With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA's Magic Castle offers a brief escape during the wildfires
Nestled in the Hollywood Hills is a Los Angeles landmark that's tough to get into: The Magic Castle. A blue-grey Victorian style mansion with curved turrets, it looks like a place an animated princess might call home.
"It's one of the greatest places in Los Angeles," said Altadena resident Luke Bilyk, who has visited a few times. He calls it a labyrinth inside, a mansion of mazes.
Magicians from all over the world go to the Magic Castle to hone their craft and entertain members of the exclusive Academy of Magical Arts, where invite-only magic is practiced nightly.
"Our clubhouse is very unique in that you have to be invited by a member to come in. It's a very difficult ticket. And we've been doing it for 62 years," said Paul Green, who practices close-up magic at the castle.
This Los Angeles cultural institution was almost lost to fires last week.
"If the wind was blowing in the wrong direction or the other direction, I would say the Magic Castle would be gone," Magic Castle General Manager Herve Levy said.
The castle opened its parking lot to the public as part of the multi-pronged effort to support the tens of thousands of wildfire evacuees and victims across the county.
That includes people like the Bilyk family, displaced by the fires and unable to return home.
"As far as we know, [our house] is still standing, but we don't have any access to it, and reading the toxicology reports for the area, we're very concerned that we won't be able to have any belongings come out of that house," said Nicole Bilyk.
The Bilyks picked up socks, shoes and warm clothes from the tables of donations laid out in the lot. But the Magic Castle wasn't just one of the many donation drop-off and pickup centers responding to the disaster. It also became a community refuge for the day. With an ice cream truck, balloon artists, and of course, magicians wandering the lot with tricks.
"We all have something that we can give back," magician Green said. "We want to put a smile on their face. We wanna take them away from their troubles for just a few minutes."
Liz Baker produced the audio story.
-
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
-
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead.
-
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.