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Articles - Miscellaneous Topics General The Magic Castle - Enchanted or Endangered?
Articles - Miscellaneous Topics General The Magic Castle - Enchanted or Endangered?For over forty-five years now, magicians worldwide have revered Hollywood's famous Magic Castle as the Mecca of Magical Arts, the holy palace of prestidigitation and a virtual sacred sanctuary of soothsayers. And while I appreciate and recognize the apparent lack of watering holes especially designed to accommodate the magical brotherhood, I often wonder if it hasn't evolved into something that would cause the likes of Slydini or Dai Vernon to roll over in their graves. If you've never been to the Castle, don't let me burst your bubble. Go! Enjoy yourself! Eat and drink until you can't see straight! Just be forewarned... It'll cost you plenty and even your perfect double lift won't earn you any discounts.
I became a performing member of the Castle back in the late eighties and was a frequent visitor for over a decade. I racked up my share of fond memories sliding up to the bar alongside people like Larry Jennings, Billy McComb, Frank Garcia and T.A. Waters. We happily went along with the stuffy dress code, overpriced drinks and crowded showrooms. After all, we had each other's company and what seemed like thousands of old stories and new tricks to share. But things began to change during my tenure at the Castle. It started with the State of California invoking its new No Smoking ordinance in order to accommodate the general public. What? We thought this was a private club! Okay, so I don't condone or encourage smoking. But, let's face it, many of the old-times were chain smokers. Human chimneys, in fact. More than smoke disappeared from the air that night. Some of the magic and camaraderie disappeared as well. The Castle was beginning to feel less and less like our "home away from home" and more like the Haunted Mansion ride at nearby Disneyland. And we were beginning to feel like the resident spooks and goblins.
There was a time when being a MC member actually meant something. The audition process was a pretty rigorous one. I was elated when I passed and was excited to think that I'd soon be rubbing shoulders with some of the most innovative and creative magical minds on the face of the planet. But most of the creativity and innovative thinking wasn't found in the showrooms or on the stages at the Castle. It was at the bars and secluded, dimly-lit tables where magicians had an opportunity to bounce new ideas off one another and show off their latest sleights. Those sharing sessions are much less frequent these days. It's become so noisy you can't hear yourself think much less hear another person speak.
Despite its non-profit status, the Castle is still basically a supper club. If you don't believe their sole purpose isn't to turn a profit, you haven't been there recently. There are dozens of reviews and blogs listed on the internet detailing some layman's experience there. Some good. Some bad. Most are right on. But you won't see many written by magicians. That's because not many working magicians hang out there anymore. They can't afford to. They can work there but most can't afford to eat or drink there. The general public has bought into the notion that if they shell out the big bucks, they'll be granted a once-in-a-lifetime admittance to this "exclusive and very private" domain that is rarely seen by the outside world. Not true. If you've got the cash, pretty much anyone can get in now. Just show up in the proper attire and ask one of the regular members for a guest card as they enter and you're in. Look around on any given evening and ninety-five percent of the people there don't know the difference between a chop cup and a thumb tip.
My Magic Castle membership has long since lapsed. Most of the staff is new. Irma no longer remembers my favorite songs and Milt doesn't recognize me anymore. I've had some good times there. But I'm up for a new watering hole.
I became a performing member of the Castle back in the late eighties and was a frequent visitor for over a decade. I racked up my share of fond memories sliding up to the bar alongside people like Larry Jennings, Billy McComb, Frank Garcia and T.A. Waters. We happily went along with the stuffy dress code, overpriced drinks and crowded showrooms. After all, we had each other's company and what seemed like thousands of old stories and new tricks to share. But things began to change during my tenure at the Castle. It started with the State of California invoking its new No Smoking ordinance in order to accommodate the general public. What? We thought this was a private club! Okay, so I don't condone or encourage smoking. But, let's face it, many of the old-times were chain smokers. Human chimneys, in fact. More than smoke disappeared from the air that night. Some of the magic and camaraderie disappeared as well. The Castle was beginning to feel less and less like our "home away from home" and more like the Haunted Mansion ride at nearby Disneyland. And we were beginning to feel like the resident spooks and goblins.
There was a time when being a MC member actually meant something. The audition process was a pretty rigorous one. I was elated when I passed and was excited to think that I'd soon be rubbing shoulders with some of the most innovative and creative magical minds on the face of the planet. But most of the creativity and innovative thinking wasn't found in the showrooms or on the stages at the Castle. It was at the bars and secluded, dimly-lit tables where magicians had an opportunity to bounce new ideas off one another and show off their latest sleights. Those sharing sessions are much less frequent these days. It's become so noisy you can't hear yourself think much less hear another person speak.
Despite its non-profit status, the Castle is still basically a supper club. If you don't believe their sole purpose isn't to turn a profit, you haven't been there recently. There are dozens of reviews and blogs listed on the internet detailing some layman's experience there. Some good. Some bad. Most are right on. But you won't see many written by magicians. That's because not many working magicians hang out there anymore. They can't afford to. They can work there but most can't afford to eat or drink there. The general public has bought into the notion that if they shell out the big bucks, they'll be granted a once-in-a-lifetime admittance to this "exclusive and very private" domain that is rarely seen by the outside world. Not true. If you've got the cash, pretty much anyone can get in now. Just show up in the proper attire and ask one of the regular members for a guest card as they enter and you're in. Look around on any given evening and ninety-five percent of the people there don't know the difference between a chop cup and a thumb tip.
My Magic Castle membership has long since lapsed. Most of the staff is new. Irma no longer remembers my favorite songs and Milt doesn't recognize me anymore. I've had some good times there. But I'm up for a new watering hole.