Penn & Teller’s 50th anniversary celebration continues. The latest event sees The Magic Circle induct the duo into The Inner Magic Circle, the highest honor the organization bestows. The recognition, timed to their 11-day run at The London Palladium in late September, reversed The Circle’s previous decision to deny the two memberships, where the powers that be cited “their unconventional style” as going against the expectations of the society.
“We're honored that The Magic Circle has invited us to be members, after we've violated its cardinal rule—don't give away secrets—for five decades,” Penn & Teller said in a statement. “This is going to be fun.”
“Penn & Teller have used the secrets of magic in a highly intelligent way. They not only greatly respect the art but understand it to an incredibly high level,” Magic Circle president Marvin Berglas said in the same statement. “The experience of wonder will always be central to the art of magic. However, for generations, the top magicians of the world have also occasionally exposed simple methods in order to increase the ultimate surprise and amazement of a particular trick. This is a concept that Penn & Teller have done to a degree of mastery.”
Berglas added, “This recognition today also represents The Magic Circle moving forward and recognizing the various forms that magic can take, and applauds and encourages originality and different respectful approaches to the performance art form.”