Pentacle Club
Encyclopedia
The Pentacle Club is one of the world's oldest magic
societies, famous amongst amateur and professional magicians for its long history and sequence of famous members.
, J H Johnson, C R Cosens, F J W Roughton and W I Grantham. The Club, consisting of members of Cambridge University, was a successor to "The Mystics", a pre-war club that ran from 1909 to 1914. Rouse Ball, the first President of the club, gathered support from across the university for the first meeting of the club, where the members "saw demonstrations of rope and card tricks, thimble and billiard ball manipulations". The initial subscription rate was half a crown a term.
, the latter inviting the Pentacle Club to undertake a joint performance with the Magic Circle
in London. During the Second World War, the club performed in aid of the Red Cross, with amateur magicians from the University of London
, evacuated to Cambridge during the conflict, adding to the membership. In 1963 the club began to admit members from outside the University, leading to a slow change in the club's composition - over the last few decades the membership has been increasingly drawn from the Cambridge region, and less from undergraduates. The club retained its traditional links to the university, however, under the long presidency of Sir William Hawthorne
, Master of Churchill College, Cambridge
, well known for performing magic.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
societies, famous amongst amateur and professional magicians for its long history and sequence of famous members.
Origins
The Pentacle Club was founded in 1919 by Professor W W Rouse BallW. W. Rouse Ball
-External links:*...
, J H Johnson, C R Cosens, F J W Roughton and W I Grantham. The Club, consisting of members of Cambridge University, was a successor to "The Mystics", a pre-war club that ran from 1909 to 1914. Rouse Ball, the first President of the club, gathered support from across the university for the first meeting of the club, where the members "saw demonstrations of rope and card tricks, thimble and billiard ball manipulations". The initial subscription rate was half a crown a term.
Later History
During the 1920s, the Pentacle Club became increasingly well known on a national level, thanks in part to a sequence of guest visits to Cambridge, including Douglas Dexter and Nevil MaskelyneNevil Maskelyne (magician)
Nevil Maskelyne was a British magician and inventor. The son of magician John Nevil Maskelyne, he continued his father's work at the Egyptian Hall in London...
, the latter inviting the Pentacle Club to undertake a joint performance with the Magic Circle
The Magic Circle
The Magic Circle is a British organisation, founded in London in 1905, dedicated to promoting and advancing the art of magic.- History :The Magic Circle was founded in 1905 after a meeting of 23 amateur and professional magicians at London's Pinoli's Restaurant...
in London. During the Second World War, the club performed in aid of the Red Cross, with amateur magicians from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, evacuated to Cambridge during the conflict, adding to the membership. In 1963 the club began to admit members from outside the University, leading to a slow change in the club's composition - over the last few decades the membership has been increasingly drawn from the Cambridge region, and less from undergraduates. The club retained its traditional links to the university, however, under the long presidency of Sir William Hawthorne
William Hawthorne
Sir William R. Hawthorne CBE, FRS, FREng, FIMECHE, FRAES, was a British professor of engineering who worked on the development of the jet engine....
, Master of Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
, well known for performing magic.