The Magic Castle claims to be the world's most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts. It hosts nightly performances by the world's finest magicians, and it is considered an honor to perform theredubious . It is also the private clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA), an organization devoted to the advancement of the art of magic and its history, and it is a hang-out for the magic industry.
Located in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, the Magic Castle is a private club. Only members and their guests are allowed entrance, though courtesy invitations can be obtained by magicians visiting from out of town. A typical evening features several magic shows and historic displays, as well as a full service dining room and several bars. The atmosphere is reminiscent of classic night club daysdubious , and a dress code of formal party attire is strictly enforced.1
Children 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.
However, during a special week in the summer, the top Junior performers get to perform during the week at night at Future Stars Week. This program is the highest praise and many great magicians come out of the program having been able to perform then.
As of 2006, the AMA has approximately 5000 members.2
Robert Lamoureux is the current president of the AMA's Board of Directors, which also includes actor Neil Patrick Harris.3.
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History
The building is an authentic Chateau-style mansion built in 1909 as a near duplicate of the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands, California. It was taken over in 1963 by Milt Larsen, who began converting it to its present state.
The Magic Castle houses the Academy of Magical Arts.
The mission statement of the Academy of Magical Arts reads:
"The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. has been and will continue to be the premier organization in the world dedicated to the art of MAGIC. We are an organization which promotes the art of magic, encourages fellowship and maintains the highest ethical standards. We provide a friendly environment where members and their guests can enjoy the art and each other's company. Our goals and objectives are to advance the art and promote a positive image of magic and magicians worldwide."
The Castle, located in the hills above Hollywood, is a popular destination for local and visiting magicians. Its first and largest illusion is its size -- the building appears much larger inside than it does from the outside. However, not everyone will have the opportunity to observe this, as the Magic Castle is a private club and only members and their guests are admitted. (Members can sponsor groups for special events as well.) A strict dress code (coat and tie for men, cocktail attire for women) is enforced, but the atmosphere inside among magicians is not formal.
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 1992.4
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, and recently Jason Alexander of Seinfeld.
The top magicians in the world perform in several different formats, including an intimate close-up room, a larger parlour, and a grand stage. Informal performances around the 5 bars give magicians the opportunity to learn from and impress peers. Magician members interested in magical research have access to a substantial library of resources.
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 be well-known performers and professionals.
The Junior Group consists of many members, some of which are. Edsel Chiu, Michael Stern, Aaron Rabkin, Kyle Eschen, Sean Trinn, Nathan Gibson, Rmax Goodwin and there are also 2 auditions a year where magicians from around the area come and try out to be admitted to the program.
At the Castle, visiting non-magicians can see the best of magic being performed close up. The lobby of the Castle has no visible doors to the interior, and one must say a secret phrase to an owl to gain access, exposing the entrance to the club. Once inside, visitors can go to any of the five different shows, each of which changes weekly, where magicians exhibit their skills, and can listen to Irma, a piano-playing ghost that takes requests.
Magicians must audition to join the Academy of Magical Arts and the Castle. Non-magicians can join, but only as associate members.
Awards
Annual awards given by the Magic Castle have a high status within the magic industry.
Nominees for the performing awards are chosen from among that year's performers. With several different magicians performing each week, this can mean a pool of hundreds.
Performing awards are given in different categories at the annual "Academy of the Magical Arts Awards" event:
- Close-up Magician of the Year (2008: Derren Brown)
- Parlour Magician of the Year
- Stage Magician of the Year
- Lecturer of the Year
- Junior Magician of the Year (2008: Mike Jacobson and Edsel Chiu)
Other awards include Literary and Life Fellowships, Junior Magician of the Year, and the prestigious "Magician of the Year" award that goes to the performer, whether he has worked the Magic Castle that year or not, who has made the most impact on the international world of magic.
Events
- Annually on July 8, the Magic Castle hosts the Soapy Smith party in honor of the day Jefferson Randolph Smith, the infamous confidence man of the nineteenth century, was killed. Dai Vernon was a great fan of Soapy's history.
- The Castle is the likely inspiration for the Gothic Castle, a frequently mentioned location in the television series Arrested Development.
References
- ^ "Magic Castle After Dark," December 16, 2006 documentary on A&E Network
- ^ Academy of Magical Arts (2004). "2004 AMA awards press release". http://www.magiccastle.com/about/pressreleases.cfm?id=1. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Johnson, Karl. 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."
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- This page was last modified on 11 December 2008, at 00:35.
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