Magicians, Pyschics, Charlatans
~ Notes on popular (or formerly popular) Modern Tricksters   
   by Michael Anthony Ricciardi

As critical and skeptical as I am about those who make paranormal and psychic claims, I am also critical about those who are clearly magicians, but who purposely concoct an atmosphere or impression of “psi power” or “mind over matter power”…consciously blurring the line between pure entertainment, and pop-psych belief and uncertainty. While my displeasure at these types is not as great as the out-right frauds, I never-the-less bristle whenever I hear some magician spewing the tired “power of believing” shtick and other such psycho-babble to folks who are all too credulous or mystified by their illusions. Below are some notes on the current most notables, but also included are some notables from the past (1970’s forward), which I feel are part of, or seminal to, this “tradition.” 

One final note: I do recognize that there are many self-proclaimed psychics, “sensitives”, and “mediums” who are not consciously deceiving anyone; they seem to genuinely believe in what they are saying and doing. But I believe that they are ignorant of the unconscious processes at work in their “readings”. 

Regarding magicians, there is a tradition of affecting “psychic” or paranormal powers, but these performers mostly disavow having any such powers.

David Blane…street magician cum performance artist…first of the ‘new wave’ in “reality show”, cable magicians (2005-2007)….now completely eclipsed by Criss Angel…performs decent magic, sleight-of-hand, and some mentalism (i.e., pretend “psychic” powers) feats for (mostly) females…after their astounded reactions, stands there, open-mouthed, with this pathetically desperate look on his face, as if to say: “LOVE ME!”…sometimes uses plants (audience members who are actually ‘in’ on the trick)….did the “standing levitation” trick really well, but then, after priming the audience with several quick clips, inter-cut genuine reaction footage with a faked camera angle (showing him clearly off the ground, but with no upper body shot)…also pretends to be in shock or debilitated by the experience (as if it were a drain on his energy and really painful)…Currently does mostly “performance art”/endurance type stunts (ala conceptual artist Chris Burden) these days where he puts himself on public display, seeming not care that he is inspiring one moment and obnoxious the next.

Chris Angel……‘Mind Freak’….currently, the reigning magician of cable television: anarcho/death metal/gothic/circus side show shtick (with some Jim Rose-esque body torture stunts and escapes)…is a talented and innovative illusionist (or actually, “he” is the pretty-boy front for a consortium of magic “consultants” and designers), but frequently uses multiple plants (way more than Blane ever did) and controlled camera angles, and/or inserted, “live” footage (as in the hotel demolition escape)…peppers his magic show with psycho babble about the power of the mind, belief, and imagination…frequently does mentalism effects (alternately disavowing “psychism” and posturing as being more than a mere magician), and seemingly impromptu illusions, then stands there wide-eyed and smirking (or yelling “yeah!”) as though he expects all beholders to drop to their knees...admittedly, is sexier than Blane…will exploit anyone (even his mother) and anything (like New Orleans, post Katrina) to promote himself…has taken to calling himself an “artist”. Narcissism is rampant in the performing arts, but Angel takes narcissism (and a barely suppressed messiah complex) to new heights—especially while floating in mid air in a Christ-like pose (legs crossed, arms outstretched, head tilted down to one side) or walking on water. He and his numerous “consultants” have been talking about “believers” and “skeptics” quite a bit, as of late, begging the questions: “Believers” in what? (That he has real magic powers?)…Since he is an illusionist, what’s there to “believe” in, or to be skeptical about? …actively encourages a cult of personality around himself (women actually cry in his presence; his fans are called “Loyals”; magic fascism?)…frequently responds (in his show) to “haters” (read: critics of his technology-enhanced “magic”, or his egotistical and self-aggrandizing shtick) with tricks designed to “silence” his critics…likes to switch his identities and posturing to “prove” he’s not what critics say he is (vain, egotistical, etc.)…seeks to be greater than Houdini…admittedly, has studied Houdini’s techniques quite extensively (such as his use of “advance men” to prepare locations or objects for a later public stunt), and uses them to great effect…is probably the best candidate for the Anti-Christ.

Jon Edwards… ‘Crossing Over’ (popular for a few years, back in 2000-2003)…sees / ‘talks’ / communicates with the dead….used a studio audience, “infomercial” format (which is then edited together to seem continuous, uninterrupted)…did a version of Kreskin’s (see below) old mentalism act with the “medium” spin (i.e., he’s the channel or medium of communication between the dead and the living)… in fact, Edwards must have seen Kreskin at some time—so close are their performances…with the difference being that JE sticks with one or two techniques (Kreskin did a range of mentalism feats), which he perfected by NOT being so perfect, or slick, in his cold/warm reading technique (“things are ‘fuzzy’” in the after life, etc…left some “misses”, and unclaimed “messages” in the videotaped shows)…the worst kind of charlatan: exploits peoples’ grief and desire to communicate with their dead loved ones…Exposed as a fraud by an ABC News investigation (in 2002)...claimed The Amazing Randi confirmed him as “genuine” (quoted on his old website)…Question that no one asked: Since he can talk with the dead, why doesn’t he work with the court system somehow to determine who the real murderers are?

Uri Gellar…former Israeli night club magician (in the early 1970’s)…came to America and turned spoon bender, mind-over-matter guru, and sporadic talk show favorite (was exposed as a fraud by Johnny Carson in the 1980’s, though he denied it / made excuses)…made a come back every 7 years or so…also spews psycho-babble about the “powers of the mind”…is in fact a talented hypnotist…the Amazing Randi made his reputation duplicating Uri’s feats (through “natural” means, i.e., misdirection, suggestion, gimmicked props, etc)… Question that no one asked: If you have this power, why waste it on spoons and house keys? Geller recently (in 2007) appeared as a judge with Criss Angel (!) on a new reality competition show called “Phenomenon” (featuring numerous “mentalist” performers) in what had to be the most awkward paring in all of magic-dom, as Geller has been criticized and exposed by magicians for most of his career. At the conclusion of the show, Angel stands up and challenges the last performer (who claimed spirit communication in his act, and nearly came to fisticuffs with Angel), and even Geller, to divine the contents of a sealed package he was holding. It must have been a planned stunt based upon the sheepish response of Geller…As a washed up, ex-psychic, Geller must have needed the cash.

The Amazing Kreskin….Uri’s competitor in the mentalism game back in the 1970’s and early 1980’s…and (to what would be Kreskin's great horror) the proto-type for Jon Edwards’ con…perhaps the greatest mentalist of the late 20th Century….respected by magicians as he never claimed to possess psychic powers and was a frequent guest at magic conventions and on talk shows  (like former magician Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show)….did the “cold reading” (“I’m getting an image of the letters M and S”), psychic/medium shtick WAY better than Jon Edwards…Many of his feats still perplex magicians to this day…since retired or passed on*. 

James ‘The Amazing’ Randi….late 20th Century crusader against psychic frauds…continued the tradition started by Houdini and Dunninger (a friend of Houdini and the first great Mentalist of the 20th Century)….Randi wrote the definitive book on psychic fraud (Flim Flam; mandatory reading in rational philosophy class in college)…not sure how he feels about Chris Angel’s “mind freak” posturing…He is a true, die hard, scientific skeptic…My only problem with him is his utter refusal to acknowledge any possible validity to paranormal or para-psychological phenomena, or, that the desire to believe in psychic or paranormal powers (or god, for that matter) represents a natural desire/wish fulfillment in the human psyche (and may also symbolize various, real, transcendent properties of the mind); his stance is too hard-core scientific materialist, and, if carried through to its logical end, negates the reality of mind or an effective consciousness…possibly, we haven’t talked.

David Copperfield…once the reigning, big time, magic act throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s (having thoroughly replaced the hippy-esque Doug Henning of the late 1970’s)…was first to use tricked camera views for his “live”, televised illusions (as in his “vanishing” of the Statue of Liberty), but was never-the-less the slickest (and perhaps geekiest), big-scale illusionist going, and had several high-rated TV specials….had an on-going “feud” with David Letterman (who hates most magicians) for several years…was once engaged to super model Claudia Schiffer…has since retired to an island in the Bahamas. Recently (in 2006) claimed he had discovered the fountain of youth, and was also involved (in 2007) in some allegation of wrong-doing by a woman who was invited to his island for a stay (which was deserted except for Copperfield). Charges were never filed. He is probably going insane, as we speak.

M. Ricciardi

* Kreskin is in fact still alive and well and still performing his mentalism shows at second-rate, small town venues all over the country. There will be a film out in 2009, The Great Buck Howard (starring John Malkovich and Colin Hanks), that is based upon the writer-director’s (Sean McGinley) actual experiences working for Kreskin, in the 1990’s,  as his personal assistant. 

Read MY MOVIE REVIEW at http://indieexpress.com    word count: 1518

I am, I must confess, rather critical and skeptical about those who make paranormal and psychic claims. However, I am also critical about those who are clearly illusionists, but who purposely concoct an atmosphere or impression of “psi power” or “mind over matter power”…consciously blurring the line between pure entertainment, and pop-psychical belief and uncertainty. While my displeasure at these types is not as great as the out-right frauds, I never-the-less bristle whenever I hear some magician spewing the tired “power of believing” shtick and other such psycho-babble to folks who are all too credulous or mystified by their illusions (or "extraordinary powers").
The following are some notes on the current most notables, but also included are some notables from the past (1970’s forward), which I feel are part of, or seminal to, this “tradition.”
One final note: I do recognize that there are many self-proclaimed psychics, “sensitives”, and “mediums” who are not consciously deceiving anyone; they seem to genuinely believe in what they are saying and doing. But I also believe that they are ignorant of certain unconscious processes at work in their “readings”. Regarding magicians, there is a tradition of affecting “psychic” or paranormal powers, but these performers mostly disavow having any such powers.
David Blane…street magician cum performance artist…first of the ‘new wave’ in “reality show”, cable magicians (2005-2007)….now completely eclipsed by Criss Angel…performs decent magic, sleight-of-hand, and some mentalism (i.e., pretend “psychic” powers) feats for (mostly) females…after their astounded reactions, stands there, open-mouthed, with this pathetically desperate look on his face, as if to say: “LOVE ME!”…sometimes uses plants (audience members who are actually ‘in’ on the trick)….did the “standing levitation” trick really well, but then, after priming the audience with several quick clips, inter-cut genuine reaction footage with a faked camera angle (showing him clearly off the ground, but with no upper body shot)…also pretends to be in shock or debilitated by the experience (as if it were a drain on his energy and really painful)…Currently does mostly “performance art”/endurance type stunts (ala conceptual artist Chris Burden) these days where he puts himself on public display, seeming not care that he is inspiring one moment and obnoxious the next.
Chris Angel……‘Mind Freak’….currently, the reigning magician of cable television: anarcho/death metal/gothic/circus side show shtick (with some Jim Rose-esque body torture stunts and escapes)…is a talented and innovative illusionist (or actually, “he” is the pretty-boy front for a consortium of magic “consultants” and designers), but frequently uses multiple plants (way more than Blane ever did) and controlled camera angles, and/or inserted, “live” footage (as in the hotel demolition escape)…peppers his magic show with psycho babble about the power of the mind, belief, and imagination…frequently does mentalism effects (alternately disavowing “psychism” and posturing as being more than a mere magician), and seemingly impromptu illusions, then stands there wide-eyed and smirking (or yelling “yeah!”) as though he expects all beholders to drop to their knees...admittedly, is sexier than Blane…will exploit anyone (even his mother) and anything (like New Orleans, post Katrina) to promote himself…has taken to calling himself an “artist”. Narcissism is rampant in the performing arts, but Angel takes narcissism (and a barely suppressed messiah complex) to new heights—especially while floating in mid air in a Christ-like pose (legs crossed, arms outstretched, head tilted down to one side) or walking on water. He and his numerous “consultants” have been talking about “believers” and “skeptics” quite a bit, as of late, begging the questions: “Believers” in what? (That he has real magic powers?)…Since he is an illusionist, what’s there to “believe” in, or to be skeptical about? …actively encourages a cult of personality around himself (women actually cry in his presence; his fans are called “Loyals”; magic fascism?)…frequently responds (in his show) to “haters” (read: critics of his technology-enhanced “magic”, or his egotistical and self-aggrandizing shtick) with tricks designed to “silence” his critics…likes to switch his identities and posturing to “prove” he’s not what critics say he is (vain, egotistical, etc.)…seeks to be greater than Houdini…admittedly, has studied Houdini’s techniques quite extensively (such as his use of “advance men” to prepare locations or objects for a later public stunt), and uses them to great effect…is probably the best candidate for the Anti-Christ.
Jon Edwards… ‘Crossing Over’ (popular for a few years, back in 2000-2003)…sees / ‘talks’ / communicates with the dead….used a studio audience, “infomercial” format (which is then edited together to seem continuous, uninterrupted)…did a version of Kreskin’s (see below) old mentalism act with the “medium” spin (i.e., he’s the "channel" or medium of communication between the dead and the living)… in fact, Edwards must have seen Kreskin at some time—so close are their performances…with the difference being that JE sticks with one or two techniques (Kreskin did a range of mentalism feats), which he perfected by NOT being so perfect, or slick, in his cold/warm reading technique (“things are ‘fuzzy’” in the after life, etc…left some “misses”, and unclaimed “messages” in the videotaped shows)…the worst kind of charlatan: exploits peoples’ grief and desire to communicate with their dead loved ones…Exposed as a fraud by an ABC News investigation (in 2002)...claimed The Amazing Randi confirmed him as “genuine” (quoted on his old website)…Question that no one asked: Since he can talk with the dead, why doesn’t he work with the court system somehow to determine who the real murderers are?
Uri Gellar…former Israeli night club magician (in the early 1970’s)…came to America and turned spoon bender, mind-over-matter guru, and sporadic talk show favorite (was exposed as a fraud by Johnny Carson in the 1980’s, though he denied it / made excuses)…made a come back every 7 years or so…also spews psycho-babble about the “powers of the mind”…is in fact a talented hypnotist…the Amazing Randi made his reputation duplicating Uri’s feats (through “natural” means, i.e., misdirection, suggestion, gimmicked props, etc)… Question that no one asked: If you have this power, why waste it on spoons and house keys? Geller recently (in 2007) appeared as a judge with Criss Angel (!) on a new reality competition show called “Phenomenon” (featuring numerous “mentalist” performers) in what had to be the most awkward paring in all of magic-dom, as Geller has been criticized and exposed by magicians for most of his career. At the conclusion of the show, Angel stands up and challenges the last performer (who claimed spirit communication in his act, and nearly came to fisticuffs with Angel), and even Geller, to divine the contents of a sealed package he was holding. It must have been a planned stunt based upon the sheepish response of Geller…As a washed up, ex-psychic, Geller must have needed the cash.
The Amazing Kreskin….Uri’s competitor in the mentalism game back in the 1970’s and early 1980’s…and (to what would be Kreskin's great horror) the prototype for Jon Edwards’ con…perhaps the greatest mentalist of the late 20th Century….respected by magicians as he never claimed to possess psychic powers and was a frequent guest at magic conventions and on talk shows (like former magician Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show)….did the “cold reading” (“I’m getting an image of the letters M and S”), psychic/medium shtick WAY better than Jon Edwards…Many of his feats still perplex magicians to this day…since retired or passed on*.
James ‘The Amazing’ Randi….late 20th Century crusader against psychic frauds…continued the tradition started by Houdini and Dunninger (a friend of Houdini and the first great Mentalist of the 20th Century)….Randi wrote the definitive book on psychic fraud (Flim Flam; mandatory reading in rational philosophy class in college)…not sure how he feels about Chris Angel’s “mind freak” posturing…He is a true, die hard, scientific skeptic…My only problem with him is his utter refusal to acknowledge any possible validity to paranormal or para-psychological phenomena, or, that the desire to believe in psychic or paranormal powers (or god, for that matter) represents a natural desire/wish fulfillment in the human psyche (and may also symbolize various, real, transcendent properties of the mind); his stance is too hard-core scientific materialist, and, if carried through to its logical end, negates the reality of mind or an effective consciousness…possibly, we haven’t talked.
David Copperfield…once the reigning, big time, magic act throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s (having thoroughly replaced the hippy-esque Doug Henning of the late 1970’s)…was first to use tricked camera views for his “live”, televised illusions (as in his “vanishing” of the Statue of Liberty), but was never-the-less the slickest (and perhaps geekiest), big-scale illusionist going, and had several high-rated TV specials….had an on-going “feud” with David Letterman (who hates most magicians) for several years…was once engaged to super model Claudia Schiffer…has since retired to an island in the Bahamas. Recently (in 2006) claimed he had discovered the fountain of youth, and was also involved (in 2007) in some allegation of wrong-doing by a woman who was invited to his island for a stay (which was deserted except for Copperfield). Charges were never filed. He is probably going insane, as we speak.
* Kreskin is in fact still alive and well and still performing his mentalism shows at second-rate, small town venues all over the country. There will be a film out in 2009, The Great Buck Howard (starring John Malkovich and Colin Hanks), that is based upon the writer-director’s (Sean McGinley) actual experiences working for Kreskin, in the 1990’s, as his personal assistant.
Read MY MOVIE REVIEW for 
The Great Buck Howard
http://indieexpress.com/SeattleTheGreatBuckHowardReview.htm