The Vancouver Magic Circle is one of the world's largest I.B.M. Rings for professional and amateur magicians, with over 150 local and out-of-town members. It is Ring #92 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and an affiliate of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. Members of the Vancouver Magic Circle meet each month at the Sunrise Community Hall at 7:00 pm, located at 1950 Windermere Street, Vancouver, BC. They meet on the fourth Thursday of every month with no meetings being held in July, August and December. Guests are welcomed, and many new members join the circle each year.
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In the Spring of 1942, accomplished Vancouver Magicians and good friends Charles Howard and William Shelly brought together about a dozen Magic enthusiasts from around Vancouver to form The Vancouver Magic Circle. Monthly Meetings of the fledgling club were held at the Devonshire Hotel (corner of Georgia & Hornby) in downtown Vancouver.
Charles Howard, a retired Army Captain, Served as the club's First President, holding two terms of office (1942 and 1943). He was a respected authority on magic and the original visionary for our club. During his tenure he founded and nurtured the Vancouver Magic Circle Library, which was an integral part of club meetings in the 1940s and '50s. (Over time his Legacy has grown to become one of the largest Club Owned Magic Libraries in North America, with the collection today at well over 2000 volumes.)
William Shelly, a former Minister of Finance and a successful businessman who owned the 4X bakery chain, was elected the club's second president, and also served two terms in office (1944 and 1945). Under his direction, the club's Newsletter was established. He appointed Thornton Poole the clubs first "Magic Scribe" and in March 1944 the inaugural issue of the Magical Minutes rolled off the presses. It has remained continuous publication ever since.
Ring 92 is dedicated to the art of magic and wants its members to become the best magicians they can be. To help their membership obtain their goals of perfection they bring in top notch talent to lecture. Some well-known magicians who have lectured for the Vancouver Magic Circle include: Shawn Farquhar, Daryl, Carl Cloutier, Greg Frewin, Jay Sankey, Doc Eason, David Ginn, Tim Ellis, Dan Harlan, Michael Ammar, Gene Anderson, Eugene Burger, David Acer, Alain Nu, Paul Gertner and Chris Capehart.
The Vancouver Magic Circle's library first came into being shortly after the club was formed in 1942. The books were mainly donated by club members with many of them coming from the Club's first president Charles Howard. Over the next 30 years, the library was tended by a number of people. The library continued to grow until it consisted of hundreds of books, including many rare books.
Both the newer books and the reserve section are made available to the Vancouver Magic Circle's membership at most monthly meetings. The newer books are available for checkout by members of the Vancouver Magic Circle.
There is an ongoing program to continue to expand the library. The library has already increase in size by more than 400 books this year alone with many of these books coming to the club by donation.
The Vancouver Magic Circle encourages its membership to enter its many competitions. Many members use these title competitions to promote their business by including their awards in press kits and other promotional materials. In addition the club has many special awards for outstanding achievement or exemplary commitment to the ring. The following is a list of the current awards and trophy competitions:
Cecil Ackery Comedy Trophy - Adult Competition for comedy magic
Charles Howard Trophy - Adult Competition for gimmick magic.
Dick Gardner Trophy - Junior Competition for close up magic.
H.B. MacLean Trophy - Adult Competition for close up magic.
Percy Poole Trophy - Junior Competition for stage magic.
Ray Gamble Trophy - Adult Competition for impromptu card magic.
Rick Honey Comedy Trophy - Junior Competition for comedy magic.
Wilf Rutherford Trophy - Adult Competition for best children's magic performance.
William Shelly Trophy - Adult Competition for stage magic.
TipTop & Tootsie Trophy - Adult / Jr. Competition for Halloween magic.