The International Magicians Society (IMS) is a
magic
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
society created by Tony Hassini to "help promote and preserve the art of magic and provide a format where magicians could share their secrets and ideas." The society gives its own "Merlin Award" to magicians on a regular basis, though this award is not recognized in the wider community, its authenticity has been questioned, and critics allege that the award is something that can be bought in order to increase publicity.
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History
The IMS claims on its website that it was founded in 1968, though this date has been questioned, and asserted to actually be 1994.[ The IMS website also claims that the Merlin Award statuette, designed by Hassini, was created in 1964 by Carol Michaud, a ]New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, the ...
art student.
Though the IMS site claims that the Merlin Award is the Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
of Magic, critics allege that it lacks much of the oversight that enhances the credibility of awards in other industries.Morgan Strebler
Morgan Strebler (born Matthew Glenn Milligan, April 10, 1976 in Sikeston, Missouri) is an American psychological illusionist, actor, director, writer and producer. Strebler started practicing magic at the age of seven after seeing a live Harry ...
blogged that he received a Merlin Award in 2011. Also in 2011, the Indian paper ''The Hindu
''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...
'' wrote that magician Gopinath Muthukad
Gopinath Muthukad (born 10 April 1964) is an Indian magician and motivational speaker from Kerala. He employs magic as a medium to convey his messages to public. Muthukad founded the world's first magic academy, The Academy of Magical Science ...
was the second Indian magician to receive the award.
In 2013, illusionist Cosentino was written up in the ''Tasmanian Times
Tasmanian Times is an online news service in Hobart in Tasmania
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, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCo ...
'' for receiving one.
The distribution of Merlin Awards to virtually unknown magicians in relatively remote areas of the world has drawn scrutiny.[ Many prominent magicians within the industry, as well as industry journalists, have now questioned the authenticity of the award.]
References
External links
International Magicians Society (IMS)
{{Authority control
Magic organizations
Organizations established in 1968
Performing arts awards
Awards established in 1968