The Amityville curse is a topic that has long fascinated and terrified people around the world. The legend originated from a series of horrifying events that took place in Amityville, New York in 1974. A family named the Lutz moved into a house on 112 Ocean Avenue, unaware of its dark history. Just a year earlier, Ronald DeFeo Jr. had murdered six members of his family in that very house. The Lutz family claimed that after moving in, they experienced a series of terrifying and supernatural occurrences that led them to flee the house just 28 days later.
Feelin’ Swanky at the Magic Lamp Inn
When we are young, we all dream of how wonderful it will be when we grow up and we can do grown up things. When Yours Truly was young, my dreams were visions of go-go dancing in clubs, going to hip parties filled with stimulating intellectuals and dolling up to dine at swanky restaurants. Tragically, by the time I was old enough to do these things, this world was gone. Go-go cages were now thrown in backroom junk heaps, parties were packed with puking drop outs, and restaurants were remodeled with plastic tables, fluorescent lights and paper napkins. Time truly can be a cruel mistress.
If you are like Tawny, you have sought out the last vestiges of this fabulous past. A few hot spots still remain, but they are few and far between, and sometimes one must take a little journey to find them. One such place is the Magic Lamp Inn, an old Route 66 restaurant on the border of Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. Dim lighting, lush red leather booths, stained glass windows and cherry wood beams envelope you as you dine on steaks, chops, seafood and chicken and lose all consciousness of trendy concepts such as “vegan”.
Lucy and John’s Italian Restaurant
The Magic Lamp’s history goes back to the 1940s, when it originally was Lucy and John’s Italian Restaurant. When it was sold in the mid-50s, the Clearman family became part owners, and the restaurant was dramatically remodeled and became a steakhouse. It again changed hands in the 70s, but has retained its “vintagey goodness” to this day.
Dinner here can get expensive. A 16 oz rib eye steak is $41.99 and the rack of New Zealand lamb is $39.99. However, you can still enjoy the experience and spend less on the beef stroganoff ($14.95) or pan roasted chicken ($18.49). There is also happy hour from 4-7 pm Tues-Friday, which features half-price drinks and a complimentary mini-buffet.
The dimly-lit bar
Fortunately for me, I was squired by a well-to-do friend from out of town who sprang for the bill and encouraged me to try whatever I liked in the spirit of investigative journalism. Therefore, in order to get the full Magic Lamp experience, we kicked off the evening early in the bar for happy hour. The drinks were good, and they weren’t skimpy. My lemon drop martini came with a little glass bottle chilling in ice so that I could top off my drink whenever I was ready.
The mini-buffet was on the verge of being wheeled away, but I did have a chance to sample the meatballs, chips and salsa (surprisingly spicy and good), and the usual crunchy veggies. All good!
The intriguing Lamb Popsicles.
The bar menu includes a nice variety of offerings… soup, salads, burgers, shrimp cocktail, etc. You can go for the basics: potato skins, chicken wings, burger sliders… or go upscale with escargot bourguignon or sizzling shrimp scampi. We simply couldn’t leave without trying the intriguingly-named Lamb Popsicles. My mind raced with all the possibilities of what they would be. I was pleasantly surprised to find they were tender grilled lamb chops on fluffy mashed potatoes. They were quite delicious.
Moving to the dinner table, we were presented with the Magic Lamp’s signature relish tray and cheese bread. If this doesn’t take you to yesteryear, nothing will.
The old-fashioned relish tray.
We ordered steak and salmon for dinner. The steak charmingly came topped with an onion ring. Dieters, abandon your calorie-counting ways at the door! Everything was wonderful, and we found ourselves too stuffed for dessert.
The house band, The Philharmonics.
As we ate dinner, people began to pack the lounge and boogie to the beat of the house band, The Philharmonics. I tried to squeeze in, but with my full figure, I could barely make my way into the fray. Looks like the quite the scene for those of you who are looking for a place to get up, get out and get down!
I don’t know if this is really the ideal place to take kids, but the Magic Lamp does offer a children’s menu with amusingly-named items for the little ones: The Burger Meister, Mr. Chicken, The Big Cheese and Pasta Man.
The Magic Lamp Inn… still kickin’ on Route 66.
The Magic Lamp Inn
8189 Foothill Blvd.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Hours: Tues-Fri 11:30 am – 10 pm
Sat-Sun 5 pm – 10 pm
(909) 981-8659
www.themagiclampinn.com
The impressive exterior of the Magic Lamp Inn Lucy and John’s Italian Restaurant Near the entrance of the Magic Lamp Inn The dimly-lit bar
Food from the mini-buffet Happy hour drinks The intriguing Lamb Popsicles. The ultra-cool round fireplace pit
The old-fashioned relish tray Steak dinner topped with an onion ring A view of the swanky dining room The house band, The Philharmonics
Lucy and John’s photo from http://route66.atwebpages.com/rppc/cawest.html
Related
The Lutz family claimed that after moving in, they experienced a series of terrifying and supernatural occurrences that led them to flee the house just 28 days later. These occurrences included strange voices, eerie sounds, and even physical manifestations of evil entities. The Lutz family's experiences became the subject of a bestselling book called "The Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson, which was later turned into several movies.
About Tawny Tubetop
Tawny was born in Pasadena, the City of Roses, and has been soaking up the fun and sun of the Los Angeles area her entire life. Tawny’s motto is: “Why live anywhere else?” A daughter of Angeleno culture, Tawny has a passion for strange movies and music, gets a chuckle out of vintage men’s magazines, finds inspiration in a perfect cocktail, pines for the days of whimsical architecture, wonders if it would really ruin the diet to have one Thai iced tea and whispers secrets to her dog before going to sleep at night.
Magic lamp inn reviews
Know a great happy hour or special for this location?
Many people believed that the house was haunted and cursed, with the spirits of the murdered DeFeo family still lingering. Over the years, the Amityville curse has continued to capture public interest, with numerous reports of strange happenings and paranormal activity in and around the house. In 2020, the curse seemed to make headlines once again with the news that the house was up for sale. Potential buyers were warned by real estate agents about the dark history of the house and the potential spiritual disturbances associated with it. While some believe in the curse and see the Amityville house as a hotbed of evil, others remain skeptical and see it as nothing more than a series of coincidences and imaginative storytelling. However, it cannot be denied that the Amityville curse continues to captivate and terrify people to this day. In conclusion, the Amityville curse is a topic that has intrigued and frightened people for decades. The chilling events that took place in the house on 112 Ocean Avenue have spawned numerous books, movies, and debates. Whether one believes in the curse or not, it is undeniable that the story of the Amityville curse has become deeply embedded in popular culture and has left its mark on the history of paranormal phenomena..
Reviews for "Battling the Forces of Evil: Surviving the Amityville Curse in 2020"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Amityville Curse 2020." The plot was weak and unoriginal, and the acting was subpar. The scares were predictable and lacked any real tension. Overall, I found the film to be a waste of time and money.
2. James - 1 star - "The Amityville Curse 2020" is easily one of the worst horror movies I've ever seen. The story was nonsensical, with no logical progression or explanation for anything happening on screen. The characters were one-dimensional and unlikable, making it impossible to care about their fate. Save your money and avoid this film at all costs.
3. Emily - 2 stars - As a fan of horror movies, I was excited to watch "The Amityville Curse 2020," but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the buildup to the scares was underwhelming. The story felt disjointed and lacked coherence, leaving me confused and dissatisfied. I would not recommend this film to anyone looking for a good horror experience.
4. Alex - 1 star - "The Amityville Curse 2020" was a complete waste of my time. The acting was atrocious, with wooden performances and no emotional depth from the actors. The special effects were laughable and amateurish, and the scares were more laughable than terrifying. I've seen better low-budget horror films on YouTube. Save your money and don't bother with this one.
5. Michael - 2 stars - I found "The Amityville Curse 2020" to be generic and forgettable. The plot felt recycled and offered nothing new to the horror genre. The characters were forgettable, and the dialogue was cliché-ridden. The film failed to leave any lasting impression, and I would not recommend it to avid horror fans.