gearbox withFounder/Manager/Magician Randy Pitchford has purchased The Magic Castle, an iconic Hollywood estate that is both home to the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) and has been the subject of serious allegations of “a wide range of abuses, including sexual assault, sexual harassment and discrimination” due to race or sex.”
These allegations against the Academy, first made public in a report by LA times in 2020, you can read here. Since then, however, they have towered over the organization and the building as this recent report showssome of the magicians performing there (and the academy itself) have tried to make changes.
Pitchford did not disclose how much he paid for the historic building, which the city declared a “Mark of Culture” in 1989, although he is the first new owner in over 50 years, as The Magic Castle has been in the Glover family for since 1961
“The Magic Castle is like a bedrock – the center of magic. The people who call the castle their home and the place itself seem to have magical qualities that have produced and inspired some of the world’s greatest entertainers,” Pitchford, himself a member of the AMA, said in a statement. “I am proud to be trusted to both give back to the place that made me manager of the Magic Castle and to work with its members and the Larsen family to ensure our most incredible clubhouse for the years to come Decades growing and thriving.”
If you’re curious, this is what the place looks like:
Oh I am sorry. Here is what does the place look like:
Magic duo Penn & Teller also commented on the sale:
Penn: I’ve known Randy Pitchford for years and I know he has a day job, but in my eyes he’s a magician. I think Randy loves magic. Ever since I found out about the Magic Castle, it’s been a bit precarious. I always worried. I don’t need that now. The magic castle, the most important meeting place for magicians, is now in safe and loving hands. I am relieved and delighted. Randy’s professionalism, love of magic, and dedication to entertaining the world are what the Magic Castle needs to propel it forward. The entire magic community applauds Randy and looks forward to the new era of the magic castle. And maybe now I’ll come in without a tie because I know Randy.
teller: The Magic Castle is the heart of American magic. It is both a great venue and a historical and cultural landmark. But a major fire and the pandemic put his future in jeopardy. I’m so happy to hear that Randy Pitchford was able to help the castle survive, thrive and expand. Randy is one of the finest entertainment producers in the world, with deep roots in the history and practice of magic. We all owe him a great debt of gratitude.
