Sunday, October 31, 2010

THE DYNAMIC POWER OF AUTOSUGGESTION AND HYPNOSIS


THE DYNAMIC POWER OF AUTOSUGGESTION AND HYPNOSIS
(an excerpt)
By Jimmy Grippo
edited by
Geno Munari


PREFACE

Jimmy Grippo has been one of the most dynamic hypnotists for
more than 60 years. One might say that Jimmy Grippo was a pioneer
in his field, and a user of his own medicine. Today at 88 years
of age, one must take notice of his agility and youthful
appearance, only possible through his belief and strict use of
self-hypnosis.
Jimmy Grippo is a legend around the world, having established
himself as both a qualified hypnotist, and also as a close-up
magician-entertainer, performing the last 20 years exclusively at
Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kings, Queens, Presidents
and other heads of state have beckoned Jimmy Grippo to command
performances. Celebrities from the film and sports world seek
Jimmy out whenever they are in Las Vegas, to be entertained in a
manner that only Jimmy can offer.
Jimmy Grippo, before your very eyes, deliberately and slowly,
can make real magic seem to happen! His cold black eyes, seem to
lend a feeling of the supernatural. You sense that the man is
uncanny, magical, and what is the most important trait of Jimmy,
is his charm. A charm that comes along only once in a lifetime.
Hypnosis was a very mysterious subject in Jimmy's early years.
Perhaps that is the reason that he felt drawn to learn the art
very adeptly from Dr. Manero, a peasant that lived in the
mountains of a small Italian town. Manero's style was unique,
different, charming and effective. Jimmy feels that Manero
demonstrated hypnosis on a scale that was unequaled anywhere in
the world. Jimmy is grateful to Dr. Manero's teachings. Perhaps
Jimmy has learned the secret to the fountain of youth from Dr.
Manero? Manero lived to be 118 years of age, and only died after
an accident while traveling on a donkey.
Jimmy Grippo has used hypnosis both as an entertaining art and
as a healing art. He once performed the first hypnotic child
birth technique in New York. He also has helped many famous
athletes who wanted to improve in their particular sport. One
young man, Emillo Bettina, went on to become a championship boxer,
with Grippo using his special hypnotic talents, giving the young
fighter courage, confidence and concentration. Jimmy Conners, the
famous tennis superstar, has been hypnotized on many occasions by
Jimmy Grippo, as has Muhammad Ali, Shirley McLaine and many
others.
During the Second World War, Jimmy was hired by the United
States Army and the Navy to hypnotize those who knew classified
secrets, so that if they were captured by the enemy, and even
under torture, no information could be extracted from them.
Jimmy also utilized his talents in the Special Services of the
U.S. branch of the Army during WWII, hypnotizing the American
casualties suffering from wounds as they lay on battlefields in
Italy and France. Jimmy prevented many of the men from dying.
I guess more could be said about the mysterious Jimmy Grippo,
but that would take another 200 pages. So as I write this
preface, I realize how lucky I have been to have been a personal
friend, confidant, pal and consultant to Jimmy Grippo. I thank you
Jimmy.
You the reader, study these lessons, not only the practical
applications, but the future abstract uses that are possible
through the use of hypnosis and autosuggestion. What you possess
here in this mansucript is marvel, that could change the course of
your life!

Geno Munari



INTRODUCTION

Having been devoted to the study of hypnotism for approximately
forty years, and having practiced it for the correction of bad
habits, inferiority complexes, fears, and inhibitions, as well as
for talent development, personality building, etc., for about
thirty years, I first became interested in the subject of
autosuggestion some thirty years ago. The innumerable
opportunities which this new subject offered for the application
of modern experimental procedures proved a temptation too great to
be resisted. From this interest developed a program of intensive
research which has yielded the following report. My views,
investigations and experiences are set down here. But the
findings of other researchers and experts have also been utilized
in the preparation of this course wherever possible. My chief
object has been to make these findings available to the general
public.
Health depends materially upon the character of one's mental
states - the mind exerts a tremendous influence over the physical
states. The influence of Fear, Worry, Anger and Gloomy mental
states are actually depressing in their effect upon the functions
of the bodily organs - Hope, Faith, and Courage and Cheerfulness,
exert a positive, invigorating effect upon the physical functions.
This being the case, does it not follow that a habit of proper
autosuggestion, once acquired and practiced, the person must of
necessity resist disease, and develop a normal, healthy condition
of physical life? Proper autosuggestion comes as near to being a
universal remedy for disease, as anything ever known to man. That
is, autosuggestion accompanied by the proper ideals and mental
pictures and the manifestations in action, as described in this
course.

YOU CAN DO IT!

Every man and woman can develop the power of determining,
controlling his or her thoughts, the power of determining what
types of thoughts he or she shall and what types he or she shall
not entertain. Our dominating thoughts determine our dominating
actions. The acts repeated, crystallize themselves into the
habit. The aggregate of habits is our character. By the thoughts
we think we create an atmosphere around us, by which other people
are influenced.
Alas, most people have not their thoughts under control. They
lack mental discipline and concentration. In order to
concentrate, we must be masters of our brain and not allow the
brain to master us. The brain must be disciplined, and must learn
the habit of obedience.
As a matter of fact, the science of autosuggestion is simply the
science of reeducation - a process designed to break up old
unhealthy complexes which disrupt the forces of the individual,
and to build up healthy complexes which adjust him to the social
world and enable him to use his energy in useful ways.
Reeducation through this method is simply a matter of learning
the truth and acting upon it. It is a process of scientific
enlightenment.
It is by mental discipline that we prevent those diseases for
which hypnotism and suggestion are the best cures. The mental
condition of Hysteria, the Morbid Doubts and Fears of
Neurasthenia, Abnormal Impulses, Perverted Habits, and all the
other troubles for which hypnotism may be applied with success,
are largely due to the same lack of control over the powers which
constitute mind and personality.
Autosuggestion is a process of habitually repeating a selected
idea long enough for it to pass into the unconscious mind and
become a permanent source of impelling power. It depends upon
three very important degrees of mental processes:

1 - ATTENTION
2 - INTEREST
3 - CONCENTRATION

Believe in yourself and compel others to believe in you, for
control of others demands firm control of yourself.
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LESSON I

SUGGESTION AND AUTOSUGGESTION

"Applied psychology is the hope
of the world." H.G. WELLS

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY

This is a marvelous age in which we live. One wonder follows
another in such rapid succession that the observer of twentieth
century phenomena is appalled and bewildered at the seeming
miracles that pass like a panorama before one's vision. A few
years back the inventor of a flying machine was considered a
visionary whose dreams of aerial navigation would never come true.
Yet, today aerial navigation is a fact and the practical airship
is a living, pulsating reality.
In the realm of science the most astounding discoveries have
been made. Every branch and department of science have
marvelously shared in twentieth century development, but, perhaps,
no individual department has made such gigantic strides as that
branch of science known as psychology, which has to do with the
workings of the human mind - its attributes and its laws.
Psychology explains today with equal ease and facility the mind
workings of the criminal and the mental processes of the genius.
It takes that most fascinating of arts, that most mysterious of
forces - autosuggestion - and reduces it to facts and figures;
coldly and practically explains it, and rescues it from the
mysticism that for years has enshrouded it.

SUGGESTION

"The first of two great problems that confront us is that of our
powers; the second, that of our means of unlocking them or getting
at them. Suggestion, especially under hypnosis, is now
universally recognized as a means, exceptionally successful in
certain persons, of concentrating consciousness, and in others in
influencing their bodies' states. It throws into gear the
energies of imagination, of will, and of mental influence over
physiological processes that usually lie dormant. It is, in
short, dynamogenic, and the cheapest terms in which to deal with
our amateur. Yogi's experience is to call it - autosuggestive."

-- The late Professor William James of
Harvard University --

The mind is controlled absolutely by suggestion. If we told you
everything that you might accomplish through a mystery of
autosuggestion and the resulting power of Personal Magnetism, our
statements would overtax your credulity; you would not believe
them to be true. But not many years ago you might have felt the
same way if told you could communicate with a person across the
ocean without a wire; yet, today, the world transacts its business
by wireless telegraphy.
Another autosuggestion is one of the branches of suggestion, no
man knows its limitations. The value of autosuggestion extends
far beyond its immediate practice. It leads you into the realm of
Personal Magnetism, a field that is limitless as space itself.
We have devoted a great deal of time to the study and reflection
of autosuggestion, as discussed in this course. The will and
mental faculties can be developed and strengthened to an
extraordinary degree by scientific use of autosuggestion. The
world has not begun to understand this wonderful force as yet.
You will be surprised to what a high plane you can develop
yourself, physically, morally, and intellectually by the aid of
autosuggestion.
By the practice of autosuggestion, Mr. Grippo has kept himself
in good physical health and mentally alert, and we know that if
you will put into operation the directions as explained and made
clear in this course, you will be absolutely convinced and you
will become physically and mentally alert and efficient.

LAY ASIDE ALL PREJUDICE

"Neither despise nor oppose what
thou dost not understand."
William Penn

Give this course a fair trial and, above all, lay aside all
prejudice or preconceived opinion. If you will do these you will
be surprised at your success. We have purposely avoided all
technical terms and superfluous words. To persons who wish to get
volumes of paper, this course will be a disappointment, but will
be appreciated by students desiring for themselves an active mind
and body.
Remember, we are not dealing in theories relative to scientific
suggestion. We present proven facts, not theories. By
autosuggestion, Mr. Grippo developed himself as a public lecturer
and by means of this wonderful science met with instantaneous and
gratifying success. He was surprised that he could hold the
attention of such large audiences.
Do not imagine that you can train and discipline your will
simply from reading this course; you must apply its principles and
that, too, for a reasonable time. The patience and perseverance
of the student are the factors necessary for its full
development.
The better your physical condition, the more concentration you
have developed and the greater mastery you have over yourself,
everything else being equal - the greater will be your personal
influence. It is for this reason we dwell so much on the use of
autosuggestion in developing yourself. In Book Two, exercises for
physical development are given.
When you have fully mastered yourself, then you are in a
position to influence others. You will have confidence,
willpower, concentration and ability. The more fully you master
yourself, the more Personal Magnetism you will possess.
Remember, it is the details that count; perform the exercises
faithfully, be they ever so simple. Practice assiduously to
develop your voice, your gaze and your general movements. Above
all, never lose confidence. Do not expect to learn everything at
once: Study the instructions in the order in which they are given
and master each instructor lesson thoroughly.

"My mind to me an empire is."
Robert Southwell

If you will do as we direct, you will not fail to have an all
around development. The formulas and instructions given have been
tested in scores of cases and are absolutely accurate and
reliable. You will succeed if you will follow directions
carefully throughout the course.
You can depend implicitly on every statement made. Should you
have some failures, it is because you have not followed directions
carefully. Read the instructions over again. Study the little
things. Speak with respect and dignity at all times, of the
science of Mental and Physical Efficiency. If you treat this
study as a joke, you will only waste your time. If you are
faithful to your study, you will command respect for yourself and
your science.
Do not be discouraged by failures, as they are often the most
valuable experiences. Make up your mind that you are going to
succeed; determine to succeed and you will. You will be amazed at
the latent talent and ability that may be in you which only needs
to be brought to the surface to assert itself.
The secrets of success in everything are confidence,
determination, and perseverance.
"Autosuggestion is a simple means whereby simple men become
better, wiser, happier, more godlike. Given a few thousand
people, equipped, earnest persons, consecrated to the work of
disseminating this creed of self-help among the people of the
earth, and given willingness on the part of humanity to be
uplifted and purified through this instrumentality, and the
regeneration of the world becomes an easy problem."
Dr. John D. Quackenbos --

"AUTOSUGGESTION"

"Autosuggestion is a reformative, a strengthening, an exalting
instrumentality of rare power; and every man is called upon to
make of himself, through its mysterious efficacy, an intelligent,
unselfish, dauntless contributor to a realization, in the century
before us, of that civic harmony and that social peace which are a
true foretaste of heaven."
Dr. John D. Quackenbos

Your mind is a magnet and attracts that which is desired. Our
subjective mind is influenced from any source, it is even
influenced by our environment. A desire is a suggestion to the
subjective or subconscious mind and an earnest desire is a
magnetic power which, when supplemented by anticipation or faith
and strengthened by repeated effort, will invariably draw to you
the thing desired. Your every victory, every obstacle that is
overcome, every new good trait you develop in your character will
give you more confidence in the power of autosuggestion and will
make it easier for you to increase your willpower and
self-confidence.
Self-confidence is nine tenths of the battle of success. When
you say: "I don't think I can do it," it is an even bet you will
not be successful. Remember Emerson's words, "Nerve yourself with
incessant affirmation." One good, positive thought will
neutralize a score of negative thoughts. Try it. Say, "I feel
fine, I am advancing, I am much happier."
If you mislay anything in your home and you wish to use it, you
at once concentrate all your mental faculties and make a
systematic search for the missing article. In time, the chances
are that you will find it. Concentration of mind brought to your
notice that for which you were looking. Is it not natural to
assume that if you continually keep thinking that you will be a
failure, picturing your misery in your mind, that when the day of
trial comes, you will stand but little chance of success?

RIGHT THOUGHTS IMPORTANT

"The mind has the same command
over the body as the master
over the slave." Aristotle

Your physical body is affected by your mental state. Never go
to sleep at night with angry thoughts, a discouraged or despondent
mind. If necessary, force yourself to think pleasant and hopeful
thoughts. Your mind must be in a passive state if you wish to be
susceptible to your own suggestions.
Another thing, individuality can be developed by proper
autosuggestion. The state of mental abstraction called reverie,
immediately preceding natural sleep, has been found exceedingly
appropriate for treatment of this kind. But, don't forget that
right thinking is not attained in a day. You must train your mind
as you train the muscles, and in time it will become strongly
developed. Do not worry. It is always darkest before dawn. the
dawn may be near for you. This course will help you to bring it
nearer.
You do not realize the wonderful dormant willpower, and latent
energy that exist within you. Yet, we have all seen it come to
the surface and assert themselves when abnormal conditions
presented themselves.
For instance, when a man's life is in danger, what a tremendous
willpower and strength he instantly calls to his aid. Let a
woman's child be in danger and at once you will witness a
wonderful manifestation of courage and willpower, and she is
magnificent in her strength. The same woman would run and scream
from a tiny mouse. A boy hates to run an errand, saying it is too
far to walk, etc., yet the same boy will romp and run on a
baseball field and use up ten times the energy necessary to
perform the errand. The influence is, if you want to do a thing,
you can do it. Will yourself strongly to do it, and you will
perform it. Don't laugh - try it.

THE LAW OF ADVERTISING

Suggestion gains force by repetition. This law is the secret of
advertising. At first the advertisement is an indirect
suggestion. After repeated insertions or displays it becomes
direct suggestion. Picture in your mind's eye yourself as you
will yourself to be. This is an anticipation. Keep repeating the
picture in your mind and the law will assert itself and you will
ultimately develop into that state. This is very important.

"The master key to self-development is autosuggestion."
The Author ---

The man who formulated the master key which unlocks all the
mysteries of mental therapeutics is Thomas Jay Hudson, PhD, LLD,
and author of, "The Law of Psychic Phenomena." He lays down the
following hypothesis:

1. Man is endowed with a dual mind - objective and subjective.
2. The subjective mind controls the functions, sensations and
conditions of the body.
3. The subjective mind is constantly amenable to control by the
power of suggestion.

Suggestions are divided into two classes, namely:

1. Suggestions by a second person, as by a hypnotist.
2. Autosuggestions.

Autosuggestion may be defined as the control which the objective
mind of a person exercises over his own subjective mind.
In later lessons the division and make up of the brain are
described and you will understand just how and why your objective
mind is able to control your subjective mind.
It is a very important fact to remember that the use of
suggestion of hypnotism has a much wider application than the
ordinary person thinks possible. To develop latent powers or
overcome bad habits, it is not necessary that hypnotic sleep
should be produced. A great many people labor under the delusion
that to be benefited they go into a deep trance and pass through
the different stages of hypnosis. This is not at all necessary.
In order to produce the best results by suggestion, autosuggestion
takes the place of hypnotism and in a passive subjective
condition, with the mind in harmony with the object - produces the
same result, but it will be a slower educational process.
"Autosuggestion," says Dr. James L. Cocke, "Can be used to train
the attention of persons habitually inattentive." The world is
full of people who lack self-control, who are nervous and would do
anything to become normal.
If you should be prone to a bad habit, and you have failed to
overcome it, you can be completely cured if your attention be
fixed long enough to acquire a new habit. The scientific method
of forming a new habit is by autosuggestion.
Give it a trial and watch the result. It is a peculiar law of
nature that if we make up our minds to recall an idea which we had
in mind before sleeping, we can do so. This is not hypnotism. To
develop your latent powers, your faculties and overcome bad
habits, it is not necessary that you should be hypnotized.

A SIMPLE EXERCISE

The following method of procedure, if persevered in, will
develop any faculty or cure any bad habit, and is sure to bring
results:
After you retire to bed, and you strongly desire to do a
particular thing or be in a certain state of mind, will or resolve
to accomplish your purpose, then let yourself fall into an
ordinary sleep, just as usual. In the morning you may have
forgotten all about it, but later you will feel the impulse and
carry out your resolutions.
In the beginning of this work don't be too anxious and be sure
not to make your suggestions too forcibly. This is especially
efficacious for those suffering from mental worry.
Dr. Tuckey, the leading English suggestionist, gives the
following excellent advice, "Resolve before going to sleep that if
there be anything whatever for you to do which requires will or
resolution, be it to undertake orchard work, to fast or make a
speech, to say 'no' to anything; in short, to make any kind of
effort that you will do it."

CAUTION AND PATIENCE MUST BE THE WATCH WORD
FOR THE AUTOSUGGESTIONIST

"Efficiency isn't a birthright, but an
attainment."
Herbert Kaufman -

Do not expect to become a mental marvel from your first
exertions. You must not anticipate immediate results. However,
as soon as you realize that you are acquiring control of your
will, then the time is opportune to make greater efforts.
You must have willpower to work and keep up the work.
autosuggestion, again, is the mainstay to develop this willpower.
Perseverance, then, means success.
Remember, this may be the first time you discovered that you
have a subjective mind and you will have to train it before you
get maximum results. The first time you begin this work, select
an object, say a rose, now calmly and determinedly direct the mind
on it, then suggest that you will recall it at a certain hour next
day, say eleven o'clock, repeat it then to yourself, fifteen times
or twenty times before falling asleep, "Tomorrow at eleven o'clock
I will think of the rose." Now drop off into an ordinary sleep.
If you think of the rose next day at eleven o'clock, repeat it the
next night and add something else to it, such as a deep, red
color. Mere repetition without thought is time lost, yet violent
effort is not advisable.
While willing what you want you should think, but think with a
belief that the idea is to return to you. This is important.
Autosuggestion is more beneficial if induced just before
ordinary sleep. It is also well if you strive to cultivate the
habit of lingering or waking in the morning in that hazy condition
of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, for this is a golden time to
give yourself good suggestions. Try it and be convinced.
Robert Louis Stevenson, by autosuggestion before sleep,
concocted material, through dreams, for most of his famous
stories.

WHAT AUTOSUGGESTION WILL DO

"Every mental impression strives for expression, every
mental picture strives for realization."
Dr. Charles F. Winbigler

Your thought habits determine what you are. If your thought
habit is based on faith, you are very fortunate; if your thought
habit is based on fear, you may be sure you are weak, helpless and
easily conquered.
The greatest enemy of mankind is worry and fear. These twins
destroy our willpower, paralyze our thinking, undermine our nerve
power and, if allowed to continue, will wreck our lives.
Remember, worry is not a real thing, it is a figment of the
imagination which looks real to us if we are afraid.
Unfortunately, worry is the scourge of the age.
Worry cannot attack courageous people. Its victims are the
weaklings. Worry and fear can be conquered by the substitution of
confidence and courage. Remember, you can only think of one thing
at a time.
This fact is very important.
You must learn to rely upon yourself. Do not expect or request
your friends to help you. This weakens your whole make-up. The
real power is within you and you must make the fight alone.
Success does not come at once. You must overcome your defects
one by one. Dispose of one thing at a time and then tackle the
next.
Let this fact stand out. You are alive today. The troubles and
difficulties you expected to lick you in the past did not do so.
The trouble you now have may seem greater but keep going, don't
quit and, again, you will win. You are never licked until you
lick yourself.
Your mind is the master. It controls your functions, your
organs and your general health. You are what you think you are.
Autosuggestion may be defined as the control which the objective
mind of a person exercises over his own subjective mind. It is
talking to one's self with a definite idea to attain.
The more vivid and definite the autosuggestions are the quicker
they will bear fruit. The greater the visualization of what you
wish to accomplish and the determination to realize the thing you
desire the more quickly and permanent will be the results.
The visualization of the pictures you produce in your mind can
make or break you. The thoughts and pictures you hold in your
mind will determine your health, success or failure.
To get the maximum results from autosuggestion, it is absolutely
necessary that you completely relax, then you give your entire
attention and there should be repetition of the formula. The will
and graphic power of visualization must work together otherwise
the imagination will overpower the will. At first you will not
get very much results. But, once you learn the knack of giving
yourself correct suggestions, you will be delighted at the change
for the better.
See to it that the picture power of your mind does not
contradict your willpower. For, if this should happen, you will
get no results. For instance, if you say to yourself that you can
do a certain thing and you hold the picture or visualize in your
mind that you cannot do it, you will not.
Take a man who would like to be rich but thinks he will always
be poor. By thinking in this manner he will hardly ever make the
grade. You can't go up and down in an elevator at the same time.
Neither can one become well-off if he constantly thinks he'll
remain poor.
Let me quote this wonder truth from Dr. Winbigler, "The attitude
of mind more than what we do determines our success or failure in
life."
AUTOSUGGESTIONS FOR INSOMNIA: These suggestions should be given
during the daytime not at night when you retire. The best time
would be between one and four o'clock in the afternoon. Recline
or sit in a comfortable chair and in a whispering tone repeat five
times: "I will have a good sleep tonight." In a louder tone
repeat five times: "I shall have a restful and sound sleep." Now
imagine you see yourself sleeping soundly that evening. Think of
the restful feeling of sound sleep. See yourself awakening in the
morning refreshed after a full night's sleep. It would be helpful
here if you go through the action of yawning a couple of times.
Finish by repeating to yourself seven times: "Tonight I will
sleep very soundly."
If you wish to develop and bring out your highest powers
spiritually, mentally and physically, devote reasonable time each
day to the application of autosuggestion and by meditating on
uplifting ideas, unselfish thoughts, you will find in a short time
that a change will come over your entire personality. Your mental
outlook will be brighter, new cells will develop in your body and
you will be renewed in every sense of the word.
The following set of autosuggestions are very good to use after
you recline on a bed or lounge or sit comfortably in a chair and
after completing realizing, repeat the following: (memorize them)
"My circulation is normal throughout my whole body. My blood is
nourishing every organ, cell and tissue. My mind is using my
brain correctly and my brain is in good feeling for all. My life
will be filled with happiness and I will get the very best out of
life. I shall be master of myself. Nothing can stop me from a
realization of complete mastery. I shall be successful in my
undertakings. All my power and wisdom will come to the surface.
My mind will think success and it will be realized. I positively
will conquer worry. By no means can it master me. Fear and worry
will leave my make-up. I am confident, calm and determined. I
will be very courageous. I shall have health, strength and
success. I shall be master of myself and successful in every
respect."
Conditions of mind such as the following may be brought on with
very beneficial results if the will is concentrated on them just
before dropping off into a normal sleep:

Calmness of spirit and peace of mind.
The power to resist all annoyances.
A feeling of contentment, cheerfulness and happiness.
A feeling of determination to do and to dare.
The cultivation of quickness of perception.
The cultivation of body stamina.
The cultivation of greater observation and insight.
The development of character.
The development of certain talents.
The development of certain tastes.
The overcoming of weakness and faults.
The overcoming of faulty habits, liquor, tobacco, etc.
The overcoming of the habit of gossiping.
To express gratitude for any favor or service.
To express sympathy to those in distress.
To praise the good works of others.
To refrain from mentioning your personal troubles and cares.
The development of the truthfulness in word and action.
The development of the best that is in you.
To grasp the best opportunities when presented.

Marvelous self-development will result from this simple exercise
in autosuggestion if you will exercise judgment and patience.
Remember when you retire to bed, to concentrate your will on
whatever you desire. You suggest that the next day your wish
shall be fulfilled; that the next day you will be stronger, better
and nearer your ideal than you were the day before. You must not
wish for more than one thing at a time, at least until you get
used to the work, but as you keep up the suggestions, you will be
struck with your success. Keep on willing and resolving before
going to sleep at night. Don't get discouraged at your first
seeming failures, but keep up the suggestions and you will
succeed.

ANTICIPATION

"We make way for the man who boldly pushed past us."
Bovee

Anticipation and induced will increase the benefits of
autosuggestion. In fact, this knack of anticipation will be found
to greatly aid all the useful arts.
Our greatest enemy is fear. The majority of our fears have been
conditioned in us by our family grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts,
uncles, etc. Use your will against these fears and with the aid
of anticipation, live a secure and peaceful life.
As used here, anticipation means a powerful impulse of the will
into the work at hand. It is an order, as it were, to the
subjective mind to obey and carry out the suggestions. With
practice, you will find it a wonderful help on all occasions and
emergencies.
Your power to master yourself and all things in life will be
greatly increased when you grow familiar and really understand
anticipation. Therefore, it means a kind of seeing yourself in
the desired goal, or foretelling of what will surely come to
pass.
Do not, under any conditions, allow yourself to be in a hurry
and, likewise, do not force yourself. When you find that you are
improving the will, then you will go further with the development.
By this method your latent talents will come to the surface and
your mentality will become alert.
You have no conception of the wonderful power of thought and
determination. A great many people have been deprived of a good
career for want of a very little knowledge.

RATING AND MENTAL EFFORT

Do not practice autosuggestion shortly after eating, and to get
its best results, you must lead a temperate life. Dreams, a great
many of which are caused by eating too heavily before retiring,
will interfere with peaceful mental action during your hours of
sleep. You must get your body into good shape before you can
expect to get the maximum results from autosuggestion. For,
remember, good thinking and bad digestion cannot go together. All
physiologists agree on this,some going so far as to say that we
should not read while eating. This is obvious and self-evident to
anybody who will give the matter the least attention. Later
lessons tell you how to build up your physical self.
These exercises may appear very simple, but they are very
important to the man or woman who desires development along any
lines. Give them a fair trial and be convinced.
Also treat yourself while awake. Look at a bright light or spot
at the same time giving yourself other suggestions. It is not
advisable to put yourself asleep by this method. Consult an
expert hypnotist if you desire to be hypnotized.
Your will and memory can be strengthened wonderfully by gazing
at a bright light steadily and giving yourself suggestions that
your willpower will be stronger and your memory better. Try this
method and the result will mystify you. You must always keep your
kidneys and bowels in a normal, healthy condition in order to
cultivate your mind. this is very important.
Always give yourself suggestions of success, happiness and
health. Great disease producers are mental worry and strain and
lack of exercise.

DR. QUACKENBOS SAYS

Dr. John Duncan Quackenbos, one of the greatest, if not the
greatest, hypnosuggestionists in the United States, writes of
autosuggestion in his inimitable style:
"Endless lines of self-improvement open to the
self-suggestionist who would ennoble and beautify his life. There
are habits to disroot, expensive, unnecessary, soul destroying
habits. There are evil passions to break down. There are tongues
to make clean and to tie. There are thoughts to make chaste, and
lives to make white. There is a clinch of crime to break. The
voice of remorse to instill. After the uplift that such self
treatment implies, the self-inspired man may go forth to his tasks
without room in his consciousness for any impulse that smirches or
a thought form that beckons to compromising action.
Have any lost their reckoning and are drifting aimlessly on
life's unquiet sea? Has the chill of disappointment blighted your
interest in wholesome activities, or the darkness of despair
wrapped you in moral melancholia? Do you lack the resignation
that knows how to give up, but never to give in? You have your
remedy. The opportunity is at hand, the obligation to embrace
that opportunity is inseparable from it. You dare not admit
disqualification, self-created or abjectly imposed, in the face of
opportunity to be better, or to be wiser, to be happier, to be
more godlike. Through autosuggestion, a simple means for simple
men, each one of us may realize his own oversoul and its
relationship to Deity and destiny."

Jimmy Grippo's Philosphy and Tips and Tricks


SOME PHILOSPHY AND TIPS

NEW CARDS - Jimmy always liked to use new cards. He felt that they were better to handle than cards that were all soiled. They were slicker and much more presentable. Tricks were actually easier to do with them.

HAND LOTION: For dry hands Jimmy would use "Cornhuskers" lotion. He would always carry a bottle around in his car. A little dab of this lotion and your hands are in perfect shape for card and coin handling.
"Chamberlins" is another good hand ointment that will give you that feather touch. Jimmy didn't use this as much as
"Cornhuskers".

PALMING: Jimmy would drop his hand to his side for a few moments to allow the blood to flow fully in each finger. He felt that the hand and finger would be easier to use.

VARIATION: Jimmy would do many tricks by using different methods.
Just when someone was getting an idea of the effect, Jimmy would
repeat it using an entirely different method. His theory was to
vary the presentation and the method, completely throwing everyone
off the correct method.

CARD ESCAPES FROM CASE UNDER THE TABLE

Effect: Jimmy would have someone shuffle a deck of cards and
then select a card. He would put the cards into the case and put
them under the table and have spectator hold them in their hand.
Jimmy would put his hands on the box and pull the selected card
from the box. The spectator could then look through the cards to
see that there were not any duplicate cards.

Method: Jimmy would force the selected card by means of either
the table force, the spread force or a peak force. Just prior to
performing the effect he would place a duplicate deck of cards in
his lap that would have the value of the selected card on top of
the deck, with the outside flap tucked into the case, just under
the proposed card. Jimmy would simply switch the decks in
the act of positioning the deck under the table as he handed it to
a spectator. He then would ask the spectator to concentrate on
his card. Jimmy then would reach over the spectator's hands and
pull out the duplicate of the selected card from under the flap.


CARD FROM MOUTH

Effect: This was a marvelous effec that Jimmy saved for special
audiences. He did this great effect on the Merv Griffin Show. He
would have the spectator select and write his name on the face of
a card. He would have the spectaor shuffle the deck. Jimmy would
place the deck inside of his mouth for a second. He would remove
the deck and suddenly on the tip of his lips and tongue would be
the selected card, folded into eight sections.

Method: Jimmy would have a card selected and signed on the face
by a spectator. Depending on the conditions, would determine how
Jimmy would steal the card from the deck. After bringing the card
to the top of the deck, Jimmy would sometimes have the spectator
shuffle and cut the cards three times. As he handed the deck to
the spectator, he would palm off the top card via the one hand top
palm.
In the pretense of watching the spectator shuffle cards, he
would fold the selected card in half, in half again and then in
half the other way. He would or adjust his chair and put the card
into a left finger palm position. He would then ask the spectator
for the cards. He would the put the deck into the left hand on
top the finger palmed card. He would hold the deck with e face on
the left thumb, folded card under the thumb.
Jimmy would then talk of how he will find the card in a
different manner. "Not with my hands, but with my teeth and mouth
and I will fold the card eight times." Even though it was really
on folded three times to yield eight sections.
He would then open his mouth to nonchalantly have you inspect
it. The immdediately place the deck and selected card into his
mouth. The deck would be face down, and the selected card on his
tongue. He would leave the selected card in his mouth and bring
the rest of the deck to the lips and riffle the cards on them.
Jimmy would then immediately remove the deck, pause about two
seconds and then project the folded card on his lips. He would
set the deck down and then unfold the selected card.
Jimmy would then say that the card would not be wet because his
saliva would dry immediately.
Since the deck now had a destroyed card gave Jimmy an excuse to
bring another deck from his pocket. This deck could be a set up
deck and he would go into a mind reading routine.


SET UP DECK ROUTINE

Effect: Jimmy would shuffle the deck a few times and then have
someone cut the deck on the table, complete the cut and have
someone select a card. He would then reveal the card by having
the spectator look at the side of Jimmy's face.
He would sometimes have a person take four, five and even more
cards, mix them and hand each one to other spaectators. Jimmy
would then reveal them one at a time.

Method: The set-up deck is the method. Jimmy liked the
following eight-kings arrangement. I showed Jimmy my Jack-ass
arrangement, which he did like and I used since I was 12 years
old. I learned my arrangement from John Mullholland's Book of
Magic. Either set up will work fine.

eight king three ten two seven nine five queen four ace six jack
or
Eight kings threatened to save ninety-five ladies for one sick
knave.

The order of suits is as follows: hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades.

The other set up which I preferred is:

jack ace eight five three king ten two six seven four nine queen
or
jackass ate live tree, king intend to fix seven for benign queen.

After the spectator would take a card he would cut the deck
above the selected card,and bring that portion to the bottom. He
would then glimpse the bottom card, which would prompt the chosen
card.
The glimpse was generally taken when Jimmy would hold the deck
by his left hand, perpendicular to the floor. In the act of
gesturing to look at his face, he would see the bottom card.
When a spectator would take a clump of cards, he had to make
sure that the cards were all in sequence together. The
misdirection of having the spectator shuffle the cards destroyed
the arrangement. After revealing the first card, he would simply
reveal each other card by knowing the value of the previous one
revealed.

Notes: This effect is great especially after you have been
working at a table for a while and you get up to leave. It is a
simple matter of switching decks by putting the deck into your
jacket side pocket, and then saying, "I have just one more think
to show you." At this point you bring out the set up deck. Jimmy
could tell which pack was the set up deck by feel. He would
remove all plastic wrapping and always have the top card tucked
over the card case flap.


CARD CAPTURED BETWEEN TO FACE UP ACES OR KINGS

Effect: Spectator selects card and Jimmy removes either two
aces or two kings. Spectator returns the card into the deck and
then Jimmy hands the spectator the aces, in this example. He asks
to have them returned face up in different positions in the pack
which is face down on the table. After squaring the pack, Jimmy
spreads it once again face down to show that the two cards are
together with one card face down sandwiched between them. It is
the selected card.

Method: The selected card is brought to the fifth position,face
down from the top of the deck, after the card is returned and
controlled to the top. You can overhand shuffle, or riffle
shuffle to accomplish this.
The spectator is now asked to place the cards face up together
in the deck, without any cards in between them. The cards are
spread from the left hand to the right, but the fifth card is
brought farther to the right and held under the cards being
spread, so that all of the reat of them are added to the first
four. Upon finding the first face up card it is pushed out a
little to reveal it. The deck is seperated at this point and the
second adjacent face up card is revealed. The right fingers
simply push the slected card under the first face up card, and the
right hand portion of the deck is added above the left hand
portion. The deck is squared and then spread on the table to show
that the two face up cards have captured the selected card.
Second part: The spectator is handed the two cards
and asked to put them face up into different parts of the deck.
The cards are gathered and squared and then spread from the left
hand to the right to show that the aces are in different portions
of the pack.

As the cards are moved with the left thumb, the fifth card
(the selected card) is pushed under the first four cards and
pulled farther under the right hand packet with the right middle
finger. The left hand maintains a steady stream of pushing the
cards into the right hand, above the selected card. Upon reaching
the first face up card, the card is pushed under the selected card
and the spread continues. Upon reaching the second face up card,
the deck is seperated and the card is pushed out somewhat to show
it. The balance of the deck is now placed under the cards in the
right hand. The two face up cards now have the selected card
sandwiched between them.

The Grippo Legacy


THE GRIPPO LEGACY
5-29-89

Preface

If it were not for Jimmy Grippo, I would probably have not have been so deeply involved in magic today. I might still be a Sunday afternoon parlor magician, which is not bad, but not as much fun an rewarding as enjoying magic each day. Even though I began
learning magical effects when I was only 8 years old, I probably would still be doing the same tricks that everyone else performed. Nothing great, but adequate.
My father and mother, Geno and Rose Munari, encouraged me. My mother was associated with Louie St. Pierre, the second owner of Hollywood Magic Company. Mr. St. Pierre told my mother that I
could have anything that I saw in an old Douglasland Magic catalog
for one-half the price. He was a nice man. I took advantage of
his generosity.

I frequented Hollywood Magic Company every weekend. Some
weekends I would go to Bruce's Haunted House in Glendale. I would
make it an all day excursion on the bus. Hollywood was especially
neat because their were plenty of odd characters to look at while
riding through Hollywood. And the magic shop was full of tricks!
I never wanted to leave. My mom would give me a few dollars and I
was in seventh heaven. I would stay as long as management would
permit.

Frank Ross was ever so kind to me and always said, "Buy books,
they are better than tricks." That was hard for me to understand,
but I did take his advice. I learned many tricks, but still like
most young boys, I wanted big props.

I'll never forget when I was 12 years old and broke my leg at
the local park on the monkey bars. I was laid up for the whole
summer of 1958. My father was so good to me, knowing that was
laid up for the summer with a broken leg. He went to Hollywood
Magic and bought me a neat coin through glass that Thayer built.
He also bought me Scarne's Book of 200 Magic Tricks. Scarne's
tricks were and are still great. Little did I know then that I
would meet Jimmy Grippo, one of Scarne's best friends. In
Scarne's book on card magic, I probably read over the trick that
Jimmy Grippo submitted many times.

I moved to Las Vegas in 1964 and met Gary Meador, a.k.a. Darwin,
who was a bellman at the Sahara Hotel. My cousin, Frank Schivo,
was one of the owners of the Sahara, coming to Las Vegas from
Butte, Montana with Milton Prell in the late 40's. He arranged
a job for me. I went to U.N.L.V. by day and bused dishes by
night.

In about 1970, I met Jimmy Grippo. Jimmy would come to the
Dunes Hotel and perform tricks on the baccarat table
when nobody was playing. Jimmy knew all of the owners from either
New York or Miami. Jimmy's influence on me changed my entire
thinking about magic. I had never ever seen anybody perform like
Jimmy! He knocked my socks off. He still knocks my socks off.
I would go to Caesars and have dinner in the Bacchanal Room just
to see his magic. And then meet him on Wednesday night at the
magic club that would meet at Pat's Chineese Kitchen, the
Colonial House, or some other late night hangout that Gary Meador
would find.

Jimmy and I hit it off very well. He used to come out to my
casino and do tricks for my dealers. I couldn't wait for him to
show up.

In 1981, Jimmy and I published "The Magic of Jimmy Grippo". In
this book I edited a manuscript that Jimmy had put together more
than forty years before. The tricks and the style that Jimmy
performed in was radically different than the style that I knew,
and most of the vip guests of Caesars Palace knew. Jimmy did not
want to add any of his "Caesars" material for fear that everyone
would be doing it. I took a great financial risk publishing this
book, because I was of the understanding that it would include
some of the "Caesars" material.

The description of Jimmy's performance has been captured in rare
appearance on the Johnny Carson Show and Merv Griffin. Those
fortunate to view these performances will realize the value of the
magic of Jimmy Grippo. His approach, his way in handling
big-shots, his manners were all examples for me to learn from. He
helped me in my presentation of magic. There has been no better
presentation of close-up magic anywhere. I thank you Jimmy.
I probably have been the biggest collector of Grippobilia than
anyone on earth. If I did not write this book, all of my
observations, notes, antedotes, fun, and descriptions of Jimmy's
magic would be lost forever. Hence my motive in writing the
book.

Jimmy did not originate all of the magical effects he performed,
but he did them in a special manner. The stories and effects that
I have described are from my observations and notes, and strictly
from my point of view, with the hope that the legacy of Jimmy
Grippo has not diminished with the immortality that we all face.

Jimmy, wherever you are, please forgive me for wanting your
legacy to continue.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

The Jimmy Grippo Story

(Click on the image to listen and watch the interview and slide show of Jimmy Grippo)

This is verbatim from Jimmy Grippo's notes about a book he wanted to write.

THE JIMMY GRIPPO STORY

The following are some notes from my future book. It will no doubt be very interesting and a best seller:

First of all, I am a magician and hypnotist. During my lifetime, I have come in contact with high society, average people, mobsters, the New York crowd etc. You might say I have seen it all.

Presently I perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It gives me a chance to meet some of the most interesting people in the world. Here are just a few brief notes.......

1. Some Japanese businessmen were so amazed with my performance,
they requested an x-ray of my person to prove that I don't use
mechanical equipment. I obliged, and nothing was found.

2. While entertaining at President Roosevelt's home in Hyde Park,
I suggested that he use "fireside chats". There wasn't television
at the time, and he wanted a way to reach the public more often.
Looking at the fireside at his home, I suggested fireside chats.
He was so impressed, he adopted the slogan in all his national
radio broadcasts.

3. I hypnotised Walter Winchell every Sunday night for his famous
broadcasts, "Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at see". His
stomach would swell up from nerves and hypnosis kept him calm and
reassured. Winchell would meet me every night at midnight to make
the rounds at all the New York late night hangouts to gather
information for his daily newspaper column.

4. The police threatened to arrest me for obstructing traffic on
Broadway in New York.

5. Penny, a beautiful Latin Quarter showgirl, and the handcuff
incident.

6. The story of "Fat Tony Balone".

7. My friendship with boxing promoter Jim Norris and his daughter.

8. My competition with "Evil Eye" Finkel.

9. Tony Galanto at Joe Williams home, the editor of the World
Telegram.

10. Fidel Castro and me, a very interesting account of my
performance, and he calling me, "Diablo".

11. Mobster Petie Redshirt.

12. Jack Soloman from London, he was a famous boxing promoter.

13. Dr. Kramer turned out to be one of the most famous docters in
South Africa through hypnosis.

14. Tom McGinty and his famous casino the Mounds Club, outside of
Cleveland. His casino was a beautiful as any Las Vegas casino. All
gaming stopped, while McGinty made me perform for his sharp
dealers and bosses.

15. The night McGinty's casino was robbed by 11 men with machine
guns, robbing the casino and the patrons.

16. Ray Arcel and "Battling" Norfolk.

17. Jacob Rupert, the beer baron and the half dollar trick that
earned me $100,000, to teach his sales force.

18. Cleo Shans and Freddy Summers.

19. Nino Valdez and Bobby Gleason.

20. Mobster Willie Moretti, the real "Godfather", a great story.

21. Swifty Morgan and some great inside stories.

22. Frank Costello's party and in a secluded road house guarded by
machine guns. Numerous bigwigs and movie stars were present.

23. Jimmy Hoffa and the hotel he was going to build for me in Las
Vegas. The last four hours before he vanished.

24. Joe Adonis, the mobster, a long story.

25. Lindy's restaurant and all the characters that hung out
there.

26. My experience with Onassis, and his million dollar ring.

27. The story with B. S. Pully.

28. Performing for boxing champ Rocky Graziano, in the nude
because the "boys" though that I had phony gimmicks up my sleeve,
or having false pockets.

29. Ali and Spinks.

30. The police arrested the bookmakers at Duke's Restaurant, Piggy
Lynch saved me from the rap.

31. The card game with Joe Adonis at Duke's Restaurant and how I
beat a mob guy out of $60,000, then returned it just to prove a
point.

32. The Brooke Club and Mr. Sinclaire in Miami Beach.

33. Carol Chaning, hypnosis and losing weight. Evon Adair was also
there.

34. Angelo Dundee and hypnosis.

35. Floating crap games in Lodi, New Jersey with Morretti and
Adonis.

36. Elsa Maxwell's parties and my exclusive entertainment.

37. The famous Conover Agency and Mr. Conover's beautiful girls.

38. Davie Giger and the "21" Club.

39. Johnny Brodick.

40. Why James Forrestal committed suicide. He was the Secretary of
Defense.

41. Bobby Thorne washed off one battleship onto another during
WWII.

42. King of Siam and his eye condition, we became great friends.
How Yul Brenner consulted me in playing the lead in the King and
I.

43. I put London TV viewers in a trance, and how I corrected the
situation.

44. The Sha of Iran, and how I gave him a command performance in
his palace three times.

45. My command performances for King George of England.

46. Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden.

47. Winchell predicting a killing of a mobster the day before.

48. The story of Damon Runyon.

49. Morretti's mob influence in New Jersey.

50. Sam Giancanna at Frank Sinatra's party.

51. Morretti's death and Johnny Roberts.

52. Jim Kelly, the self appointed mayor of the eastside.

53. The incident when two card cheaters tied me up and threatened
to throw me into a lake.

54. Owney Madden and the mayor of New York, a great story.

55. Madden's desire to take over my fighter Melio Bettina.

56. Frenchy Damane and Owney Madden.

57. Griffith and Parit, a title fight.

58. State Police Chief, at Fiskill, New York.

59. McGinty and the Desert Inn Hotel.

60. McGinty's fear of flying.

61. Lou Costello, his wife, and how I avoided a problem for them.

62. James Farley, how he remembered names, he was a campaign
manager for Roosevelt.

63. Boxing commissioner Brown, Gen. Phelan and Mike Jacobs, and
Donovan the referee controlled the boxing game.

64. President Truman and the Buleback Hotel in Kansas City. The
Pendergast machine.

65. Joe Gould, Jim Braddock's manager controlled by Madden.

66. Billy Rose, the diamond horseshoe and the vanishing birdcages.

67. Fat Tony Salerno and the Scopitone machine.

68. Dave Feld in Al King in Cleveland.

69. Max Baer and Encil Hoffman.

70. Jimmy Johnson and Joe Gould manuevering for the title.

71. Why Bugsy Siegal was killed.

72. Jonny Roselli and Las Vegas and Hollywood.

73. Meyer Lansky.

74. Anastasia and the boys.

75. Tony and the Village Club with Pearl Bailey.

76. George Raft.

77. The dinner party with gourmet cook Joe Adonis and Meyer
Lansky.

78. Phyllis McGuie and Sam Moony

79. Roberta Sherwood.

80. George Raft, dancing and Owney Madden.

81. Sam Moony

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Cipher Code Book

I have located some interesting evidence that Andrews had left that I don't think has been reported here or any other printed articles. (1) The following statement comes from a police report and was reported in a San Francisco newspaper.

"Everything that could lead to a positive identification had been destroyed or taken away by Brush and the woman. He left, however, what apparently a telegraph cipher code, a private code, and written in pencil in a vest pocket memorandum book, which is accepted as evidence that he is one of a gang."

So possibly this code was used to send telegrams in code and also to make anagrams. Sending a telegram in code requires words that have some meaning that can be spoken and not just a bunch of scrambled letters, otherwise it would have drawn suspicion. This is a pattern that Andrews used; scrambled names an aliases such as Nulda Petrie=Edna Little etc.

If there was a way to search old telegrams there could be some more clues to who Erdnase really was.

Also if Andrews used codes he may have a secret message in Expert!

Notes: (1) Whaley may have found this info but I don't think it was examined to any degree in TMWWE. Gardner was not aware of this information at all.
The codes were very common in those days. Here is a link to Pinkerton's http://www.pimall.com/nais/pivintage/telegraphcipher.html

All these facts about Andrews are strictly speculation and theories, which are fun to explore without drawing a definitive conclusion.

It is just interesting that this private code has never been discussed since it was found in his personal articles.

The source is San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 14, 1905.

James Harte (Harto) the Ghost Writer?




On another topic:

In Erdnase's EACT: In the magic section there are many inclusions about mentalism or "Methods for Determining a Card Thought of" and then further on, "A Mind-Reading Trick", and further on, he writes, "
Or he may assume the power of mind-reading", which is about a pre-arranged deck.

There is really a lot of information on mind reading etc. in this book of gambling sleights and legerdemain. If the collaborator, and if there was a collaborator, he or she must have had a good deal of knowledge about this subject.

Why would the main writer, who appears to be a hard core player, "because he needs the money", dabble or include mind reading in this book about cheating at cards?

Erdnase was a player and pretty unlikely to have performed mental magic. But he may have.

So the collaborator of EACT may have had a good deal of knowledge about mind reading.

Harto (Harte) could have been the collaborator as reported by many sources. He was a mentalist. Here is the listing in Magicpedia:

James S. Harto was a professional magician that performed a mind-reading act as "Chandra, The Mystic".
His first performance as at the Bristol Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1886.

Interesting because Worcester was not so far away from the home of MFA.

The above are just notes and ideas that may have some interest to some of you. No dogma or proven points. Any thoughts?

Oct 10, 2010

In a post on the Genii Forum, Richard Hatch mentions Harto but does not elaborate on Harto's road act and the fact that Harto lived very close to Milton Franklin Andrews. Read his post from Aug.,2008:

Clearly Harto told several people of an association he claimed to have with Erdnase. Only Pratt claimed that Harto had contributed the Legerdemain section of the book, and Pratt's testimony is questionable as noted in earlier postings. Charles Maly, one of the Harto associates who confirmed for Gardner that Harto spoke of an association with Erdnase, claimed to have seen a notebook of material that Harto was working on as a proposed sequel to Erdnase. If this notebook survived the destruction of many Harto documents by Audley Dunham, it has not yet surfaced, nor have any Erdnase references in Harto documents that have survived. But I take his claimed association with Erdnase as a serious possibility, and one that may lead to further information on the identity question.
I do not think that Harto had much, if anything, to do with the writing of THE EXPERT. If one assumes (as I do, though I recognize it is an assumption and not a proven fact) that the book was assembled shortly prior to publication, Harto's schedule makes his collaboration with the author unlikely. Harto was touring with the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show as a ventriloquist and magician in the sideshow during several seasons prior to the book's publication. They would set up in a new city nearly every day, arriving by train, parading through town, setting up the show, doing the shows, striking the show, loading on the train, and traveling overnight to the next stop on the tour. I traveled to Pawnee, Oklahoma to check the tour route books in the Pawnee Bill Museum for those seasons and the schedule does not much leave much free time to work on a book, unless the primary author was also working the same tour. There was a magician name Andrews from Philadelphia (Pratt's later home) who did later join the Buffalo Bill Wild West show for their tour of Europe, and Harto was also at one time associated with the Buffalo Bill show, but this would have been after the book's publication and I have been unable to develop much information on this particular "person of interest." Another possibility I considered was Charles Andress (whose name reverses to S. S. Erdnase if you drop the rest of the first name reversal), a traveling magician with strong circus and Chicago connections, but I think him an extremely long shot for any number of reasons. I did track down Andress' son and spoke with him by phone a few years back (his father sired him when he was 80 or so!), but he knew nothing about the book and I haven't followed up on that line of inquiry.
Although Harto did get billing as a card magician early in his career (as a teenager) and was respected by his peers for his general knowledge of magic, mentalism and escapes, he does not seem to have been noted for originality in his card work. And the reference to the originality of his patter that is quoted in TMWWE is, in the original context, actually a reference to the originality of his ventriloqual dialogues, which I don't think can be extrapolated to assign him credit for the patter in Erdnase's LEGERDEMAIN section.
Graphics courtesy Mike Caveney

A Letter to Martin Gardner




Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Martin Gardner
750 Canadian Trails Dr.
Norman, OK 73072

Re: MFA – Erdnase – Nulda Petrie

Dear Martin;

I hope all is well with you. Enclosed is a copy of the San Francisco Call, Nov. 7, 1905. I have enlarged the section of the article so that you can read it. This new revelation is beyond a coincidence. Here is my theory.

Milton Franklin Andrews started this whole mystery by using an alias in the form of an anagram. S. W. Erdnase, although an imperfect anagram, it gives the user protection from his or her real identity, and also gives the user a frame of reference with which to recall a fictitious name. If he was bouncing from city to city, the use of anagrams kept the user from making a mistake and giving the wrong name to a person he may have previously associated.

Thus anagrams may be used as a memory tool. A name is often easier to remember if it is in the form of an anagram. For example, if you choose a pseudonym for Geno Munari, you might uses Oneg Iranum, or Moe Rainnier.

MFA used many aliases as his standard modus operandi; William P. Brush, William Curtis etc.

When Bessie Bouton was murdered the police questioned two bystanders (cited in the Colorado Springs Gazette Dec. 22, 1904) I have enclosed a copy for you also. One bystander’s name was W.S. Maunder. An anagram of this, although not perfect, is S.W. Erdnase. Interesting, but perhaps coincidental.

But then in the Nov. 7, 1905 story, MFA’s lady friend gave her name as Miss Edna Little. Compare that to the real name, Nulda Petrie, and another anagram. The (u) and (r)are not used and a (t) and (L) are added to make the name look correct.



The answer to the puzzle was right in front of our eyes. A simple anagram.

These findings by my research team Don Fineout and myself are completely independent of any other research. I think it is very strong evidence that affirms the wonderful work that Bart Whaley, Jeff Busby and yourself completed.

This is a direct link between MFA and Erdnase. All of your other strong evidence makes MFA the correct candidate. There is no other suspect that is even close.
One theory I have been thinking about is; who are the people that played in the game with Erdnase? Those that played in the game were probably fleeced. It stands to reason that these easy marks were people of prominence and/or had money. If you could identify one of these parties there is a chance that there may be a trail to a description of Erdnase. If one of these suckers was a businessman that could earn money in business, he or she may have had a background check completed on Erdnase. There even might be a picture taken with him. Read on!

I think there is a very great possibility that Erdnase played poker with Lucky Baldwin. Baldwin was an interesting businessman, gambler and racehorse owner. His land holdings in the San Gabriel Mountains reached about 46,000 acres, which later became Arcadia, Pasadena, Monrovia, Sierra Madre and San Marino, California. His ranch also became Santa Anita Racetrack. My wife Penny grew up in El Monte and Monrovia were Lucky Baldwin had a presence. For instance Baldwin Boulevard is one of the main streets in the area. Penny loves horses, as did Lucky Baldwin, and discovered the book about him, “Lucky Baldwin, The story of Unconventional Success”, by C.B. Glassock. I thank her for this find. Baldwin fits the prerequisites to play with Erdnase. He loved women, loved to gamble, ran with fast company and had plenty of cash. He also traveled via steamships and spent a great deal of time in San Francisco. Baldwin died in 1909.

In Glassock’s book there is a picture of Baldwin at the poker table with three other players. The game is in Lucky’s private quarters in his Baldwin Hotel, San Francisco. Could one of those players be Erdnase? In my perspective one of them slightly does resemble M.F. Andrews.

I would like to release some of this information after I release the video, Expert at the Card Table. I think that you will be in the news again.

Give me a call if you like to discuss this new information.

Very warm wishes,

Geno Munari