-Founded 1933
Newcastle upon Tyne Magic Circle is one of the oldest and most successful magical societies in the country. It was founded on February 23 1933 as the Saville Magic Circle, taking its name from its first meeting place, the Saville Restaurant, in Saville Row, Newcastle.
The restaurant was run by founder member and ex-professional magician Burt Fry who put a notice in the local evening paper, the Evening Chronicle, asking magicians to contact him. And so the “Circle” was born. At that first meeting were Harold Talford, Arnold Duffle, Norman Stout, Bob Gagie, Bill Johnson, Ian Gray, Bill Hutchinson, Tom Cato and Burt Fry. Bill Hutchinson was appointed first president and Tom Cato became secretary, a job he was to hold for 21 years.
When the Circle moved to the County Hotel, opposite the Central Station, the name was changed to the Newcastle upon Tyne Magic Circle.
As the Circle began to attract more members Bill built up quite a reputation, attracting notable visitors, including Chris Chariton, Voltare, Bobby Kimber, Chefalo, Col Ling Soo (Herbert J Collings) and Graham Adams. Magicians from Edinburgh, York and Blyth attended the first convention anywhere in the country in 1948 and it was so successful that another was held in 1951, which Goodliffe described in Abra like this: - “Harmony and good fellowship were the keynotes of this ambitious effort of the Newcastle Circle, and visitors were left feeling that, not only had they had good value for money, but that they would enjoy coming back for more punishment.”
The conventions were hard work, but they attracted many celebrities, and members and visitors were delighted with the results, so, in 1958 Newcastle upon Tyne Magic Circle celebrated its Silver Jubilee with another convention. It is a tradition which has continued. In 1983 when the Circle celebrated its Golden Jubilee, the one day get-together was extended and guest celebrity Paul Daniels joined members and starred in the gala show.
The Circle still meets at least once a month, presenting performances and hosting lectures by visiting magicians. In that spirit of harmony and good fellowship which Goodliffe noted over forty years ago, close links are maintained with other Circles and visiting magicians are always welcome. Membership to the Circle has increased quite sharply over the last few years and now stands at over forty members. This, we think, is due to the increase in the number of visiting magicians coming to Newcastle to give lectures, especially magicians from America.
Notable magicians being Bob King (USA), Joe Rindfleisch (USA), Jay Scott Berry (USA), Steve Beam (USA), Dr. Bob (USA), Aldo Columbini (Italy), Steve Bedwell (UK), Fay Presto (UK), Pat Fallon (Ireland), Michael Ammar (USA), Steve Dacri (USA), Charles Gauci (Australia), Kenrick “Ice” McDonald (USA), David Berglas(UK), Black Hart (UK), Brian Sefton (UK), Nicholas Einhorn (UK), Danny Archer (USA), Terry Seabrooke (UK), Dave Charles (UK), Mike Austin (UK), Wayne Rogers (New Zealand), Tony Griffith (UK), Joe Riding (UK), Mark Mason (UK), Andy Clockwise (UK), Paul Alberstat (Canada), Gazzo (USA), Mark Leveridge (UK), Tonny Van Rhee (Holland), Chuck Hickok (USA), David Ginn (USA), John Archer (UK), Duane Laflin (USA), Richard Sanders (USA), Tim Shoesmith (UK), Michael Decker (USA), Magic Dave (UK), Henry Evans (Argentina), David Booth (UK), Paul Daniels (UK), Losander (USA), Sean Carpenter (UK), Steve Evans (UK), Michael Close (USA), David Stone (France), Dr Jon (UK), Jim Pace (USA), Peter Eggink (Holland), Greg Wilson (USA) and Tony Binarelli (Italy).
With the best lectures it certainly pays to be a member of the Newcastle upon Tyne Magic Circle.
One of the major successes in recent years has been the growth of the Annual Dinner which is held in the heart of Newcastle at the Assembly Rooms. In 2003 there were 260 guests who were entertained by Paul Daniels.
Our headquarters is at the Copthorne Hotel, which is situated on the Quayside at Newcastle. This is a brand new hotel with its own car-park.
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