David Phelps Abbott (September 22, 1863 – June 12, 1934) was an American magician, author and inventor known for creating effects such as the floating ball, as well as for his publications exposing mediums.
David Abbott was born in 1863 near Falls City and lived most of his life in Omaha. He was married to Fannie E. Abbott. He became a wealthy businessman in the American Mid-West. He was well versed in arts and science. After Albert Einstein published his theory of relativity, Abbott attempted to explain it in a newspaper article.[1]
As a magician, he performed for invited guests in his private theater he built at his home from 1907 until he died. There he demonstrated his Talking Teakettle (around 1907, decades before miniature radio electronics came into use) and Talking Vase (in 1909).[2] Abbott built his work of magic and deception on the devious principles he learned from spirit mediums. Many of the greats in magic– Kellar, Thurston, Horace Goldin, Theo Bamberg, Ching Ling Foo, Blackstone and Houdini among others–made pilgrimages to Omaha Field Club neighborhood "Mystery House" to be dumbfounded and to learn.[3][4]
Abbott was a friend of the magician Harry Houdini.[5] His most well known work was Behind the Scenes with the Mediums published in 1907, which went through several editions.[6]
In 1934, Abbott died of diabetes in Omaha. His burial was at Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska.[7]
Abbott wrote a second full-length book, describing not only the séances given in his home but many magical feats which had astounded top professional performers; he died before it could be published, and for a long time the manuscript could not be found. When the Abbott home was sold in 1936, the manuscript was thought to be lost.[8] It was discovered by Walter Graham and published as David P. Abbott's Book Of Mysteries in 1977.[3]
^"In this illusionist's house of mysteries, secrets didn't vanish" Archived October 31, 2013, at archive.today. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
^Polidoro, Massimo. (2001). Final Séance: The Strange Friendship Between Houdini and Conan Doyle. Prometheus Books. p. 32. ISBN1-57392-896-8
^Price, David. (1985). Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater. Cornwall Books. p. 484. ISBN978-0845347386 "Abbott's greatest contribution to ridding the world of superstition was, no doubt, his book Behind the Scenes with the Mediums. It was a great expose and opened the eyes of many to the frauds being perpetrated on the public at the time the book was written. It was first published in 1907 and ran for several editions. Abbott wrote other books along the same lines, but Behind the Scenes with the Mediums was the best and most successful."
^"David Abbott Is Taken by Death; Born in County". The Falls City Journal. June 13, 1934. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
^"David Abbott Inventor and Spirit Hoax Buster". Retrieved May 20, 2016.
Further readingedit
Hereward Carrington. (1907). Book Review: Behind the Scenes with the Mediums. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 1: 492-493.
Brief Biography at The Magic Nook
Karr, Todd. at the Wayback Machine (archived October 26, 2007). Excerpt from Teller and Todd Karr, eds., House of Mystery: The Magic Science of David P. Abbott (The Miracle Factory, Los Angeles, 2005).
Omaha Magical Society Donates Library, University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries.
April 11, 2024
david, abbott, magician, david, phelps, abbott, september, 1863, june, 1934, american, magician, author, inventor, known, creating, effects, such, floating, ball, well, publications, exposing, mediums, david, abbottcover, sphinx, october, 1906, borndavid, phel. David Phelps Abbott September 22 1863 June 12 1934 was an American magician author and inventor known for creating effects such as the floating ball as well as for his publications exposing mediums David AbbottCover of Sphinx October 1906 BornDavid Phelps AbbottSeptember 22 1863Falls City Nebraska TerritoryDiedJune 12 1934 1934 06 13 aged 70 Omaha Nebraska U S Resting placeWestlawn Hillcrest Memorial 5701 Center Street Omaha NebraskaKnown forMagician author inventor Contents 1 Biography 2 Publications 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography editDavid Abbott was born in 1863 near Falls City and lived most of his life in Omaha He was married to Fannie E Abbott He became a wealthy businessman in the American Mid West He was well versed in arts and science After Albert Einstein published his theory of relativity Abbott attempted to explain it in a newspaper article 1 As a magician he performed for invited guests in his private theater he built at his home from 1907 until he died There he demonstrated his Talking Teakettle around 1907 decades before miniature radio electronics came into use and Talking Vase in 1909 2 Abbott built his work of magic and deception on the devious principles he learned from spirit mediums Many of the greats in magic Kellar Thurston Horace Goldin Theo Bamberg Ching Ling Foo Blackstone and Houdini among others made pilgrimages to Omaha Field Club neighborhood Mystery House to be dumbfounded and to learn 3 4 Abbott was a friend of the magician Harry Houdini 5 His most well known work was Behind the Scenes with the Mediums published in 1907 which went through several editions 6 In 1934 Abbott died of diabetes in Omaha His burial was at Westlawn Hillcrest Memorial Park Omaha Nebraska 7 Abbott wrote a second full length book describing not only the seances given in his home but many magical feats which had astounded top professional performers he died before it could be published and for a long time the manuscript could not be found When the Abbott home was sold in 1936 the manuscript was thought to be lost 8 It was discovered by Walter Graham and published as David P Abbott s Book Of Mysteries in 1977 3 Publications editBehind the Scenes with the Mediums 1907 Spirit Slate Writing and Billet Tests 1907 The Marvelous Creations of Joseffy 1908 The History of a Strange Case 1908 The Spirit Portrait Mystery Its Final Solution 1913 David P Abbott s Book of Mysteries published posthumously by Walter Graham 1977 References edit Omaha Magician Philosopher Interprets Einstein s Theory Archived March 5 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved May 20 2016 The Sphinx October 1906 a b David P Abbott 1863 1934 usurped Retrieved May 20 2016 In this illusionist s house of mysteries secrets didn t vanish Archived October 31 2013 at archive today Retrieved May 20 2016 Polidoro Massimo 2001 Final Seance The Strange Friendship Between Houdini and Conan Doyle Prometheus Books p 32 ISBN 1 57392 896 8 Price David 1985 Magic A Pictorial History of Conjurers in the Theater Cornwall Books p 484 ISBN 978 0845347386 Abbott s greatest contribution to ridding the world of superstition was no doubt his book Behind the Scenes with the Mediums It was a great expose and opened the eyes of many to the frauds being perpetrated on the public at the time the book was written It was first published in 1907 and ran for several editions Abbott wrote other books along the same lines but Behind the Scenes with the Mediums was the best and most successful David Abbott Is Taken by Death Born in County The Falls City Journal June 13 1934 Retrieved September 6 2023 David Abbott Inventor and Spirit Hoax Buster Retrieved May 20 2016 Further reading editHereward Carrington 1907 Book Review Behind the Scenes with the Mediums Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research 1 492 493 Brief Biography at The Magic Nook Karr Todd David P Abbott and the Notorious Bangs Sisters at the Wayback Machine archived October 26 2007 Excerpt from Teller and Todd Karr eds House of Mystery The Magic Science of David P Abbott The Miracle Factory Los Angeles 2005 External links editWorks by David Abbott at Project Gutenberg Works by or about David Abbott at Internet Archive Works by David Abbott at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Abowitz Richard A man a ball a hoop a bench and an alleged thread Teller Las Vegas Weekly November 20 2008 Famous Head Removal usurped A collection of photographs of Mr and Mrs D P Abbott and their home at Omaha Nebraska held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Omaha Magical Society Donates Library University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Abbott magician amp oldid 1216632393, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
