To understand the art of mentalism and many of the debates that surround it today, nothing is more illuminating than a brief review of its early history. As a performing art, modern mentalism evolved during the period spanning the latter half of the nineteenth century through the early years of the twentieth. It was a theatrical response to the public’s fascination with Spiritualism, Theosophy, hypnotism and early psychical research.

The first “mentalists” did not have conjuring backgrounds, although they did, unquestionably, make use of sleight of hand, gimmickry and misdirection to accomplish their feats. Without exception, however, all claimed to possess – either explicitly or implicitly – genuine paranormal abilities. All were subject to attacks and exposures by magicians and skeptics and, as a result, many careers were short lived. Only a select few were able to survive the onslaughts and controversy to enjoy successful careers as public performers.

A Few Members of the Original Cast of Characters


Anna Eva Fay

In the mid 1870’s, Anna Eva Fay had established herself as a stage medium. Her most famous feat was a spirit cabinet routine she called “The Cotton Bandage Test.” (The feat is still performed today, most notably by “Falkenstein and Willard”.) Later, she added a question answering routine utilizing waxed pads to obtain secret impressions of spectators’ written queries.

In 1875 she hired Washington Irving Bishop to be her manager. In 1876, Bishop wrote a complete expose of Fay’s act and began his own career as a mentalist. His performances included an expose of Fay’s “fraudulent” tests and, later, demonstrations of his own “genuine” thought reading abilities.

In 1889 she publicly mocked Bishop in the press.


John Randall Brown

In 1872, as a reporter assigned to covering séances, Brown invented the thought reading technique now known as muscle reading. (Based on detecting what is now referred to as ‘Involuntary Muscle Response’, or ‘IMR’.) Taking to the stage, he billed himself as ‘The First and Original Thought Reader’ and began a successful career in mentalism.

In 1877 he taught his technique to Washington Irving Bishop.


Washington Irving Bishop

In 1877, after learning muscle reading from Brown, Bishop added it to his act and became the most successful practitioner of the technique. He went to England where he billed himself as ‘The First and Original Thought Reader’ and drew the attention of the magician John Neville Maskelyne, one of the first of the magician/exposers to attack stage mentalists.


Samri S. Baldwin and John Neville Maskelyne

Bishop, hastily leaving England to avoid the enforcement of a court judgment obtained against him by Maskelyne, returned to the United States. Brown, in the meantime, was no longer calling himself ‘The First and Original Thought Reader” but, instead, had become ‘The First and Original White Mahatma’ (in response, apparently, to the growing popularity of Madame Blavatsky’s Theosophical movement.)

Unfortunately, the title was already in use by Samri S. Baldwin, the apparent originator of the one-ahead system, who responded by calling himself “The REAL and Only Original White Mahatma”.



And that is basically the way it was. They claimed to possess real paranormal abilities, while attacking and exposing the competition and stealing each others billings. In the meantime, they defended themselves against, or did their best to avoid, attacks against themselves by magicians and skeptics.

Not much has changed.

On 2013-11-04 00:35, landmark wrote:

Quote:

The community, the brotherhood is not united anymore, it's about ME and individual gain, perception and ego. It's no longer about what's best for the art or bigger picture, it's about personal gain.

My reading of the history is that there was never a Golden Altruistic Age, and it was almost always about individual gain. Just saying...not approving, but not surprised or shocked either.

On 2013-10-24 12:23, M Sini wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-10-22 18:14, truemagic wrote:
Looks like history repeating itself. With all the posts by magicians seemingly hating on his new TV series-- looks like Criss has another hit on his hands.

Only around 900,000 viewers for the premiere episode and not enough to even register in the top 100 cable shows on Tuesday this week. Far from a hit...

On 2013-11-07 09:18, Randwill wrote:
As I was saying in the other thread about this topic, Banachek is getting his face on television. Though not always supported by evidence, people have the perception that if you are on television, you must be very good at what you do and that you are worth more money. Having this television show on his resume will put more money in his bank account. It has nothing to do with credibility or respect. It's show BUSINESS.

On 2013-11-08 02:10, truemagic wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-10-24 12:23, M Sini wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-10-22 18:14, truemagic wrote:
Looks like history repeating itself. With all the posts by magicians seemingly hating on his new TV series-- looks like Criss has another hit on his hands.

Only around 900,000 viewers for the premiere episode and not enough to even register in the top 100 cable shows on Tuesday this week. Far from a hit...

Guess you may have been too hasty and used a rating source not used by networks.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/en......e-654154

On 2013-11-08 07:44, M Sini wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-11-08 02:10, truemagic wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-10-24 12:23, M Sini wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-10-22 18:14, truemagic wrote:
Looks like history repeating itself. With all the posts by magicians seemingly hating on his new TV series-- looks like Criss has another hit on his hands.

Only around 900,000 viewers for the premiere episode and not enough to even register in the top 100 cable shows on Tuesday this week. Far from a hit...

Guess you may have been too hasty and used a rating source not used by networks.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/en......e-654154

Actually I was referring to the Neilsen Ratings (the article you linked doesn't state how it recieved it's figures). It may very well have been in the Top 10 in its timeslot (for people ages 18-49) on cable on it's opening night (which the article you linked is stating), but since then it hasn't been in the Top 100 cable shows on Tuesdays.

On 2013-11-08 16:13, IAIN wrote:
We have a mole connected to the show, posting!

On 2013-11-08 16:13, IAIN wrote:
We have a mole connected to the show, posting!

On 2013-11-08 16:48, Godzilla wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-11-08 16:13, IAIN wrote:
We have a mole connected to the show, posting!

LOL
Your post made me think of,Austin Powers! Moley,Moley,Moley...

And,he did create ll post,to be here !

Magic...class (Troll Human)

Is that you,Criss ?

On 2013-11-08 16:59, truemagic wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-11-08 16:13, IAIN wrote:
We have a mole connected to the show, posting!

And then there is you... a MOLlycoddle connected to nothing.

On 2013-11-08 17:03, truemagic wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-11-08 16:48, Godzilla wrote:

Quote:

On 2013-11-08 16:13, IAIN wrote:
We have a mole connected to the show, posting!

LOL
Your post made me think of,Austin Powers! Moley,Moley,Moley...

And,he did create ll post,to be here !

Magic...class (Troll Human)

Is that you,Criss ?

Yes--- you guessed it and are way too smart. Can tell by the movies you watch.

On 2013-11-08 17:07, IAIN wrote:
Anyway - can you report back to Crissssssssss, that we are not impressed with his completely unneeded reveal-o-matic ways... I'm sure with his team he could put together a decent series without the exposure side...its an easy way out to gain the wrong sort of attention...