The Modern Mystic League
AUGUST 2026
Blackburn & District Society of Magicians
On a warm August day we extended an equally warm welcome to our old friend and regular MeMeL contributor, Geoffrey Newton.
The focus for the first part of the afternoon was on the Magic of Ian Adair, Geoffrey presenting a potted biography of this hugely influential figure, born in Kilmarnock in 1940. We heard of his early influences – the ubiquitous magic box received at the age of seven (his was the Ernest Sewell version) and a popular magic book – The Boys’ Book of Magic.
Amazingly, Ian was recruited by Edwin Hooper to join the Supreme Magic Company in Bideford, Devon, while he was still a teenager, and remained with them for 34 years. He went on to write 300 books (some of them ‘classics’ such as The Encyclopaedia of Dove Magic, which ran to five volumes) and reputedly inventing at least one trick per day. He also made some 200 television appearances, starting on Scottish television at the age of sixteen.
When Ian passed away last year, Geoffrey took over his Kids’ Corner in the Key Ring magazine. He demonstrated for us a number of Ian’s effects which he had meticulously made up, complemented by several of his own.
We saw Ian’s ‘Caterpillar Capers’ (ending with a butterfly transformation), ‘It’s a Lemon’ (a turn-it-round flap effect), ‘Humpty Dumpty’ (using a magnetic card box for Humpty’s restoration), ‘Catch the Fish’ (with some outstanding artwork) and ‘Lots of Dots’ (with audience participation).
The focus for the first part of the afternoon was on the Magic of Ian Adair, Geoffrey presenting a potted biography of this hugely influential figure, born in Kilmarnock in 1940. We heard of his early influences – the ubiquitous magic box received at the age of seven (his was the Ernest Sewell version) and a popular magic book – The Boys’ Book of Magic.
Amazingly, Ian was recruited by Edwin Hooper to join the Supreme Magic Company in Bideford, Devon, while he was still a teenager, and remained with them for 34 years. He went on to write 300 books (some of them ‘classics’ such as The Encyclopaedia of Dove Magic, which ran to five volumes) and reputedly inventing at least one trick per day. He also made some 200 television appearances, starting on Scottish television at the age of sixteen.
When Ian passed away last year, Geoffrey took over his Kids’ Corner in the Key Ring magazine. He demonstrated for us a number of Ian’s effects which he had meticulously made up, complemented by several of his own.
We saw Ian’s ‘Caterpillar Capers’ (ending with a butterfly transformation), ‘It’s a Lemon’ (a turn-it-round flap effect), ‘Humpty Dumpty’ (using a magnetic card box for Humpty’s restoration), ‘Catch the Fish’ (with some outstanding artwork) and ‘Lots of Dots’ (with audience participation).
STAR LECTURE
with
GEOFFREY NEWTON
with
GEOFFREY NEWTON
Geoffrey continued in the same vein with some of his own creations for Kids’ Corner: ‘Furry Friends’, with a funny monkey, ‘Sweet Treat’, in which Chairman Roger won a Mars Bar, and ‘Out for a Duck’, which appeared in the May MeMeL, employing a stacked deck combined with the PATEO force. He also put into practice ‘The Magic Letter’ from February’s magazine and ‘Shuffle and Shake Surprise’ from April. A freely-chosen domino was used in a convincing book test, while the ‘Power of Nine’ made an appearance for those who like mathematical magic. His ‘helicopter’ effect will appear in the next edition.
The emphasis throughout was simplicity of method, leaving scope for presentation combined with attractive, eye-catching artwork. Geoffrey is to be complimented upon his painstaking recreation of Ian’s props, always keeping in mind the inspiration to be found in non-magic ‘magic shops’ such as The Range, The Works, Rymans, B&M and the much-lamented Woolworths.
Geoffrey packed a great deal into his time, and left us with much food for thought. He was presented with a copy of the 2025 MeMeL Yearbook, containing many of his original ideas, and was thanked for a splendid afternoon of magic . . . along with Allan Clarke for providing some equally appreciated refreshments.
Brian Lead
The emphasis throughout was simplicity of method, leaving scope for presentation combined with attractive, eye-catching artwork. Geoffrey is to be complimented upon his painstaking recreation of Ian’s props, always keeping in mind the inspiration to be found in non-magic ‘magic shops’ such as The Range, The Works, Rymans, B&M and the much-lamented Woolworths.
Geoffrey packed a great deal into his time, and left us with much food for thought. He was presented with a copy of the 2025 MeMeL Yearbook, containing many of his original ideas, and was thanked for a splendid afternoon of magic . . . along with Allan Clarke for providing some equally appreciated refreshments.
Brian Lead
