Spotlight on Austin IBM Ring 60 IBM Ring 60…the Best Magic Club in the World?
by Kent Cummins
When I came back to Austin with my family in 1976 after leaving Army active duty, I joined the local magic club: IBM Ring 60. Because of my Army experience, I had been to a lot of magic clubs, including the Magic Circle in London. I was even a member of two IBM Rings in addition to the one in Austin. But I had never experienced a club like Ring 60. I thought then, and still think now, that it was “The Best Magic Club in the World!”
In the first place, the magicians were tremendously friendly and open to all comers — magician, family, or guest. They held an annual public show, an annual one day mini-convention, an annual picnic, and monthly meetings that were well-attended and lots of fun. The Austin professionals were as active as the amateurs and hobbyists. There seemed to be none of the secretive society to it at all, and none of the jealousy and aloofness sometimes exhibited by working pros.
It was IBM Ring 60 that originated the “World Famous Austin Magic Auction,” and in those years it was Ring 60 that put on what was generally considered the best of the TAOM Conventions. In fact, the TAOM was started in Austin by Herman Yerger.
The founding president in 1948 was Dr. Carl Moore, and in his honor, Ring 60 is officially the “Carl Moore Ring.” Herman Yerger was the third president. Ramon Galindo, who is still active in the club today, was the tenth, in 1957.
The first magician I ever met in Austin, shortly after Margot and I were married in 1965, was Gene Anderson, of newspaper tear fame. He served as Ring 60 President for the next two years, 1966-67.
The first black magician to be admitted to TAOM was my dear friend O’Quinn Cairo III, who served as Ring 60 President in 1973-74. (O’Quinn loved to say, “I’m the only magician who can do Black Magic and get away with it!”)
The one and only Austin magic shop, The Scott Magic Company, was always involved in Ring activities, and both Fred “The Great Scott” Donaldson and his lovely wife and assistant Judy served as the club’s president (Scott in 1977 and Judy in 1984). The two were also the first winners of the IBM Ring 60 Award of Excellence, first Judy and then Fred.
Ring 60 also sponsored a very active Junior Ring, which produced award-winning magicians such as Bobby Cordell, who served as President in 1987.
Ring 60 is also the only magic club in the world to have its members receive postcards from outer space (thanks to ring member, board member, and space traveler Richard Garriott)!
Like any magic club, IBM Ring 60 has had its ups and downs. But it is currently strong and the meetings continue to combine professionals, amateurs, and hobbyists. And the meetings are still FUN! Furthermore, Ring 60 once again sponsors a thriving club for junior magicians, thanks primarily to Chris Walden (President 2006). Chris is also the driving force behind the club’s newsletter, “Now You See It!”
I think IBM Ring 60 is still one of the best magic clubs in the world…or maybe the universe.
Kent Cummins,
President of IBM Ring 60, 1981-82
(Editor’s note: Austin Ring 60 meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at I-HOP, 11654 Research Boulevard in Austin. For more information, check out the website at http://ibmring60.org/)
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