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Fact, Fictions, and the Forbidden Predictions of the Amazing Criswell
"We are all interested in the future for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives, whether we want to or not!" Jeron Charles Criswell King, better known simply as Criswell, can rightfully be described as one of the first pop celebrity psychics. His bizarre predications―87 per cent of which came true, he claimed―appeared from the 1950s through the 1970s in newspapers and magazines, while the flamboyant showman hosted his own Los Angeles television show, guested on national TV and in Ed Wood movies, including Plan 9 from Outer Space, alongside Vampira, Tor Johnson and Bela Lugosi. Unsuccessful attempts to find fame on Broadway and Tin Pan Alley did not prevent him from co-authoring three books on how to succeed in these fields.
A member of the hidden Hollywood gay community, the story of Criswell, his triumphs and defeats, is one of fame and hope in the television era. Facts, Fictions, and the Forbidden Predictions of the Amazing Criswell is the first full-length biography of Criswell. It is the result of 20 years of research by number one fan, Edwin Canfield, and includes interviews, new information, and many startling predictions.
"The world as we know it will cease to exist on August 18, 1999!"
A member of the hidden Hollywood gay community, the story of Criswell, his triumphs and defeats, is one of fame and hope in the television era. Facts, Fictions, and the Forbidden Predictions of the Amazing Criswell is the first full-length biography of Criswell. It is the result of 20 years of research by number one fan, Edwin Canfield, and includes interviews, new information, and many startling predictions.
"The world as we know it will cease to exist on August 18, 1999!"
- GenresBiography
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2023
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 22, 2023
Excellent book, everything you need to know about famed American Psychic The Amazing Chriswell. Couldn't put it down lots of information here. Well researched with some background information on his family and all the people he was aquatinted with.
November 4, 2024
a bit underwhelming
I'm still not sure I buy the parts about Criswells sexuality though
What's interesting is that kinescopes did exist for Chriswell predicts at one time, so you never know what will come of it, Nurmi's kinescopes were destroyed in spite from her producer, I believe, maybe he wanted a kiss or somethings....
I kicked myself not getting the three mint Chriswell books in the very early 80s, when someone told me he had a whole bunch of books, and they were pretty expensive. One day they went poof, when I was just going to buy them, and get all three for 60 dollars in the days of early Duran Duran.
To say nothing of how one of my friends, thought I should enter parties saying "Greetings, I am Criswell", because they thought I had the touch.
And how someone rented a copy of Orgy of the Dead, and I bought a bottle of Krug Champagne, and brought some gin and lemon and icing sugar for drinks.
So naturally, I'm definitely destined for a review on this one
oh fuck I hate the cover
i really do
I'm still not sure I buy the parts about Criswells sexuality though
What's interesting is that kinescopes did exist for Chriswell predicts at one time, so you never know what will come of it, Nurmi's kinescopes were destroyed in spite from her producer, I believe, maybe he wanted a kiss or somethings....
I kicked myself not getting the three mint Chriswell books in the very early 80s, when someone told me he had a whole bunch of books, and they were pretty expensive. One day they went poof, when I was just going to buy them, and get all three for 60 dollars in the days of early Duran Duran.
To say nothing of how one of my friends, thought I should enter parties saying "Greetings, I am Criswell", because they thought I had the touch.
And how someone rented a copy of Orgy of the Dead, and I bought a bottle of Krug Champagne, and brought some gin and lemon and icing sugar for drinks.
So naturally, I'm definitely destined for a review on this one
oh fuck I hate the cover
i really do
February 16, 2024
Can your heart stand the shocking facts?
October 10, 2023
My review of this book was originally written for The Folklore Podcast and can be found on that website. My interview with the author can be listened to here.
We are all very interested in the future, for that is where you and I will be spending the rest of our lives…”
Those words are burned into the mind of most cult movie fans. It’s easy enough to conjure up the image of Criswell as he said them, blond hair perfectly coiffed and eyes so blue they are downright mesmerizing. Even in black-and-white, his image is striking, the lights reflecting off his sequined tuxedo. Criswell, for a brief time, was nigh inescapable in America. Now, he is relegated to the realm of cult movie fans, yet still his impact upon culture is undeniable.
Edwin Lee Canfield is the first to dig into the mysterious life of the Amazing Criswell. Fact, Fictions, and the Forbidden Predictions of the Amazing Criswell (Headpress, 2023) is the culmination of over two decades of work tracing the obscure biographical facts of the man’s life. How did Jeron Charles Criswell King become Criswell - one of the first mononym celebrities? How did he come about his ‘gift,’ and did he truly believe he had it? Was he truly the anti-psychic many now claim him to be - a man who never had a prediction come true?
Criswell, Canfield argues, was one of the first pop celebrity psychics. He was also one of the first of that rare breed to be famous simply for being famous. Through interviews, endless trawling through newspaper archives, and so much film footage long thought lost, Canfield has pieced together the story of a man determined to be famous. Criswell’s near preternatural ability to market himself and spin a good tale carried him far on the fringes of Hollywood. His life was deeply entwined with the infamous director Ed Wood, as well as actors such as Vampira, Bela Lugosi, and Mae West.
While Canfield has uncovered a wealth of information, at times the mysteries he raises are even more interesting than the bare facts. Criswell has long been rumored to be a closeted member of the gay Hollywood community. There are allusions to this throughout the book, but scant evidence that would ever be shared to respect his privacy. Similarly, the question of Criswell’s sincere belief in his predictions is something left open to question and interpretation. Perhaps it was what he occasionally claimed: a gift he held that disappeared as soon as he began making money with it.
Regardless of details left unknown, this biography is a true gem. Criswell’s life is as large as his reputation among devotees. Canfield relays a vast collection of Criswell’s predictions - many of which are now difficult to find courtesy of Criswell’s books being long out of print, and archives of his show mostly lost. Canfield gives credit where it is due to the predictions that did come true, some of which were truly startling. He accentuates just how much Criswell was a showman ahead of his time, and a character with a professionalism and sharp insight that many to this day can still admire.
Criswell predicted many things. I predict readers will enjoy this book.
We are all very interested in the future, for that is where you and I will be spending the rest of our lives…”
Those words are burned into the mind of most cult movie fans. It’s easy enough to conjure up the image of Criswell as he said them, blond hair perfectly coiffed and eyes so blue they are downright mesmerizing. Even in black-and-white, his image is striking, the lights reflecting off his sequined tuxedo. Criswell, for a brief time, was nigh inescapable in America. Now, he is relegated to the realm of cult movie fans, yet still his impact upon culture is undeniable.
Edwin Lee Canfield is the first to dig into the mysterious life of the Amazing Criswell. Fact, Fictions, and the Forbidden Predictions of the Amazing Criswell (Headpress, 2023) is the culmination of over two decades of work tracing the obscure biographical facts of the man’s life. How did Jeron Charles Criswell King become Criswell - one of the first mononym celebrities? How did he come about his ‘gift,’ and did he truly believe he had it? Was he truly the anti-psychic many now claim him to be - a man who never had a prediction come true?
Criswell, Canfield argues, was one of the first pop celebrity psychics. He was also one of the first of that rare breed to be famous simply for being famous. Through interviews, endless trawling through newspaper archives, and so much film footage long thought lost, Canfield has pieced together the story of a man determined to be famous. Criswell’s near preternatural ability to market himself and spin a good tale carried him far on the fringes of Hollywood. His life was deeply entwined with the infamous director Ed Wood, as well as actors such as Vampira, Bela Lugosi, and Mae West.
While Canfield has uncovered a wealth of information, at times the mysteries he raises are even more interesting than the bare facts. Criswell has long been rumored to be a closeted member of the gay Hollywood community. There are allusions to this throughout the book, but scant evidence that would ever be shared to respect his privacy. Similarly, the question of Criswell’s sincere belief in his predictions is something left open to question and interpretation. Perhaps it was what he occasionally claimed: a gift he held that disappeared as soon as he began making money with it.
Regardless of details left unknown, this biography is a true gem. Criswell’s life is as large as his reputation among devotees. Canfield relays a vast collection of Criswell’s predictions - many of which are now difficult to find courtesy of Criswell’s books being long out of print, and archives of his show mostly lost. Canfield gives credit where it is due to the predictions that did come true, some of which were truly startling. He accentuates just how much Criswell was a showman ahead of his time, and a character with a professionalism and sharp insight that many to this day can still admire.
Criswell predicted many things. I predict readers will enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews