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This week the Magic Castle is commemorating the 100th anniversary by conjuring up a series of celebratory events. Yesterday afternoon LAist was invited to witness Jim Bentley recreate Harry Houdini's famous straitjacket escape trick (see a video embedded below).
We spotted several guests arrive at the mansion: Fred Willard, JoAnne Worley, Tippi Hedren, Judy Tenuta, Rose Marie, Dee Wallace, Gloria Allred, Rip Taylor, and several Magic Castle magicians. After an introduction by Magic Castle founder, Milt Larsen, JoAnne Worley, Romi Dames, and Tippi Hedren buckled actor and stuntman Jim Bentley into a vintage straitjacket. He was then strapped by his feet to a giant crane and lifted up above the roof line of the castle. In under two breathtaking minutes Bentley was out of the straitjacket and back on the ground in his tuxedo jacket. (Video after the jump.)
Guests were then invited inside to explore the castle. Amazingly almost every room was open. A show in the Palace of Mystery theatre was hosted by Romi Dames, who professed her love for the Cabaret at the Castle series, saying she has been to every one of them this year. Goldfinger and Dove performed a hilarious series of large card and prop tricks timed to the beat of the music and Amos Levkovitch showed off a mind-boggling routine with live white doves.
At a close up magician tale, Jon Armstrong, performed card tricks that could be classified as baffling, astonishing, and just plain crazy. His shuffling produces cards reorganized by color, suit, and even the phone number of a woman at the table.
The Magic Castle, the world's most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts, opened its doors at 5 p.m. on January 2, 1963. The mansion is the home to The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. and houses one of the largest original collections of Houdini’s great tools of the trade including his personal handcuffs, straight jacket, metamorphosis trunk and famous milk can escape. Great pride is also taken in showcasing the magnificent building that houses the Magic Castle. Construction was completed in 1909 and the mansion has watched Hollywood grow and change for 100 years without losing its original charm.
Later this week stars and friends of the Magic Castle will head to the Kodak Theatre for "It's MAGIC!" . Hosted by Milt Larsen, with special guests Neil Patrick Harris, Romi Dames, Phill Lewis, the line-up includes masters of illusion: Lance Burton, Joseph Gabriel, Rudy Coby & Co, Jorge Blass, Shimada, Mac King, and Kevin James. Under the direction of Dale Hindman, audiences will witness an impressive array of feats of magic during this one night only extravaganza.
"It's MAGIC!" is Sunday, November 8th, 2009 7:00pm. Tickets.
The celebration will continue next week at the Cabaret at the Castle with Florence Henderson. Her show "All the Lives of Me...A Musical Journey" under the musical direction of Emmy award winning composer Glen Roven, features songs from her starring roles on Broadway in "Oklahoma", "South Pacific", "Sound of Music", and "Annie Get Your Gun". Florence Henderson will perform on Monday, November 9 and Tuesday November 10 at 8:00pm. (For tickets: click here and enter the code M18029)
Happy Birthday Magic Castle!
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to purchase tickets from our Box Office and attend special events at the Magic Castle, you must be a member of the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. or a guest of a member. If you are a guest NOT in attendance with a member you may be required to present a guest pass from a member upon arrival at the Magic Castle.
IS this true? Will we need a guest pass?
It's nice to know that in this digital world, there is still the last holdout of an analogous art form like magic.
Actually, the ITS MAGIC event at the Kodak and the Cabaret at he Castle events are open to the public. For ITS MAGIC simply call Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232 or online at ticketmaster.com or kodaktheatre.com. For FLORENCE HENDERSON Monday Nov 9th and Tuesday, Nov 10th at 8:00pm tickets are available to anyone who calls 323-851-3313 x434 for goes to http://www.magiccastle.com/eventtickets and enters Code M18029.