History of David Copperfield's Magic Underground Restaurant

[Richard Kaufman]

Here, at Theme Park University:

http://disneynewscentral.com/

[Roger M.]

http://themeparkuniversity.com/disney/u ... derground/

[Richard Kaufman]

Oops, thanks.

[erdnasephile]

Thanks, RK--interesting read.

Question: Has there ever been a primarily magic-themed, non-restaurant attraction that has survived long term in the US? (I'm excluding Disney's Magic Kingdom and the Harry Potter Theme Park).

The only one I can think of is The Magic Castle (which I don't consider to be primarily a restaurant--perhaps a false distinction).

Are there others?

[Bill Mullins]

Question: Has there ever been a primarily magic-themed, non-restaurant attraction that has survived long term in the US? (I'm excluding Disney's Magic Kingdom and the Harry Potter Theme Park).

Magic Island in Houston was open from 1984 until 2008 when Hurricane Ike did it in. Does that count?

There were regular magic performances at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg MD from about 2003 onwards for some time -- is that still going on?

[Steve Bryant]

Steve Spill's Magicopolis has been running since 1998.

[Todd Robbins]

After Copperfield's Time Square project fell apart, the property was taken over by the folks that had Windows on the World and finished. It opened as a salsa themed club called Noche, but it wasn't successful. It was later taken over by another company and retooled as a karaoke nightclub called Spotlight Live. It too went belly up, and also had the dark distinction of having a patron murdered on the property by one of the busboys. You can Google Spotlight Live and you can see how beautiful the space was. It has been vacant for five or six years.

[Steve Bryant]

I thought Todd was ringing in with this. Despite a few physical moves, Monday Night Magic has been around since 1997 or so.

[Todd Robbins]

Well yeah, there's that.

[Leonard Hevia]

Question: Has there ever been a primarily magic-themed, non-restaurant attraction that has survived long term in the US? (I'm excluding Disney's Magic Kingdom and the Harry Potter Theme Park).

There were regular magic performances at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg MD from about 2003 onwards for some time -- is that still going on?

The magic performers folded the tent there a number of months ago.

[Ted M]

Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company owned the Cabot Theater in Beverly, MA and performed in it for 35 years.

[observer]

Thanks, RK--interesting read.

Question: Has there ever been a primarily magic-themed, non-restaurant attraction that has survived long term in the US?

or anywhere?

[Fredrick]

There's David Parr and Joe Diamond's Magic Cabaret that has been running since 2007 in Chicago. Benjamin Barnes and Robert Charles have been producing Magic Chicago since 2005. PT Murphy has a long running show in Galena Il. There's Magic Monday in Seattle that's been going for at least 15 years. There's probably many more than one would expect.

[erdnasephile]

I just remembered another: Warren & Annabelle's in Maui since 1999.
(I'm going to be in Hawaii next year. Has anyone been to Warren & Annabelle's?--is it worth it?)

[Krenz]

Question: Has there ever been a primarily magic-themed, non-restaurant attraction that has survived long term in the US?

Are you allowing bars? If so, then Chicago's New York Magic Lounge ran reasonably long (1945—1985).

[Brad Henderson]

esthers follies in Austin tx has been going for well over 30 years and it features a lot of magic from Ray Anderson - one of the most entertaining illusionist you could hope to see. Not exclusively a magic show, tbough magic is promoted heavily in it.