Milt Larsen, Writer for ‘Truth or Consequences’ & Co-Founder of The Magic Castle Dies at 92
Magician, writer, producer, and all-around magical man Milt Larsen has passed away at 92 years old. He was best known for co-founding The Magic Castle in Hollywood and has been voted one of the 100 most influential individuals in the history of the craft, with his annual stage show, It’s Magic, over 50 years old.
In addition to creating magic for all ages, he wrote for the game show Truth or Consequences for over twenty years, produced TV specials for ABC, NBC, and CBS, and wrote Disney songs with Oscar-winning songwriter Richard Sherman.
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It was in 1963 that Larsen and his late brother, Bill founded The Magic Castle in Hollywood which would become a private club for magicians. At the time of his death, he was still the president of the club’s parent company and had written five joke books and three books about the beloved estate. Magic was in his blood as his mother, Geraldine, was “The Magic Lady” on television and his parents created Genii, The Conjurors Magazine. It was actually his father’s dream to open something like The Magic Castle, as a place where magicians could safely swap secrets.
Larsen began his professional career as a writer with ABC Radio and Ralph Edwards’ TV production company. While he wrote for the game show Truth or Consequences, he was also the original host before Bob Barker took over. It is hard to even list all of Larsen’s accomplishments, which include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, creator of Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, owner and operator of the Mayfair Music Hall in Santa Monica, and so much more.
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While he mainly stuck to being a magician, writer, and entrepreneur, he did appear in an episode of Hart to Hart as a magician and produced a TV movie called Magic Castle After Dark.
Larsen is survived by his wife, Arlene, and his nieces and nephews.
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