The Linking Ring

The Linking Ring is a monthly print magic magazine published by the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) for its members since 1922.[1] It is based in Bluffton, Ohio.[2] In 2007, Samuel Patrick Smith, a magician, author and publisher based in Eustis, Florida, became executive editor of the magazine.[3]

For the illusion, see Chinese linking rings.

The Linking Ring

Cover from May 1962, featuring Okito
Categories	Magic
Frequency	Monthly
Founder	Ernest K. Schieldge Gene Gordon
First issue	1922 (1922)
Company	International Brotherhood of Magicians
Country	USA
Based in	Bluffton, Ohio
Website	The Linking Ring
ISSN	0024-4023

List of Magicians featured on the cover of past issues

• Joe Berg [4]
• David Berglas[5]
• Eugene Burger [6]
• John Calvert[7]
• Bev Bergeron [8]
• Robert Chambers [9]
• Juliana Chen[10]
• Wilton "Wil Staar" Clements
• Robert C. Dowd[11]
• Dr. Robert A. Escher, Jr.
• Nelson Hahne
• Justin Flom[12]
• Mike Gancia[13]
• Martin Gardner[14]
• Eugene Gloye[15]
• Joshua Jay[16]
• Kristen Johnson[17]
• George Johnstone[18]
• Mel Kientz[19]
• Milt Kort[20]
• Stan Kramien [21]
• Louis Martelle [22]
• Mike Makman (aka Professor Putter)[23]
• Max Maven (aka Phil Goldstein)[24]
• Jeff McBride[25]
• Johnny Ace Palmer[26]
• Bill Pitts[27]
• Jon Racherbaumer [28]
• Richard J. Weibel [29]
• Mac King (caricatured) [30]
• Dale Salwak [31]
• Harold Adrian Smith
• Cindy Spencer [32]
• Joe M. Turner[33]
• Harold Twaddle[34]
• Herb Zarrow[35]
• Mr Bottle [36]

Notes

• Nelson Hahne did not actually appear on the cover of the December 2007 Linking Ring, but rather an illustration drawn using his style appears on the cover of that issue. The "Cover Story" within that issue, however, discusses the life and contributions of Mr. Hahne to the magic world.
• Kristen Johnson[37] followed in the footsteps of her mother Sunny Johnson, who appeared on the cover in March 2002.

Monthly Features/Columns

• Hocus In Focus is the journal review section, listing reviews of a wide array of books, marketed effects and utility devices as well as magic related videos.[38]
• Our Side of the Pond
• Come A Little Closer[39] A column which ran during the 1970s, heavily focused on close up magic; written by Rick Johnsson.
• The Expert at the Tech Table
• The President's Page
• Hocus Pocus Parade is the title of a regular column which appears in The Linking Ring, published by The International Brotherhood of Magicians. Although the table of contents usually lists the specific contributing magician's name (e.g. "Max Maven One Man Parade").[40] the column itself is still named Hocus Pocus Parade.
• Ring Reports is a collection of monthly reports, submitted by the Ring Reporters for each respective IBM Ring.
• Situationally Yours
• Memoirs of a Magician's Ghost: The Autobiography of John Booth
• Marcom...from the table of my memory
• Potter's Bar – a series of columns included 1952-1969 by Jack Potter giving bibliographic references to periodical and book descriptions of magical effects by category. They were later collected and published as The Master Index to Magic in Print.[41]

Editors Emeriti

• Phil Wilmarth (also served as Assistant Editor)[42]
• Howard Bamman [43][44]

References

1. Patrick Smith, Samuel (September 2012). "The Linking Ring History". The International Brotherhood of Magicians.
2. Richard Wiseman; Robert Lyle Morris (1995). Guidelines for Testing Psychic Claimants. Univ of Hertfordshire Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-900458-58-3. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
3. Magician.org
4. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 57 (4): 1. April 1977.
5. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 57 (1): 1. January 1977.
6. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 62 (2): 1. February 1982.
7. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 88 (8): 1. August 2008.
8. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 76 (7): 1. July 1996.
9. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 57 (11): 1. November 1977.
10. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 80 (9): 1. September 2000.
11. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 65 (3): 1. March 1985.
12. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 87 (5): 1. May 2007.
13. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 82 (5): 1. May 2002.
14. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 58.
15. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 58 (11): 42, 43, 55. November 1978.
16. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. 90 (5): 1. May 2010.
17. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 89 (6). June 2009.
18. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 71 (3). March 1991.
19. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 88 (3): 1. March 2008.
20. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 64 (9): 1. September 1984.
21. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 93 (8): 1. August 2013.
22. "Cover Page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 80 (1): 1. January 2000.
23. "Cover Page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 75 (5): 1. May 1999.
24. "Cover Page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 80 (2): 1. February 2000.
25. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 74 (5): 1. May 1994.
26. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 78 (4): 1. April 1998.
27. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 58 (7): 42–43. July 1978.
28. "Jon Racherbaumer: One Man Parade 2". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 89 (10): 77–95. October 2009.
29. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 74 (9): 1. September 1994.
30. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 87 (10): 1. October 2007.
31. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 57 (2): 1. February 1977.
32. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 78 (9): 1. September 1998.
33. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 95 (7). July 2015.
34. "Our Cover: Harold Twaddle". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 72 (6): 75. June 1992.
35. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 81 (4): 1. April 2001.
36. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 95 (9): 1. September 2015.
37. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 89 (6). June 2009.
38. "Hocus In Focus". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 80 (1): 120–126. January 2000.
39. "Come A Little Closer". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 58 (7): 73–75. July 1978.
40. "Table of Contents". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 80 (2): 5. February 2000.
41. T. A. Waters, The Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians. NY: Facts on File, 1988 ISBN 0-8160-1349-7, p. 267
42. "Copyright page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 78 (3): 4. March 1998.
43. "Copyright page". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 72 (6): 4. June 1992.
44. "From the Editor". The Linking Ring. The International Brotherhood of Magicians. 70 (1): 52. January 1990.