International Brotherhood of Magicians

For other uses of the acronym, see IBM (disambiguation).

International Brotherhood of Magicians
Formation	1922
Type	Non-profit
Headquarters	St. Charles, Missouri
President	Vanni Pulé
Website	www.magician.org

International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) is the world's largest organization^{[citation needed]} for professional and amateur magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St. Charles, Missouri, and there are over 300 local groups, called Rings, in more than 30 countries, largely concentrated in cities of the United States and Canada, though members of the international organization represent at least 80 different countries^{[citation needed]}. The organization publishes a monthly periodical entitled The Linking Ring, which features tricks, coverage of shows and events in the magic community, and interviews with magicians.

History

The organization was founded February 10, 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by Len Vintus (stage name of Melvin Justus Given McMullen) of Transcona, Manitoba, which would later amalgamate with Winnipeg. Gene Gordon (aka Gordon Avery) of Buffalo, New York, and Don Rogers (aka Ernest Schieldge). Unlike earlier magic clubs, such as the Society of American Magicians (SAM) in the USA and The Magic Circle in England, the I.B.M. was begun by magicians living outside the major cities, who were unable to attend magic club meetings, and who kept in contact by post.

Gene Gordon established the first local group, Ring 1, in Rochester, New York. The original Ring 1 eventually disbanded, and St. Louis, Missouri later assumed the vacated title of Ring 1, which it continues to hold today. Since then, a new club, Ring 4, formed in Rochester.

The IBM holds an annual convention, usually in June or July. Although the SAM and the Magic Circle held banquets as early as 1905, the I.B.M. was the first to hold a magic convention, in Kenton, Ohio on June 9–10, 1926. The 66th annual convention was held in Orlando, Florida.

Organization

Each international territory has a Territorial Vice President who coordinates with the Rings in that country and other Territorial Vice Presidents.

Rings

The International Brotherhood of Magicians has a number of local clubs, located throughout the world, known as Rings. Each ring was originally numbered in sequence, based on when it received its charter from the I.B.M. Since then, some clubs have dissolved, and newer clubs have assumed some of the vacated ring numbers.

List of Rings:
Ring 1 - based in St. Louis, Missourri (originally based in Rochester, New York)
Ring 266 - based in Tyler, Texas

Membership

Membership is open to amateur and professional magicians, as well as those who collect magic apparatus and effects. Active members must be at least 18 years old, and youth members must be 7–17 years of age. Active members must have had an interest in magic for at least two years, or one year for youth members. Membership requires the endorsement of two active members, and a pledge to uphold the code of ethics.

See also

• Magic conventions

External links

• International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) - official site