The club was founded in 1965 by Bill Davey, Les Rash, Alex "Aldini" Weiner, Ted "Suds" Sudbrack, Steve Schreiner, and several other professional and amateur magicians as THE ORANGE COUNTY MYSTICS. Its purpose was to provide in Orange County a forum for those interested in magic. The club first met in Aldini's Magic Shop at Chapman & West. The only requirements for membership are that the person be 18 or older and have a sincere appreciation of the magical arts.

In 1975, it became a chapter of the Pacific Conference of American Magicians (PCAM). Ted "Suds" Sudbrack, OCMC Past President and lifetime member, is also a past president of the PCAM. In 1987, when the club changed its name, Suds designed the above logo which was the winning entry in a contest the club held to design one. The OCMC owns all rights to the logo.

We currently have about 100 current dues-paying members and 11 living life members. Within the membership, we have professional, amateur, and novice magicians for all areas of the art (stage illusions, close-up, comedy, mentalism, clown, etc.).

The club has a reputation of being one of the friendliest groups in the Los Angeles / Orange County area. People have joined from all over the Southern California area, not just Orange County.

When the occasion arises, club members have volunteered their services as magicians to perform for charity events.

Meetings are usually held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. The meeting location is currently at the Women’s Club of Garden Grove. Occasionally, there may be a special workshop or group meeting held at 7pm before the regular meeting. Meeting themes vary each month to give the club variety.

Lectures

Visiting professional magicians have lectured on some FACEt of the magical arts such as stage and close-up magic, mentalism, clowning, hypnotism, and so forth. Among our recent lecturers have been Johnny Ace Palmer, Daryl, Michael Ammar, Dan Harlan, Jay Sankey, Dick Barry, Kevin James, Joe Givan, Vito Lupo, Dan Sylvester, Loren Christopher Michaels, Dave Neighbors, Dean Dill, Kendrick Ice McDonald, Arnold Furst, Phil Foxwell, Mitch Williams, Eric Lewis, Martin Lewis, John Fedko, Bruce Johnson, George Sands, TC Tahoe, and Lee Earle. Lectures are free to all OCMC members and as a courtesy, IBM Ring #96. There is a small cover fee for all other visitors.

Performance Meetings

Members perform acts based on a particular theme such as Mentalism & Bizarre Magic; Valentine's Day Magic; Red, White, & Blue Magic (for the Fourth of July); Open Performances by New Members or Past Presidents, and The Les Rash Close-up Contest. Participation is encouraged at these meetings.

Instructional Meetings

Workshop Nights usually are broken up into smaller groups where a member may give the small group hands-on instruction on a particular effect, sleight, or routine. We try to poll the membership before hand as to what should be covered. We also try to video tape the instructions either before hand or at the meeting. Members may obtain a copy of the video for $5 or providing a blank tape. This provides them with something to refer to later when practicing on their own. We also have a Show & Tell Night where effects are not only performed, but then explained. This usually is just a brief explanation without hands-on instruction. There is also a Magic By The Book Night where effects are only performed, but credit has to be given as to what magic book or magazine the effect may be found.

Flea Market or Auction

Once a year the club tries to hold a Magic Flea Market and/or Auction. The Flea Market consists of various dealer tables run by club members or magic merchants along with a special club table where members with just a few item may sell them with a small percentage going to the club. An auction consists of members bringing in various magical items and having them sold off with a small percentage of the sale going to the club.

Summer Picnic

Sometime during the summer, the club holds a picnic on a Weekend afternoon. Over the last 3 years it has been held at Ralph B. Clark Park in Fullerton. Members bring potluck dinners and desserts to share. A member magic show is also performed. Members are welcome to bring their families and friends.

Holiday Potluck Party

At the December meeting, members bring potluck desserts to share before the Holiday Magic show. There is usually a Holiday gift exchange of inexpensive magic and non-magic items. Only those who bring gifts may take part in the exchange. There is also a Free Trick of the Month Raffle for club members only. Members are welcome to bring guests.

Annual Banquet

Usually in November, the club holds a banquet at a restaurant in Orange County. In the past it has been held at the Garden Grove Woman's Club, the Buena Park Holiday Inn, The Phoenix Club, the Pan Pacific Hotel, Marmac's, and the Claim Jumper. The club presents The Floyd Baldwin Stage Magic Contest and a special show by professional magicians. Also, the newly elected Board of Directors is announced after the current Board is honored. Certificates of Appreciation are also awarded to those members who have helped run the club or participated in performing for the club over the past year. There is a fee charged for the dinner and members are encouraged to bring along guests.

Performance Workshops

On the fourth Tuesday of the Month, a workshop is usually held by a few members at one of their homes to work on either honing their skills, developing routines, and sharing ideas. The primary goal is to improve the quality of the magic being performed.

Floyd Baldwin Stage Contest

In 1987, the club decided to start a contest for stage magic to be named after Floyd Baldwin, a Past President who was interested in establishing a forum for members to develop an act of sufficient quality to compete with at a magic convention contest like PCAM.

Depending on the number of contestants, tryouts are held during the October meeting with the finals at the November Annual Banquet. Only members having renewed or joined by the April meeting of that year may compete for the trophy. Judging is done via ballot by all people attending the banquet.

Effort should be put into originality, skill, effect, and overall presentation as such done in preparation to compete at a PCAM convention competition A perpetual trophy is awarded as well as $50 cash prize.

 

Les Rash Close-up Contest

In 1992, the club decided to start a close-up contest to be named after Les Rash, one of the founding club members and a Past President, who had a fondness for close-up magic. The event is usually held at the May meeting.

Only members having renewed or joined by the April meeting may compete for the trophy. Judging is done by ballot by those members and guests in attendance. It should be noted that some members may wish to perform that night, but not compete. Their name will be omitted from the ballot and will perform after the contest.

Effort should be put into originality, skill, effect, and overall presentation as such done in preparation to compete at a PCAM convention competition. A perpetual trophy is awarded to First Place as well as $50 cash prize. Certificates are awarded for Second and Third Place.

 

Occasional No Contest Contest

This really is an event in which every performer wins! Occasionally, there may be a meeting where perform whatever they like. No matter what the effect is, they will receive a certificate the following month for best effect in whatever category the Board can come up with that fits the effect. This has previously been done at the December meeting.

Although annual dues help to run the club, fund-raising events also are done to cover other expenses. At other times, members donate their services to worthwhile charity events needed magicians.

Magic Faire

Starting in 1994, the club has produced an annual Magic Faire at the International Printing Museum in Park (and ran annually for 3 years.) The main purpose of the event was to raise enough money to cover the yearly rent for the monthly meetings held at the IPM. Events like this are held for the public in which all members are expected to help out in some way. The Faire had not only a main stage show featuring headline magicians (shown 2 or 3 times), but also a parlor show in the museum’s Heritage Theater (shown 3 times), a Sideshow in the diorama area (shown every half hour), 2 close-up tables with performers every half hour, a Magic Market dealer room, and walk-around clowns, magicians, and balloon-animal artists. Refreshments were also available. The idea was to have magic happening everywhere around the museum.

 

The first Magic Faire in 1994 was produced by Les Gulliver and was successful in reaching our goal considering it was the club's first attempt. The Headliner was Johnny Ace Palmer and about 50 members participated.

 

The 1995 Magic Faire was produced by Todd R. Reis and surpassed all expectations. Johnny Ace Palmer headlined again along with Dick Barry, Dave Malek, and Steve Quinn plus many members performing walkaround & close-up magic and balloon entertainment. About 80 members participated in making the event a success.

 

The 1996 Magic Faire was produced by Michael "Cool" Rhodes and Todd R. Reis. It featured the Aldo Colombini, Dana Daniels, the Gamesters, David Malek, David Neighbors, and Gregory Wilson plus many club members. Unfortunately, since the club was no longer able to use the IPM for meetings, the event was discontinued in 1997.

Stage Shows

Occasionally the club produces a stage show to raise money in conjunction with other organizations such as it did with Fountain Valley High School in 1994 produced by Stan Mittelman and directed by Gabriel Roy. Previously, Joyce Basch produced a club show in 1989.

 

Charity Events

Numerous members have volunteered to perform at events held by Children’s Hospital of Orange County, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Cancer Crusade, Magic Castle Kids Day, and many others.

Although members must have a sincere interest in magic, a magic performance at club meetings is not mandatory, although encouraged. Participation in some form from time to time, however, is expected, be it performing, teaching, or just helping out with club functions. Usually we ask new members to perform whatever they wish at one of the fall meetings. Remember, you only get out what you put into the club. Its only as fun as the members make it!!

The Secretary keeps a monthly member roster chart of those who have performed and helped in club events. This is used as a basis when asking for performers or help for an upcoming show or event. For more variety, the club would like to get new FACEs to perform at club meeting performance nights instead of constantly having the same people perform all the time. The club periodically needs help in other forms and encourages members to lend a hand. At the annual banquet or at general meetings, Appreciation Certificates are given out to those members who have helped in some capacity during the year.

Visiting Magicians are always welcome. Non-magician visitors are welcome when brought as a guest of a member at performance meetings. Once a year, usually in May, the club features The Les Rash Close-up Magic Contest which also acts as an open house for any visitors to attend. When the club meeting features a lecture by a professional magician, there is a $10 cover charge to non-members. As a courtesy, we also allow members of I.B.M Ring #96 to attend our lectures as our guests at no charge.

About a week before the regular monthly meeting, a newsletter published by the Secretary is mailed to all current members, other magic clubs in the area, and local magic dealers. It contains information about the upcoming meeting and other related data which members should be aware of. It is available via email for those people with internet access. An Internet Edition will also be linked to this web sight.

Initial membership dues for the first year are $35 for one or $45 for a couple. Renewal dues are $25 for one or $35 for a couple and payable in January. They can be paid to the club Treasurer at meetings or by mail. Any renewal dues not paid by the March meeting will be considered delinquent. Any member who pays their dues after the April meeting will be subject to an additional $10 reinstatement charge ($35 dues total). Anyone who joins in late in the year is considered current for the following year and does not have to renew dues in January.

In 1975, it was decided to create a Life Membership status. These are awarded to members, not purchased. Once a year, nominations are taken by the Board of Directors for any members felt to have devoted a high degree of service and energy to the club over an extended period of time. Nominations can be made by any member in good standing to a club officer or board member. Nominations must be in writing and describe why the nominee should be considered.

A Life Membership Award must consider continuous membership for a substantial length of time, consistent attendance, participation on the Board or on committees, participation in club meetings and shows.

Election is determined by the Board of Directors and announced at the annual banquet in November. Life memberships are not awarded every year since some years, no one may qualify or be nominated. A Life Member is not obligated to pay annual dues.

In 1997, it was decided to create a Member of the Year Award. This is awarded each year by the Board of Directors for any member felt to have devoted a high degree of service and energy to the club over the past year. Nominations are made by Board Members and the decision is made at the December Board Meeting.

The OCMC Board of Directors usually meets at 7:00 PM sometime during the first week of the month at one of the officer's homes. Its function is to carry out the business proceedings of the club and arrange the club events for the year. All members are welcome to attend and offer any input regarding the club.

Nominations are taken for positions on the Board during September and elections are held at the October meeting. The positions are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sgt. At Arms along with two Elected Members At Large. Any current member may be nominated for a Board office, but the nominee for the President must have either previously served on the Board (by election or appointment) or served on a committee appointed by the Board with proven reliability and devotion to the club. The President may also appoint two additional Members At Large.

The Board may appoint members to carry out various club duties or functions. As an example, one member acts as the Awards Committee, a couple others are in charge of good & welfare as the Sunshine Committee. From time to time, various members not on the Board may be asked to produce a theme magic show for an upcoming meeting, find a location for the annual picnic or banquet, or just help out in general at special events.

A copy of the current membership roster (name, address, and phone) is available to members each year after dues are paid in April. If you would like a copy of the most recent roster, please contact the club Secretary. Non-members may be on our newsletter mailing list for a $5 charge.

Upon joining, membership cards and badges are issued. Once issued, each member keeps their club badge and are expected to wear them at each regular meeting to help new members become acquainted with everyone.

During the breaks at meetings, a magic trick raffle is held. There are actually two categories. One raffle is for a item of value like a book or video (usually there is a winner’s choice of 1 of 3 items) and the raffle tickets are $2 each. The other raffle is for donated magic items. Tickets are 3 for $1 and there could be several winners. There will always be at least 2 or 3 items of significant value. Members are encouraged to donate raffle items. The items are announced AFTER tickets are sold. Participation is encouraged since all proceeds go to the club treasury.