Fridays with Jim Korkis: David Copperfield’s Magic Underground
By Dave Shute
Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.
DAVID COPPERFIELD’S MAGIC UNDERGROUND AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
By Jim Korkis
In 1996, it was announced that in summer 1998 Walt Disney World guests would be able to enjoy a unique new dining experience at the then Disney MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios): David Copperfield’s Magic Underground.
David Copperfield’s Magic Underground was officially by CEO Michael Eisner, who explained the magic-themed restaurant would offer “grand illusions performed as guests dine on American and international fare”. Copperfield later explained that the menu would include steaks and pizza he enjoyed on his world travels.
Eisner continued, “As Walt Disney Imagineers do at our theme parks, David Copperfield creates magic on a grand scale. We are very pleased to have the master of illusion, David Copperfield, join with us to bring a spectacular new adventure to our guests at Walt Disney World Resort. He will take the concept of dining entertainment to a new dimension.”
The 30,000 square foot restaurant with entrances both inside the park (near Hollywood Boulevard) and outside the park would seat 500 guests “in an atmosphere reflecting the history and mystery of magic and illusion.” Like the later Rainforest Café at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it was designed so that guests didn’t have to enter the park to visit the restaurant.
“My life has centered on bringing the experience of magic to people around the world,” stated Copperfield. “My challenge has always been to find ways to involve people in an unforgettable magic encounter that they experience directly – to make them part of the magic.
“Michael Eisner and I have talked for years about combining the impact of illusion with the magic of Disney. Magic Underground will accomplish our goal.”
The first Copperfield Underground restaurant was under construction at that time in New York’s Times Square with additional restaurants planned for London, Frankfurt, Sydney and Chicago.
Copperfield was well known and hugely popular in the 1980s and 1990s and he felt the need to branch out into other venues. Copperfield had often cited Walt Disney as one of his role models growing up.
A billboard was erected outside of Disney MGM Studios just to the right of the entrance announcing the coming restaurant. The restaurant would be decorated with artifacts from Copperfield’s personal magic collection as well as items from magicians past and present.
In house magicians would entertain the diners at their tables and there would be a big main stage for larger illusions. Supposedly guests were meant to feel as if they were in Copperfield’s secret workshop and had entered through a secret entrance.
Concept artwork was displayed in an issue of Magic magazine showing an elaborate interior that would have included levitating dining tables and diners temporarily disappearing, perhaps through the Pepper’s Ghost illusion.
It was described as a multi-story building like a Rubik’s Cube with a small footprint and densely layered levels jig-jogging through vertical space. It would have included a replica of the torch from the Statue of Liberty, based on one of Copperfield’s most famous illusions of having the statue disappear.
The location would feature “D.A.V.I.D” (Digital Audio-Video Interface Device) to remotely interact with the guests in the restaurant. It was basically a high tech videophone system that would feature Copperfield’s face and hands.
It was even planned to build a second location at Downtown Disney near the AMC theaters.
Unfortunately, the New York site ran into conflicts by 1997 between with creative team and the financial investors as costs soared over budget. In addition, Copperfield was a perfectionist, demanding constant changes so the illusions could be clearly seen by anyone from any angle. The project went bankrupt by 1998, losing its investors over thirty million dollars.
When that happened Disney decided to cancel its agreement with Copperfield and quietly removed the billboard with no announcement. While Copperfield continued performing, his star started to fade as he no longer did television specials.
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Thanks, Jim! And come back next Friday for more from Jim Korkis!
In the meantime, check out his books, including his latest, Final Secret Stories of Walt Disney World and Disneyland Historical Highlights!
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