The House of Magic, a forthcoming dual-theater entertainment venue at 101 S Easton Road (the former PNC Bank building) in Glenside, is showing signs of progress.
Owner Marc DeSouza, a real estate developer, award-winning international magician, and owner of House of Magic Enterprises, LLC, said he hopes to run the first “test” shows by the middle to end of March.
“Right now, we’re constructing the elevator shaft in the rear of the building, which will also have a new entrance. We’ve begun reconstruction of certain areas, including the theater seating area. We hope to have permit applications submitted this week for the remainder of the building,” DeSouza said.
Most of the interior demolition has been completed. The museum level is expected to see its final touches by April, “which should coincide with a full opening at that time,” DeSouza said.
“It’s a series of small hurdles and a lot of outside contractors. The theater level is the primary goal, which we’d like to get up and running by the end of February,” he said. “Once we have that, we can finish up the renovations to the bathrooms upstairs and other changes. We’re projecting that the elevator work will be done by the end of March, but we’ll be ADA compliant before then. We won’t move bigger stuff until that’s done. End of April until we should have everything together.”
The “test” shows will feature local performers “to make sure that our tech works like it’s supposed to work.”
Of interest in the meantime is the House of Magic’s website, which is now live and gradually being populated. DeSouza said blog updates and additional photos will be uploaded soon.
“I’d like to have a meeting with the business community so everyone can get a look at what we’ve done. People are excited,” he said.
“I look forward to working closely with my good friend Marc and all of my magical friends and colleagues to bring the much needed magic and laughter to Glenside and beyond,” Jay Howard, longtime magician and owner of the recently revamped Treat Street, Amuseum, J’s GourAmaze Fine Foods and Baked Goods in Elkins Park, said.
In related news, Smoke & Mirrors in Huntingdon Valley terminated their lease on December 31. Their operation will come to the House of Magic one truckload at a time.
“Tomorrow, we’re showing up with a truck and pulling a whole bunch of stuff from there over to Glenside,” DeSouza said. “The artwork, various supplies, racks, computers, racks, tables, chairs, video systems, everything. We’re even taking the signature wall that all the performers sign. We’re continuing the tradition.”
From their website:
After our final show on 12/28, we will disappear and then reappear at the House of Magic 101 S. Easton Road in Glenside, PA (about five miles away) with a new 104 seat theater. We expect the first shows to begin sometime in March.
Remember, our Gift Certificates never expire and can be redeemed for any show.
We will be in touch with updates. For our previous coverage of the House of Magic’s original announcement, you can click here.
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Photos: Marc DeSouza