To know where you are going, you must first know where you have been. The Raleigh Magic Club has a rich history, and a bright future. We have, and have had, as our members many magicians of note and international merit. Our membership includes internationally acclaimed authors, performers, scholars, craftsmen, and past international presidents of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
In 1960, a very active group of Raleigh magicians established the Capital City Magic Club. In 1970, the club applied for an official charter with the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Through the concerted effort of William Spooner, the Raleigh Magic Club Ring 199 was officially chartered with the I.B.M. on May 1, 1970.
The Ring was originally named in honor of Wallace Lee (1892-1969) and Mr. Dick Snavely (1927-1997), two distinguished and internationally known North Carolina magicians. Mr. Lee knew of the unanimous agreement to name the ring in his honor and it pleased him greatly.
The Ring met over the years in the basement of the home of Dick and Dot Snavely. As director of the Raleigh Little Theater (1955-1967) and an accomplished actor, writer and magician, Dick was instrumental in the creation, nurturing and perpetuation of Ring 199. Following his untimely death in 1997, the Ring's name was amended to include Dick's name. The Raleigh Ring is currently known as the Wallace Lee - Dick Snavely Ring.
Charter and founding members of I.B.M. Ring 199 included:
Steve Adams, Tom Adams, Orville K. Barnes, Hersey Basham, Jr., George A. Boisvin, F.A. Cash, Jr., W.T. Cash, Sr., Jack Cates, Danny Christian, Barry Cooper, Carl Edwards, Robert Gregory, Abner Harrington, Burton James, Jimmy Johnson, Walter Keezell, Robert Kepley, Bonnie Klaiber, David Klaiber, Fred Long, Dennis Martin, Tom McAfferty, Harry Milliken, Ernest Morrison, Robert Nelson, Robert L. Newton, Jr., Elisson Poland, Asa F. Rice, Larry Rockman, F.L. Schrodt, C. Shaw Smith, Richard Snavely, Richard Spainhour, William E. Spooner, William L. Tadlock, M.B. Willis and William H. Wysong.
In the early 2020s, Raleigh Magic Club members began to consider expanding the Club to include Society of American Magician members, and in 2022 officially chartered S.A.M. Assembly 199. While Assemblies, like Rings, are usually numbered in sequence, RMC was thrilled that the S.A.M. honored their petition to allow RMC to form under the vacated number 199 in order to match our Ring. Raleigh Magic Club greatly believes that we are better together and sees the cooperation of two (often formerly opposing) magic organizations to be one of our greatest strengths.
Charter and founding members of S.A.M. Assembly 199 included:
Rick DeNatale, Roger C. Way, Fred Rosenbaum, Dan Harlan, SarahElla Harlan, Bhavish Malkani, Wayne Haarhaus, Robert L. Orander, Danny Reeves, and John Midgley
The International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) was founded on February 10, 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by Len Vintus (stage name of Melvin Justus Given McMullen) of Transcona, Manitoba, Gene Gordon (aka Gordon Avery) of Buffalo, New York, and Don Rogers (aka Ernest Schieldge). Unlike earlier magic clubs, such as the Society of American Magicians and the British Magic Circle, the I.B.M. began as a correspondence club by magicians living outside of major cities, who were unable to attend magic club meetings.
The I.B.M. formed local clubs known as Rings. Each Ring was originally numbered in sequence, based on when it received its charter from the parent group. Gene Gordon established Ring #1 in Rochester, New York in 1922. This initial Ring eventually disbanded and St. Louis, Missouri assumed the vacated title of Ring #1.
The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) was founded on May 10, 1902, in Martinka’s famous magic shop in New York City, New York, and is the oldest magical society in the world, with an original membership of just 24 magicians. On February 7, 1903, Ehrich Weiss (a.k.a. Harry Houdini) was elected to membership and later was elected as National President, a position he held from 1917 until his untimely death on October 31, 1926. In July of 2002, the Society celebrated its Centennial Year in New York City, with the US Postal Service issuing a Houdini Commemorative Stamp during the celebration.
To date, nearly 300 S.A.M. Assemblies have been established worldwide. All members of the S.A.M. are also considered members of the V1 Virtual Assembly, giving them access to regular lectures from some of the best magicians alive today.
Proud Home of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Lee-Snavely Ring 199 and The Society of American Magicians Assembly #199