The Magic Circle (organisation) facts for kids
The Magic Circle Theatre
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| Formation | 1905 |
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| Purpose | To promote and advance the art of magic |
| Headquarters | Euston London, NW1 United Kingdom |
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Membership (2023)
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1,534 |
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Official language
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English |
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President
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Marvin Berglas |
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Main organ
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The Magic Circular |
| Remarks | Motto: Indocilis Privata Loqui ("not apt to disclose secrets") |
The Magic Circle is a special British group for people who love and perform magic. It helps magicians learn and get better at their craft.
To join, you usually need to pass an exam where you show off your magic skills. Sometimes, you can also write a detailed paper about a type of magic. Once you pass, you become a Member of The Magic Circle (M.M.C.). There are even higher levels, like Associate of the Inner Magic Circle (A.I.M.C.) and Member of The Inner Magic Circle (M.I.M.C.). Only 300 people can be M.I.M.C. members at one time!
The Magic Circle started in 1905. For many years, only men could join. But in 1991, women were finally allowed to become members. There's also a club just for younger magicians called the Young Magicians Club.
Contents
How The Magic Circle Began
The Magic Circle started in 1905. Twenty-three magicians, both pros and amateurs, met at Pinoli's Restaurant in London. They wanted to create a club for magic lovers.
At first, they thought about naming the club after a young magician named Martin Chapender, who had recently passed away. But they decided on "Magic Circle" instead. It still shared the same initials as Martin Chapender, which was a nice tribute.
Their first official meeting was at a pub called the Green Man. Later, they met at St George's Hall. Famous magicians like David Devant and John Nevil Maskelyne often performed there.
David Devant became the first president of The Magic Circle. In 1906, Maskelyne started The Magic Circular magazine. This magazine is still published regularly for members today. It's known as the longest-running magic magazine ever!
Women Join the Circle
For a long time, only men could be members of The Magic Circle. But in 1991, over 75% of the members voted to allow women to join. By 2010, there were about eighty female members.
In 2014, Megan Knowles-Bacon made history. She became the first female officer in The Magic Circle. She was also the youngest person ever elected as an officer. In 2021, she became the first female president of The Magic Circle. She is also the youngest president the club has ever had.
The Secret Motto
The Magic Circle has a special motto in Latin: indocilis privata loqui. This means "not apt to disclose secrets." It's a promise members make.
Members promise not to share magic secrets with just anyone. They can only share them with other serious students of magic. If someone breaks this rule, they could be asked to leave the club.
The Magic Headquarters
Since 1998, The Magic Circle has had its own building in central London. It's near Euston Station. This building is used for meetings and special events. In 2008, it was even voted the best venue in the UK for hospitality!
The Magic Circle headquarters has many cool features. It has a theatre, a library full of magic books, a museum, a dining room, and clubrooms.
The museum is packed with amazing magic items. You can see old tricks, props, posters, and photos. Some cool things include:
- Robert Harbin's original Zig Zag illusion.
- Robes worn by the famous magician Chung Ling Soo.
- A puppet of Sooty, a famous British TV character, and his magic props.
- Props used by TV magicians like David Nixon and Tommy Cooper.
- A sound recording of Harry Houdini from an old record.
- A set of cups and balls used by King Charles III when he took his Magic Circle exam in 1975!
You can visit the museum by booking a special tour.
Becoming a Member
If you want to join The Magic Circle, you might start as an Apprentice. This can last up to two years. You need to be at least 18 years old. You also need two current members to sponsor you. They act like references, saying you're a good fit for the club.
After applying, you'll have an interview. If everything goes well, you'll either take a performance exam or write a thesis. In the exam, you perform your magic act for judges. If you write a thesis, it's read by examiners.
The final step is a vote by the club's Council. If they approve, you become a "Member of the Society." You can then use the letters M.M.C. after your name.
Famous Members
Many famous people are members of The Magic Circle. These include King Charles III, Dynamo, and Stephen Fry.
However, the famous magic duo Penn & Teller were not allowed to join. This is because they often reveal how magic tricks work in their shows. The Magic Circle's rules say you shouldn't reveal magic secrets to non-magicians.
Higher Levels of Membership
After becoming an M.M.C., members can try for higher levels:
Associate of the Inner Magic Circle
This is the next step up. You can take another exam or write another thesis. If you do really well on the M.M.C. written exam, you might even get the A.I.M.C. degree right away! If you get it through a performance exam, you earn an A.I.M.C. with a silver star. This higher membership is shown by the letters A.I.M.C.
Inner Magic Circle
This is the highest level of membership. There are never more than 300 members in the "Inner Magic Circle." You can only become a member if the Society's President invites you. Members of this group use the letters M.I.M.C. after their name. If an M.I.M.C. member is also a performer, they get a gold star with their title.
The Young Magicians Club
The Young Magicians Club is a special club for young people who love magic. It's for magicians aged 10 to 18. The Magic Circle sponsors this club.
It started in 1996. Members meet for workshops every month at The Magic Circle's headquarters in London. About 200 young magicians are part of this club.
The club has its own magazine called Secrets. It comes out every two months. Young magicians from all over the world can also chat on a special online forum.
It's easy to join the Young Magicians Club. You don't need an interview or an exam. Anyone interested in magic can join! Adult members of The Magic Circle teach the workshops.
The Young Magicians Club holds a big event every October called 'J-Day'. It's a one-day convention with lectures and competitions. Awards include the Home Counties Trophy for stage magic and The Mark Leveridge Cup for close-up magic. Famous magicians like Derren Brown and Dynamo have given talks at J-Day.
The popularity of the Harry Potter books and movies helped The Magic Circle grow a lot. More young people became interested in magic!
Presidents of The Magic Circle
| Years | President |
|---|---|
| 1905 – 1906 | David Devant |
| 1906 – 1924 | Nevil Maskelyne |
| 1924 – 1928 | Clive Maskelyne |
| 1928 – 1931 | Herbert J. Collings |
| 1931 – 1935 | Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill |
| 1935 – 1954 | Evelyn Seymour, 17th Duke of Somerset |
| 1954 – 1958 | Herbert J. Collings |
| 1958 – 1989 | Francis White |
| 1989 – 1998 | David Berglas |
| 1998 – 2003 | Michael Bailey |
| 2003 – 2008 | Alan Shaxon |
| 2008 – 2009 | Ali Bongo |
| 2009 – 2014 | Jack Delvin |
| 2014 – 2019 | Scott Penrose |
| 2019 – 2021 | Noel Britten |
| 2021 – 2023 | Megan Swann |
| 2023 – present | Marvin Berglas |
See also
- Academy of Magical Arts and its headquarters, The Magic Castle
- American Museum of Magic
- List of magic museums
