Zolar, like many store front, pitch, booth or event astrologers would purchase pre-printed 4-10 page tracts wherein the performer could imprint their own name on the cover. The subject matter for each tract would be a little different ranging from palmistry to astrology to tea leaf reading. The psychic reader would present his craft afterwhich he or she would offer to the sitters or audience the opportunity to purchase them for a few dimes or up to a dollar. The cost to the reader would be a few cents each when purchased in bulk. It was not uncommon for the psychic to offer the readings for FREE, making their money solely on the little books, thus avoiding any problems with the local constabulary if there were municipal laws forbidding fortune telling for profit. Though more common now to find Christian/Gospel tracts floating about (e.g. Chick Publications), psychic-themed tracts are still offered for sale (and personal imprinting) by a few vendors. Most notably are those prepared and sold by Richard Webster, a psychic entertainer based in New Zealand. When I was performing, I too offered a similar item in the form of an 11x17, double-sided tear off sheet (sometimes referred to as a “tick-sheet”) from which I could do a number of rapid readings, depending on the client’s interests. The sheet included numerology calculations, “solar” and traditional astrology, single card tarot reading as well as a space for doing either automatic writing or note taking during a more traditional reading.  I ran across a pad of these the other day and smiled at the preposterous nature of the whole affair.  I’ll post a scan of them soon.
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Zolar, like many store front, pitch, booth or event astrologers would purchase pre-printed 4-10 page tracts wherein the performer could imprint their own name on the cover. The subject matter for each tract would be a little different ranging from palmistry to astrology to tea leaf reading.

The psychic reader would present his craft afterwhich he or she would offer to the sitters or audience the opportunity to purchase them for a few dimes or up to a dollar. The cost to the reader would be a few cents each when purchased in bulk.

It was not uncommon for the psychic to offer the readings for FREE, making their money solely on the little books, thus avoiding any problems with the local constabulary if there were municipal laws forbidding fortune telling for profit.

Though more common now to find Christian/Gospel tracts floating about (e.g. Chick Publications), psychic-themed tracts are still offered for sale (and personal imprinting) by a few vendors. Most notably are those prepared and sold by Richard Webster, a psychic entertainer based in New Zealand.

When I was performing, I too offered a similar item in the form of an 11x17, double-sided tear off sheet (sometimes referred to as a “tick-sheet”) from which I could do a number of rapid readings, depending on the client’s interests. The sheet included numerology calculations, “solar” and traditional astrology, single card tarot reading as well as a space for doing either automatic writing or note taking during a more traditional reading.  I ran across a pad of these the other day and smiled at the preposterous nature of the whole affair.  I’ll post a scan of them soon.

(via grottu)

Source: littlebunnysunshine

George - The Supreme Master of Magic Grover G. George: Touring Illusionist and Magician. 1887-1958 A contemporary of Howard Thurston and in a contest of pressure on booking agents and theater owners, Thurston came out on top. Thurston was ruthless in his attempts (mostly successful) in getting George off the American circuit including using lawsuits and other magicians to take George down. George moved his tour to South America where he found some success for a few years but the devastating attack by Thurston proved almost too much for him to endure. He eventually went into the motion picture projection equipment business as well as Brazilian television in the mid-twentieth century. He was much more successful there and spent the rest of his life there on a Sao Paulo ranch. He died in 1958 a few years after selling off his last piece of magic equipment, a Sword Box illusion in 1956. Thurston’s reputation of being a ruthless show business adversary is not so well known as he is mostly remembered as being the preeminent early 20th Century magician, more skilled and with a charming on-stage presence than Houdini.
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George - The Supreme Master of Magic

Grover G. George: Touring Illusionist and Magician. 1887-1958

A contemporary of Howard Thurston and in a contest of pressure on booking agents and theater owners, Thurston came out on top. Thurston was ruthless in his attempts (mostly successful) in getting George off the American circuit including using lawsuits and other magicians to take George down.

George moved his tour to South America where he found some success for a few years but the devastating attack by Thurston proved almost too much for him to endure. He eventually went into the motion picture projection equipment business as well as Brazilian television in the mid-twentieth century. He was much more successful there and spent the rest of his life there on a Sao Paulo ranch. He died in 1958 a few years after selling off his last piece of magic equipment, a Sword Box illusion in 1956.

Thurston’s reputation of being a ruthless show business adversary is not so well known as he is mostly remembered as being the preeminent early 20th Century magician, more skilled and with a charming on-stage presence than Houdini.

midcenturymodernfreak:

Vintage Home in San Jose, CA | Part 2

That kitchen. The redwood ceiling. That “tennis racket” chair. The mosaic tilework leading to the main entrance. Clerestory windows.

Wow.

Wow, indeed.