Magic Castle

JASON LATIMER is standing the magic world on its head, and he's doing it with one of the oldest tricks in the book. He performs cups and balls -- a sleight of hand that uses three cups to mysteriously switch the locations of three or four balls -- only he does it with clear cups.

There's a famous old house in Hollywood and another famous old house in Washington, D.C. They have a lot in common. Both are big, rambling places of not altogether original design; the one in Washington was essentially from an English architecture book, and the one in Hollywood was essentially copied from a Franco-Midwestern chateau in Redlands. Both are for members only, but if you know the right people, you can probably get invited in. And both are pretty much in the same line of work.

They gazed, transfixed, as a woman seemed to float in midair, then disappear. Gasped as a lightbulb danced in the darkness. Applauded when a ball vanished from one cup, then appeared in another.

The celebrated Magic Castle in Hollywood is home to the Academy of Magical Arts and features magicians who perform nightly in various showrooms throughout the haunted Victorian mansion. The most difficult trick at the Magic Castle, a private club since 1963, is just getting in; one must be a member or know a member to be admitted. We asked a few old hands what's up their sleeves. * William Henry "Billy" McComb Magician, 81 Hollywood What's your specialty? I try to do good sleight-of-hand magic.

It looks like an illusion of grandeur on a hilltop overlooking Hollywood. But at the Magic Castle, the illusions are mostly inside. For more than four decades, this 1908 Edwardian-style landmark has beckoned wizards and prestidigitators the world over. David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Harry Blackstone, Doug Henning, Lance Burton, Harry Blackstone Jr. and Darren Romeo -- the newest singing illusionist -- are among its hundreds of alumni.

Ordinary Joes without a wizardly bone in their body are perfectly capable of making coins vanish or cards move from a deck into onlookers' wallets. During the basic magic class at Hollywood's Magic Castle, students perform both of these tricks the very first night, the first of 15 acts they'll learn involving cards, coins and rope. "It gives you a very strong sense of ego being able to fool someone else," said David Thorsen, 75, the master magician who teaches the course.

Ten years ago, I somehow got invited to a party for the metal band Slayer at the Magic Castle. I've actually been on the road with Slayer in Europe and have no small respect for its brand of bombast, but I didn't know a single soul who would be at this party or what would happen. So of course I went.

Heart of darkness: Peter Ulrich of Arcadia spotted a 99 Cents Only ad that recommended critical emergency items for coping with a blackout, including flashlights, batteries and drinking water. And, oh yes, condoms. The parade's over: The locals captured the NBA title on June 15, so I'm reminding drivers to take down their Laker flags this Friday. You know the rules. Vehicle flags, like Christmas lights, should be put in storage two weeks after the event they celebrate.

Adam Williams began doing magic professionally at age 10, when he performed at a neighbor's birthday party in his hometown of Cleveland. Now 25, he performs on cruises, at trade shows, college campuses, corporate events and venues such as the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Getting new customers to try his "product" is not easy, but he has found a natural sales tool in online marketing.

Megan and Susan Murphy are identical twins with a shared goal: They want to become top professional magicians. They approached the world's leading conjurer--David Copperfield--for advice. Unlike Copperfield, who's gained worldwide acclaim for his grand illusions (such as making the Statue of Liberty disappear), the Murphys, 22, specialize in "parlor" and "close-up" magic, which is performed for smaller audiences.