The Magic Castle
The Larsen Brothers' father died in 1953, his dream of a place for magicians to gather and swap trade secrets over drinks unrealized. In 1961 Larsen met Tom Glover, the owner of the hillside property which included the Hollywood restaurant The Yamashiro.
Larsen told Glover about his father's idea of a clubhouse for magicians, and Glover agreed to Milt's proposal to transform the Lane mansion on Glover's property, below The Yamashiro, into The Magic Castle, a nightclub for magicians and home of the Academy of Magical Arts.
Larsen leased the property and restored the Victorian period mansion to house the club. His brother Bill, at the time a CBS television staff producer of The Danny Kaye Show and others, helped promote the club among his network show business connections, recruiting members. When The Magic Castle opened its doors in 1963, Bill came on board as President of the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences, and was soon joined by Irene Larsen, in the promotions department.
He also created the Mayfair Music Hall in Santa Monica, California (a Victorian British music hall featuring live stage shows) (1973–1980), The Variety Arts Theatre - Los Angeles (1977–1990) and Caesars Magical Empire at Caesars Palace Las Vegas (1995–2004).
Read more about this topic: Milt Larsen
Famous quotes containing the words magic and/or castle:
“The middle years of parenthood are characterized by ambiguity. Our kids are no longer helpless, but neither are they independent. We are still active parents but we have more time now to concentrate on our personal needs. Our children’s world has expanded. It is not enclosed within a kind of magic dotted line drawn by us. Although we are still the most important adults in their lives, we are no longer the only significant adults.”
—Ruth Davidson Bell. Ourselves and Our Children, by Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, ch. 3 (1978)
“This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)