"All claims brought to the attention of the Board or management are treated seriously and professionally." "The Academy of Magical Arts and its Board work to provide a safe and welcoming environment and experience," Sinnott said in his statement, noting that he spoke for the academy and the Magic Castle. In a written response, Randy Sinnott Jr., the president of the organization's board of directors, did not address the substance of any of the allegations, nor did he directly respond to any of The Times' questions. The Times asked the academy more than 40 detailed questions about the reporting in this article. Some of these people, including a handful who have sued the academy, alleged that when they voiced complaints to management, their concerns were not addressed or they suffered retaliatory actions, including loss of employment. In interviews with The Times, 12 people - among them guests and former employees - accused Magic Castle management, staff, performers and academy members of a variety of abuses, including sexual assault, sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of race or gender. His deep reverence for the venue - which devotees regard as something of a cross between Carnegie Hall and Hogwarts Castle - quickly won him supporters within the club. Eventually, he visited the facility in 2015 for a paid workshop, and a tour afterward reduced him to tears. He began to dream about performing at the venue, envisioning himself as a conquering neophyte who could captivate a room of bejeweled guests with the flash of his playing cards.įor years, Kwon fixated on the Castle, the mansion that serves as the clubhouse of the Academy of Magical Arts, a group of about 5,000 magicians and enthusiasts dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the performing art. One of the first things he noticed was that many of the volumes referenced the same place: a private club in Hollywood where the world’s top magicians congregated. The craft became an obsession, and he pored over literature illuminating mysterious tricks of master illusionists.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)Īs a boy growing up in Seoul, Ed Kwon collected books about magic. The Magic Castle, a private club that offers magic shows and other entertainment, opened in 1963.
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