Magic Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Magic Castle
Location	7001 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California, United States
Built	1909
Architect	Lyman Farwell Oliver Perry Dennis
Architectural style(s)	Chateauesque
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument
Designated	1989
Reference no.	406
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The Magic Castle is a special place in Hollywood, California. It's a clubhouse, restaurant, and performance spot for magicians and people who love magic. It's also the home of the Academy of Magical Arts.

The Academy was started in 1952 by William Larsen Sr. His sons, Bill and Milt Larsen, along with Bill's wife Irene Larsen, opened the Castle on January 2, 1963. This amazing building used to be a private home. In 1989, it was named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, which means it's an important historical place.

In April 2022, Randy Pitchford bought the Castle. He is a grandnephew of the famous British magician Richard Valentine Pitchford. Erika Larsen, who is Bill Jr.'s daughter, helps manage the property. The Academy of Magical Arts continues to use the Castle as its main home.

History of the Magic Castle

The Magic Castle in 2023

The Magic Castle building was built in 1909. It was designed to look like a French castle, a style called châteauesque. A real estate investor named Rollin B. Lane had it built as his home. Architects Lyman Farwell and Oliver Perry Dennis designed it. They had designed a similar house, Kimberly Crest, years before. The Lanes called their home "Holly Chateau." It had 17 rooms, including a roof garden.

The Lane family owned the house until 1955. Then, in September 1961, Milt Larsen, Bill Larsen, and Irene Larsen leased the building. They began turning it into the magical place it is today. The Magic Castle officially opened on January 2, 1963.

Over the years, more parts have been added to the building. These additions include several theaters, bars, a library, and other meeting areas. Many unique items from other old buildings were also added. For example, street lamps from an old pier and chandeliers from a historic department store are now part of the Castle. In 1989, the Magic Castle was recognized as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Many famous magicians have performed at the Castle. One regular was sleight of hand magician Dai Vernon. He performed there for decades. After he passed away in 1992, his ashes were brought back to the Castle. Celebrities like Orson Welles, Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jason Alexander have also performed there.

On October 31, 2011, a fire damaged the Castle's attic. Water damage also affected the inside. The Magic Castle was repaired and reopened in February 2012.

In April 2022, Randy Pitchford bought the Castle from the Glover family. He is the CEO of the Gearbox Entertainment Company. Randy Pitchford is a lifelong magician. He says the Magic Castle helped him start his career in entertainment. Famous magicians like Penn Jillette and David Copperfield supported his purchase. They believe he will help keep the Castle's legacy alive.

What You'll Find Inside

When you enter the Magic Castle, you won't see any doors right away. To get in, visitors must say a secret phrase to a sculpture of an owl. This reveals the hidden entrance to the club.

Each night, five magic shows take place in three different theaters. These are the Close-up Gallery, the Parlour of Prestidigitation, and the large Palace of Mystery stage. On weekends, there are extra shows in the Peller Theatre. Magicians also perform magic for guests in informal areas near the five bars.

In the music room, an invisible "ghost" named Irma plays the piano. She even takes song requests! The Castle also has special Houdini séances in the Houdini Séance room.

There's a members-only library downstairs. It has very old magic books, some from as far back as 1584. It also has original magic tricks that helped design the ghosts in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.

Usually, people under 21 years old are not allowed in the evenings. But on Saturdays and Sundays, the Castle has a special brunch for all ages. During brunch, the Castle's "Junior Members" perform. These young magicians are between 13 and 20 years old.

Academy of Magical Arts

The Academy of Magical Arts is a group that helps promote and develop the art of magic. It's a non-profit organization.

William Larsen, Sr. started the Academy of Magical Arts in 1952. It was a group of magicians. In 1962, his sons, Bill Jr. and Milt Larsen, made it an official international organization. The Magic Castle has been the Academy's headquarters since 1963.

How the Academy Started

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

Larsen gave out "Academy Awards" for great contributions to magic. William Larsen, Sr. passed away in July 1953. His wife and eldest son continued the magazine. But the Academy didn't have a formal structure and became inactive. In 1962, William Larsen's younger son, Milt, leased and restored the old 1909 house in Hollywood. He wanted to turn it into 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 the non-profit corporation in 1962. The Magic Castle opened on January 2, 1963, as the home of the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc.

Becoming a Member

The Academy started with 50 members and grew to 5,000 by 2006. In 2019-2021, the COVID-19 pandemic caused financial challenges for the Castle. The money saved for buying the building actually helped it survive the pandemic. In May 2022, there were about 4,000 magician members. The purchase of the Castle by Randy Pitchford in April 2022 is expected to help the Academy financially.

To become a regular member, you need to be actively involved in magic as a job or hobby. You also have to audition for the Academy's membership committee. Associate members are people who love magic and the Academy. Their applications must be approved by the board of directors. Special honorary memberships are given to magicians, celebrities, and others who have greatly helped the art of magic.

The Junior Society is for young people seriously interested in magic, aged 13 to 19. You need to apply and audition. It's a very competitive program. It's not for beginners, but more like a special school for magic. Many Junior Society members have become professional magicians. These include Mark Kalin, Kevin James, and Christopher Hart. The Society started in 1974. Since 2021, about 3,000 young magicians have been part of the Junior Society.

Past Presidents

• Bill Larsen Jr.
• Ron Wilson
• Mark Wilson
• Gay Blackstone
• Neil Patrick Harris
• Jim Steinmeyer

Commitment to a Welcoming Environment

The Academy of Magical Arts is dedicated to creating a welcoming and fair environment for everyone. In recent years, the Academy has worked to improve its culture and operations. A law firm conducted an investigation, and the Academy's board is putting new recommendations into practice.

Changes have been made to the building to ensure privacy and comfort for all guests. The board of directors has also become more diverse. In a March 2022 election, the board expanded from seven to nine members. The new board includes four women, three of whom are officers, and two gentlemen of color. This shows a strong commitment to a new era of openness and inclusivity at the Castle.

Magician Paul Draper has supported training on diversity and inclusion. The board of trustees has added more images of female and Black magicians to the Castle's decor. The Magic Castle is working to be a place where everyone feels respected and included.

Awards

The Academy of Magical Arts gives out awards each year at the "Academy of the Magical Arts Awards" event. Performers at The Magic Castle are chosen as nominees for these awards.

Other awards, like Fellowship, Merit, and Achievement awards, honor individuals. These awards recognize people who have made important contributions to the world of magic.

Here are some of the awards given by the Academy of Magical Arts:

• Magician of the Year (since 1968)
• Stage Magician of the Year (since 1968)
• Close-Up Magician of the Year (since 1968)
• Lecturer of the Year (since 1968)
• Visiting Magician of the Year (since 1969)
• Parlour Magician of the Year (since 1983)
• Comedy Magician of the Year (2003–2006)
• Bar Magician of the Year (2004–2005)
• Masters Fellowship (since 1968)
• Performing Fellowship (since 1968)
• Creative Fellowship (since 1968)
• Literary & Media Fellowship (since 1968)
• Special Fellowship (since 1968)
• Lifetime Achievement Fellowship (since 1985)
• Award of Merit (since 1968)
• Junior Achievement Award (since 1976)

Some other awards have been given only once or rarely. These include the Junior Award of Merit and Honorary Life Membership. In 1974, The Magic Castle itself received an Award of Merit.

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.