Richard Morrell opened the competition with Roy Walton’s Travellers in Time, he separated the red and black cards, then mixed face-up and face-down cards and lost two indifferent cards. By travelling back in time Richard restored the deck to its original condition. Malcolm Bromwich, with Roxanne Broadbent’s assistance assembled a clock, then used the clock hands and pendulum to penetrate Roxanne’s head. Brian Wilson produced a Chinese clock, complete with authentic Chinese numbers to determine a chosen time. Brian Waltham showed a Supreme trick, complete with Applause cues. Arthur Setterington showed us his skill with the Egg Bag and his grandfather’s Gold Watch. [Read More]

Popular member Kerry Scorah was the first lady member to win the Simpson Shield last year. Kerry is going to compile future In the Spotlight features. She was recently married to comedy performer Mark Shortland and now lives in Northampton. [Read More]

Eddie Dawes introduced Charles Gaucci, who was the first lecturer from Australia in the 70 years of Hull Magicians. Charles started as a professional at 16, and worked for 25 years before entering the business world. He returned to magic, and has appeared around the world, notably America and the Magic Castle. [Read More]

Initiation Show - Roxanne Broadbent. Roxanne had only recently started on the magical road, but produced an accomplished show, starting with a ring and rope sequence, followed by handkerchief and coin items, finishing with a card divination. The members voted unanimously for her to be accepted as a member. [Read More]

Initiation Show - Stuart Richardson. Stuart gagged his way through a confident performance in difficult circumstances. Members were given the chance to win £10 but even Roni failed to select the correct envelope. This was followed by a water suspension over Roni (Surprisingly Rex did not volunteer for this!) He finished with a tilting box production and the Vanishing Bandana.

Initiation Show - Ron Thompson. Ron, who last did an audition 43 years ago, started by attempting to bribe the audience with chocolates, asking for the wrappers to be returned which then became hot in the persons hand. He then produced the chosen Queen of Hearts at a selected number, then all the aces, a hand of hearts and finally a royal flush. He concluded with a Ken Brooke item of a book, the contents of which changed from blanks, through money; Alphabets, Music and Crosswords. The result of the members' ballot was that both applicants were accepted unanimously. [Read More]

Rex Stott introduced this section, saying that he now had the curse of New Kids to add to the curse of the Simpson Shield. Several members had fallen ill and were not here tonight. Rex opened with his presentation of Jim Steinmeyer's Nine Card Problem. He asked that we minute that he is now the proud owner of a full set of Tarbells, courtesy of Jan. [Read More]

As you will have noticed by now the Oracle has undergone a change of image, thanks in no small part to the graphical abilities of new member and latest addition to the Oracle team Domanic Li. To reflect the change of image, the website will be changed very shortly, hopefully using some of Domanic’s graphics to bring it in line with the new style. I have been busy adding some content to the site, and all of the recent Missed a Meetings have been uploaded, along with various photos of the club nights (click on the camera images). After this issue of Oracle goes out some of the articles that appeared in the print version will be added to the website, so look out for that.

Please visit the website, and let me have your feedback, its still very much in development, but it is getting there slowly but surely, I plan to start an e-mail list very soon to keep members more up-to-date with the changes, so if I haven’t got your e-mail let me have it asap. [Read More]

The second Bob Moore Trophy for Comedy Magic night certainly lived up to the great start this new competition achieved last season. The competition, suggested by Rex Stott, in memory of the highly inventive and entertaining past member, Bob Moore, is certain to become a well-supported and enjoyable part of the Hull Magicians' Circle syllabus.

Practically a full house assembled braving Hull's late-night shoppers and ensuing parking mayhem for an hilarious evening. [Read More]

What a huge success this was! Held on Wednesday, November 20 at Ferriby Methodist Hall the ten competitors performed good magic - but that’s what you expect from HMC members - but the real stars were members of the audience. There were about fifty highly enthusiastic ladies and a few gentlemen present who clearly enjoyed the performers’ skills and patter and showed it with their sustained applause. [Read More]

Deveen with his trademark mask was a clever manipulator of cards and cigarettes performing between 1920 and 1960. He made many visits to Hull’s variety theatres. Pictured here with two of his “New York Blondes” who Arthur Setterington says sometimes appeared nude in the dying days of variety when posing shows and nude revue were tried to attract dwindling audiences. Arthur says he only watched the magic! The picture is inscribed “To Fred with all good wishes, Deveen, 1946”. Fred of course being Bert Dexter’s real name. David Deveen’s real name was A W Parsons he was born in London in 1900 and died in 1989. He wrote two books on cigarette manipulation. In 1929 and 1932.

Eddie Dawes received The David Devant International Award on November 16 2002 at The Magic Circle awards Banquet. This award, initiated to celebrate the opening of the Centre for the Magic Arts in 1998, is presented to a person who, in the opinion of The Magic Circle, has made a significant contribution in advancing the art of magic or given outstanding service to magic internationally. [Read More]