The Magic Circle (Organization)

The Magic Circle (Organization)

The Magic Circle (Organization)

British organization of professional and amateur conjuring magicians. It was founded in July 1905 at the famous Pinoli’s restaurant in Wardour Street, London (long since vanished), and was originally intended to honor a young professional magician Martin Charpender, who had just died. Some members preferred an impersonal name to ‘‘The Martin Charpender Club,’’ and when it was pointed out that the initials ‘‘M. C.’’ might also stand for ‘‘Magic Circle,’’ the latter name was agreed upon.

In its early period the Magic Circle convened at St. George’s Hall in Portland Place, where the famous stage magicians Maskelyne and Devant performed their feats. In 1910 the Magic Circle moved to Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, where it held meetings and monthly concerts (named ‘‘séances’’). Individual magicians showed off their latest tricks.
The organization still publishes the magazine, The Magic Circular ten times a year and maintains two reference libraries.
Membership numbers around 1,400 and includes doctors of medicine, philosophy, and divinity, as well as those of more humble occupations. However, full membership is limited to those who have knowledge of and practice magic. Address: 12 Stephenson Way, Euston, London, NW1 2HD England. Website: http://www.themagiccircle.co.uk/Info/mcinfo.html. 

Sources:
The Magic Circle. http://www.themagiccircle.co.uk/Info/ mcinfo.html. March 8, 2000.