Construction of the Victorian mansion that became the Magic Castle. Photo courtesy of the Magic Castle website.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nMagicians who have shown off their magic within the walls of the quirky Victorian mansion include such contemporaries as David Blaine and Seigfried and Roy, as well as historically significant members like Doug Henning, Harry Blackstone, Sr. and Jr., Channing Pollock and Dai Vernon. The former house is situated much like a maze, with dark rooms highlighting antique images of Hollywood and the faces of famous magicians and Hollywood royalty. The grounds have long attracted the entertainment world’s elite, perhaps now more than ever.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the tenure of former Board President Neil Patrick Harris, attendance and revenues soared, something Furlow attributes to better food, management and a resurgence in magic.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething about magic has changed,\u201d said Furlow.<\/p>\n
According to Furlow, when he first began working for the Magic Castle, revenues totaled around $8.7 million, with $5.1 million in food purchases. By the close of FY 2015, in contrast, revenues totaled around $15.5 million and food and beverage sales soared to the $10 million range.<\/p>\n
After focusing on improving magic and offering more of it in the 18 showrooms within the castle\u2019s grounds, attendance has skyrocketed to an average of 600 plus per weekend\u2014\u201dbasically our max,\u201d said Furlow.<\/p>\n
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Where the magic happens: The castle’s largest showroom. Remaining photos by Keeley Smith.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nThe membership of the Academy of Magical Arts, the entity Furlow technically manages, is composed of about half \u201cassociate\u201d members and half \u201cmagician\u201d members. Associate members have the opportunity to take magic classes from magicians and eventually become magicians, according to Furlow. Patrick Harris was in fact a magician member, said Furlow, as evidenced by his practicing of magic on How I Met Your Mother<\/em> and as the host of numerous awards shows.<\/p>\nFurlow said his proximity to high quality magicians has only made him appreciate the impact the shows have on those around them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t even watch the show anymore,\u201d he said. \u201cI love the reactions\u2026 the magic\u2019s gotten that much better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furlow said more than 5,000 members of the Castle are issuing more guest passes than ever before, a sure sign of pride in the business and magic.<\/p>\n
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The Houdini Room: A more intimate space for dining and up-close magic. The room is designed in honor of Harry Houdini, inspired by a story of him communicating after death. Below, right: Painting of Harry Houdini in the Houdini room.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nFor the uninitiated (or those who have yet to watch Judd Apatow\u2019s Netflix series Love<\/em>), only members can secure access to the Magic Castle, and a dress code is strictly enforced. When asked about the ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMG_9825.JPG\")
notorious dress code, which plays a pivotal role in Apatow\u2019s show and prohibited the male lead from placing his suit jacket on his girlfriend\u2019s shoulders in one of the episodes, Furlow laughs.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s not that dramatic\u2014we support chivalry,\u201d said Furlow. However, the enforcement, for the most part, is unapologetically strict.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you dress classy, you act classy,\u201d said Furlow.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople come here in a great mood,\u201d said Chris Taggert, head of beverages at the Magic Castle and a friend of Furlow\u2019s. \u201cIf you ask what outfit a guy or girl likes best on their [significant other], they usually say a dress or suit. When they walk in, they\u2019re excited.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to him, nobody gets by those rules, with the exception of Johnny Depp, who enters a private showroom without being seen in the common dining and gathering spaces. Otherwise, Magic Castle-goers are expected to maintain a sense of propriety, regardless of their celebrity, which has made for more than a few interesting situations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Furlow said a year or so ago, he noticed a couple come \u201cbarreling\u201d down the stairs to the bar, on their way to the bathroom. He said they proceeded to make out aggressively, with the man\u2019s hands \u201call over\u201d his date. Furlow asked the floor manager if he wanted to handle it, and the manager said, \u201cOh no, you can get that one.\u201d<\/p>\n
So Furlow walked over to the couple and began his talk.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018I like PDA as much as the next person, but can you guys tone it down?\u2019” Furlow reflected, smiling and looking at the ceiling. “And it turns out to be Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling.”<\/p>\n
“I said \u2018Oh, you guys can probably afford a room,'” said Furlow, grinning. “Ryan laughed, and said ‘Yeah.'”<\/p>\n
Shortly after the incident, Furlow meandered over to the floor manager.<\/p>\n
“I said, ‘you knew, didn\u2019t you?’ and he laughed and said ‘Yep.'”<\/p>\n
Other memorable moments included a request from Justin Bieber to use Furlow\u2019s membership to gain access to the property. However, Beiber was not yet 21.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe told him he needed to be 21, and Bieber said \u2018C\u2019mon, dude!\u2019\u201d said Taggert. \u201cAnd Joe said \u2018Listen, when you turn 21 I\u2019ll be the first person to buy you a drink. But until then, no.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"IMG](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMG_9812.JPG\")
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One of the castle’s mid-sized showrooms.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nBoth men regularly see the who\u2019s who of Hollywood. Furlow recalled a night a few years ago, just a year or so into the job, when he grabbed a drink with Neil Patrick Harris and Casey Affleck and the band The Killers walked by.<\/p>\n
“It was around the time [Neil Patrick Harris] was filming Gone Girl<\/em> with Ben Affleck,” said Furlow.\u00a0<\/p>\nHe smiled at the memory and said such incidents were initially surreal, but are now something he considers as just another part of a pretty cool gig.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking to the future, Furlow said he’s largely focused on expanding the business ventures of the Academy of Magical Arts, including classes for children, as well as creating more of a presence from the organization at magic conferences. He envisions the Magic Castle as being more than just an iconic performance venue\u2014he sees it as a leading force for magic, worldwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"IMG](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMG_9840.JPG\")
<\/p>\n
Academy of Magical Arts classroom.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nFurlow’s implemented a five year plan for revenue that the Academy is currently exceeding, something he wants to be his legacy and a \u201cfeather in his cap.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe in the Field of Dreams<\/em> philosophy: \u2018If you build it, they will come,\u2019\u201d said Furlow. \u201cIt\u2019s all about customer service.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Magic Castle and Academy of Magical Arts is located at 7001 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028.<\/em><\/p>\n{FG_GEOMAP [34.1045758,-118.34183100000001] FG_GEOMAP}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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![\"MAGICCASTLEcastle](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/MAGICCASTLEcastle_tractor.png\")
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