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TRANSCRIPT
(201 ) 431-2429
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THE
Ex-eLUSIVE
PUBUCATIONS
MYSTIC SERIES
DUNNINGERSetecte,d·Se~ted
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READING ME/.r HODS
DUNNINGER'S MYSTICSERIES'
SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE
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CLIFFSIDE PARK
NEW JERSEY
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. i."... J't""CX':r'T.. "'OR«1 UU &.U\.o ~ .. ...&.)'-i r, ro \,.",_, 160 stations every week. Certainly, within the last
years, Dunninger and what he does and how he does it hasbecome as much of a national enigma as what keeps thosenew-style strapless bathing suits up.
One fact about Dunninger, the performer, must beemphasized. Regardless of his modus operandi, he is propably the greatest showman of our time. Incredible IS hisgenius for compelling attention by the sheer force of hispersonality, without the aid of clever lines, props, dancinggirls, stooges, music, dramatic 'situations, costumes, fancysettings or any.of the other things that help actors projectthemselves to an audience. Dunninger relies on nothingbut Dunninger. His performance, considered solely as entertainment, is the most fascinating, delightful and uniqueexhibition in show business today.
At present, on the 'P:,,~1-_. <::hnw he does onlv from"ie;ht to twelve I1": •
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FOREWORD
SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
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(201) 431-2429
MNS. "A"
THE DUNNINGER MYSTIC SERIES
POST OFFICE BOX 14-4 • FREEHOLO. NEW JERSEY 07728
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Dunninger surely needs no introduction to AMBreaders. Dunninger's career as a showman spanned 70years-plus.
His press books are unique both in size and contents.His newspaper write ups are written in several languagesand have appeared in newspapers allover the world.
The Mystic Series, of which this is the first release,deal exclusively with his personal investigations intothe work of the spirit mediums.
Dunninger became so knowledgeable in this field thathe launched his own master version of mindreading techniquewhen he posed as a 'scientist' with a fabulous secretof the ability to read thoughts.
The original contents of the Dunninger MysticSeries has been preserved in its original concept as wasdictated by Dunninger .
I was asked by Mrs. Dunninger to update the mns. SoI have added my own comments under the caption of "NOTES."
These valuable manuscripts by Dunninger were releasedvery exclusively and hardly a~ertised so that today manywell read magicians have never heard of them.
Fraternally,
f. k/f/fm
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Dunninger
MNS "A"THE DUNNINGER MYSTIC SERIES-- ------
Seeeeted Sea-teet. "'»tctJdCl-Jf'e;eea.de:n~ ?~,,6t.A-:
A veritable gold mine of gaurded secrets of message mediumswill be found in this manuscript and in Uncanny Master BilletTests (Mns. "D"). _
The methods are simplified and I am sure the reader will findmany tests that will entertain and mystify.
Master them. You can do it!Thank You.
Dunninger speakingzFolks listening in during my broadcasting of dramatized
spirit seances from stationWJS in New York City (1929) havedeluged me with mail .. A greater percentage of this correspondence contained queries as to the various artifices andmodus operandi employed by later day spirit mediums and sealedletter readers.
The compilation of this manuscript is the outcome of theseimformation seeking letters. .
I appreciate the way radio enthusiasts the country overhave responded to my humble efforts. We have tried to make ourweekly "Ghost Hour" as interesting as.possible.
For the past 20 years I have been creating and collectiongmind reading material and data on mediums. I have much that isnew in the mental field.
In this manuscript of Selected Sealed Message Reading Testswill be found the modus operandi employed for many years, bymediums and entertainers. I have watched mediums work in allparts of the world. Most of them are the crudest type oftricksters.
The above is Dunninger's preface to "Dunninger's MysticSeries" which compr:ised of several manuscripts.
The data for these manuscripts was compiled in the 1920'swhich is in itself of historical value since magicians did notknow about many of these secrets till they appeared in print inThe Sphinx and The Jinx in the 1930's and later.
These manuscripts were so exclusive that many magicians today have never heard of them.
POST OFFICE BOX , ..... ·FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 0772B
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VARIOUS METHODS OF GETTING THE NECESSARYIMFORMATION THE SEALED MESSAGES CONTAIN
Unquestionably, the ability to read sealed messages is anawesome power! The sitter, sitting across a small table fromthe reader and witnessing this phenomena is overwhelmed! Intheir eyes, it is a miracle and the reader is a DemiGod!
If the sitter suspects that it is done by trickery, thenlike Dunninger saysl the clever trickery is even more marvelous.
Sealed message readers have amassed millions ,by that onetest alone. '
This manuscript exposes many of the methods used by readersand mediums. No doubt that many of these secrets are today(1983) already well known since they have appeared in printmany times. But among these you will find gems and also adviseand insights by Dunninger which are worth their weight in gold!
The following secrets were collected by Dunninger when thesecret work of the mediums was virtually unknown.
Method 11 Special pads are made up doing away with the oldmethod of waxing, in this wayl A hard piece of card board isplaced on the table. A s~eet of sensitive carbon paper isplaced carbon-side down on top of a sheet of white paper. Thepaper is next placed on the square of cardboard and this isbound around with paper tape. When this dries, paste a sheetof paper onto this arrangement.
On top of this sheet paste two or three thin sheets of whiteblank paper, putting the library paste on the upper edge ofthe sheet only. This, if properly done, looks like an ordinarywriting tablet and arouses no suspicion.
Naturally, each pad can only be used once, although somemediums use perforated paper in sections of about three inchesin width (sections running across the paper) when having morethan one sitter present at a time.
But it is advisable to use the pad prepared in this way onlyonce a
A hard pencil isuhandedthe-·sitter 'toge-th·er wit'h-'tne pad requesting that some question be addressed to someone who haspassed across the border into spiritland.
Talking awhile about the wonderful things the medium has donethe sitter is requested to tear off the page and fold it smallenough to fit into.the envelope the medium now hands the sitter.
With a convincing line of chatter the medium tells the sitterto initial the envelope and then afix gummed seals to it orseal it with sealing wax which he hands over together with asmall spirit lamp to heat the sealing wax. BUT undercover of allthis, the medium carelessly throws the pad towards a curtained
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doorway ih the rear or drops the pad nonchalantly onto the floorand kicks it towards where the assistant stands ready to get atit, tear it apart and furnish medium with contents of message!
Message is slipped to medium when he calls for his slates oran answer can be written by assistant on.a slate and placed atbottom of a pile of slates, when they are brought in and placedon the table!
The rest of the routine depends on the medium.Sitter is told to place the sealed envelope in either pucket,
pocketbook or to just hold it tightly between the fingers. Itall depends on which method the medium sees fit to use for theoccassion. (NOTE: The sitter may be told to burn the envelopeor to just burn half of it for a fire ritual and take the otherunburned half home with him. )
This method is well worth the time and trouble involved inthe preparation of the pad.
METHOD 2: THE CLIPBOARD. The well known clipboard is very valuable for securing a copy of what has been written. It is advisableto purchase one or .more of these boards from some reputable magical dealer as the home made article never looks like the realone. This piece of aparatus has a sheet of. carbon paper undera false bottom grained in appropriate style. With a few ofthese near at hand, if the medium has any knowledge of showmanship, he can accomplish seeming miracles. Crystal gazers alsouse these boards among their other methods .
(NOTE: Dunninger is here referring to the old style Rileyclip boards that had a back door that opened out to reveal theimpression of the message. These boards have the ability ofdelivering the message to the medium instantly and without theneed of an assistant. The Riley clipboard was very thin and theback doOr flap was held in place by a lock-pin. Robert Nelsonof Columbus Ohio, sold "The MasterQs Miracle Reading" clipbaordthat had two lock pins. Owen's Magic also put out a clipboardwith a swinging back that locked in place. This was called,"A Miracle in Modern Seership." Most of these boards are todayhard to find and are collector's items. AM)
NOTE :--Inspite of the -fact that the- Mindreader' s Clipboard hasbeen exposed in many books, magazines, newspapers and in theatreplays and movies, the professional clipboard remains today asthe best method for obtaining information for the pseudo-minding act. What can be more convenient than handing the patron aportable solid board with paper attached and pencil handy?
The Nelson ~nterprises put out t-he "Ultra Perfect Clip Board"which is the best. (P.O. Box 27327, Columbus Ohio, 43227)
SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE ~EADING TESTS
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IMPRESSION METHODS cont.
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DUNNINGER 'SMYSTIC SERIES "A"
'.6
SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
THE PHOTON SHIELDCLIPBOA'RO
DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIEScont.
What happens is when the slates are lifted over the head ofthe sitter for him to hold, the concealed confederate or assistant, hands the duplicate pair of slates to the sitter and takesthe pair with message between them and while sitter is holding
IMPRESSION METHODS
1lIJte:'1he. ~48u(&u~ (/(tjl l1f:)~!td:As these manuscripts are being rewritten, word filtered.
through from the spirit world, that a certain powerful medlumin a Southern state had been arrested and his clipboard takenas evidence. In court, the prosecuting attorney failed to showthat the clip board was tricked, as it was only a piece of seethrough plastic!?? So the case was thrown out of court! Now a~
YO.u would imagine the cha~ that sells these boards to the me~lumsupped the price on it to $3500! The 35 has two ~eroes after It!and as you may imagine the clipboard h~s bec?me quite. famous.The secret of this fabulous clipboard lS burled deep In the AM!archives. But unfortunately Mentalists would scream if theypaid more than $50 for it. Mediums, however are a breed apartand pay dearly for their secrets! And keep them secre~l
For centuries, Mediums have been usingsee-through glass and window pane for theirwriting rituals in the seance room.
With the advent of plastics, the see- 1through clip board has become quite popular. Whether you use wax or white carbonor the recent AM! release, the PhotonShield, the see-through properties of theboard is perfect misdirection.
METHOD ]; Misdirection with slates;Another method a Boston medium employs,is to have the sitter write and sealthe message in either the envelope theybring alone with them or in one of theenvelopes handed out by the psychic.Small cards and not paper is handed thesitter to write his message on.
This envelope is not initialed but placed flat between twoslates which are tied with topstring.
Sitte~is sitting back-to a curtained doorway, behind whichawaits the medium's confederate, with a duplicate set of slatestied in the same way.
Sitter is instructed to place his or her hands high above thehead, remaining seated. "I want you to take these slates, between which rests the message you have written, and hold themtightly between your hands. If conditions are good, we will havean answer to your question. But you must remain quite still soI can communicate with the proper forces, --" etc., etc.
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SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
onto the slates, which he believes are the same ones, as thethought of switchlng slates never enters his mind, the mediumgoes through the regulation "bunkum" talking all the while.
Assistant rubs a sponge with alcohol over the face of theenvelope which renders it transparent and allows him to readwhat has been written on the card, which has not been folded,inside it.
Envelope dries while the confederate writes a suitable answerto the"question on one of the slates. The sitter has never seenthe medium's handwriting so doesn't know the difference afterwards.
Now comes another switch. Assistant signals medium everythingis ready and the medium makes some sort of remark about thesitter growing tired of holding the slates, takes the slatesfrom the assistant, who has tied them up again with the envelope between them, and the assistant takes the duplicate slatesfrom the sitters upraised hands!
This move when properly carried out is very deceptive andfools the sitter completely.
Medium doesnVt open the slates at once but places them on thecenter of the table, where they are seated, and after a bit moreof patter, reaches over to .untie them when he thinks the betterof it and hands them to the sitter and asks that they be untied.
This is done and another miracle has been accomplished!The sitter becomes a walking advertisement for the medium as
he or she will tell friends how he or she tied and untied theslates, etc.
NOTE: ~o cover the smell of alcohol, incense is burnt allduring the sitting.
METHOD 4: In which the medium does not require the assistanceof a confederate. Concealed in a waterproof container in his pock
et, the medium has a small sponge saturated with alcohol.Sitter writes message on card and seals it in envelope. This
envelope is switched for a dummy one while the medium gesticulates with his hand holding the envelope. One way to distractthe sitter's attention is to ask to have two slates wiped clean.
Medium secretly sponges the envelope and glimpses the"contents. While the medium is writing an answer on a slate he tellsthe sitter to burn the (dummy) envelope. Or the envelopes areagain switched and the real one is given to the sitter to hold,after the alcohol evaporates.
Some mediums develope the technique of writing the messageon a slate secretly, under the table, or writing it openly andthen pretending to erase it. The message would then appear tomaterialize magically as if by spirit agency.
TRANSPARENCY METHOD cont. . DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIES
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SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
Jndianapolfs, Ind.
JAMES S. HARTO
PERFECT PERFECTION PERFECTED
THE CHANDRA 20TH CENTURYMESSAGE READING
DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIES
To Introduce them we are going to make the extremely lowprice for the complete outtlt with aU necessary Instructions readyto give Immediate performance. Speetal LoW' Price, $7.tSO. Address
707 South Capitol Ave.
For thlrty·fi\"9 years I have expended many thouaands ot dor ..lar. and study on mental etfecu. message reading and kindredphenum~na. I have In my possession every mlnd ..readlng act,ev~ry mental e rrect that has ever been oUered or ever been pre..aerrred, each costing me from S1.00 up to $200.00 each. My la.stetrort w,," THE CHANDRA ~(lND·READ(NG SYSTE}{, Whichmany are pr~s~ntlnl' today OVer the HBtg Time." Arter year. otstudy a.nd expeorimentlng I am oltering "The Chandra 20th Cen ..tury ~Iesuge Reading," which I teel I can eay It I. positivelythe last word in ~fe.llaal'. Reading. The llmlt naa been reached.Brletly. the ettect la as tallow.: Envelopes and cards are passedaround by the ushers or performer to aa ma.ny spectators thatdt'aire to ha.ve their queations anawered; each apeetator writeshi. Queatlon on the card and seale It In envelope: & number Ison each envelope to Identity the writer, THESE SEALED QUESTIONS NEVER LEAVE POSSESSION OF THE WRITERS ANDARE SEEN BY NO OTHER PERSON. Pertormer tram the stagereads "ach question with absolute correctnesa and furnishes auj table rl!ply While the performer I. slUln&, or sta.ndlng In tull viewwhen giving the sealed queattona and anawerln. lame. Detectionla absolutely and positively impossible, yet all Questions are readIn (jet,,11 by t he performer. NOTE! READ THIS! This I. l!!Itrlctlya ONE MAN PROPOSITION. No assistant. no contederate•. noplant3, no one ahead. Any ordinary envelope can De used; noenvelope or questton has to be added, stolen or read and returned.No .substltutlon, no alcohol, no chemicals, no Impressions ot' anykind. no code. signa or sienals: member. ot the audience a.re allowed to write their own Questlon•. seal them In envelopee andpla.ce In their own pocket.. yet they are read In detatl by pertormer on stal'e. 'wutte the fundamental principle te a email£NVISIBLE mechanical contrivance tha.t can never be seen whitepert'orming, It enabtea YDU to gh'e a pertormance wlthln one hourattE"r r ecelvj ng this outfit. The Invisible a.pparatus took twoyears to per-teet In evpry way. We claim It to be superior a.ndot better conaeructton. better material and tlner finish than anything of strnua r etteet that Ca.D be had. Inetructlona, dtr ec tto na,suglifPstlons, are given with our outt'lts. not to be had with a nysimilar eUect, leavlnc nothln. to be wanted.
cont.TRANSPARENCY METHOD
NOTEs In November of 1930, through the Sphinx,magician/mentalist James S.Harto (Chandra), released his"20th Century Message Reading!"
His ad did not read anymore impossible than othersimilar ads for other mindreading methods, yet it wasdefinitely different. It introduced two most ingeniousgimmicks.
With the method, the buyerrecieved 1. a writing pad.
This writing pad measured5! by 9 inches and was oneinch thick. The inside of thepad contained a well with 3battery cells and one MazdaGlobe bulb. The well was covered by a sheet of paper cemented over it and then 7more sheets of paper wereattached over all.
The light was very strongso that it penetrated the 7or 8 sheets of white paperand also any sealed envelopeto be placed over it!
The pad looked most ordinary and would arouse no suspicion.
Gimmick No.2, was aningenious method by whichyou could instantly tellthe question in a person's mind.
This gimmick was a sheet 8! by 14, that contained 99 numberedquestions. These questions, according to Chandra, were culledfrom thousands of questions during his tour as a mindreader overa long period, and were supposed to cover all posibilities.
Upon entering the theatre or the parlor, the spectator isgiven one of these sheets and told to please read it over andchoose his question and to remember it only by its number, likequestion No. 43 which stands for, "Will I have any more children?"
The above may sound cumbersome to the reader but bear in mindthat out of hundreds of theatre attendees, only about 12 to 20need be approached.
After the spectator chose his question secretly by number, heor she was given a white card and envelope and told to just writedown the number of the question on the card and seal it in the
9SELECTED S~ALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
A fine point to add here -ts- -to have the person write down alsoof whom the question is about. For example: Question No. 48 reads,"Will __ get out of trouble?" The spectator should writel"48-- father" which means, "Will father get out of trouble?
The list of 99 questions is attached for the benefit of thereader who may want to use the system. If the reader ownsNelson's "Mindreader's Billet Reader" gimmick, he can use thatin place of the pad of paper .
ENVELOPE AND TO KEEP IT IN HIS POCKET AND TAKE IT HOME, etc.However, the mindreader says, "I am going to give you a
number. Your number'is 1. When I call this number from the stageplease acknowledge it so that I can answer your question."
So saying themindreader takes the person's sealed envelopeand places it over the pad·to write the No. 1 on the envelope,and at the same time, the mindreader sees the question numberdue to' the transparency caused by the secret light in the pad.So the mindreader makes a note in .his pad, after returning thesealed envelope to the person. The note would be, 1-4], meaningthat the first spectator had chosen question no. 4]!
This maneuver was repeated with as many spectators as hadbeen given a sheet. _ .
During the act, the mindreader could add fake .questions tothe real questions and put on a fabulous show. He would simplyasked, "Will person no. 1 stand up, please." When the personstood up, the mindreader looks at his pad and sees no. 4] nextto number one so he gives the answer to question no. 4].
Amazingly enough, Chandra recommended the performer to committhe 99 questions to memory through mnemonics. So that he couldanswer the questions instantly.
And since the art of mnemonics is a miracle in itself, otherpersons in the audience could be given sheets and just aSIDed tocallout the number for their chosen questions and the MindMarvel would answer them instantly.
The good point about the Chandra system is that all you haveto do is figure out what one or two digits the spectator wrotedown instead of trying to understand his bad handwriting.
This test done in the parlor of the psychic is even moremiraculous, since you appear to be actually reading minds!
Another good point was that the sitter is allowed to keepthe question sheet with her and take it home. On her next visitshe may say, "I have another question by the number!" Once 'thepsychic knows the number, which he can get by any method, he cananswer the question.
Just imagine what you can do if you have developed the art ofpencil reading. All you have to do is to read two digits!
DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIEScont.TRANSPARENCY METHOD
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Compiled, originated, an~
present~d by Chandra.
Questions by the number
5"7. 'lIlhere Vtill_find (ArtiCbJ58. What (W&o) kll1~ ?S9 •';Jh~t I & my fUtUl'S__---.--:....-?60. (~er\" thiS cue io give:,:. It··
mtans that the party &sklngquestion is not ~lncere.
61.~atls my occupation?63.lB or an I mediamiStic?63.Wlrr-caS9 be post~oned?84.Will__~in65.Will ~PDear in court as
witne.es~66.Who forged slgnature?57.Did l~ve a will?68.Wl11---Eet in&ura~ce?69.S~11 keep insurance?70. When will-': estate be
set-tIed?71.Will---1eceiv8 share of
estate?7a.Will~oin ar~y or navy:73.Will be pardoned?74.What will verdict be175. Ia---&Uilty?76. Is 11ving?77. Is well?78.Who will live the longest
or •1~.Will=~~~h~ave good health
in future?BO.Where wll1 m3ke home?si.Shall__buy propert)·?82,When will leav.e the city?53.Will be succes~ful tc go
- to _84.Will_---5et former position
back?85. Shall_-.Jiccept offer?S6.W111~4lary be increased?87.Wi11 lase position?88.Will---be successful (thiS)
--- (nQxt)ye~r?
89.Is true to me?eo. Will lese position191.Does love or care for
- another?9Z.Will aeparate?93.Which one loves IlQ best?9 4. Ca.~ I trust95 • I sit true"""wh:-a-t---"i-S sai d
about96.1s marri~d? -----97. Wha.t 'Moll baby bu?98.Who atole199.Is----property of any
va.lue?
l.Will get well?a.Will rQcever?~.IS i~lsable to h~ve operation?4. 'Mlara is5. How long~w~l~ll~- live?6.Shall Sall property?7.~all bUy proyerty?8.Wl11 9ver oYn property?s.jsn __11'aka a. deal (or sale)?
10.I1Yes ll
11. "l~ol1
l2.Wl1l move?13.How long wl11 11vu where at.14.Will travel?}.5. \1111-;"0 to_---:_le.~sre ~111 G~eud v~c~tior.?17.Wher. will get position?La. Will be ~uoces8ful?
19.Is it advisable for to makeSo change? --
20.Will be promoted?al.~ll-----pa~s examination?22.~11-----patent or lnvetion be
a success?23.Will__be able to p~y debts?24.Wl1l ever ba rich?2S.Will------get (or keep) ~ppolntment?26.wtll----eet money b~ck loaned?27.Wh~t will stock sell ~t date?28.Will----Eet ~vtdents from invest-
ment or stock?29.Vill buslness improve?30. Does love or care for me?31.Will makQ up?33.~11 conQ back?33.~11 .eQQ~gain?
34.Will livc with always?'S.Will stop drinin~ (gambling)36.Wl11~ot letter from ___37.Who wrot~ anonymo~s lette~.38.~ve any anemies.39.Will wish coue true?$-O.When .:- \1:111 roq.rry?41.Wil1 marry again?;1,2. Will__marry the one t;oing with?43.Wi11 have any more children?44. I s-----pr egna nt ?45. fJill be happy? ..46. WCo-wiTl get "cust ody of child?47.Will future b~ better than past?48.Wi11---zet cut of troublg?49. Who will ~in50. Will it rain'~(~da-t~e-)~?~51.Wh~t will the weather be52.Who will De Qlected ----53.0utcome of fi~nt betwGGn ___54. Will we get Wlne ~nd beer?55.Who Will wi~ basket ball-
foot b3.11-basket ball?
5~.~O~ ~~y Jtt~_~~)~i~l~~t~ ._
The following ta"ole ';7111 designa.te "who" the indiVidual is thatthe question i~ asked &bcut.1. Husband. 7. Father.3. vss«. 8. Son3. Sweetheart. 9. Daugkter.4. Brother. D. }'riend.5. SistQr. 11. Relative6. ·,Mother. 12. Niece or nephew.
SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
TRANSPARENCY METHODS •• CHANDRA 20TH CENTURY MESSAGE READING
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SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING· TESTS
DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIES
"~e *Peet.~t Swiicu:METHOD 5: Sitter is .requested to write a question and fold itup small. An envelope (letter envelope) is handed the victimand the request is made .to place the question in it. BUT--
There is a quick move made here which is simplicity itselfbut convincing. Just as the sitter takes hold of the envelope,the medium pulls it back out of reach, in an unconcerned manner,and holds the envelope open for the folded message to be droppedinto it. .
The sitter believes the medium is helping"him out so he thinksno more about it but drops in the message (actually the mediumusually takes the folded slip and places it into the envelope,AM). Medium carries the envelope to his lips to seal it but withan upward movement of the arm carries the envelope out of eyelinewith.sitter and in this moment he fingerpalms the genuinefolded question. Beforehand a folded duplicate piece of paperis placed in the envelope and that is why the medium takes itaway from.the sitter and helps .him out.as well, as it would beimpossible for the medium to get at the question if the sittertook it in his own hands. _.
Envelope is handed back to sitter who upon feeling the duplicate folded slip inside thinks that it is his question.
Immediately a small piece of candleor.a spirit lamp is litand the sitter is requested to burn the message.
As the innocent envelope and the feke question burns, themedium sits with one hand over his eyes in deep thought - - or so thinks the sitter, but what really .is .happening is thatthe medium is rapidly opening the message he .has fingerpalmedfrom the envelopep under the very nose of the sitter and islooking downward reading the question on his lap!
.Message is now pocketed and the answer given either verbally,seen in a crystal ball or written on a slate or ~ad.
NOTE: The above effect is profound. A detailed modernizedversion of the above can be found in the AME release, "-NoMan Within-" called gAt the Gates of Buddha.'
Here is a pellet switch that was done by the mediums manyyears ago and that is still practical today and definitelysound.
A coin envelope is used. The envelope contains a tiny dummypellet inside. The sitter is given a small piece of grough'paper size 2i by 3 inches to write his question on. He is thentold to .fold the paper exactly in half, three times so thatsitter ends up with a tiny pellet size 3/4 by. 1i inch.
Psychic then takes the tiny pellet and openly places it into
S~LECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS12
the coin envelope as shown .in Fig..2. Part of the pelletsticks out. This is nat seen by the sitter. But thesitter can plainly see that the psychic's hands areempty. Now.as the psychic starts to seal the envelope,he wets the glue portion of the flap with his tongueand then picks .up the pellet at the same instant .•with.his tongue, and draws it into .his mouth. Thewhole action is covered by the envelope .
The envelope is then sealed and given to thpsitter to burn, etc." Fig. 2
The move is very deceptive and is not suspect •Psychic then turns his back and walks to other side of the
room, picks up a slate and reads the sitter's mind. The pelletis removed from the mouth as soon as the psychic.turns his back .
Rouch paper works better than the smooth white scratch padpaper.
'7l1Le '1?t.ed,amA ~itte~ ~wlteh:METHOD 61 Somp- mediums claim they are pencil readers. By thatis meant that they can watch the top of the sitter's pencilas he writes and they can get the gist of the message. Bethat as it may, it requires long training to do this and Ihave yet to see a medium that can.
In UNCANNY MASTER BILLET TESTS, a number of methods aregiven that can be adopted to sealed message reading.
A popular method which requires some practice to executeproperly is that in which the message is written and foldedbut is not placed into an envelope.
Seer takes the message and holds it between his thumband forefinger talking about the wond~rs of the psychic worldand how it is possible to get into communication with thosewho have departed, etc.
Under cover of this talk, medium gets from: his pocket aduplicate folded paper and fingerpalms it in his right hand.Left hand holds the original paper. Naturally he has instructed the sitter to fold the message in the same way the onereclining in his pocket is prepared.
Gesturing a bit with his hand as he speaks, the mediumaccidentally (?) drops the folded message onto the table or tothe floor, immediately regaining possession of it. But that fraction of a second between the dropping and the picking up is allhe needs. Left hand meets right hand and the switch is made!
The folded paper he now holds in his left hand is the fekeone; genuine one is is right hand.
Still continuing with his monologue on things psychic, he
DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIEScont .THE LICK SWITCH
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METHOD 7: .Sitter is .
DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIEScont.
secretly opens the real paper and reads the message and.memorizes its contents. It is then quickly refolded with the righthand and, growing dramatic in his speech the medium rizes andcalls for the sitter's hankerchie£. Hankerchief is received inright hand (which also contains .the real folded message) and asthe medium throws the hankerchief over his left hand he quicklyadjusts it and under cover of this brazen move takes the fekemessage and substitutes the genuine one. This is rolled in thehankerchief and .if it is a male sitter, medium tucks it intohis breast pocket and if a female he trusts it into her hand,sharply crying, "Hold it tightly. Concentrate on it! .I know youare thinking of etc., etc." And then comes the answeringof the question.---- . .
Medium thrusts hand .into pocket and continues to nervouslypace the floor as ..he .reels off the hokum the sitter is payingfor. Of course the feke folded message is left in pocket.
After answering one, two or three questions ~. whichevernumber the sitter has been allowed to ask .. the medium instructsthe sitter to take the advice he has ~iven and that although hecharges nothing for his psychic demonstration, his time is worthso many dollars!
Victim pays him for his time and leaves promising to eithercome again for more advice or bring MrsL So and So for ~ .reading.
.Some sitters are so enthralled by the eloquence of the mediumwhen the medium can talk without a dialect or with "dems, deseand doses," that he or she forgets all about .the folded messagestill reclining in its resting place amid the folds of thehankerchief. .
Picture the amazement! if it is a male client, .when he takesout his hankerchief and finds his original message .written inhis own handwriting! Miracles! And.if he is of the talky typeso often.met with among the gullible, he will be a walking advertisement for the medium.
SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
Sim~.e.itJi;{;-lf '~..6et,#handed a card and informed that he will.be permitted to writetwo questions pertaining to business, personal matters or affa~rsof heart. . -. -- - - .-
Questions are written and medium, while writing is going on,lights a small alcohol lamp which stands on the table togetherwith a number of small coin envelopes about 4 inches long by) inches wide .. into which the small cards just fit.
Questions are written on the card and numbered."Are you finished with your writing?" politely asks the me
dium, "If so, kindly place it in my hand, writing side downward.". This is done and the obliging medium picks up one of the en
velopes from the pile and slides the card into it. and 'sealingit, to aid the sitter.
Immediately, with not a waste of a, fraction of a second, the
THE MEDIUM'S SWITCH
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medium holds the envelope over the flame of the lamp and burnsthe envelope and card, dropping the still burning paper into atray before the eyes of the sitter.
No manipulation or switching•. To the sitter, it looks likea fair and .aboveboard proceedure .
A few seconds of deep thought and concentration on the partof the med~um ... and then comes the answer to the two questions!
"1ZtJce: ""JU€ "'2/J'(.nde;w e#Z~~eO~e: The above articledealing with the 'window envelope.' may be the first writingsever done for magicians concerning..i t ~
Dunninger collected all his notes for tiThe Mystic Series" inthe early 1920'S when he was investigating mediums. By August of192] he was ready to openly challenge the mediums through theScience and Invention magazine after being appointed togetherwith Joseph Rinn as a·committee to-test-alJ: applicants for proofof psychic phenomena.
Annemann, in The Jinx No.9, states that his first noteson the window envelope were jotted down on Jan. 12th, 1924.
The window-envelope first appeared in nrint in a magic bookin 1934 in.SuperPsychic Mental Effects by Howard AlbrigDt.
Dunninger gives credit for its invention to the mediums.Today we no longer need a lot of nerve to put it off with a
windowenvelope~ All we need is knowledge .of the technique.Annemann gave us the .'.flapless-window·-envelope-switch' which
makes the working quite easy. Couple that with The CirceanVessels from The Tp.sseract and you have a miracle!
TEARING ASIDE THE VEIL: .No .trickery posible, thinks the sitter, but the medium knows better and he also knows that unlimitednerve puts across this test with .colors flying and spirit handsplaying. The front of the envelope is neatly cut awayto within a quarter af an inch on all.four sides. (NOT~: Thisenvelope has since become known as the WINDOW ENVELOPE, AM)
. This envelope is turned face downward when the card is inserted by the medium, of course .... writing side downward. til .shall place the card into this envelope with the writing sidedown so it will be impossible, if I should stoop to that sortof..thing, to even glimpse what; you have written p " prevaricatesthe psychic master .
The envelope is held over the flame of the lighted spiritlamp and by the time it starts to ignite, the contents of thecard are memorized by the medium .
Answers to the two questions .are now given. Care must betaken that the space between the sitter and the medium at thetable is wide enough to avoid flashing the face of the envelopeto the sitter. The window must be facing the medium.
.Although this is .a nervy method, it is simple and an excellentone, and does away entirely with outside assistance.
SELECTED -SEALED, MESSAGE READING TESTS 14
DUNNINGER'SMYSTIC SERIEScont.SIMPLICITY ITSELF
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S~LECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING ~ESTS DUNNINGER'S MYSTIC SERIES
n~ro THE AIRMETHOD 81 ... . .
Although not an effect to be used by mediums, entertainerswho embody billet reading into their routines can use this stunt.
The folded message or billet is taken into the .performer'sleft hand and haLd high in the air. Unknown to thewriter, thereal billet has been switch for a pi~ce of flash paper, obtain-able at any magical dealer's shop. .
This flashpaper billet is held between.the fingers of the.left hand, while the usual talkee-talk goes on and while thereal billet is opened with the right hand, read and refolded.
Real billet is then placed in pocket and a match is takenfrom the same pocket. The lit match is touched to the flashpaper billet held in the left hand and the billet shoots up intothe air in a flashy display! .
Then.the question can be answered in any manner suitable tothe entertainer. . ..
A medium would not use a method.of this sort as it is toosensational, even for a moment.METHOD 91
."tze 1?-taf!1e -med~·a/.;ft ~ rlz~ ;z.~:~e ~-(;Ct:Lt2~:Several friends called at my apartment onp. night and unfolded
a weird talp. about the wonders performp.d by a black medium inthe village. I took a taxi and shot right over to sp.e this ebonyhup.d spirit mp.ssagp. rp.ader.
Thp. mp.thod shp. employed was as barefaced as could bp. but anumbp.r of her sittp.rs wp.rp. impressed.
Hp.re's what they thought she didl About 20 fp.et from thp. sittp.rs and bp.hind the medium, stood a small table upon which stooda fairly good size brass bowl in which burned some sort of chemical.
Small cards and envelopes wp.re placed on this table by a smallboy.
Cards were passed out, one to each of us, by the medium whoexplained that she was the best known of the Wp.st Indian mediums.
She had a qup.er kind of routine. She chatterp.d continuosly andkept the sitters interested and distracted. Aftp.r the questionswere written shp. had one pp.rson slide the card into an envelope
._~hat she held. And turning hp.r back to us, as she sealed the envelopp., she walkp.d to the table and drop the envelope into thebowl of fire wherp. it was consumed completely. She would thenanswer the qup.stion, taking a few seconds to give the answer asnear as she could, then while finishing the answer to one, wouldhold out another p.nvelope for another among the sitters to slidea card into. Thp.n back to the tablp. and into thp. bowl of firewp.nt the sealp.d envp.lope.T~ METHOD: The envelopes shp. held firmly, were slitted from
p.nd to end along the bottom. The frequent and mp.thodical trips toto thp. bowl of fire p.nabled her to slip out the card and memorizethp. contents and then replace the card and burn thp. p.nvelope!
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16'SELBOTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS
METHOD 10: Ever hp.ar of a mp.dium who could not speak?Most of them I came in contact with could do little else
that was of interest .. and even their blah blah was monotonous .
But in a small western town where men are men and women oughtto know better, there lives a deaf-and-dumb spirit medium whospecializes in what his advertising matter calls "Automatic SlateWriting With Divining Sense" !! .
Out of curiosity and being in the immediate vicinity, I tooka trip to sit at one of this mute's seances.
He was born a mute but was a man of good education whichcould easily be seen by his handwriting on the large blackboardhe wrote his instructions for his sitters and the writing he didon his slates ... but I am ahead of' my story .
~ntering the room, the first thing that caught my p.ye was alarge blackboard built into the wall like the school boards weused to write on during golden school days .
The medium entered and bowing gracefully walked to the blackboard and wrote, "Kindly write your questions, seal them and Iwill collect and place them into the large glass bowl that standsnear my chair. Thank You."
As the sitters wrote I looked them over. What a strange gathering. Not of the type usually seen in seance parlors ... hail,hearty simple folk who I really believe came there to help thismute medium exist ... although a look around the room and wallsbrought to light neat substantial furniture and several well selected oil paintings, etc.
The medium passed around with a basket into which were dropped the sealed messages.
Walking to the largp glass bowl, standing on a pedestal, heemptied the contents of the basket into the glass receptacle andtossed the basket to a charming young lady who made her entranceunobserved through a door on on~ side of the room.
Stepping to the blackboard, the medium erased the writing andwrote: IKindly sing a hymn. I
Several of the elderly ladies present started singing inc~acked sOQrano voices~. others joined in and this was kept upfor some moments while the medium stood at the side of the blackboard, eraser in hand, deep in thought.
. Again the erasing of the words and the medium wrote: 'Noneare so blind as those who will not see!'
These words went the way of all chalk writing .. and also thewords, 'I am unable to speak. So I will communicate to you folksthe answArs I obtain from the shadow world by aid of automaticslate writing. I
The young lady now brought out a small table upon which werepiled a number of slates. The dainty miss took her place besidethe medium who seated himself next to the table piled high withslates.
( FINIS ) --
Taking one of the slates, he wrote the initilas, "A. S."The young lady spoke, "As professor So and So writes the ini
tials on the slate, whoever has those initials' will kindly raisehis of her hand." .
UF shot the hand of one of the ladies present. .Some byplay of concentration, writing and erasing of the
chalk on the slate and slate was handed to young lady who heldit up and then placed it on the ledge of the blackboard for allto see and where it remained in full view.
A like routine was repeated until each sitter had a message.Here was a novel way of presenting message reading or mind
reading by which the deaf-mute made a living.
THE MODUS OPERANDI is simple. The basket was a changing pieceof apparatus and when the messages that were carried off by theyoung lady were opened, the gist of the question with the initialswere noted in slate pencil, one message in each slate.
The pretended automatic writing was a ruse to erase the penciling on each slate. The writing was done with a sharpened bitof chalk .. and a most unique presentation was added to theestablished list of ·S~LECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS. "
NOTE. A good question is, "Which of these Selected SealedMessage reading Methods do you recommend?"
£ach method has its merits and the correct one to use dependson the personality of the Mentalist and the circumstances sur-rounding the place of presentation. .
For the close up need like table. work, The Window EnvelopeMethod is hard to beat, since the performer gets. the contentsquickly and directly.
For Stage work, the clipboard method is the best, sincethe perfromer can get to the questions before the show and prepareSensational Answers. .
For the drawing room or platform and dining room show g whenthe performer can not get the questions ahead of time, the performer must get a method that he cando 'cold,'thatis as soonas he comes in. If you have an assistant, your work is then aneasy matter but assuming that you work alone, you must use a method by which you can get the questions directly and easily.
The Chandra 20th Century Message Reading would work well.Any transparency method is good, since it delivers the cont
ents of the message directly. You may have a light hidden in apaper pad like in the Chandra Method, or in a book or stack ofenvelopes.
SELECTED SEALED MESSAGE READING TESTS 17
DUNNINGER'SMYSTIC SERIES.. cont.DUMB? YES AND NO!
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