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ThoughtThief Regular user 183 Posts |
Members might be interested to read a 1911 interview of Thomas Edison in which he discusses his "testing" of Bert Reese, the king of billet readers whose methods are the subject of a chapter in Annemann (and the subject of further analysis in one of Al Mann's releases). Edison,who denied the existence of anything supernatural, spiritual or paranormal, was so flummoxed by Reese's "reading of closed papers" that Edison concluded that Reese was a "prodigy" who had developed a "strange power of sight" that enabled him to see through walls in(yet to be created) Superman fashion. Edison believed that Reese could peer through the wall that separated him from the room where the subjects wrote on their papers. Edison's other, related theory was that Reese's unusual powers of sight enabled him to see through the papers and read what was written on them "when they were presented to him" (confirming that Reese was permitted to handle the billets and indicating that Reese was employing his stock-and-trade one-ahead billet reading routine). Edison postulated that Reese's x-ray vision was a normal ability that, as yet, only a prodigy such as Reese had developed, but which could become commonplace as the human brain continued to evolve.
So profound was Reese's impact on Edison that Edison himself raised the subject of Reese's abilities during the interview, the topic of which was Edison's views on "divinity." Imagine, one of the world's great thinkers impressed to his marrow by a master showman armed with nothing more than a few scraps of paper, a cigar and the oldest principle in magic (I think it is Docc Hilford who likes to say that the O-A is the ONLY principle in magic). Another interesting aspect of the interview is Edison's reference to Reese's claims of other abilities, such as the ability to find lost articles. Like Uri Geller after him, Reese achieved cult-like status performing only one or two "tricks" (billet reading in Reese's case; metal bending and design duplication in Geller's) and reaped the benefits of the public's extrapolation therefrom of additional wonderous powers and abilities. The URL for the Edison interview is: http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/roots/edison/interview2.html. Edison's experience with Reese is also discussed on a web site for the "School of Metaphysics" at the following URL: http://www.som.org/5A&S/afterlife.htm Finally, Reese groupies might want to read an account of Reese beating a disorderly conduct charge by performing his three-billet routine for the judge. The article relaying this account--found on the web site for "The Scientific Establishment of Parapsychology" (SEP)--presumes that Reese was clairvoyant and presents his reading of three "pellets" as a demonstration of Reese's "powers." The URL is: http://maxpages.com/sep. Do any members know of any other published materials concerning the fascinating Mr. Reese? |
GothicBen Veteran user England 353 Posts |
Very informative, thanks!
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John Pezzullo Veteran user Sydney AUSTRALIA 354 Posts |
I'm fairly certain that Al Mann published a manuscript about Bert Reese some years ago.
"One arrow. One life."
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Not sure about a manuscript John, but three pages on Reese are certainly in the back of Al's "The Tkares Set".
Paul. |
Quentin Inner circle 1020 Posts |
It was called the Bert Reese Docimasy and included a lot of information about Reese and Edison.
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sandman690 Loyal user 230 Posts |
I stongly recommend the Al Mann book The Bert Reese Docimacy" The other book refernced by Al contains info on Berts cloud vanishing effect if I am corret. I think it is in a part called Reeses Pieces... groan.
Stan |
ThoughtThief Regular user 183 Posts |
Paul and Sandman are correct - Al Mann's "The Tkares Set" is the publication I was referring to that contains a section with additional insights concerning Bert Reese's billet work and includes the cloud vanishing effect. I was not aware of "The Bert Reese Domicacy." If anyone knows where I might obtain a copy of that particular Al Mann publication, please let me know.
Thank you GothicBen, John, Paul, Quentin and Sandman for your replies and information. TT |
sandman690 Loyal user 230 Posts |
Hi TT,
You might want to check with Mark Strivings. He was selling some of Al's manuscripts a while back. If you need his e-mail, let me know. Stan |
ThoughtThief Regular user 183 Posts |
Thanks, Stan; I have Mark's email address.
TT |
Mark Strivings V.I.P. 290 Posts |
I no longer have any copies of the Bert Reese Docimacy on hand. While I do have a couple of his other titles still in stock, Al Mann's stuff is virtually impossible to find anymore. Sorry guys.
Mark Strivings
Mark Strivings is the owner of the largest all-mentalism mail order supply business in the world, "Mental Connections", carrying materials not available anywhere else. For complete info, drop Mark a line at MarkyApril@aol.com
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SteveTheAmazing Regular user Detroit,MI 111 Posts |
You can actually look up the original New York Times article online for the June 30th, 1915 charge. I printed a copy out myself and have it by a desk of mine for inspiration.
I was trying to find more information about Reese and Edison online and, of course, google just directs me back to where I should've looked in the first place! Thank you 2002 Café members for the post. I recently recorded a performance of Bert Reese's three billet routine while at "Menlo Park" in Greenfield Village. It's a 1929 replica of the Menlo Park facility, complete with some articles from Edison's own shop. It's a fascinating place to check out if you're ever in the Detroit, Michigan area. Send me a message and I'll gladly play tour guide! |
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