A little after half-past-noon yesterday, the attic in Hollywood’s The Magic Castle caught fire, necessitating a rescue from 125 L.A. firefighters and shuttering the popular restaurant and performance venue on its big night. Reminding everyone to be careful what they wish for, no less when speaking in enchanted tourist traps, the venue had been advertising via its website, “For the last week in October, the Magic Castle will be ON FIRE with the spirit of Halloween!” Gulp!
Fortunately, The L.A. Times clarifies that damages were kept to the upper reaches of the 103-year-old mansion, though the potential for so many little, hidden rooms to turn into an infernal deathtrap were high. The Magic Castle will be closed for at least the next two days, while the most significant damage may have been done by water from a sprinkler system.
Personally, we’d really love to pin this one on the vengeful ghost of Doug Henning, or the soul of some other dearly departed magician who didn’t want his eternal slumber disturbed by slutty nurses, cardboard robots, and howling Jersey Shore knockoffs, but so far, that’s just one early theory.
