“AGM / England’s Greatest Magician by Ian Keable”

We will first hold our brief AGM which will be followed by the the talk.

David Devant was the first President of The Magic Circle, the first magician to be booked on a Royal Variety Show and the second person to publicly show animated films in this country. He invented many illusions and tricks that are still performed today and wrote up the methods in some of the best ever books written on magic.  In this talk Ian traces Devant’s career from working with the Royal American Midgets through to his partnership in the renowned Maskelyne and Devant shows of the early 20th century.  Forced to retire when he was only 52 through ill health, he ended his life in the Royal Hospital and Home for Incurables.  He is considered by many to be the greatest magician this country has ever produced, his popularity perhaps best summed up in his by-line ‘All done with kindness’.