Merlin’s Magic Shop (1955–1983) was the original magic shop in Disneyland’s Fantasyland, located near Sleeping Beauty Castle. Opening on the park’s debut day, it offered magic tricks, practical jokes, and a whimsical atmosphere until its closure in 1983. A second magic shop opened on Main Street, U.S.A., in 1957, which remains operational today. Notably, a young Steve Martin worked at the Fantasyland location for three years starting in August 1960.
Here are 10 fun facts about Merlin’s Magic Shop (1955–1983):
- Opening Day Magic: Merlin’s Magic Shop debuted on July 17, 1955, in Fantasyland, housed in a quaint Bavarian cottage designed to evoke the wizard Merlin from Arthurian legend, aligning with the nearby Sleeping Beauty Castle.
- Merv Taylor’s Vision: Walt Disney personally invited magician Merv Taylor to create the shop. Taylor, a former teacher turned magic prop manufacturer, partnered with James Hume to stock the store with high-quality tricks and gags.
- Unique Merchandise: The shop sold magic tricks like disappearing ink and linking rings, practical joke items such as fake teeth and severed fingers, and novelties including Ouija boards and Troll Dolls, popular in the early 1960s. The shop’s interior was packed with quirky details, like a harlequin-patterned shirt worn by staff, which Martin and manager Dave Steward sported, adding to the shop’s eccentric, magical atmosphere.
- Steve Martin’s Role: Starting in August 1960 at age 15, Steve Martin worked at the Fantasyland shop for three years, demonstrating tricks, juggling, and making balloon animals, mentored by manager Dave Steward and magician Leo Behnke.
- Arrow-Through-the-Head Gag: Martin popularized the “arrow-through-the-head” prop, a shop item he later made iconic in his stand-up comedy, noting its “anti-comedy” silliness as a perfect fit for his act.
- Handcrafted Sign: The shop’s exterior featured a wooden sign, designed by Merv Taylor and his son Richard, measuring 36” x 23” and suspended on iron links, which Martin later purchased on eBay for his personal collection.
- Live Demonstrations: Cast members, including Martin, performed magic tricks at the counter, showcasing products like the bunny rabbit puppet Martin used in his act, which he bounced with a rubber juggling ball for comedic effect.
- Fantasyland Exclusivity: Until 1957, Merlin’s was the park’s only magic shop, but its Fantasyland location retained a unique medieval charm, with sword-in-the-stone theming inside, unlike the Main Street shop’s Victorian style.
- Closure and Retheme: The shop closed on January 16, 1983, during Fantasyland’s major overhaul, replaced by Briar Rose Cottage, which later housed shops like Mickey’s Christmas Chalet and Villain’s Lair.
- Merv Taylor’s Legacy: Taylor sold his Los Angeles magic store to focus on Disneyland, and his family, including wife Della and son Richard, contributed to the shop’s operations, with Della performing tricks for guests.
