard’, assisted by Miss Poppy Gwynne in ‘Magic a la carte’), Oswald Rae (‘The Bewildering Humorist’), Harry Albion (Comedy Dancing Juggler), H. Park Shackleton (the well-known Bradford Magician) and Maskelyne’s Mysteries, presented by The Davenports. After an Orchestral Interlude, the second part brings Marelles Marvellous Marionettes, Jack Crosbie, Milton Woodward (Wizard of Mirth and Mystery), The Folly Girls again and, as the finale, the World-Famous Australian Illusionist, The Great Levante, closing with The King. Harry Kaye directs the stage, with the Convention Orchestra under the direction of Maxwell Dyer.

The Convention closes on Sunday 30th June at the Bath Hotel with the General Meeting for members only at 10.30am, the Sale of Apparatus at 11.30am (lists should be handed to the Hon. Sec. on Saturday) and an Informal Entertainment in the afternoon.

The Souvenir Programme also carries practical information for visitors. Its introduction to Leamington Spa describes the town’s public gardens, the reconstructed Royal Pump Room and Baths, the Jephson Gardens — whose Pavilion seats 1,200 entirely under cover — and the surrounding Shakespeare country, with Birmingham reached by train in 26 minutes and London in 1½ hours. The Railway Facilities page lists services between Paddington, Birmingham Snow Hill and Leamington Spa, with trains to the West of England and South Wales, to York and Newcastle, and to Southampton. The recommended hotels are the Bath (Bath Street) and the Crown (High Street), each at 8s. 6d. Bed and Breakfast; anyone with difficulty obtaining suitable accommodation is asked to write to the Spa Manager, Pump Room, Leamington Spa, stating requirements. The Corporation of Leamington Spa offers delegates bathing in the Inside Swimming Pool, the Royal Pump Room and Baths, the Gardens, etc. Booking Agents for the public shows are Messrs. Dale, Forty & Co., Parade, Leamington Spa. The President, Officers and Members of the British Ring express their sincere appreciation to the Mayor and Corporation of Leamington Spa and to Mr. W. J. Leist, the Spa Manager, for their great hospitality and valuable co-operation, and to Messrs. Dale, Forty & Co. for kindly acting as Booking Agents.