Conjuring Credits

The Origins of Wonder

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mental:confabulation [2020/02/11 23:24] – Added Sellers citation. stephenminchmental:confabulation [2023/12/28 18:14] (current) – newspaper link added denisbehr
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 ====== Confabulation ====== ====== Confabulation ======
  
-The starting point of the multiple-prediction effect best known as "Confabulation" (named after a version of it by Alan Shaxon) would seem to be "Mental Projection Extraordinary" in //[[http://askalexander.org/display/23257/The+Life+and+Mysteries+of+the+Celebrated+Dr+Q/95|The Life and Mysteries of the Celebrated Dr. Q]]// by Alexander (stage name of Claude Conlin), 1921, p. 93. Two methods are given. The first involves a carbon impression inside an envelope; the second uses pocket writing.+The starting point of the multiple-prediction effect best known as "Confabulation" (named after a version of it by Alan Shaxon) would seem to be "Abbott's Future Foretold". The effect of this routine is described in detail by A. M. Wilson and Will Bland in //[[https://askalexander.org/display/38626/The+Sphinx/18|The Sphinx]]//, Vol. 17 No. 11, Jan. 1919, p. 218. Wilson and Bland are giving an eye-witness report of a performance by David P. Abbott. However, they make it clear that "Abbott's Future Foretold" was the creation of Prince Karmi, who granted Abbott the right to perform it. No method is given, but there is enough information to foster theories. 
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 +The first published methods for the effect discovered to date are given in "Mental Projection Extraordinary" in //[[http://askalexander.org/display/23257/The+Life+and+Mysteries+of+the+Celebrated+Dr+Q/95|The Life and Mysteries of the Celebrated Dr. Q]]// by Alexander (stage name of Claude Conlin), 1921, p. 93. Two methods are explained. The first involves a carbon impression inside an envelope; the second uses pocket writing. //[[http://www.conjuringcredits.com/lib/tpl/credits/files/1916_alexander.jpg|The Spokesman Review]]// of Oct. 17, 1916, gives a brief account of one of Alexander's performances that included a dual-word projection effect that may have been an early version of his "Mental Projection Extraordinary", predating the 1919 Wilson-Bland report on Abbott's performance, but perhaps not performances by Karmi. 
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 +In 1938, Earl Rybolt published a related effect with a similar title, "Rybolt's Miracle Thought Projection", which he claimed to have been performing for fifteen years, which would date it to 1923, two years after the Dr. Q book was published. Rybolt's method involved an off-stage assistant, who wrote down spectators' free choices, which were delivered onstage for a switch. See //[[https://askalexander.org/display/38393/The+Sphinx/8|The Sphinx]]//, Vol. 37 No. 6, Aug. 1938, p. 140.
  
 Stewart James made a significant advance in method with his “Perfect Prediction” in //[[http://askalexander.org/display/38571/The+Sphinx/20|The Sphinx]]//, Vol. 28 No. 4, June 1929, p. 140, which utilized double writing and loading of the prediction into a sealed envelope or nest of envelopes, using the load tube from the old "Ball of Wool" trick. Stewart James made a significant advance in method with his “Perfect Prediction” in //[[http://askalexander.org/display/38571/The+Sphinx/20|The Sphinx]]//, Vol. 28 No. 4, June 1929, p. 140, which utilized double writing and loading of the prediction into a sealed envelope or nest of envelopes, using the load tube from the old "Ball of Wool" trick.
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 Specifically inspired by Grimmond's "Triple Forecast", Alan Shaxon developed “Confabulation” in the 1960s, and later marketed it through Ken Brooke in 1970. Specifically inspired by Grimmond's "Triple Forecast", Alan Shaxon developed “Confabulation” in the 1960s, and later marketed it through Ken Brooke in 1970.
  
-(This history courtesy of Max Maven.)+(This history courtesy of Max Maven, with an added citation by Yaniv Deautsch.) 
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 +  * [[https://www.conjuringarchive.com/list/category/2177|Category in Denis Behr's "Conjuring Archive"]]
  
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