The Magic Castle
Coordinates: 34°6′16.7″N 118°20′30.5″W / 34.104639°N 118.341806°W
The Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, is a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It bills itself as "the most unusual private club in the world."
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[edit] Nightclub
The Magic Castle is a performance venue, restaurant and private club. A typical evening features several magic and sometimes variety arts performances, as well as a full service dining room and several bars in a nightclub atmosphere. A dress code of formal party attire is strictly enforced.[1] Entry is only allowed to members and their guests, however the low cost "Open Sesame" 30-day trial membership is openly offered to the general public, with the resulting savings in door charges often being sufficient to cover the membership fee.
The lobby of the Castle has no visible doors to the interior, and visitors must say a secret phrase to a sculpture of an owl to gain access, exposing the entrance to the club. Nightly, five different magic performances are showcased in three different theaters, with additional performances added in the Peller as well as Hat and Hare Pub and W.C. Fields Bar on weekends. Magicians perform in several different theaters, including the intimate Close-Up Gallery, a larger Parlor of Prestidigitation, and stage illusions in the Palace of Mystery. Informal performance areas near the five bars give magician members the space for impromptu magic for guests and other patrons. In the music room, a piano is played by invisible "Irma," the Castle's "resident ghost," who takes musical requests.
Those under 21 years of age are not permitted during evening performances. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Castle hosts a brunch and performances which are open to adults and children. During brunch, the Castle's "Junior Members" (ranging in age from 13 to 20 years old) perform in the Close-Up Gallery.
[edit] Fire in 2011
On October 31, the Magic Castle suffered damage from a fire[2] that broke out in the attic. In November, the Magic Castle started accepting guest passes again and only the Glover Annex is currently open for performances. The remainder of the building is hoped to reopen in January 2012.[3]
[edit] Magic Castle Junior Group
The Magic Castle is also known for its Junior Program (the Magic Castle Junior Group). The Junior Group comprises highly skilled young magicians, many of whom have gone on to professional careers in magic. One week a year, billed as "Future Stars Week," performers from the Junior Group are showcased in evening performances in the Castle's showrooms.
[edit] History
The building is an authentic Chateau-style or Chateauesque mansion built in 1909 by banker, real estate developer and philanthropist, Rollin B. Lane. The house was designed and constructed as a near duplicate of the 1897 Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands, California. Ownership of the mansion remained in the Lane family until 1955 when it was sold to Thomas O. Glover, whose family still owns the property. (Contrary to some "tour guide" stories, it was never owned or occupied by actress Janet Gaynor.) In September 1961, the mansion was leased to Milt Larsen and Bill Larsen, Jr., who began converting it to its present state. The Magic Castle opened for business on January 2, 1963.[4]
One of the Castle's most famous members was the late Dai Vernon, an expert in sleight of hand, who often sat in the bar area entertaining and teaching. Vernon was the Magician-in-Residence at the Castle for many years, up until his death in 1992.[5]
Other famous magicians who have been regular performers at the Magic Castle include Mark Wilson, Jay Ose, Senator Crandall, Johnny Platt, Kuda Bux, and Billy McComb. Many "celebrity magic hobbyists" have also performed at the Magic Castle, including Cary Grant, Steve Martin, Johnny Carson, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jason Alexander of Seinfeld.
[edit] Awards
Performing awards are given in different categories at the annual "Academy of the Magical Arts Awards" event. Nominees for the performing awards are chosen from among that year's performers at The Magic Castle.
Other awards include Literary and Life Fellowships awards which go to individuals who, in the view of the Academy, have made significant contributions to the field of magic.
Each year the Academy of Magical Arts awards:
- Stage Magician of the Year
- Parlour Magician of the Year
- Close-Up Magician of the Year
- Lecturer of the Year
The Academy of Magical Arts also presents:
- Master's Fellowship
- Performing Fellowship in Close-Up Magic
- Performing Fellowship in Stage Magic
- Creative Fellowship
- Literary Fellowship
- Junior Achievement Award
[edit] Events
- Fox's Halloween television special Count DeClues' Mystery Castle with Max Maven as the title role was shot here in 1992.
- TV promos were hosted at the Magic Castle on the Disney Channel for the premiere of the 2005 Disney Channel Original Movie, Now You See It....
- Duran Duran held their famous 1984 press conference here for their American Sing Blue Silver Tour.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Magic Castle After Dark," December 16, 2006 documentary on A&E Network
- ^ Los Angeles Times, After fire, Magic Castle hopes to reopen Friday
- ^ official tumblr
- ^ http://www.magiccastle.com/about/index.cfm
- ^ Johnson, Karl (2005). The Magician and the Cardsharp. pp. (p. 282). "He was cremated, and after the box with his ashes was brought to the Magic Castle, it was placed for display on a ledge at the top of a wall filled with photos and other memorabilia from his long life in magic. The ledge was so high that the box was almost out of sight."
[edit] External links
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