Knit your bit: The Magic Circle’s wartime knitters
How war, magic and knitting came together...a quirky tale. On Saturday 3 February 1940, members of The Magic Circle gathered at St Ermin ’ s Hotel in Westminster to celebrate the centenaries of two great public figures in British magic: John Nevil Maskelyne and Professor Hoffman. An exhibition of photographs, posters and apparatus recalled the days of the Egyptian Hall and St George ’ s Hall. On stage, Herbert J. Collings demonstrated plate-spinning using Maskelyne ’s original table, while other performers entertained the assembled magicians and their guests. Among those present was Cassie Maskelyne, widow of John Nevil’s son Archie, who had herself appeared in the family’s famous illusions. Also attending was Mrs Bridger Lewis, whose interests that afternoon extended beyond conjuring. During the entertainment, an appeal was made from the stage for knitted clothing to be sent to men serving in the armed forces. Wartime poster encouraging the public to knit clothing for the Royal Navy (...