Welcome to our Magic Web Portal. The I.B.M. is the world's largest organization for magicians and for people interested in the magical arts. Our Brotherhood is made up of nearly 13,000 members worldwide with over 300 local groups called Rings in more than 73 countries. The I.B.M. is considered to be the most respected organization for magic collectors, amateur and professional magicians in the world! If you have a sincere interest in the art of magic, we invite you to learn more about our organization. There is plenty to see here so take your time and look around. You may be amazed!
Joan Caesar, International President
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Howdy friends. Houston isn't the only place in Texas where magic is alive and well. We are a big state with big ideas (perhaps you have heard about our penchant for all things large). Well, Austin, Texas is now publishing a slick, full color magazine about magic around our great state...including Houston. The premiere issue is out and ready to read. The cover of the first issue features Walter "Zaney" Blaney who will be the featured guest of honor at this year's T.A.O.M. convention next week in Ft. Worth. We are proud to have Walter and his family as members of our Houston magic community. Also this week, the I.B.M. Ring #39 annual flea market is tonight, upcoming lectures, who's working where plus other happenings around town. (read more...) | |
The IBM/SAM Combined Convention in Louisville, Kentucky was an amazing event. To help you remember the people and events, we dispatched our professional motionless picture director to record the groups and individuals that made our stay at the Galt Hotel Complex so special to the over 1,900 registrants. We will add more memories later this week. See something you like for your photo album? Drop Rick an email. You can also visit his OnLine Photo Site by clicking here. |
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The long-awaited IBM/SAM Combined Convention was held in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. A virtual who's who of magic attended the week-long convention billed as the "Magic Event that the World has been waiting for...". This was the first such combined convention in 35 years and those in attendance vowed that it wouldn't be another 35 years before the event happened again. (Read More) | |
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Ken de Courcy, a former president of the I.B.M. British Ring 25, a prolific author of magic books and inventor of magic effects, died July 24, 2008. He was 86. Magic was a part of de Courcy's life for 80 years, and it began when his parents gave him a conjuring set at age 6 in order to keep him busy. Little did they know the impact magic would have on him and the impact he would have on magic. He wrote mroe than 60 books on magic, edited Supreme Magic's magazine and even produced his own Coffee-Break Chronicle, a monthly magazine limited to 100 subscribers. |
The I.B.M. started out (in 1922) as simple correspondence between a few magicians. After a time, the organization took shape as more and more magicians took an active part. They talked about the latest effects in letter after letter having to wait for the next envelope to show in their postbox. It's now the twenty-first century and things have changed...not so much in the content but more in the delivery. The folks I am going to talk about in this column have only been in the retail magic business as a company for a few years (since 2006 to be precise). But it was started with a vision of what they could do for magic in the delivery of products and ideas. And they have done an amazing job, so let me start off with just a little ‘hype' and an ‘attaboy' or two for Fantasma Magic. (Read More) | |
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TOP HAT • by Ryan Salwak • Summer - 2008
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AUGUST 2008 
Weekly Round-Up
SUCOP SUCOH 
DEREK McFAULL 
Convention Review
Prestigious Dragon Award 
Great magic ideas this month in Louisville, Kentucky! More concepts and amazing thinking goes into the building of a magic act especially when it comes to performing for your peers. The best way to see what's cutting edge in this artform is to take a look at the performer/contestants at this year"s mega magic convention at the IBM/SAM Combined Convention. We thought it would be a good idea to give you a list of those people that that took on the entire world of magic by showing off their latest concepts for your entertainment pleasure. The People's Choice Award and a purse of $10,000 was awarded to Marc Oberon for Close-Up Magic and An Ha-Lim for Stage Magic. 
Broken Wand - Ken De Courcy
Fantasma Magic 
INSIDE THE CURRENT ISSUES OF GENII, MAGIC & MUM
