Magic Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Magic Castle
Location	7001 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California
Built	1909
Architectural style(s)	Chateauesque
Website	magiccastle.com
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument
Designated	1989
Reference no.	406
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The Magic Castle is a special clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It's a place where magicians and people who love magic can meet, learn, and perform. The Academy was started in 1952 by William Larsen Sr. His sons, Bill and Milt Larsen, opened the Castle on January 2, 1963.

This unique club is located in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California. It used to be a private home. In 1989, it was named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, which means it's an important historical building. In 2022, Randy Pitchford, who is also a magician, bought the Castle.

The Magic Castle at night.

The Castle's Story

The Magic Castle building was built in 1909. It was designed to look like a French castle, a style called châteauesque. A man named Rollin B. Lane, who was a real estate investor and lawyer, had it built as his home. He and his wife, Katherine, called their house "Holly Chateau." It had many rooms, including a roof garden.

The Lane family owned the house until 1955. In 1961, Milt Larsen, Bill Larsen, and Irene Larsen rented the building. They started changing it into the amazing place it is today. The Magic Castle officially opened its doors on January 2, 1963.

Over the years, more parts were added to the Castle. These additions include several theaters, bars, a library, and other meeting rooms. Many old and interesting pieces from other famous Los Angeles buildings were used to decorate the Castle. For example, street lamps from Venice's Victoria Pier and chandeliers from the first Bullock's department store were added. In 1989, the Magic Castle became a protected historic landmark.

Many famous magicians have performed here. One regular was sleight of hand magician Dai Vernon. He performed at the Castle for decades. Celebrities like Orson Welles, Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jason Alexander have also performed their magic at the Castle.

In 2011, a fire damaged the Castle. It started in the attic. After some repairs, the Magic Castle reopened in February 2012.

In April 2022, Randy Pitchford, who is the CEO of a video game company called The Gearbox Entertainment Company, bought the Castle. He is also a lifelong magician. He promised that the Castle would continue to be a place for magic performances and the home of the Academy of Magical Arts. Famous magicians like Penn Jillette and David Copperfield were happy about this sale.

What's Inside The Magic Castle?

The Magic Castle is a performance hall, a restaurant, and a private club. When you visit, you can enjoy magic shows and other performances. There's also a dining room and several bars, all in a fancy club setting.

When you first arrive, you won't see any doors into the Castle. To get inside, visitors must say a secret phrase to a sculpture of an owl. Then, the entrance magically appears!

Every night, five different magic shows are performed in three theaters:

• The Close-up Gallery
• The Parlour of Prestidigitation
• The Palace of Mystery (a large stage)

On weekends, there are even more shows in the Peller Theatre, the Hat and Hare Pub, and the W.C. Fields Bar. Magician members often perform tricks for guests in the areas near the five bars. In the music room, a piano is played by "Irma," who is said to be the Castle's "resident ghost." She can play any song you request! There are also special Houdini séances held in the Houdini Séance room.

Usually, people under 21 years old are not allowed during evening performances. However, on Saturdays and Sundays, the Castle has a special "all-ages" brunch. During brunch, members and their guests of all ages can visit. The Castle's "Junior Members," who are young magicians aged 13 to 20, often perform in the Close-up Gallery during brunch.

The Academy of Magical Arts

The Academy of Magical Arts is a non-profit group. Its main goal is to promote and help the art of magic grow.

William Larsen, Sr. first started the Academy of Magical Arts in 1952. It was a group of magicians who shared their love for magic. In 1962, his sons, Bill Jr. and Milt Larsen, officially made it a formal organization. They also built the Magic Castle to be its main home. The Magic Castle has been the Academy's headquarters since 1963.

How the Academy Started

William Larsen Sr. announced the creation of the Academy of Magical Arts in his magic magazine, Genii, in April 1952. All subscribers to the magazine automatically became members.

Larsen Sr. gave out "Academy Awards" for great contributions to magic. He passed away in 1953. His wife and eldest son continued the magazine, but the Academy didn't have a formal structure yet. In 1962, Milt Larsen leased and restored the 1909 house in Hollywood. He wanted it to be a meeting place for magicians, which he called the "Magic Castle." To bring the Academy back to life and make the Castle its home, Bill Jr. officially created a non-profit organization in 1962. The Magic Castle opened on January 2, 1963, as the home of the Academy of Magical Arts.

Becoming a Member

The Academy started with about 50 members and grew to 5,000 by 2006. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Castle faced financial challenges. New fees were introduced to help keep it going. By May 2022, there were about 4,000 magician members. The purchase of the Castle by Randy Pitchford is expected to help the Academy financially.

There are different ways to become a member:

• Regular Members: You must be actively involved in magic as a job or hobby. You need to audition for the Academy's committee.
• Associate Members: These are people who love magic and the Academy. Their applications must be approved by the board of directors.
• Honorary and VIP Members: These special memberships are given to magicians, celebrities, or individuals who have greatly helped the art of magic.

The Junior Society is for young people who are very interested in magic. It's open to those aged 13 to 19. To join, you need to apply and audition. It's a very competitive program. Many young magicians from the Junior Society have gone on to become professional magicians, like Mark Kalin, Kevin James, and Christopher Hart. The Junior Society started in 1974.

The Magic Library

The Magic Castle has a special library just for members. It's located in the lower part of the Castle. This library holds very old and rare books about magic. Some books date back to 1584! It also has original magic tricks that were used to create the ghostly effects in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.

Leaders of the Academy of Magical Arts

Here are some of the people who have served as Presidents of the Academy:

• Bill Larsen Jr.
• Ron Wilson
• Irene Larsen
• Mark Wilson
• Dale Hindman
• Gay Blackstone
• Robert Lamoureux
• Neil Patrick Harris (2011-2014)
• Erika Larsen
• Randy Sinnott Sr.
• Jim Steinmeyer
• Randy Sinnott Jr.
• Chuck Martinez

Academy Awards

The Academy of Magical Arts gives out awards every year at its "Academy of the Magical Arts Awards" event. These awards honor the best performers at The Magic Castle.

Other awards recognize people who have made important contributions to magic. These include:

The Magic Castle itself even received an Award of Merit in 1974!

See also

In Spanish: The Magic Castle para niños

• Los Angeles Historic–Cultural Monuments in Hollywood
• Hollywood Heights, Los Angeles
• The Magic Circle (organisation) in London.