Founder and owner Gerry Griffin retires after more than four decades of bringing magic to the Bay Area — he opened a magic shop in 1977 and later founded California Magic Club in 2004. The venue will continue without interruption as local magician and retired police officer John Gardenier assumes ownership effective November 1.
Read MoreThe California Magic Club family is excited to share that we’ve been featured in “Secret California: A Guide To The Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure” by Ruth Carlson.
Read MoreThe California Magic Club is excited to tell you that there is a limited edition of custom playing cards now available for purchase. These souvenir decks will be available while supplies last—only 250 were made! We could give you 52 reasons why you'll want one of these special decks, but here are our top ten.
Read MoreWe always appreciate being mentioned, and recently, our club was featured in a post on TimeOut.com—read what the editors had to say in "4 amazing, astounding places to see magic in San Francisco" published on March 28th.
Read MoreWe are always excited to be mentioned in the news, and recently, our club was highlighted in The Mercury News—read what the writer had to say in an article titled, "Great date night: California Magic Dinner Theatre" published on August 7th.
Read MoreWe all need to be inspired, encouraged, influenced and these influences help mold us into the person we are. So, let me tell you a little bit about the people who influenced me in magic. There are four specific individuals. But first a little history... My first interest in magic started in about 1969, I remember watching television and there it was the “TV Magic Cards.” I was hooked. Then came the “TV Magic Set.”
Read MoreLet me tell you about my days at the Magic Cellar nightclub. It was located at 630 Clay Street in San Francisco. “Earthquake McGoons” was the name of a famous jazz nightclub located at that address and there in the basement was housed the collection of Carter the Great, the famous magician. A little history to go with this first and the story I am about to tell you is as amazing as the Magic cellar was itself.
Read MoreWho was your biggest influence when you got involved in magic?I loved David Copperfield's early TV specials because there was always a some sort of sketch, story or vignette in his shows. I was captivated by those pieces because the magic seemed to really mean something to the story; a characters hopes, dreams, fears. And, David Copperfield's magic was always very escapist and magical.
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