Joseph Dunninger was born on this day in 1892 and became famous as America’s favorite mentalist on radio and early television, billed as “The Amazing Dunninger.” His arrogance over the airwaves invited annoying challenges by the news agents, dry cleaners, or waiters encountered on any given day. He had erased his coarse Brooklynese with a preposterous mid-Atlantic accent, which became his trademark: “PLEE-izz CON-sin-trate your MY-end, MAA-dim!”
Dunninger famously introduced his mindreading, “For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice.” The quote was borrowed from St. Thomas Aquinas, who hadn’t been talking about palming billets.
Photo courtesy of Potter & Potter Auctions