Malvern Magicians' convention (1938) - British Pathé on YouTube
1938 saw Malvern hosting a magic convention, bringing the cameras along to record some of the event, including the escape artists.
The 1938 Malvern Magicians' Convention was a key event for the British magic community. It took place in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, from June 23 to June 26, 1938. The gathering was the third annual convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) British Ring No. 25. This organization was, and still is, a major professional body for magicians in the UK.
The Selection of Malvern
Great Malvern was chosen because it already had the infrastructure to host large cultural events like the Malvern Festival. The Malvern Winter Gardens and the Festival Theatre offered the stage space and technical equipment needed for complex illusions. The town's reputation as a sophisticated spa resort also helped the IBM present magic as a serious theatrical art form.
The convention was led by Oswald Rae, the President of the British Ring. Rae was a well-known performer and author of magic books. The goal of the event was to share technical secrets, demonstrate new equipment, and promote magic to the general public.
Notable Attendees
The convention attracted magicians from all over the British Isles and several international guests. Despite the political tensions in Europe in 1938, the event maintained a high professional standard.
Significant figures in attendance included:
Oswald Rae: A specialist in platform magic and the event's primary organizer.
John Ramsay: A Scottish magician famous for his skill in sleight-of-hand, particularly with coins and thimbles.
Herbert J. Collings: Known as "Col Ling Soo," he specialized in Chinese-themed magic and later became president of The Magic Circle.
William Stickland: The secretary of the British Ring, who managed the logistics of the convention.
The Convention Program
The four-day schedule balanced private professional training with public entertainment.
Dealer Demonstrations and Lectures
Mornings and afternoons were spent in the Winter Gardens, where magic manufacturers set up stalls. These "dealers" sold the latest mechanical tricks, such as vanishing cages and trick cabinets. Magicians often bought the exclusive rights to perform specific effects here.
Lectures were highly practical. Senior performers would demonstrate "moves" and techniques for misdirection. Because there was no video technology, these live sessions were the only way for magicians to learn the exact hand positioning required for difficult sleight-of-hand.
The Shield Competition
A major part of the convention was the competition for the British Ring Shield. This was awarded to the performer who showed the most original trick or the highest level of skill. A panel of experts judged the acts based on technical difficulty and stage presence.
Public Performances
To raise money and promote the craft, the magicians held a public Gala Show at the Malvern Festival Theatre. This was a professional-grade variety show featuring a range of acts, from "silent" manipulative magic to large-scale stage illusions involving assistants. In 1938, magic was a popular part of the British variety circuit, and the performers in Malvern were among the best in the country.
Social and Civic Events
The social highlight was a formal black-tie banquet on Saturday evening. These gatherings were held at local hotels like the Foley Arms and the Mount Pleasant. While formal, these dinners allowed magicians to talk shop and share secrets in a more relaxed setting.
To generate publicity, magicians also performed stunts in public spaces. This included impromptu card tricks for children in Priory Park and publicized escapes from handcuffs or restraints to attract local newspaper coverage in the Malvern Gazette.
The Legacy of 1938
The 1938 convention is considered one of the most successful magic gatherings of the pre-war period. It established Malvern as a viable location for professional conventions.
The techniques and routines shared during this week had a practical impact beyond the theater. When the Second World War began a year later, many of these magicians joined ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association). The tricks they had perfected in Malvern were eventually performed for soldiers on front lines across the world.
The 1938 Malvern Magicians' Convention was a milestone for the IBM British Ring. It used the modern facilities of a Victorian spa town to advance the professional standards of the magic industry. The event documented the state of the art just before the war changed the entertainment landscape of Britain. Today, the records of the convention—including photographs, programs, and descriptions of the tricks—remain important resources for historians of British variety theater.
Helpful Links
The British Ring - IBM Ring 25 History The Magic Circle - Archives Malvern Theatres - Venue History Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service The Davenport Collection
Comments
Post a Comment