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We do not have many details of what went on until the beginning of the Second World War, because the "Goat" Hotel, the then headquarters, was completely destroyed by bombs in the May blitz of 1941 and all the Society’s records, library, trophies etc., were lost forever. Chris van Bern was elected the first President and the Society was soon meeting on a regular basis at venues in the centre of the city. They agreed to form the Mahatma Circle of Magicians and the inaugural meeting was held on the 3rd March, 1915, in Bootle, one of the outskirts of Liverpool. Lorien Grey was invited, as were Carl Du Verne, Will Melvey, Van Dyke, Victor Mayville and several others. Very shortly afterwards, Professor Meadows organised a meeting with the intention of forming a new society. This resulted in the Professor’s immediate resignation from the Society. After the show, whilst waiting to see Professor Meadows, Lorien heard raised voices and it became apparent that the Council of the Northern Society had taken exception to the Professor incurring taxi expenses to get Chris from and back to the Empire theatre, without their collective permission. Coincidentally, the top performer, CHRIS VAN BERN, was appearing twice nightly at the Liverpool Empire, and the secretary of the Northern, Professor J Meadows, brought him along to the Hall between houses. In the audience was someone who was destined to become one of our founder members, LORIEN GRAY.
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Website Admin: Mark Roberts, Carol Tynan Historical 1915Įarly in 1915, when the First World War was gaining momentum in Europe, the Northern Magical Society staged an evening’s performance in the Hardman Hall in Liverpool. Immediate Past President: Michael DiamondĬouncil: Gary Butler, Matt Gill, Carol Tynan, Matthew Redmond, John Parry, Dean James
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Today the headquarters can be found in the Braunstone Civic Centre, but still going strong.Members Please check your email for invitations link. When the war began in 1939, the Circle was forced to move again, eventually settling for a spell at the Bell Hotel and then the Grand Hotel. A final first for the Circle in 1936 was their charity performances at hospitals and other venues, an activity which continues to this very day. Inspired members produced another first, a big show for the public, at Leicester’s Little Theatre, the first of many, which were to showcase famous performers like Rex Reader, Billy Wilson and Cliff Townsend. Another move, and the Circle found itself in the Victory Hotel, celebrating with a July visit to the Great Levante’s show at the Opera House, with Circle officials presenting him with a special Leicester Magic Circle badge. 1935 saw the first Annual Dinner, well attended and a taste of things to come.ġ936 was a year of firsts, with the Midland Magical Society’s visit marking the first by another society, and with the Leicester Circle making their own first away trip to the Northampton Magician’s Club. Until 1999 this was held in Stanford Hall, Sir Julien’s home, where he had a fully equipped 352 seat theatre built so that he could perform whenever he wanted. Sir Julien’s name is still important to members, to this day the Circle holds a stage magic competition for the Sir Julien Cup. This meant new officials, a new location, the White Hart hotel, and a new President, Sir Julien Cahn. As the new chair, Cyril Gibbons realised that the reformed Circle could only survive if it ran itself on business principles.
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Eventually with growing numbers, they were forced to book a series of ever larger rooms to hold meetings, eventually finding themselves at the YMCA for some ten years.įor a short while waning interest forced the group to stop meetings but the opening of Wilf Hubbard’s Magic Shop in 1935 drew more newcomers, with meetings resuming in the King Richard pub. In 1924 some half dozen keen magicians began to meet every Saturday afternoon, with Will Sutton as an informal Chairman. The Leicester Magic Circle is one of the oldest magical societies in the world.