Photo Flash: Neil Patrick Harris, Romi Dames, Amos Levkovitch & More Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Magical Arts Academy

As previously reported, on November 2nd, The Academy of Magical Arts lauched a week long celebration of Magic for the 100th anniversary of the structure known today as The Magic Castle, culminating in a show at the Kodak Theatre, IT's MAGIC!, on Nov 8th.

Over the past several days, personalities as Neil Patrick Harris (Board Member), Romi Dames, Sam Freberg, Phill Lewis, Alison Arngrim, Gloria Allred, Lisa Bloom, Yuval David, Ilene Graff, Tania Gunadi, Dwyane Hickman, Kate Linder, Rose Marie, Tippi Hedren, Rip Taylor, Judy Tenuta, Dee Wallace, Steve Valentine, Fred Willard, Joanne Worley, Florence Henderson and others, as well as performers from Lance Burton and Shimada to Kevin James have taken part in various activities. One highlight included Harry Houdini's great escapes by using a crane to raise escape artist, 100 feet above the Castle in a straight jacket, and close-up magic and a short Palace of Mystery show with performances by Amos Levkovitch and Goldfinger & Dove that was hosted by Romi Dames of Hanna Montana. Event photos have been released and appear below.

Upcoming promotions include Florence Henderson in All The Lives Of Me in the Cabaret at the Castle (Monday Nov 9th and Tuesday, Nov 10th at 8:00pm $50, Call 323-851-3313 x434 for more information go to http://www.magiccastle.com/eventtickets Enter Code M18029) and the annual ITS MAGIC! at the Kodak Theatre (Sunday, Nov. 8th, 2009, 7:00pm at The Kodak Theatre 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 ($25 to $67.50 by calling Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232 or online at ticketmaster.com or kodaktheatre.com.)

The Castle has been the location for many of Hollywood films as well as TV Series including Hart to Hart, Murder She Wrote, the Mae West Story, Monk, Barnaby Jones, Matlock, VH1, Top Chef, America's Top Model, etc. Over the years members have included and include many of the industry's elite such as Johnny Carson, Gary Grant, Dom DeLuise, Johnny Depp, Buzz Aldrin, Sean Penn, Carol Channing, Nicholas Cage, Tony Shaloub, Drew Barrymore, Joanne Worley, Loni Anderson, Steve Martin, Buddy Ebsen, Rose Marie, Tippi Hedren, Walter Mathau, Karl Maldin, as well as some of the greatest magicians including Penn & Teller, Doug Henning, Sigfried and Roy to name only a few.

Six theatres exist within the walls of The Magic Castle, from the Parlor of Prestidigitation and the Penn & Teller stage to The Palace Theatre itself. Most recently, their Inner Circle became home of the new Cabaret at the Castle which has featured some of Broadways biggest names including Carol Channing, Jason Graae, Ilene Graff, Phyllis Diller, Rose Marie, Richard Sherman, Joanne Worley, Rip Taylor and, of course, the Castles is proud to announce that the special featured artist during the Castle's centennial is Miss Florence Henderson. Up until now, the rarely used space has been virtually unknown to even many of the Castle members. It houses a eclectic collection including WC Field's trick pool table, Edgar Bergen's Ventriloquists dummies, Walt Disney's original miniature of the Haunted Mansion, the original automaton Madam Carnak that Johnny Carson (who was an amateur magician and Magic Castle member) based his famous character, and the actual Hello Dolly! bar from the movie withBarbra Streisand. Other attractions include the Hat and Hare Pub, the piano bar, where the ghost of Erma plays nightly and the Houdini seance room which contains 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.

 

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