Why did Milt Larsen create The Magic Castle?

American magician, Milt Larsen grew up in a family of magicians with his brother Bill. Their father, William Larsen Sr., was a performing magician. When Larsen Sr. died in 1953, Milt decided to fulfill his dream of gathering magicians to perform in one place.

In 1961, he met Tom Glover, who was the owner of the hillside property which included the Hollywood restaurant The Yamashiro. He spoke to Glover about his father’s dream and they both agreed to transform the Lane mansion on Glover’s property below The Yamashiro into The Magic Castle – a nightclub for magicians and home of the Academy of Magical Arts.

The property was leased by Larsen and restored to the club. His brother, Bill, who was a CBS television staff producer of The Danny Kaye Show at the time, helped promote the club among his network show business connections and recruited other members.

The Magic Castle officially opened in 1963, with Bill on board as President of the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences. It was later joined by Bill’s wife, Irene Larsen in the promotions department.