--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a place in New York called…" description: "\"There was a place in New York called Tannen's Magic. It still exists. But back in the day, it was really fantastic. You'd go into the old Wurlitzer Bui..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-copperfield-2966_amazing-places_there-was-a-place-in-new-york-called-tan_259402.jpg" --- # There was a place in New York called Tannen's Magic. It… ![“There was a place in New York called Tannen's Magic. It still exists. But back in the day, it was really fantastic. You'd go into the old Wurlitzer Building, take the elevator to the 13th floor, which was labeled 14, because of bad luck, the elevator would open, and you'd be in heaven. It was all…” quote by David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-copperfield-2966_amazing-places_there-was-a-place-in-new-york-called-tan_259402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-copperfield-2966_amazing-places_there-was-a-place-in-new-york-called-tan_259402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-copperfield-2966_amazing-places_there-was-a-place-in-new-york-called-tan_259402.jpg) > “There was a place in New York called Tannen's Magic. It still exists. But back in the day, it was really fantastic. You'd go into the old Wurlitzer Building, take the elevator to the 13th floor, which was labeled 14, because of bad luck, the elevator would open, and you'd be in heaven. It was all of these guys doing magic stuff with props. It's kind of gone now, that experience, the brick-and-mortar magic shop, but you really felt like you'd landed in the most amazing place in the world.” [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recalls a historic New York magic shop, its quirky elevator, and the awe it inspired, now vanished. **In simple terms:** He remembers a unique magic shop that felt like heaven. Key Takeaway Cherish and document special places before they disappear. Themes nostalgia magic urban history Mood nostalgic wonderful Type historical cultural When to use this quote - tourism - historical preservation - magical performances Key Concepts cultural memory place attachment Questions to Reflect On - What modern places give you similar wonder? - How can we preserve magical experiences? A Different Perspective Modern venues may lack the same intimate charm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-places/) [Back in the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-in-the-day/) [Bad luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-luck/) [Bricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bricks/) [Bricks and mortar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bricks-and-mortar/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Elevator 13Th](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elevator-13th-2560174/) [Elevators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elevators/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Luck Elevator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck-elevator-2560173/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Magic Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-exists-1993642/) [Magic Shop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-shop-2436896/) [Mortar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortar/) [Most amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-amazing/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Places in the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/places-in-the-world/) [Props](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/props/) [Shops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shops/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Tannen Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tannen-magic-2560172/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Everything that you'd see on The Ed Sullivan Show was at the Tannen's Magic. You'd think that if you could afford a trick like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/everything-that-you-d-see-on-the-ed-sullivan-show-was-at-the-tannen-s/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [ You'd go in the magic shop \[as an 8-year-old \], and you'd walk up to the magicians doing stuff, and they'd turn their back… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/you-d-go-in-the-magic-shop-as-an-8-year-old-and-you-d-walk-up-to-the/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Working at the magic shop really gave me a sense of comedy because it was all jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/working-at-the-magic-shop-really-gave-me-a-sense-of-comedy-because-it/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [You can just go to a magic shop or magic builder and buy what most magicians do, but that's not what I'm about. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/you-can-just-go-to-a-magic-shop-or-magic-builder-and-buy-what-most/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [When I became a teen, I ran into a friend at a magic shop who took me under his wing. I started reading up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apollo-robbins/when-i-became-a-teen-i-ran-into-a-friend-at-a-magic-shop-who-took-me/) [Apollo Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apollo-robbins/) > [“To burn the witch is to admit that magic exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-anastasia/to-burn-the-witch-is-to-admit-that-magic-exists/) [Erin Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-anastasia/) > [“And magic exists to break the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-siegel/and-magic-exists-to-break-the-rules/) [Jan Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-siegel/) > [Kids, fiction is the truth inside the lie, and the truth of this fiction is simple enough: the magic exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/kids-fiction-is-the-truth-inside-the-lie-and-the-truth-of-this/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Sometimes you find forever in a kiss, and that's when you discover magic exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-ann-martine/sometimes-you-find-forever-in-a-kiss-and-that-s-when-you-discover/) [Christy Ann Martine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-ann-martine/) > [Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/magic-exists-who-can-doubt-it-when-there-are-rainbows-and-wildflowers/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Magic exists in the minds of those who believe in it, not in its actual influence on reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-olde-heuvelt/magic-exists-in-the-minds-of-those-who-believe-in-it-not-in-its/) [Thomas Olde Heuvelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-olde-heuvelt/) > [Magic exists if you allow it. If you open yourself up to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/magic-exists-if-you-allow-it-if-you-open-yourself-up-to-it/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [“May be magic exists after all. I can't think of any other way how someone like her exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiji-tharayil/may-be-magic-exists-after-all-i-can-t-think-of-any-other-way-how/) [Jiji Tharayil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiji-tharayil/) > [Engineering is the closest thing to magic that exists in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/engineering-is-the-closest-thing-to-magic-that-exists-in-the-world/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Bravery hides in amazing places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/bravery-hides-in-amazing-places/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) ## More by David Copperfield > [There is a safe spot within every tornado. My job is to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/there-is-a-safe-spot-within-every-tornado-my-job-is-to-find-it/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm inventing new principles. The audience has a point of view that no one can predict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-inventing-new-principles-the-audience-has-a-point-of-view-that-no/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I love creating new things. It's kind of my job, it's what I do, and I really have fun with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-love-creating-new-things-it-s-kind-of-my-job-it-s-what-i-do-and-i/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I was teaching magic at NYU when I was 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-was-teaching-magic-at-nyu-when-i-was-16/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [The real secret of magic lies in the performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/the-real-secret-of-magic-lies-in-the-performance/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Everyone was talking about having airplanes disappear. And I said, "Wait, wait, wait. That's what you like? I'd tell you a story about something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/everyone-was-talking-about-having-airplanes-disappear-and-i-said-wait/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [For me, it's about risk taking, taking things in new directions. Because every single time, no matter how much you learn, you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/for-me-it-s-about-risk-taking-taking-things-in-new-directions-because/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [It's okay for me to be gay, but God didn't make me that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/it-s-okay-for-me-to-be-gay-but-god-didn-t-make-me-that-way/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, and win the race!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/ride-on-rough-shod-if-need-be-smooth-shod-if-that-will-do-but-ride-on/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Magicians are the people who began to use film as an illusion on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/magicians-are-the-people-who-began-to-use-film-as-an-illusion-on-stage/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm just waiting for people to start asking me to make the rain disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-just-waiting-for-people-to-start-asking-me-to-make-the-rain/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Magicians lose the opportunity to experience a sense of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/magicians-lose-the-opportunity-to-experience-a-sense-of-wonder/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I am fortunate to have the resources to have many methods to do each of my illusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-am-fortunate-to-have-the-resources-to-have-many-methods-to-do-each/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm the luckiest man in the world - performing 500 shows a year and loving what I do - illusion IS my day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world-performing-500-shows-a-year-and/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [From the very beginning, I studied acting, directing, lighting, dance and movement. I didn't rely on just the magic to take place. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/from-the-very-beginning-i-studied-acting-directing-lighting-dance-and/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) [Explore all 144 David Copperfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) ## More Amazing places quotes > [Bravery hides in amazing places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/bravery-hides-in-amazing-places/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [The world other than as advertised can be an amazing place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burdett/the-world-other-than-as-advertised-can-be-an-amazing-place/) [John Burdett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burdett/) > [Filming in India was one big adventure. For 'The Cheetah Girls', we were in Mumbai for two weeks, then Rajasthan for six weeks. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steger/filming-in-india-was-one-big-adventure-for-the-cheetah-girls-we-were/) [Michael Steger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steger/) > [You've never seen anything in the Marvel universe that's as grounded, as gritty, as authentic, and as raw as what these guys did last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bernthal/you-ve-never-seen-anything-in-the-marvel-universe-that-s-as-grounded/) [Jon Bernthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bernthal/) > [Sure I've done some runs and even toured some amazing places around the world, but this is Stone Temple Pilots!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gutt/sure-i-ve-done-some-runs-and-even-toured-some-amazing-places-around/) [Jeff Gutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-gutt/) > [I traveled really to amazing places. I went to the Great Barrier Reef, I went to the Amazon, I went to the Andes, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kolbert/i-traveled-really-to-amazing-places-i-went-to-the-great-barrier-reef/) [Elizabeth Kolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kolbert/) > [I feel unbelievably fortunate. How many people get to do what they always wanted to do and do well with it and continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/i-feel-unbelievably-fortunate-how-many-people-get-to-do-what-they/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [I grew up in Hawaii and I think those islands are some of the most amazing places on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mateus-ward/i-grew-up-in-hawaii-and-i-think-those-islands-are-some-of-the-most/) [Mateus Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mateus-ward/) > [Those of you who have been there Haiti know it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It has everything. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/those-of-you-who-have-been-there-haiti-know-it-is-one-of-the-most/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Its amazing the places I will wander to in my house while I talk on the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-amazing-the-places-i-will-wander-to-in-my-house-while-i-talk-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sanctuary would be the epicenter for the foundation. We'll have think tanks there. It's going to be a really, really amazing place. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/the-sanctuary-would-be-the-epicenter-for-the-foundation-we-ll-have/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [You could spend your life trying to uncover all the treasures in New Orleans and not even scratch the surface. It's such an amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/you-could-spend-your-life-trying-to-uncover-all-the-treasures-in-new/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [People think cruises are for old folk, but they are amazing, as you get to see so many places, and you're never stuck as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-titchmarsh/people-think-cruises-are-for-old-folk-but-they-are-amazing-as-you-get/) [Alan Titchmarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-titchmarsh/) > [North Carolina is an amazing place. It has the best food, and also has folks fighting really hard for what's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/north-carolina-is-an-amazing-place-it-has-the-best-food-and-also-has/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [It's amazing to see places like Madison Square Garden on the schedule again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amazing-to-see-places-like-madison-square-garden-on-the-schedule/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 28 Amazing places quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-places/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was a place in New York called Tannen's Magic. It still exists. But back in the day, it was really fantastic. You'd go into the old Wurlitzer Building, take the elevator to the 13th floor, which was labeled 14, because of bad luck, the elevator would open, and you'd be in heaven. 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