I.B.M. British Ring 42nd Annual Convention 1978

The 42nd Annual Convention of I.B.M. British Ring No.25 takes place 12th–17th September 1978 at the White Rock Pavilion, Hastings, with further events at the Queens Hotel, Hastings Pier and Hillcrest School. This is the Golden Jubilee Year of the British Ring, founded in 1928. The week brings together international performers for Magic International, the 3 Star Lectures, the Dealers' Magical Trade Fair, the Competition for the New Silver British Ring Shield, the Close-Up Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy, the Civic Reception Ball & Cabaret, Hospitals/Homes Shows, the Ladies' Afternoon, the Convention Banquet, The Hastings Syndrome, Children's Playtime, the Magic Collectors' Seminar and the Gala Show, World of Magic.

President Edwin Hooper welcomes Conventioneers, their loved ones and guests — especially those travelling from overseas — to Hastings for the 42nd Annual Convention, which falls in the Golden Jubilee Year of the British Ring, founded in 1928. The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Hastings, Councillor John Hodgson, and the Mayoress host the Civic Reception, and the International President of the I.B.M., Bill Pitts, visits Great Britain with his wife Margaret for the occasion. Hastings is a familiar home for the British Ring, having welcomed the Convention in 1952, 1960, 1966, 1970 and 1974.

The week opens on Tuesday evening at 20.30 with the Night Before Party at the White Rock Pavilion, including 'Ring up the Curtain', the 'Night Before' Show, organised and presented by Alfred Gabriel with Michael Symes, San Yen, Moira, John Alborough, Peter Scarlett, and Andrew Miller and Tricia.

Wednesday begins with the Dealers' Magical Trade Fair, organised by Johnny Neptune and assisted by Bill Scott, opening at 9.30 in the Pier Ballroom opposite the White Rock Pavilion. The Fair runs on Wednesday 9.30–19.30, Thursday 12.00–18.30, Friday 11.30–18.30, Saturday 9.30–18.30 and Sunday 9.30–12.00, with entry by Convention Badge only, and more than thirty magical dealers will be represented, including The Ace Place, Camtryx (Magic) Limited, Hamilton Kaye & Co., International Magic Studio, Magicassettes (Martin Breese), Repro 71 and The Supreme Magic Company Ltd. The Craig Trophy for the most attractive dealer display, currently held by Peter Diamond and Co., is adjudicated by R. A. Dennett, Esq., M.I.P.R., at 17.00. At 11.00 on Hastings Pier, Phil Goldstein presents his 'Human Deck of Cards', followed by Eric Ward's daring attempt to beat the Hastings jinx with The Circular Saw Escape, shackled to a moving belt in the path of a fearsome electric saw. The President, Edwin Hooper, officially opens the Convention at 14.45, and at 15.00 the White Rock Pavilion presents Magic International, with Dimitri Anderssohn (France) and his Blazing Torches, compere Peter Greenwood, Robert Thrasher (U.S.A.), L. L. Henry (U.S.A.) with his 'Fantastic Fans', Perino (Norway), George Johnstone (U.S.A.) and Dimitri Anderssohn presenting 'Creation', with Keith Hurford at the Organ and Horace Jeffery at the Drums. At 20.00 the Mayor and Mayoress give the Civic Reception, Ball & Cabaret, during which Overseas Visitors will be introduced, with dancing to Gordon Rider and His Orchestra and a cabaret compered by Ian Kent featuring The Plummers, vocal and multi-instrumental stars. Dress is Dinner Jacket or Dark Lounge Suit. The Tombola Stand, run by Helene Strachan and Lilian Lees, is in aid of the Benevolent Fund.

Thursday opens at 9.30 with the Dealers' Demonstration at the White Rock Pavilion, arranged by Johnny Neptune, in which twenty-eight dealers each take a seven-minute slot, with Doug Jones as Timekeeper, Bill Scott, Eric McDonald and Bill Haggarty on dealer liaison and Arthur Setterington, David Haggerty and Hugh Gillies on stage staff. The 3 Star Lectures, chaired by Peter Warlock, begin at 14.15 with Elizabeth Warlock, the first woman to lecture at Hollywood's famous Magic Castle, on 'The Warlock's Way', followed at 15.45 by Phil Goldstein, nominated Magical Academy Lecturer of the Year, with his 'Transatlantic Lecture'. At 14.30 the Ladies' Afternoon at the Queens Hotel features Mrs E. A. Dawes in a talk and demonstration, 'The Mystery of Fashion and the Fashions of Mystery', followed by tea, a raffle for the Welfare Fund and bingo. At 16.30 the Hospitals/Homes Shows, organised by Wilfred Tyler, take magic out to six homes across Hastings and St Leonards on Sea: the New Moreton Convalescent Home, the London Transport Friendly Society Convalescent Home, Pinehill Adults Home, the National Children's Home, Dr Barnardo's Home for Boys and the Elphinstone Children's Home. At 20.00 Alastair introduces the competitors in the Competition for the New Silver British Ring Shield, judged by Tommy Rowe (Chairman), Ren Clark (U.S.A.), Roger Dennett, Bobby Bernard, Tudor Brock, Fred Castle, Alf Moore and Christopher Pratt, with Alfred Gabriel as Musical Director and Jack Potter as Timekeeper. The awards at stake are the New Silver British Ring Shield and Cash Prize, the Conventioneers Trophy for originality, the Craig Trophy for a lady magician, the Theo Speaker Cup and Cash Prize for the runner-up, third prize of a Cash Prize and Silver Wand presented by Alastair, the Tom Harris Cup for comedy and the Dittia Shield for manipulation.

Friday opens at 10.00 with the Annual General Meeting and Election of Officers, Members Only, chaired by Edwin Hooper with Rex Reader as Returning Officer. At 14.30 the President presents the Shield Competition awards, and at 14.45 Peter Warlock presents 'The Hastings Syndrome', with Doug Alker, Clem Bailey, Frank Boynett, Geoffrey Buckingham, Mike Gancia, Al Glennan, Jay Marshall, Max Maven, Geoffrey Robinson, Peter Scarlett and Elizabeth Warlock. The Convention Banquet takes place at the Queens Hotel at 19.00 for 19.30, with Leslie Finch as Toastmaster and toasts to the Borough of Hastings (proposed by Dr Bernard Juby, with a response from the Mayor) and to The British Ring (proposed by Bill Pitts, with a response from the President, who also proposes the toast to The Ladies and Visitors, answered by Earl Christenbury, Past International President of the I.B.M.). The menu comprises Mushroom Soup, Haddock with Shrimp Sauce, Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and Horseradish Sauce, Strawberry Surprise and Coffee. At 20.30 in the Lower Hall of the White Rock Pavilion, Lewis Ganson presents a showing of films, and at 22.30 the After Banquet Show, 'Magic and Music of Yore', a distillation of mementos of the Music Hall with Bobby Bernard, Arthur Cook, Mike Gancia, Bruce Posgate, Mark Robertson, Francis White and members of the Aba Daba Music Hall Company, including its resident Chairman Geoffrey Robinson.

Saturday begins at 10.30 with Children's Playtime at Hillcrest School, devised and produced by Wilfred Tyler, with host Rex Taylor and Auntie Julie, Les Nottle, Peter Stedman and his cat Candy, Jong Tong, the I.B.M. Clowns under Smokey, David Tomkins and, to close, Arthur Setterington with part of his Jimmy Jumbo Show. At the same hour the Close-Up Competition for the Zina Bennett Trophy is held at the Queens Hotel, arranged by Mike Gancia, with John Palfreyman as Chairman of the Judges and Lewis Ganson, Francis Haxton, Les Martin, Rovi and Peter Scarlett completing the panel. At 14.15 Karrell (Clever as a) Fox, one of America's top ideas men, concludes the 3 Star Lectures with 'Secrets from the Fox's Lair', and at 15.45 Dr Eddie Dawes chairs the Magic Collectors' Seminar, 'Mystery and History', in the Lower Hall, with Cliff Townsend, Hugh Riley, Arthur Setterington and Jay Marshall. The Gala Show, 'World of Magic', is presented at the White Rock Pavilion in two houses at 17.00 and 20.30, arranged and presented by Wm. G. Stickland with Paul Graham as Stage Manager. Karrell Fox, America's King of Korn, is compere, and the bill features Egelo (Norway), Earl Ray Wilcox (U.S.A.), Tony Van Dyke and Company (Germany), Max Maven (U.S.A.), Jeffery Atkins and Company in 'Illusions of the Masters', British Ring Shield holder Martin Scott Price, Salvano (Poland), Paul Doran's Shadowstring Theatre, Ali Bongo and, as guest stars, Emerson and Jayne with the Flying Carpet. At midnight at the Queens Hotel, Mike Gancia presents Close-Up Magic including 'The Magic of Frans Biemans', Phil Goldstein and Roger Crabtree, together with a Fabulous Film Session presented by Lewis Ganson.

The Convention closes on Sunday with the Convention Service at 10.30, conducted by Ringer the Reverend Michael Seacome, M.A., A.R.C.M., Vicar of Barnwood, Gloucester and Official Chaplain to the British Ring, undenominational, with a silver collection for the Welfare Fund. At 12.00 Ali Bongo is installed as the new President, followed at 12.30 by a Cocktail Party in the Lower Hall and the close of the Convention. Throughout the week the Welfare Stand in the foyer of the White Rock Pavilion, by the Registration Desk, offers dozens of novelties well below trade prices, gifts from generous ringers, with all unsold gifts auctioned on Saturday at mid-day.

Organising Secretary: William G. Stickland, M.B.E. Registration: Jeffery Atkins. Banquet: Francis Haxton. Dealers' Exhibition & Demonstration: Johnny Neptune. Outside Attraction: Phil Goldstein and Eric Ward. Lectures and 'The Hastings Syndrome': Peter Warlock. Shield Competition: Alastair. Children's Playtime and Hospital Shows: Wilfred Tyler. Close-Up Competition and Close-Up Magic: Mike Gancia. Cocktail Party: Ted and Irene Whebell. Stage Direction: Paul Graham. Chief Steward: Jack Griggs. Films: Lewis Ganson. Souvenir Programme: Peter Warlock and Peter Scarlett. The Convention also remembers two past officers of the British Ring, Eddie Dexter and Les Levante, who died during the year.