One of America’s oldest magic clubs, Oakland’s Magic Circle, turns 100

Gary Meyer grew to become eager about magic for the primary time as a baby who grew up in Napa. He was so passionate that he began doing magic methods throughout Friday conferences at his faculty after which at birthday events.

“I even had a enterprise card and my sister was my assistant,” stated Meyer. He had his magic present based mostly on what the birthday youngster was.

As a young person he grew to become a member of the Oakland Magic Circle. On the time, the membership held conferences within the Lake Merritt Boat Home. Meyer remembers that he took the Greyhound bus from Napa to Oakland as soon as a month to take part. He would keep in his grandmother’s home, who lived within the neighborhood, and go residence the subsequent morning.

On the college, Meyer determined to avoid wasting all his magical artifacts within the barn of his mother and father after a magical present that was not nicely acquired amongst his colleagues.

Solely when he was 40 years previous and the celebration of his daughter planted that somebody urged that he was doing a magical present, and he realized how a lot he had missed this a part of his childhood. On the social gathering, somebody urged viewing the native Oakland membership the place Magicians gathered, who turned out to be the Oakland Magic Circle.

He joined after that celebration and has since been a member. Meyer, now 76, has been in control of distributing the phrase concerning the membership to recruit new members and produce the occasions of the membership.

“Once I consider magic, it isn’t simply methods. It’s studying to have a presence, to talk and showmanship. It’s telling tales. It feels a terrific sense of satisfaction and self -confidence, “stated Meyer. “Even when somebody doesn’t proceed with magic after his teenage years, it would have contributed to who they’re.”

100 years of follow, educate and carry out magic in Oakland

In response to its web site, the Oakland Magic Circle is the “oldest impartial Magic Membership west of the Mississippi River, continuous since 1925.” This 12 months is the 100 -year anniversary.

The membership meets on the primary Tuesday of each month within the Scottish Ceremony Heart, the place it additionally owns the annual magical exhibits and galas of the membership.

The membership at the moment has virtually 100 members, often males, though the variety of feminine magicians is slowly rising, with 9 members at the moment.

“I would like the membership to replicate Oakland’s make-up,” stated Meyer.

The Oakland Magic Circle was based in 1925 by magicians Lloyd JonesEJ Battle (El Tab), RS Bailey and Blue W. Williams. The goal of the membership was to carry people who find themselves eager about all types of magic.

The oldest member of the membership is 91-year-old Byron Walkerwho was joined in 1971. When Walker was 9, he grew to become eager about magic for the primary time and acquired a magical set as a present. He then immersed himself in studying all of the books he might discover about magic.

As a young person he discovered concerning the Oakland Magic Circle and met Lloyd Jones. Jones was not solely a co-founder of the membership, but in addition a collector and a bookseller. Jones was the mentor of Walker and after the demise of Jones, Walker acquired an intensive assortment of Memorabilia that was as soon as Jones.

“Due to him, I grew to become a magical collector and a magical seller,” stated Walker.

Walker is a bookseller who has round 4,000 titles of magic books, together with Stage Magic, Card Magic, Books on Equipment Magic and Historical past Books, who’re Walker’s private favorites.

In response to Walker, Reginald Scot’s 1584 The discovery of witchcraft The primary e-book about Magic was revealed in English.

“Magic is simply fascinating for me,” he stated. “I identical to to know the secrets and techniques of how issues are carried out.”

Like Walker, 33-year-old Michael NguyenOne of many youngest magicians within the membership, was additionally eager about magic at a younger age and was fascinated by magical books.

“I discovered a e-book within the library after viewing the David Blaine Particular,” stated Nguyen, referring to the popular illusionist and avenue artist. “YouTube was not huge then, so all magical secrets and techniques had been in books. It was Mark Wilson’s Course in magic” The Huge Ebook of Magic by Patrick Web page, and the Encyclopedia or magic By Nicholas Einhorn. I checked them out in order that nobody else from my faculty might study magic. “

Within the following years, Nguyen wore right here and there with magic, however didn’t take it critically till 2022, when he registered within the Chavez Studio or MagicAn educational faculty in Indiana that has been round since 1941. Now he juggles his work as an EMT with performances that carry out traditional magic, rework sticks into handkerchiefs and make playing cards disappear. He often performs one present per thirty days and different exhibits in between.

Nguyen found the membership by searching for ‘magical competitions’. He submitted an software and gained one of many annual competitions of the membership that very same 12 months.

“Folks suppose that magicians are there to idiot them. There’s a loopy facet in magic, however our objective is simply to entertain our visitors and our mates, “stated Nguyen.

Nguyen additionally praises Gary Meyer for spreading the phrase over the membership and recruiting new members. Meyer actively finds methods to make youthful folks eager about magic, equivalent to serving to in forming magical golf equipment at native faculties.

“One of many issues that occur within the membership is that individuals are very beneficiant with their data, their time and their concepts,” stated Meyer. “So in case you are an artist and you’re prepared to take heed to folks’s feedback, you’ll be able to study lots.”

The Oakland Magic Circle will maintain its annual Northern California Stage Magic Contest and Pasta Dinner Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 PM Within the Oakland Scottish Ceremony Heart. The occasion is open to the general public.