Merlin Awards - Help Needed

[Tim Ellis]

Im currently researching the history of THE MERLIN AWARDS and Im trying to find some information.

The IMS doesnt keep an accurate listing of all of the Merlin Awards they have presented over the years, but so far I have discovered:

10 pre 1998, 7 in 1998, 20 in 1999, 6 in 2000, 3 in 2001, 4 in 2002, 3 in 2003, 6 in 2004, 6 in 2005, 4 in 2006, 4 in 2007, 19 in 2008, 30 in 2009, 27 in 2010.

I am missing quite a few though so I was hoping readers of the forum might be able to help fill in the gaps.

If you can, please email me at Tim@MagicUnlimited.com or just post your responses below

Thanks!

I need to know the year and the title of the Merlin Awards presented to the following magicians:

David Copperfield
Siegfried & Roy
Doug Henning
Harry Blackstone Jr
Shimada
Tabary
Luis DeMatos
Gary Darwin
Peter Reveen
Harry Lorrayne
John Gaughan
Greg Gleason
Robin Channing
Oli
Raymond Iong
Stan Allen
Max Maven
Pepsi The Clown
Hkari
Ha Sung Chung
Joe Stevens
David Mendoza
Charles Reynolds
Stephen Zadrick (Melindas TV producer)
Gay Blackstone
Asi Wind
Jean Pierre Kraft
Paul Osborne
Sonny Fontana
Penn & Teller
Ha Sung Chung
Jonathan David Bass
Tom Mullica
Tony Spina
Michael V. Lewis (Producer of The Magic Box)
Brett Leonard (Director of The Magic Box)
Terry Evanswood
Ken Klosterman
Fielding West
Allen Ravine
Liong Ket Foei
Leow Fee Loong


I need to know the year the following Merlin Awards were presented:

Joaquin Ayala (Most Original Magic)
Steve Wyrick (Magician of the Year)
Greg Frewin (Magician of the Year)


I need to know the title of the Merlin received:

Silvan (1998)
P C Sorcar (1998)
Juliana Chen (1998)
David & Dania (1998)
Channing Pollock (1999)
Gary Oullet (1999)
Rene Lavand (1999)
Jay Marshall (1999)
Kenneth Feld (1999)
Bernie Yuman (1999)
Jeff McBride (1999)
Kirby Van Burch (1999)
Devlin (1999)
Rocco (1999)
Franz Harary (1999)
David Mendoza (1999)
William H McIlnahy (1999)
Charles Reynolds (1999)
Don Wayne (1999)
Marshall Brodien (1999)
Lennart Green (1999)
Ed Alonzo (2000)
Ayala & Tanya (2001)
Devlin (2003)
Jan Rouven (2004)
Christian Farla (2005)
The Great Cahyo (2009)
Cris Castro (2009)
Lu Chen (2010)
Jorinn Chee Ka Yee(2010)
Ernesto Planas (2010)
Jia Feng (2010)
Mamada (2010)
Jeff Lee (2010)
Richard Yuh (2010)

[Magic Newswire]

Apparently Brad Ross got one this year as well but I hadn't heard about it before:
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... IN/9300308

[Joe Pecore]

I added some of the 1999 categories I found in the July 1999 issue of Genii on MagicPedia at http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Int ... ns_Society

[Tim Ellis]

Thanks Dodd, I'm up with that one.

Joe, those categories answer a few questions!

I hope to put up a fairly comprehensive list soon. The interesting thing I'm discovering is the mix of people who were legitimately given them, those who admit buying them and will happily discuss the terms and the cost involved, and those who swear they never got them at all.

But the fact that Tony Hassini still states that the voting procedure is as follows (despite it being an annual award) makes the whole affair quite an intriguing mystery.

"Every three years, the International Magicians Society hosts a banquet dinner, where those magicians who have acheived the highest level in their craft are awarded the coveted Merlin Award.

The voting members begin with approximately one hundred names and narrows down to a handful. The criteria that the voting members consider are talent, showmanship, originality, skills, and above all the rare ability to entertain under any conditions."

[Richard Kaufman]

Has anyone ever seen or heard, or attended one of these banquet dinners?

[Tim Ellis]

Joe, other awards presented in 1999 included:

Lennart Green
Marshall Brodien
Don Wayne
Charles Reynolds
Rocco
Devlin
Jeff McBride
Bernie Yuman
Kenneth Feld
Jay Marshall
Rene Lavand

[Richard Kaufman]

Tim, do people really PAY to receive this award?

[Pete McCabe]

Who's Who has been running that business model for more than 100 years.

[Tim Ellis]

Well there's the original Who's Who http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who's_Who_(UK)

and many of the rest are pretty much scams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who's_Who_scam

[Pete McCabe]

I believe the Walk of Stars in Hollywood is pay-for-play.

[Tim Ellis]

What is the point you're trying to make Pete?

[Joe Pecore]

I found some for 2003 for you and put them on MagicPedia page http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Int ... ns_Society

[Tim Ellis]

Richard, Joe has discovered reports of two Merlin Awards Banquets from the pages of Genii!

They don't seem to happen every three years though, as the one in 2003 is stated as the "17th Merlin Banquet Awards"

[Tim Ellis]

The trophy was produced in 1968 (according to the website)

If 2003 was the 17th Banquet... if it happens every three years then the first was in 1958... if it's annual the first was in 1987...

If only Tony Hassini would clear some of this up for us...

[Richard Kaufman]

It seems they're branching out: the new Criss Angel "Ultimate Magic Set" for $70 carries a banner across the corner with says it has been selected as "The Best Magic Kit" by the International Magician's Society.

[Tim Ellis]

Oh yes, that award was given before the kit was even out on the market.

[Seuss]

Pete McCabe - "I believe the Walk of Stars in Hollywood is pay-for-play."

I thought the paying was not for getting one but for it's upkeep. Could be wrong though.

[CraigMitchell]

Stan Allen
Max maven
And pepsi the clown

... Mmmmmm

[Jeff Eline]

Richard Kaufman writes: "It seems they're branching out: the new Criss Angel "Ultimate Magic Set" for $70 carries a banner across the corner with says it has been selected as "The Best Magic Kit" by the International Magician's Society. "

The box also warns that it has small balls and a choking hazard. But that's another issue.

[Brad Henderson]

RK,

During of the WMS's (I believe the last one at the tropicana), the merlin banquet was held, though I cannot say it was at the hotel. And I'm not suggesting it was part of the wms, only that it was held concurrently.

[Magic Newswire]

The Great Throwdini (David Adamovich, Ed.D.), (A Knife Thrower) has won the coveted Merlin Award!

This is the first time a non magician has ever been chosen to win the award.

Throwdini has "several" world records for doing so and the act has taken him all over the world to perform for audiences of all walks of life.

[Tim Ellis]

Not quite true. A ventriloquist won the award a few years earlier... All will be revealed soon.

I'm nearly done! ;)

[Tim Ellis]

Oh, and several TV and movie producers have won it too.