FISM

The Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM) (International Federation of Magic Societies) was founded in 1948, and is one of the most respected organizations in the magic industry. It is an international body bringing together more than 97 national and international magic societies around the world, representing approximately 70,000 magicians from 49 countries.

The FISM is probably best known for conducting one of the most prestigious magic conventions in the world, the triennial "World Championships of Magic". The most recent FISM, the 26th World Championships of Magic, was held in Rimini, Italy in 2015.

History

The roots of the FISM began in Paris, France, in 1937, at a meeting of the 34-year-old A.S.A.P., Association Syndicale des Artistes Prestidigitateurs (Association of Prestidigitation Artists), which had a monthly magazine Le Journal de la Prestidigitation. The group's vice-president, Dr. Jules Dhotel, wanted the A.S.A.P. to produce an international convention in Paris in October 1939, and then proceed to have the convention in a different country each year. Plans proceeded, but when the Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939, the convention was cancelled. After World War II, progress resumed.

In 1946, in a hotel of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, hosted an International Congress of Magicians, with over 300 registrants from around Europe. There were lectures, exhibits of antique books and apparatus, tours of Amsterdam, a public show, and a contest in which 20 magicians took part. There were no categories, so only one set of awards. First prize went to amateur French magician Jean Valton, for an exceptional routine of card juggling and manipulation; second went to Scotland's amateur magician John Ramsay, and third to a professional husband-wife duo, De Flezkis, who combined magic and dance.

The 1947 "Congrès Magique International" brought in 500 attendees from 18 countries, and 70 participants in the competition. Meetings at that convention were held to discuss the creation of a formal international organization, and that was where the FISM title was proposed. While details were worked out, the "Congrès" conventions continued annually.

The first FISM began in 1948 at Lausanne, Switzerland. Here were the results:

Country	Name	Category	Place
England	Willane	Grand prix	1
France	Jean Valton	Manipulation	1
England	Paula Baird	Manipulation	2
Switzerland	Zano	Manipulation	3
Denmark	Haakon Edeling	Presentation	1
The Netherlands	Van Dijl	Presentation	2
France	Dominique	Presentation	3
England	Burtini	Invention	1
France	Gaulthron	Invention	Prix special
France	Rogello	Allied Art	1

Gran Prix Winners & World Championships

• 2009 Beijing - Soma (Hun) & Shawn Farquhar (Canada)
• 2006 Stockholm - Pilou (F) & Rick Merrill (USA)
• 2003 Den Haag - Norbert Ferré (F) & Jason Latimer (USA)
• 2000 Lisbon - Scott the Magicien & Muriel (NL)
• 1997 Dresden - Ivan Necheporenko (RUS)
• 1994 Yokohama - Franklin (D)
• 1991 Lausanne - Vladimir Danilin (USSR)
• 1988 Den Haag - Johnny Ace Palmer (USA)
• 1985 Madrid - Javier y Ana (E)
• 1982 Lausanne - Lance Burton (USA)
• 1979 Brüssel - Ger Copper (NL) / Shukurov (USSR)
• 1976 Wien - Pierre Brahma (F)
• 1973 Paris - Richard Ross (NL)
• 1970 Amsterdam - Richard Ross (NL)
• 1967 Baden-Baden - Di Sato (Harry Thiery) (NL)
• 1964 Barcelona - Pierre Brahma (F) / Mr. Cox (D)
• 1961 Liège - Fred Kaps (NL)
• 1958 Wien - Tonny van Dommelen (NL)
• 1955 Amsterdam - Fred Kaps (NL)
• 1952 Geneva - Denis Moroso (I)
• 1951 Paris - Geoffrey Buckingham (GB)
• 1950 Barcelona - Mystica (Fred Kaps) (NL)
• 1949 Amsterdam - Viggo Jahn (DK)
• 1948 Lausanne - Willane(GB)

World Magic Champions

2009 Beijing XXIV World Championship

• Manipulation Yo Kato Japan
• General Magic Soma Hungary
• Micromagic Vittorio Belloni Italy
• Close-up Card Shawn Farquhar Canada
• Parlour Magic Marc Oberon United Kingdom
• Stage Illusions Julius Frack Germany

2006 Stockholm XXIII World Championship

• Manipulation - Dai Binchun China
• General Magic - Eun Gyeol Lee Rep. of Korea
• Micromagic - Martin Eisele Germany
• Close-up Card - Helder Guimeraes Portugal
• Parlour Magic - Gaston Germany
• Stage Illusions - Sittah The Netherlands

2003 Den Haag XXII World Championship

• Manipulation Norbert Ferré France
• General Magic Pat Perry & Archibald Switzerland
• Invention Jason Latimer USA
• Micromagic Jason Latimer USA
• Close-up Card MagoMigue (Miguel Puga) Spain
• Comedy - The Great Nardini Scotland
• Parlour Magic - Die Zauderer Germany

2000 Lisbon XXI World Championship

• Manipulation - Kenji Minemura Japan
• General Magic - Mask France
• Invention - Michael Ross France
• Micromagic - Simo Aalto Finland
• Close-up Card - Henry Evans Argentina
• Stage Illusions - der "Hexer" Germany

1997 Dresden XX World Championship

• Manipulation - Juliana Chen Canada
• General Magic - Junge Junge Germany
• Micromagic - Thomas Meier USA
• Comedy - Tomoyuki Osaka Germany
• Stage Illusions - Carlos Barragan Argentina

1994 Yokohama XIX World Championship

• General Magic - Greg Frewin Canada
• Micromagic - Carl Cloutier Canada
• Close-up Card - Ramblar Argentina
• Comedy - Die Plebsbüttel Germany

1991 Lausanne XVIII World Championship

• Manipulation - Topas Germany
• General Magic - Juan Mayoral Spain
• Micromagic - Francis Tabary France
• Close-up Card - Lennart Green Sweden
• Comedy- Gill & Dany France

1988 Den Haag XVII World Championship

• General Magic - Vic & Fabrini Brazil
• Micromagic - Joe Givan USA
• Close-up Card - Jose Carroll Spain
• Comedy - Yann Brieuc France

1985 Madrid XVI World Championship

• General Magic - Davido Norway
• Micromagic - Paul Gertner USA
• Close-up Card - John Cornelius USA
• Comedy - Sam Angelico Australia
• Mentalism - Santo & Monique Germany

1982 Lausanne XV World Championship

• Manipulation - Davido Norway
• General Magic - Philippe Socrate France
• Invention - Pavel Switzerland
• Micromagic - Michael Ammar USA
• Close-up Card - Daryl USA
• Comedy - Otto Wessely France
• Ladies - Brigitte Varga Autria
• Stage Illusions - Wayne Allen & Sandy USA

1979 Brussels XIV World Championship

• Manipulation - Magic Christian Austria
• General Magic - Vito Lupo USA
• Invention - Christian Fechner France
• Micromagic - John Cornelius USA
• Close-up Card - Jean-Jacques Sanvert France
• Comedy - Gill Frantzi France
• Ladies - Fee Eleisa Germany
• Stage Illusions - Christian Fechner France
• Mentalism - Hans Moretti Germany
• Juniors - John Hirokawa USA

1976 Vienna XIII World Championship

• Manipulation - Magic Christian Austria
• General Magic - Domi Nho France
• Invention - Juliani Switzerlands
• Micromagic - Heinz Freundt Austria
• Close-up Card - Trevor Lewis Wales
• Comedy - Roy Gardner&Wittus Witt Germany
• Ladies - Aniko Hungary
• Stage Illusions- The Morettis Germany

1973 Paris XII World Championship

• Manipulation - Christian Austria
• General Magic - Toreno Norway
• Invention - Lipp Germany
• Micromagic - Camilo Spain
• Close-up Card - Juan Tamariz Spain
• Comedy - Haraldini Germany
• Stage Illusions- Katawu Japan

1970 Amsterdam XI World Championship

• Manipulation - Tel Smit The Netherlands
• Invention - Domi Nho France
• Micromagic - Rene Petrie Belgium
• Close-up Card - Arturo de Ascanio Spain
• Comedy - Armandi The Netherlands
• Comedy - Topper Martyn Sweden

1967 Baden-Baden X World Championship

• Manipulation - Tel Smit The Netherlands
• General Magic - Joe Nex Germany
• Invention - Rigal France
• Micromagic - Horace France
• Close-up Card - Piet Forton Switzerland
• Comedy - Jerry Bergman USA
• Stage Illusions- Manfred Thumm Germany

1964 Barcelona IX World Championship

• General Magic - Cornel & Monique The Netherlands
• General Magic - Al Preston & Valerie The Netherlands
• Invention - Rama The Netherlands
• Micromagic - Guy Lammertyn Belgium
• Close-up Card - Piet Forton Switzerland
• Comedy - The Maymo Brothers Spain
• Stage Illusions- Les Andreals Switzerland
• Parlour Magic - John Flinch Spain

1961 Liege VIII World Championship

• Manipulation - Pierre Brahma France
• General Magic - Marconick The Netherlands
• Invention - The Maymo Brothers Spain
• Micromagic - Gus Southall England
• Close-up Card - Piet Forton Switzerland
• Comedy - The Maymo Brothers Spain
• Mentalism - John Todd & Jill England
• Stage Illusions - Les Andreals Switzerland
• Parlour Magic - Rama The Netherlands

1958 Vienna VII World Championship

• Manipulation - Maurice Rooklyn Autralia
• General Magic - Peter Pit The Netherlands
• Invention - Rama The Netherlands
• Micromagic - Phoa Yan Tiong The Netherlands
• Close-up Card - Eddy Taytelbaum The Netherlands
• Comedy - Peter Lodynski Austria
• Ladies - N. Marteret France
• Stage Illusions- John Dee Switzerland

1955 Amsterdam VI World Championship

• Manipulation - Marconick The Netherlands
• General Magic - Ad de Lunes The Netherlands
• Micromagic - Eddy Taytelbaum The Netherlands
• Close-up Card - Fred Kaps The Netherlands
• Originality - Mr Jack The Netherlands
• Comedy - El Wido Sweden

1952 Geneva V World Championship

• Manipulation - Bernat Spain
• Presentation - Laquier France
• Invention - Frank Cleaver England
• Close-up - Bernat Spain
• Originality - Peterson Switzerland
• Mentalism - Magdola & Carolus France
• Ladies - Ann Hardy Belgium
• Stage Illusions- Mireldo France
• Stage Magic - Haakon Edeling Denmark

1951 Paris IV World Championship

• Manipulation - Carlo Tornedo Sweden
• Presentation - Albino & Tiny The Netherlands
• Close-up - Sala Switzerland
• Comedy - Jay Palmer & Doreen USA
• Originality - Monarque Belgium
• Mentalism - The Salvins England
• Ladies - Huguette Delysiolle France

1950 Barcelona III World Championship

• Manipulation - Carlo Tornedo Sweden
• Presentation - Haakon Edeling Denmark
• Invention - Jack Miltour Switzerland
• Close-up - John Ramsay Scotland

1949 Amsterdam II World Championship

• Manipulation - Geoffrey Buckingham England
• Presentation - Francisco & Moto The Netherlands
• Invention - Maub van Embden The Netherlands
• Close-up - Geoffrey Buckingham England

1948 Lausanne I World Championship

• Manipulation - Jean Valton France
• Presentation - Edeling Denmark
• Invention - Burtini England

References

• Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM)
• "A history of FISM", by Max Maven, originally published in Genii 2006 October, Vol. 69, No. 10.