Magic Castle is Disneyland for adults

Imagine pulling up to a old-world castle in the middle of Hollywood, lined with over 100 people dressed to the nines awaiting entry into this hidden world of magic and mystery.
    After more than an hour of waiting, you are greeted by a doorman who lets you into the reception area. At first glance, you will notice that there are no further doors, so where do you go from here? You turn to a fake owl on the wall and say “open sesame” and voilà!, the wall opens, introducing you into a portal of magic.
    The interior of the Castle has old-world charm as it is adorned in Victorian style decor that makes you feel like you are in the 1900’s. The castle has several bars placed throughout the building and a main restaurant at the top floor, which requires reservations and is quite pricey.
    Throughout the Castle there are a series of different rooms which host different magicians performing 20-minute magic shows throughout the night. Many of the shows run back to back, so you may have to do some running to catch shows in time, as seating is limited.
    “The ‘Close Up Gallery’ is by far the best room in the castle,” said Long Beach resident Jon Goodwin. “It gives you such an up close and personal experience because you’re sitting literally three feet from the magician as he does his tricks. It makes you realize that magic is real and not fake like you see on TV.”
    The Magic Castle is known for its exclusivity. You can only gain entry by being a member of the Castle or by invitation.
    Entry to the Castle costs $20 for guests or invitees. Valet is $7, but the experience is priceless. You can see as many shows inside the Castle as you wish.
    “I think $20 is a very reasonable price for what you get,” said Tracey McMurray, a bartender at the castle. “A normal magic show in Las Vegas would run you about $100 or more to see one magician perform. Here you can see up to six or seven shows, or as many as you can get to in a night, for one price.”
    The most impressive of tricks that I witnessed at the Castle was by one magician by the name of Andrew Goldenhersh. He put an egg in each hand, then had audience members tie him up in a straight jacket. He then had to maneuver himself out of the straight jacket and when he finally got his arms out, two live chickens appeared out of the jacket, in his hands. The audience was absolutely blown away and everyone was trying to figure out how he did it.
    “This isn’t your typical levitating girl, cutting bodies in half, swords in a basket with a woman inside tricks,” said Studio City resident Jason Geisinger. “These magicians use old fashion tricks like card tricks and straight jackets, but they put their own unique twist into it.”
    If you think that you’re just going to sit in the back and watch the show, you’re mistaken. Every magician uses a few people from the audience as a part of their performance and if you try to hide they’ll find you.
    “I try to get people involved in my show because it not only makes them feel like they are assisting in the magic trick but it shows them that there are no hidden accomplices or ‘trap doors,'” said Goldenhersh, a magician at the Castle. “They get to see first hand the wonders of magic and it leaves them with a sense of belief as they start to question whether it’s simply an illusion or something more.”
    The Magic Castle originated as a private home in 1909 by real estate tycoon Rollin B. Lane. In the 1940s, the mansion became a multi-family home and was turned into an elderly home. Later it was made into an apartment building. In 1961, the mansion became what it is known as today, thanks to Milt Larsen, the son of famous magician William W. Larsen Sr., who dreamed of creating an up-scale private club for magicians. That same year, Milt, along with friends and volunteers began revamping this old apartment building into what is now the elegant Magic Castle, which opened its doors for the first time in 1963. The castle has become the home to the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc.
    Anyone can become a member of the castle. There are different levels of membership, some for entertainment industry professionals, magicians only, people with a background in magic, non-residents, and also residents of the Los Angeles area. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older to join, however the Castle offers membership for junior members who are promising young magicians. Membership comes at a hefty price tag. If you don’t want to become a member and just want to learn some tricks, the Castle offers a 6-week magic class for $295.