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The International Brotherhood of Magicians is a magical society spanning the world including as members both amateur and professional magicians and those that have a sincere interest in the art of magic and its history and secrets.
Local chapters of the International Brotherhood are called Rings. The International Brotherhood publishes a monthly magazine, The Linking Ring, and holds an annual convention.
Ring #94 is the oldest Ring in the State of Maryland and was chartered on April 25, 1949. The 19 Charter members of Ring #94 were: James A. Boyer, George C. Burkholder, Raymond Corbin, Harry F. Feigley, Jr., Robert F. Gallager, Arthur C. Harbaugh, Paul P. Hill, Leon R. Hoover, Rev. H. Kearney Jones, William E. King Jr., Robert D. Kline, E.E. Knepper, H.E. MCFadden, H. Sidney McFadden, Charles E. Porter, Robert C. Reno, William Stokes, Frederick W. Stouffer and J.H. Widmeyer.
From its inception, the local Ring held monthly meeting which included lectures, shows, instructions and performances by the members. Meetings were usually held in member's homes. A yearly banquet was held with entertainment brought in for the occasion.
For a period of about five years from 1966 until 1971, the Ring was inactive. In 1972, with the enthusiasm of a couple of members, the Ring was rechartered and has been active since, still holding monthly meetings and an annual banquet every June. One of the original 19 charter members, William E. "Bill" King, Jr. is still active in the Ring. In 1979, Ring #94 was officially named the King Magic Ring to honor William E. "Bill" King.
In 1982, the Ring held it's First Annual "The Magic Show" at one of the local high schools. The Second Annual show was presented at the Historic Maryland Theatre. The Maryland Theatre has been the site of many shows since. In 1988, the Ring took a "break" from the annual shows to put all its effort into hosting The Magician's Alliance of Eastern States Annual convention. This was the first time the Ring undertook a project of this magnitude and it was a tremendous success. "The Magic Show" resumed in 1989 at the Maryland Theatre and has been there and at other locations in Hagerstown ever since. In 2000 "The Magic Show" went on the road to Union Bridge, Maryland.
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