About

IBM Ring 102

IBM Maurice Rooklyn Ring 102 Inc. is a non-profit magic club.

It is affiliated to The International Brotherhood of Magicians, the world’s largest organisation dedicated to the art of magic, with member clubs in 88 countries.
IBM Ring 102 was formed in Sydney in 1949 and was officially certified by the International Brotherhood of Magicians in April 1950.

In November 1972, at the suggestion of world renowned Australian magician, Les Levante, the name was changed to “IBM Maurice Rooklyn Ring Number 102” in honour of the club’s long term member, and other internationally famous magician, Maurice Rooklyn.

Both Maurice Rooklyn and Les Levante served as presidents of the club. Other well known past presidents have included Alfred Hayes, Steve Walker, Sean Taylor, Allan Sullivan and Sam Powers.

Maurice Rooklyn ‘The Human Target’

Maurice Rooklyn was born in London in 1905 and immigrated to Australia with his family in 1912. He had a passion for magic from an early age and by the time he was 28, ‘Morry’, as he was affectionately known was appointed President of the Australian Magicians’ Club.

He toured extensively and achieved local and international fame, especially with his act in which, the promotional material said,

“… we see a man defying death, shaking dice with Destiny. It is thrilling, it is unbelievable and yet it is true. Picture yourself standing looking down the barrel of a loaded rifle, a finger trembling on the trigger, then the deafening explosion and this dare-devil catches the bullet in his teeth. If he misses, it is the finish.”

As it happened, he was shot twice. He then moved on to less hazardous forms of deception – card manipulation, and later, billiard ball manipulation.

Unsurprisingly for this man, he went on to become the official World Champion Billiard Ball Manipulator and was featured as the cover story in the US magic journal, ‘Genii’ .

A legend of Australian magic, Maurice Rooklyn died in 1992 at his home in Sydney at the age of 87.