Korean magicians
immersed in art
at 2010 seminar

Well it is already March and February has come and gone here in Korea but not without some very special things happing over the last two weeks of the month.

First there was the news that came to us from England about the winners of the Blackpool Convention. I would like to congratulate all of the winners at this year’s Blackpool Convention, but I would especially like to tip my hat to the three Korean winners: Kim Hyung Jun, Lee Jung Min, and Kim Min Hyung. Hyung Jun and Jung Min took first and second place in the stage competition, and Min Hyung took first place in the close-up competition.

Then from February 27th to March 1st was the DongPusan College International Magic Seminar 2010. This seminar is a yearly event that is sponsored by DongPusan College, which is one of the two colleges in the south of the country that have degree programs in magic.

(Read More; See Photos & Video)

P.C. Sorcar remembered
with issuance of stamp

The late Protul Chandra Sorcar, a magician from India better known as P.C. Sorcar Sr., once said, "When asleep I breathe magic; when awake I work magic." Even in death, the acclaimed magician who brought the magic of India to the rest of the world, is still reaching audiences -- this time through the issuance of a stamp bearing his likeness.

The Department of Posts in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, issued the commemorative Sorcar stamp on Feb. 23, 2010, the 98th anniversary of the legendary performer's birth.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was present on the occasion, said, “I have come to pay my respects to the memory of such a person who was not just popular amongst the people of our country, but also had earned great admiration and regard in the international arena,” according to a report on the Daily News & Analysis-India Web site. (Read More)

Feldman captures Thurston's incredible life in new DVD

Rory Feldman, who has more than 15,000 pieces of Howard Thurston memorabilia in his Brooklyn, N.Y., home, has produced a full-length documentary about the "Master Magician's" life. (A video of the trailer appears below.)

Originally, Feldman created a 35-minute video of Thurston based on a William V. Rauscher lecture, "When Thurston Came to Town." Feldman took the audio and overlaid pictures. That original effort has since been expanded to a full length DVD with rare photographs, audio clips and video clips. You can read and learn more about Howard Thurston and the DVD here. Read more about Rory Feldman here. Feldman is on the cover of the February edition of The Linking Ring.
(View DVD trailer)

Osterlind answers your questions each month on I.B.M. Web Portal

Richard Osterlind, one of the top mentalists and magicians (and Order of Merlin), will be answering questions each month from members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians in a new feature, Osterlind Q&A.

With his 40-plus years of performing and amazing audiences around the globe, feel free to ask him any question that relates to magic, mentalism, hypnotism, performing, routining or handling the business side. Or, ask him yourself at his four-day Mind Mysteries Seminar (details here).

The I.B.M. Portal staff is anticipating a great response to this new monthly feature, so we have set up a special e-mail address for questions to be considered. Questions will be gathered by the Portal staff and forwarded onto Osterlind for consideration.
(Read Osterlind Q&A)

President Jack White works mid-year magic at trustees meeting
By Bobby Warren

Until I was asked to deliver a report Jan. 23, 2010, at the mid-year meeting of the International Brotherhood of Magicians' Board of Trustees, I had never met International President Jack White. I had the honor and privilege of doing so at the meeting.

Those who have followed President White's health challenges through his column in The Linking Ring have an insight into what he has had to endure. However, at the meeting I met someone who was not feeling sorry about his predicament, rather someone who was tackling everything life was throwing at him and prevailing. It was clear President White is at the helm of the world's largest magic organization.
(Read More, View Video)

Magic serves as an integral part of Shirley Ray's life
by Dennis Schick

Q. First of all, congratulations on being elected president of the largest I.B.M. Ring in the world. Tell us how you came to that position.

A. Thank you. I was honoured to be asked and look forward to representing the British Ring as its ambassador during my presidential year. Of course joining and being an active member of a magic club is important, along with the willingness to volunteer and to accept responsibility. When I lived in Scotland, I was a member of Edinburgh Magic Circle and the Forth Valley Magic Circle.
(Read More, See Photos)

Extensive Online Database
Benefits Researchers and Others
By Dr. William E. Spooner

The Conjuring Arts Research Center was established in 2003 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of magic and its allied arts. The Center, located at 11 West 30th Street in Manhattan, is the brainchild and creation of William Kalush who has amassed over 12,000 volumes of books and journals and rare documents. The rare book room contains an impressive collection of books dating back to the 15th century, including a number of variations of Reginald Scot’s Discovery of Witchcraft...