From 1945, Conjuror's Magazine:

MENTALISM, LITERATURE, BOB NELSON
This started out to be a book review
because I have just finished rereading
"The Encyclopedia of Mentalism"
by Robert A. Nelson, but I
would like to say a few things before
I get into the subject of this particular
literary effort.
Bob Nelson and I have been on different
sides of the fence for almost
twenty years. When I was Business
Manager of another magic magazine,
I would not accept ads from Nelson
Enterprises for that paper because
I did not think a magic magazine
should take copy which introduced
items that phony spirit mediums
could use to defraud the public.
The height of the battle came in
1932 when "Spook Crooks" reported
case histories of fakers who mulct the
credulous and superstitious out of
millions of dollars. "Mitt readers," astrologers,
etc. were getting rich as
well as seducing simple farm girls
and even wise city matrons under the
guise of lifting the veil of the unknown.
Bob's attitude, expressed in
some very fine writing to me (some
of the letters should have been on asbestos)
was that Nelson Enterprises
did not control the use of the material
after it left the manufacturer's
hands. His was good logic because
crooks and confidence people will always
find some way of achieving
their nefarious purposes . . . but I still
was a crusader, riding a white charger
with a flaming sword . . . and getting
good publicity for magicians.
Anyway, through the years I have
watched Nelson Enterprises grow into
a really reliable business. I have seen
the crude workers among the mentalists,
astrologers, palmists numerologists,
etc., etc., vanish into oblivion
and disgrace. As a matter of fact, I
have seen as they left the field new,
polished entertainers replace them.
To Bob Nelson must go a great deal
of credit for this cleaning up of the
industry from the inside (magicians
would do well to equally clean up
their own field from within.) I believe
that Bob Nelson is entitled to
much praise for having put mentalism
where it is today.
I have always felt that it was a magician's
place (or a mentalist) to cooperate
with local law enforcing bodies
to save "saps" from themselves. I
use the word "saps" because that is
from the lingo of these future-telling
frauds. The mentalist of today is not
the phony of fifteen or twenty years
ago, the crude, ruthless thief of the
1920s and early 1930s.
The fine acts of Mildred and Rouclere,
the Fays, the Ushers, Pr'iicess
Yvonne and Doc Irving, Lady Esther
and Dr. Jester, Betty and Martin Sunshine
and others who worked on a
high plane set the pace which, unfortunately
others did not follow. I cannot
picture any of them giving dressing
room or bedroom audiences.
I never found fault with "special
readings" when they were given on
stage (at $1.00, $2.00 or $3.00 a copy
of Nelson's horoscopes) . . . shades of
Koran . . . but the entertaining
stopped when fraud crept in.
The names of those I mentioned
above, some gone to the land of the
Greatest Mentalist of all, other acts
broken up through sickness or divorce,
or still others who are yet plugging
on, were and are bright lights
in an industry overrun with rats. Bob
Nelson used rat poison . . . and you
do not hear today, despite the tremendous
popularity of "fortune telling"
because of the war, of astrologists,
numerologists, etc., etc., being
mixed up with thefts and crimes as
they were in yesteryear.
As I said before, this started out as
a book review . . . let's get on with it.
"The Encyclopedia of Mentalism"
is, in my humble opinion, a great
monument to Bob Nelson. I like Doc
Tarbell's introduction because he cuts
quickly into the heart of the subject.
I agree with Nelson that a good Mentalist
makes more than an equally
good magician. A Mentalist who sells
himself can write his own ticket . . .
There are few in the ranks of magic
who equal the earnings of a Mentalist.
One fault that I have to find is
that Bob let his enthusiasm run away
with himself when he called his book
an "Encyclopedia." When I think of
encyclopedia, I think of a big book.
Regardless of the quality of the material,
the title is misleading. When
you think of some other publications
which use the name encyclopedia,
those on card tricks, rope, cigarettes,
etc., you think of plenty of pages.
Nelson may answer by saying that
"It's what's in a book, not how thick
it is," but I adhere to my point, which
however doesn't detract from the fact
that I think Nelson's book on Mentalism
will go down in history as an ambitious
effort of someone who knows
his subject . . . and proves it, that
others may learn the art from him.
One other objection . . . and that is
true with many of Nelson's other
books . . . one must buy something
to complete the story . . . I find no
fault with a man selling something
in an advertisement, but I don't like
to have to buy something to finish a
chapter.
Still, I think that this is one of the
most comprehensive books I have
ever read on the subject of Mentalism.
I do not say that anyone can
pick it up . . . and then go out at
once and put on a show. It took two
years to write . . . and the contents
prove it. MENTAL MAGIC MAKES
MONEY. That is alliteration . . . but
it is true, and in Nelson's book the
aspiring mentalist will learn how.
The psychic tests are good. Nothing
startling new, but the way that
they are put together places them in
the front rank as a teacher of tests
from a practical money making viewpoint.
Without mentioning names, Nelson
gives his version of how a radio mindreader
works. Obviously, the character
is Dunninger. I don't know if Bob
actually gives the Dunninger routine
. . . but I do know that one using the
routine that Nelson outlines can go
on and do a show on any radio station.
This chapter alone is worth the
price of the book. Five dollars is not
too much for this phase of the book
. . . without the rest.
By now you know that I like "Encyclopedia
of Mentalism" . . . and recommend
it highly . . . and Bob Nelson
learns here that I think he has done
a great deal to put Mentalism where
it is today. J. J. P.
22 THE CONJURORS' MAGAZINE 1945

LOL, so they bar him from advertising in their publication, then sing his praises. What a bunch of hypocrites. Why anybody would believe anything they say is just beyond me? But hey that's just me. LOL

This is the best laugh I've had all day. LOL, HO HO HO

Looks to me like a little evolution on both sides. Most of us do go through it.

a very small amount, but... Hey!
There is more than enough intolerance in both sides to well make up for that. Heh!