Magic Castle

The Magic Castle is the private clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc, a very special organization devoted to the advancement of the ancient art of magic. The purpose of The Academy is to encourage and promote public interest in the art of magic with particular emphasis on preserving its history as an art form, entertainment medium, and hobby. Beginning with a charter membership of 150, the Academy has grown into a world-renowned fraternal organization with a membership of nearly 5,000.

The Magic Castle began its life as a private home built in 1909 by banker and real estate magnate Rollin B. Lane. Mr. Lane owned much of what is now Hollywood, dreaming of turning his land into orange groves, farms and ranches.

But a severe drought brought an end to his dreams and orange blossoms never filled the valley.

After the Lane family moved away in the 1940s, the mansion was divided into a multi-family home, then became a home for the elderly, and was finally transformed into a maze of small apartments. By 1960, the fate of the Mansion was uncertain. Then Milt Larsen met the owner, Thomas O. Glover.

Milt was a writer on the NBC TV show "Truth or Consequences." His office was on the ninth floor of a Hollywood office building that overlooked the Lane mansion. Milt's late father, William W. Larsen, Sr., was a renowned magician and had long dreamed of building an elegant private club for magicians.

The Lane mansion would become that club. In September of 1961, Milt and a crew of eternally generous friends and volunteers began the extraordinary task of returning this run-down apartment building to its glorious past. After months of scraping and sanding, the rich Victorian elegance began to resurface.

The Magic Castle opened its doors at 5 p.m. on January 2, 1963. Today more than four decades later, the Castle has become the world-famous "home" to the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc.and their invited guests.

William W. Larsen Sr. was a very successful Criminal Attorney based in Pasadena California. His great love was the art of magic and he, and his partner T. Page Wright, were prolific contributors the Sphinx Magazine in the late twenties. In 1936 he and his wife Gerrie published an independent magazine of magic. Genii, the Conjurer’s Magazine that became one of the world’s most respected journals. His love of magic made him decide to give up the practice of law and take the family, Gerrie and his two sons, Bill Jr. and Milt on the road as "The Larsen Family of Magicians."

During World War Two travel was restricted so Bill Larsen Sr., bought the Thayer Magic Company and operated the Thayer Studio of Magic in the Wilshire area of Los Angeles. In the April 1951 issue of Genii Larsen announced the formation of the Academy of Magic Arts and Sciences. All subscribers to the magazine became instant members and he made it very clear that the Academy would be an organization the advance the art of magic in America and to bring recognition to the magicians of the world. Over the next three years the Academy awarded fellowships and bestowed various awards. Bill Larsen Sr. passed away at the age of 48 in 1955. His wife and older son, Bill Jr. carried on publishing Genii but the Academy, as an organization, slowly became a memory.

In 1961 Bill Larsen’s younger son, Milt, was a writer for Bob Barker’s Truth or Consequences TV show on NBC. Ralph Edwards Productions had the top three floors of the high-rise office building that was then at the corner of Hollywood and Highland. Milt’s office window overlooked the residential property on Franklin Avenue that included a grand old mansion left over from the turn of the century, built in 1908 by banker Rollin B. Lane and later sold to land developer Thomas O. Glover. Milt was fascinated by the building and day dreamed about the idea of turning it into some sort of club for magicians. One day he met the owner and convinced him that his idea had merit. Milt’s grandfather was a master carpenter and Milt inherited his love for woodworking, the rundown old mansion was a huge challenge and he and a partner Don Gotschall started working on the physical plant now known as "The Magic Castle."

Milt was creating a clubhouse for magicians but there was no club. He convinced his brother Bill that this would be the time to resurrect the Academy of Magical Arts. At the time Bill Jr. was a full time producer at CBS Television, working on many of the biggest shows at that network, and also publishing Genii Magazine. He was a top administrator and immediately formed a new not for profit organization, The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. The first members were Genii subscribers and old friends in magic and our co-workers in the television industry. The late Bill Larsen Jr. became its President For Life.ß

The AMA was incorporated in 1961 and "The Castle" opened its doors on January 2nd, 1963. Since then it has become know as "The Mecca for Magicians" throughout the world. Its membership has grown to roughly 5,000 active magicians and non-magician members.

The Magic Castle® and the Academy of Magical Arts are unique in the world.