{{Short description|Magic society created by Tony Hassini}} The '''International Magicians Society''' ('''IMS''') is a magic 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 recognized in the wider community, its authenticity has been questioned, and critics allege that the award can increase publicity.<ref name=stone>{{cite web|url=https://www.tomstone.se/en/magic-world/the-merlin-award|title=The Merlin Award}}</ref><ref name=unofficialarchive/>
==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.<ref name=stone/> The IMS website also claims that the Merlin Award statuette, designed by Hassini, was created in 1964 by Carol Michaud, a New York University art student. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imsmagic.com/the-merlin-award.html |title=The Merlin Award|publisher=imsmagic.com |access-date=2022-08-19}}</ref> Though the IMS site claims that the Merlin Award is the Academy Award of Magic, critics allege that it lacks much of the oversight that enhances the credibility of awards in other industries.<ref name=unofficialarchive>{{cite web|last=Ellis|first=Tim|title=Merlin Awards: Controversy|url=http://merlinawards.wordpress.com/controversy/|publisher=The Unofficial Archives of the Merlin Awards|access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://imsmagic.com/Merlin_Award.php |title=Merlin award Criteria- IMS |publisher=imsmagic.com |access-date=2011-04-27 |archive-date=2013-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225120958/http://www.imsmagic.com/Merlin_Award.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Illusionist Morgan Strebler blogged that he received a Merlin Award in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://morganstrebler.com/blog/?p=137 |title=Merlin Award 2011 |publisher=morganstrebler.com |access-date=2011-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822120126/http://morganstrebler.com/blog/?p=137 |archive-date=2011-08-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also in 2011, the Indian paper ''The Hindu'' wrote that magician Gopinath Muthukad was the second Indian magician to receive the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scnow.com/entertainment/2011-merlin-award-winner-announced/article_93f9c49d-dc75-5e8e-8762-0cb920888e52.html |format=Press release|title=2011 Merlin award winner announced|publisher=scnow.com |access-date=2022-08-19}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/05/stories/2011040552240200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409213718/http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/05/stories/2011040552240200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-04-09 |title=International award for Muthukad|date= 2011-04-05|access-date=2011-04-27 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> In 2013, illusionist Cosentino was written up in the ''Tasmanian Times'' for receiving one.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tasmaniantimes.com/2013/11/cosentino-wins-coveted-merlin-award-for-international-magician-of-the-year/|work=Tasmanian Times|title=Cosentino wins coveted Merlin Award for international magician of the year|date=November 25, 2013}}</ref>
The distribution of Merlin Awards to virtually unknown magicians in relatively remote areas of the world has drawn scrutiny.<ref name=stone/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pacificnewscenter.com/sandcastles-zubrick-illusionist-duo-win-magic-industries-most-prestigious-honor/|title=Sandcastle's Zubrick illusionist duo win magic industries most prestigious honor {{!}} PNC News First|last=Ridgell|first=Clynt|website=pacificnewscenter.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-04}}</ref> Many prominent magicians within the industry, as well as industry journalists, have now questioned the authenticity of the award.<ref name="stone" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/mike-weatherford/construction-may-keep-tourists-away |title=Construction may keep tourists away - Las Vegas Review Journal|publisher=reviewjournal.com |access-date=2008-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.geniimagazine.com/viewtopic.php?t=29393 |title=Pat Fallon wins Merlin AWard- Genii|work=geniimagazine.com |access-date=2009-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mzvd.de/news-details/tom-stone-zum-merlin-award-genug-ist-genug|title=Tom Stone zum Merlin award genug ist genug (Tom Stone on the Merlin Award: Enough is enough)|work=Magischer Zirkel Deutschland|date=August 27, 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.imsmagic.com/index.php International Magicians Society (IMS)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221141205/http://www.imsmagic.com/index.php |date=2014-12-21 }}
{{Magic and Illusion}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Magic (illusion) organizations Category:Organizations established in 1968 Category:Performing arts awards Category:Awards established in 1968