It was on Wednesday the 1st of February 1933 that a small group of people assembled in an office at 34 Plein Street in Cape Town to discuss the formation of a Magicians Circle. This was the studio of Roy Danby (Alfred Gutteson), an old veteran of the magic stage, who ran a postal magic course and taught aspirant magicians. The result of their discussions was the unanimous decision to form such a Circle and to pronounce those present as foundation members. They were Messrs. D. Aaron, J. Adams, Basson, G. Cheminais, Feldman, Gutteson, S. Keown, Mann, Rawbone, H. Nathan, S. Thomas and A. Woof.
It is interesting to note that a young lady was present and was acknowledged to be an Honorary Foundation
member. This lady, Miss Doris Gutteson, daughter of one of the Foundation members, was elected Honorary
Secretary of the Circle and retained this position for a period of 27 years!
At an adjourned meeting of the Foundation members on the 14th February 1933 (first closed meeting) the first Constitution of The Cape Magicians Circle was approved. A society having been formed, it followed that a
badge or symbol be acquired and therefore at the first Committee meeting held on the 31st March 1933 the
symbol which is currently in use was adopted as the official badge of the Circle.
The Circle commenced by meeting twice a month but soon adopted a once-a-month meeting on the first
Tuesday of the month. Over 90 years later the Circle is still meeting on this same evening.
The society continued throughout WWII with the minutes from the meeting held on D-Day, 6 June 1944,
reflecting that “there was a break in the business while members listened to the Invasion Day speech of His
Majesty, the King.”
In 1980, CMC members David Gore and Jonathan Procter established the
College of Magic.
On 18 June 1982 former CMC president Lindsay Waters donated the Daelin Trophy to the Circle, which is competed for annually by members during the September meeting.
In 1993 the CMC celebrated its Diamond Anniversary, and obtained its permanent home at the Magical Arts
Centre in Claremont, where it has been meeting monthly ever since. In the same year, The Cape Magicians
Cape Magicians Circle.
Celebrating its 90th birthday in 2023, the Circle hosted the National Magic Convention and South African Magic Championships from 6-8 October, which featured guest appearances by Lance Burton and Franz Harary, amongst others.
The Circle has continued with its monthly meetings and magic events until the present day.
A short excerpt from “The Story of the CMC” by David Gore & Percy Wolfaardt
Copyright © 1993 & 2023 David Gore & Percy Wolfaardt
