Featured image credit: Minnaert
We hear a lot about the magic of Hollywood, but there’s only one place in LA where you can get it on tap. Sandwiched between the Hollywood Bowl and the Walk of Fame, you’ll find an esteemed house of illusion. Instantly recognizable by its larger-than-life Gothic Renaissance architecture, the Magic Castle Hollywood is a refuge for those both quick of wit and sleight of hand. But unlike the Hotel California, getting into the Magic Castle isn’t always easy.
The Holly Chateau Sets a Charmed Foundation
The home that would eventually become the Magic Castle Hollywood was designed in 1908 by the architect team of Lyman Farwell and Oliver Dennis. They used their famed 1897 design for the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands as direct inspiration.
Their patron? Rollin B. Lane, an area real estate investor, banker and philanthropist. Originally dubbed the Holly Chateau, the property served as a home for Lane and his wife. And from its sanctuary, he used his considerable money to improve the neighborhood around him.
Parks were beautified, libraries erected, orphanages established. The area seemed to bear fruit much like the orange groves that surrounded the mysterious abode. And things bloomed like this for years until 1940 when Lane passed away in a room that decades later would rivet Magic Castle visitors as the Houdini Séance room.
Just Add Magic
The Lane family continued to hold the ownership of the property until 1955. At that point, they sold the home to one Thomas O. Glover, who also owned the neighboring Yamashiro. Under his ownership, the property filled a number of uses while slipping into a state of disrepair. It was a boarding house for a time; a senior living facility for a spell. By the mid-century, no one gave its dulled gothic spires a second glance. No one, that is, but the Larsen brothers.
You could say that magic was in the Larsens’ blood. Their parents, Geri and Bill Larsen, had founded Genii magazine; a publication widely known in the illusionist circuit. Geri had also built a reputation by being the first woman to ever perform prestidigitation on television.
It was in 1963 that Milt and Bill Larsen, Jr. approached Glover with a novel concept. What if he allowed them to turn the dilapidated Holly Chateau into an exclusive clubhouse for those in the magic community? Bill, Sr. had dreamed of such a place for years, but it had always been as fleeting as his illusions. That changed in 1963 when the Larsen brothers first opened the doors of the Magic Castle Hollywood.
The Rise of the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences
Supported by Milt’s income as a writer for the game show Truth or Consequences and Bill, Jr’s career as a producer at CBS, the Larsens were able to give the crumbling manor the TLC it so desperately needed. After all, the Magic Castle would serve as the official headquarters for the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences and needed to look the part.
Spearheaded by a 1951 announcement (in Genii magazine naturally), the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences offers guidance to help budding magicians reach full bloom. While Geri and Bill, Sr. created the mysterious organization, it didn’t reach its full potential until the opening of the Magic Castle Hollywood nearly a decade later.
These days, the academy counts over 5,000 official members across over 40 countries. Its roster ranges from up-and-coming illusionists to veterans like David Copperfield and Penn and Teller. Celebrity magic enthusiasts have also joined its ranks over the years. Neil Patrick Harris even served as the academy’s president for four years.
Creating the Magic Castle Hollywood
During their several-decade lease of the Magic Castle, the Larsens have made numerous adjustments to the original building. Additions include:
- Theaters
- Bars (there are now five throughout the facility)
- Library
- Conference areas
But the clubhouse’s novelties echo through guests’ memories far more frequently than its Tiffany glass windows and winding antique staircases. For example, the Magic Castle is accessed through a sliding bookcase triggered by the “magic words.” Then, there’s the piano with the ivory tickling apparition Irma. You can test her knowledge with a request; after all, she’s alleged to know over 62,000 tunes.
At the aptly named “Owl Bar”, you can make the acquaintance of Archimedes, a prophetic mechanical taxidermy owl. Once a living owl in the service of magician Harry Keller, Archimedes entertains guests by answering “yes” or “no” questions. The Magic Castle Hollywood even houses unique memorabilia, such as the wand of the legendary Harry Houdini.
The Magic Castle Battles Its Bad Juju
In 1989, officials declared the Magic Castle a monument of historical significance. While this has gone a long way to protecting the structure, it couldn’t save it from a Halloween night fire in 2011 that resulted in water damage. After repairs were made, the Magic Castle reopened in early 2012.
It was around that time that Joseph Furlow joined as the general manager for the Academy of Magical Arts. Since the mid-2000s, the Magic Castle had been experiencing a decline in revenue. Under Furlow’s management, annual revenue had nearly doubled by 2015. His secret? Upping not just the quantity but the quality of the magic on offer.
Yet, the Magic Castle’s hard times were just beginning. Like so many other businesses around the world, the Magic Castle was cursed by the global pandemic. Closing its doors in March 2020, management then laid off 95% of its staff… nearly 200 employees.
.jpg)
It was also around this time that an investigative report published by the Los Angeles Times highlighted a rampant boys’ culture in the Magic Castle’s leadership. And all allegations pointed to Furlow. Buried under a mountain of lawsuits accusing him of offenses ranging from sexual misconduct to racism, Furlow resigned by the end of the year.
In April 2022, the Magic Castle was purchased by CEO of The Gearbox Entertainment Company, Randy Pitchford. A proud member of the Academy of Magical Arts, Pitchford remains committed to keeping the Magic Castle Hollywood a haven for illusionists. While the dark stain of past allegations has undoubtedly tarnished the Magic Castle’s reputation, insiders claim the new management is building back in earnest.
Getting Into the Magic Castle Hollywood
Now that you’re sold on visiting the Magic Castle Hollywood, there’s a bit of a catch. You can’t just roll up to this exclusive illusionists’ clubhouse. You need to be invited by a member of the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences. However, guests staying at the Magic Castle Hotel are also permitted entry.
If you’ve been invited to the Magic Castle by a member of the academy, you’ll still typically need to pay an entry fee and purchase dinner in the dining room. You’ll also need to adhere to the clubhouse’s strict dress code that emphasizes dramatic flair. Once inside, photography is prohibited.
Beyond the secret sliding bookshelf entrance, you’ll find a sprawling magical playground offering 32 nightly shows spread across the mansion. Academy members are known to stop by on their nights off to test out new tricks in a casual environment, so you’re bound to find magic wherever you look. And maybe even in a few places you don’t.
Order yourself an Abracadabra at the bar. But don’t bother trying to prepare yourself for one of the most unique experiences you’ll find in LA. The Magic Castle Hollywood is bound to float right over your expectations anyway.
