October 2, 1932August 20, 2008

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

About seventy-six years ago a little boy sat in the living room of his home in Detroit, Michigan reading the morning newspaper. He was fascinated by the color of the artwork, the words and the feeling of being in another world. With a little help from his father, with the hard words, he found himself in a magical world of mystery and intrigue. As the words became alive in his mind, he pictured himself as a part of that wonderful world. He carefully folded up the paper and put it away. Now, that little boy is in his eighties and as he began to unfold that long kept and slightly tattered paper that he had kept in the back of his scrapbooks he had also accumulated. What was only a dream to a little boy had become a reality for him. You see that little boy was me and this is the paper. The following is but a small sample of the wonderful world I had immersed myself in. As Jan often states, “If you hadn’t kept scrapbooks of your life, no one would ever believe it could happen.” Please read it, and it is my hope that possibly your dreams are in my scrapbook too.

Bradford J. Angers

Until you have experienced the feeling, one can only imagine what it has been like for me to brush shoulders with stars, presidents,great writers, the famous and the infamous. I hope that somehow thru this bit of my history, you will experience that feeling.

It wasn’t just the magic

that caught my eye but

the desire to hypnotize a person and

entertain people with the powers

of hypnotism. This desire

to learn how to hypnotize carried me through the teens and

well into my college years in Detroit,

Michigan.It opened the doors for me

to meet a host of famous

people, from Orson

Welles & Tyrone

Power to the Beatles and

Stacy Keach.

BRADFORD J. ANGERS, HYPNOTIST

ON OUR STAGE -- 10 P.M. -- TONIGHT; A MASS DEMONSTRATION

OF HYPNOSISBlack Magic (1949) A Forgotten Welles Film That Is Escapist Fun A historical drama based upon a Dumas book, produced by Edward Small of Eagle Lion Studios (a postwar effort to upgrade the output of Producers Releasing Corporation, an outfit once synonymous with poverty row films). Set in Paris during the years immediately before the French Revolution, Welles is Cagliostro, (Giuseppe Balsamo) a brilliant and scheming hypnotist, who plots to substitute his own wife on the throne in place of Marie Antoinette (Nancy Guild). Gregory Ratoff received on screen directorial credit, but don't be fooled: Welles supplanted Ratoff during the production, working with Bradford J. Angers, a hypnotist himself, and a student at The Detroit Institute of Technology as well as an authority on Cagliostro. Supporting actor, Akim Tamiroff went on to become a regular in several of Welles' later productions. Great fun! Welles chews the scenery to good effect. Look for Raymond Burr in a minor part.

Mike RoachBrad’s Emcee The trial of Cagliostro in the court of

Marie Antoinette.

Ads from Toronto, Ontario Papers

Dr. Franz Anton MesmerIs presented to the King of

France, in Black Magic.

“STORY TIP”He forced women to

love him, byHypnotism.

During the filming of the picture,

Brad actually taughtOrson Welles how

to hypnotize.In fact, several

partsof the film were

made with Nancy Guild actually hypnotized by

Mr. Welles. Brad was asked to

go on stage to promote the film.

U.S. and Canadian

Newspaper ads and stories

drew large crowds

“To Brad: One of the best

hypnotists I have ever met”

Francis R. Shields (Dunbar the man with X-ray mind.)

Newspaper reporter succumbs to the hypnotic powers of hypnotist, Bradford

Angers at the premier showing of Black Magic.

Kim Kee & Tinka

No tricks…just a little Hypnotic stiffness

Something to report

Brad & friends on stage

Following the performance at the Vanity Theater in Windsor, Ontario, Brad was given the opportunity to give a demonstration of hypnotism for the Ontario Police Department and invited to participate in the Christian Culture Lecture series sponsored by Assumption College along with Father Grant and Father Stan Murphy.

That’s why only some pep-restoring miracle can help Detroit now. They’ve still got the spirit and morale to win a game or even the Cup, but they don’t have to strength to do it.

BRAD ANGERS, of the Detroit Institute of Technology, thought that a dose of mass hypnotism, administered by himself, might be just the thing to revive the skidding Red Wings. But after seeing them in action against Toronto, he decided there is nothing wrong with their will to win. The Wings are just fagged out.

Mark Beltaire

ST. CLAIR SHORES

Social and Personal

By Margaret Treff Rose 4535

It’s all water under the bridge now but it is an amusing incident just the same. It seems that several weeks ago the Red Wing manager sent for Bradford J. Angers, our local magician and hypnotist and asked his advice on hypnotizing the team to give them the will to win. He had read about such a thing being done in England. Although, as Brad explained to him, it could be done -- it was dangerous because the players would over-exert themselves and ill effects might result. What is coming to the future of sports when hypnotism offers the solution to super-human strength?

Hey, Wings, Here’s Idea

Hickley, England -- Members of the local soccer team will be hypnotized before their game of Easter Tuesday against Birmingham, Hypnotist Richard Payne will put the players under his influence and give them the “will to win.”

Brad on stage Vanity Theater DETROIT FREE PRESS, Monday, Nov. 1, 1948

Houdini Again Fails to Contact Friends BY SAM PEPTIC Free Press Staff Write Harry Houdini again stood up his Detroit friends. The world-famous escape artist failed to return from the spirit world despite an elaborate invitation to make himself known midnight Halloween, the 22 anniversary of his death in Detroit. Although he exposed many spiritualist during his life, Houdini had promised too do his utmost return after his death.

SEVEN DETROIT magician including Sgt. Herbert German, the Police Department, and the reporter met at the Tuller Hotel in an attempt to contact the mater. We heard and saw nothing. “Let us not say that we have failed,” Kim Lee (known also as Alexander the Great), announced at the end of the seance. … (continued top right)

“Perhaps there is a Great Power which has ordained than we shall not contact Houdini,” I said, adding that the group would try next year. ‘There were 13 persons in the candle-lighted room as the seance began.”

* * * * *

FRANK AMAND, a personal friend of Houdini put on a demonstration with a pair of cuffs used 23 years ago in Detroit. by Houdini. The handcuffs were placed on a round table along with a cowbell, two slates and a paper bag containing a piece of clothesline rope. We rook seats ad touched fingers to form a magic circle. Lee pleaded for the spirit of Houdini to manifest itself by ringing the bell,, writing on the slates or tying a know in the rop “We are waiting to hear from you,” Lee implored. “We would appreciate hearing from you.” The slates remained blank, the bell didn’t ring and the rope was untied. We are still waiting.

Seven who participated in the Halloween seance examine props used in attempting to entice the spirit of Houdini, They are, left to right, Sgt. Herbert German, Charles Worpell, Kim Lee, Frank Kelly, Arthur Dwery, Bradford J. Angers and Frank Amand.

Tries to Recall Houdini Spirit

Bradford J. Angers, 13110 Evanston, was one of five magicians who sought to recall the spirit of Houdini back from the grave at midnight Halloween in the Tuller Hotel. Harry Houdini world famous escape artist, died 22 years go on Halloween. He promised he would try to return after his death. But, says Brad sadly, while all the props were on hand, Houdini failed to make an appearance.Helps Y. M. C. A.Many of Detroit’s prominent business men have willingly agreed to cooperate in National YMCA Week by sponsoring mature groups, hiking, fishing and outdoor crafts. A Shorian, Bradford J. Angers, is also doing his part by conducting a class in magic for the boys who are interested in learning at the hand is quicker than the eye.

Shores Man Sees Hypnotism Closely Linked to Medicine

BY WILLIAM E. KENNEDYMonitor--Leader Staff Reporter

ST. CLAIR SHORES --- If Bradford J. Angers had his way,'hypnotism would be taken off the vaudeville

stage and would be put in the medical office. In fact, Angers has used the art --- under the more exact title of "applied psychology" or "sleep suggestion" --- to assist a Detroit obstetrician in childbirths. From personal observation, he finds applied psychology valuable in the alleviation of pain. He observed: "There are those who go on (he stage and put on a riotous act by having people swat imaginary bees or bark like dogs. However, this comedy would overshadow the more serious things that can he accomplished in the medical fields.” "Almost every field of medicine right now is showing more interest than ever before In the field of hypnotism. Hypnotism suffers because the public classifies it with magic, but it far, far away from that classification.” Bradford, who is staying with his brother James, and family, at 23243 Doremus Dr., recently returned from medical work in this field in the Southwest. He is currently, “working with” two medical men to instruct them in the art, and soon will add five more. The instruction --- he prefers to say “working with” medicos because they possess a natural background for “conscious suggestion” and a knowledge of anatomy --- is done in each doctor’s own office at his own convenience. Angers noted that a Detroit dentist is also making use of this knowledge to alleviate pain. A four-year veteran of hypnotic practice, Angers finds that laymen believe the eyes to be the most important factor. this isn’t so, the eyes help, as do the hands, in suggesting “sleep,” but a persuasive voice is the greatest asset, and also a factor in taking it out of the old-style mesmerism class. (Mesmerism is “hypnosis by objects” or ‘mechanical hypnotism,’ such as by discs or flashlights, but for these purposes it is frowned upon.) Can everybody be hypnotized? The Shorian believes that, with qualifications, all but about two per cent of the populace can be brought under the spell of a first class practitioner. He stated: “I know that not every person is susceptible to hypnotism immediately.

Many may be put under with no difficulty whatsoever. This by no means is governed by their intelligence. The intelligent are just as much, if not more, susceptible than the unintelligent. “Even those that do not succumb at once can be hypnotized by continuation of treatment.” Persons under the influence of alcohol are difficult to put under because they are not able to concentrate sufficiently. Angers asserted that there is no harm in hypnotism itself and that a person when “put under” would not do anything he would not do while in his normal state of mind. He advised, nevertheless, that persons refused to be hypnotized by anyone they do not know or whose background they do not know. He would like to “get hypnotism out of the hands of persons not qualified to use it.” A qualified person, in his opinion, would require courses in basic psychology and a basic understanding of human anatomy. Using his own case as an example, he pointed out that there is not at present any school where the subject can be learned strictly by textbook --- although he has studied scores of books and other literature in the field. There is no recognized medical degree, and yet his friends in medicine have asked him to “pass on” the information he has learned directly to them now rather than go away to special schools. (But he plans to acquire one or more degrees in time.) Some of his finest training in practicing the art, and in absorbing principles and theory, came from Ed Wolfe, of New York and Chicago. It’s a skill one can’t learn solely from books, says Angers, and some persons just aren’t born with the attributes that will take them to the top. He lists as principal; qualifications for the hypnotist-to-be: 1. Understanding of the traits and emotions of fellow men nd the greatest of patience in working with them. 2. Development of capacity to apply the “sleep” method and, this once learned, further study in the experiments of old masters such as Bernheim, Coue and Liebault. But he added: “No one rule can be set down to apply to every patient. It takes a new formula an a new set of rules for each patient.”

Bradford J. Angers

NOTE: Self hypnosis program in the below article

was Written by Bradford Angers, Dallas Hypnosis and student at

Detroit Institute of Technology.

THE HERALD Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1949

Shorian Describes Scope of Present-

Day Hypnotism

By BRADFORD J. ANGERS (This is the second in a series of articles “dealing with various aspects of the value of hypnosis in modern psychology. the author, who lives at 23243 Doremus, St. Clair Shores, is working toward degrees at Detroit Institute of Technology.) I have often been asked what is hypnotism, how is it applies and who can learn it? Let’s take these questions one at a time. Hypnotism, scientifically speaking, is a method of inducing state resembling sleep in which the mind readily responds to external suggestion. This is done by carefully selected suggestion which are put to the subject in a well defined order. Far superior to its predecessor, mesmerism (to charm or fascinate), which produced an unnatural or nervous state resembling a trance or sleep, hypnotism is rapidly proving itself in many fields including medicine. Just as the mystery surrounding drugs is being swept away, the veil should be lifted from hypnotism. As recent news stories have shown, hypnotism, even in the hands of a physician, can be as dangerous as loaded gun. If he is not capable of good moral judgment.

No sensible adult would take a capsule (not knowing its contents) from someone they knew nothing about. Likewise, a person should not submit to hypnosis without being fully aware of the background of the hypnotist. No normal person can be hypnotized against his will. It is only the person who is in need of the results hypnotherapy can offer and who is willing to submit to the will of the operator who can be hypnotized. Hypnosis can be as easily overrated as underrated. Actually, it is a natural science dealing with mental and physical action; and the exercise of the power is the result of a natural endowment which all are capable of developing. Post-hypnotic suggestion is perhaps the most wonderful pat of hypnotherapy. by this medium a subject can be caused to realizing he has been ordered to do so by the hypnotist. It is this phase of hypnotism that is most valuable in the termination of bad habits. While under the influence of hypnotism a subject will no ordinarily carry out a command or suggestion which violates his religious beliefs, moral scruples or habitual dignity. Cases of instantaneous hypnosis such as the snap of a finger, etc., are rare without the benefit of previous suggestion. Ruling out the possibility of an organic problem, a hypnotized person will drift into a normal sleep and awaken of his own accord. Mass hypnotism is nothing more than ordinary hypnosis on a large scale. You may have read about

Hindu Fakirs, placing an entire audience in a hypnotic trance. Thus is impossible. It is possible, however, to place a large portion of a group in a light sleep. Auto-suggestion is the most applicable form of hypnotism as it is easily mastered by the average person. I shall not go into auto-suggestion (self-hypnosis) no, as I intent to cove it more fully in a late article.

Hypnosis Wins Acclaim

ST. CLAIR SHORES -- Wyandotte newspapermen and a famous mental telepathist credited Bradford J. Angers, of this community, with a superior demonstration of hypnotism Monday night. Francis R. Shields, New Yorker known as “Dunbar, the Man with the X-Ray Mind,” was quoted by David Ellis, Wyandotte newspaperman, as giving “one of the finest” hypnotism demonstrations of several thousand he has seen in the United States and Europe. Shields was presented before a group of Detroit magicians, upon invitation of Kim Kee, and presented his mental telepathy routine, followed by a discourse on the feasibility of mental telepathy as a guide to everyday living. He also discussed hypnotism as compared with mentalism.

30 - C THE DETROIT TIMESTues., Oct. 5 1948

OUR TIMES

By Vera Brown

Magic Town:

What a town this is, sys Harold Hoffman, New Yorker born and bred, who came here for the AMA convention and stayed on to conduct some personal business. He stopped on the Kinsel corner to bay a paper, just as a grimy faced lad of around 12 dropped a penny into the outside gum machine there. Nothing happened. The kid pounded, shook and beat the machine. Still no gum. Just then up stepped a well dressed and dignified fellow to the rescue. He tapped the machine lightly with his fingers, out came the stick of gum. “Gee, mister, you must be a magician!” said the boy as he made a dive for his gun. The man reached into his pocket, handed the boy his card. It read” Bradford J. Angers, magician and hypnotist. Hoffman doesn’t know yet whether the gum came out of the machine or out of Anger’s sleeve.

CHATTERBOXHypnotism is Innovation to Fraternity Pledging

By Elizabeth Knox

Pledges of a certain fraternity at the Detroit Institute of Technology are shaking in their boots as they embark on eight weeks of pledging. And they have a worse case of the jitters than most fraternity pledges because they’re wondering just how they can avoid Lord Hypni and his hypnotic power. In addition to the traditional fun of pledging, actives of Gamma chapter of Alpha Gamma upsilon fraternity have a few sly new tricks up their sleeves. On Monday, when pledges gather at the college for their initial informal ceremony they’ll get a taste of what’s in store for them.…….Continue next column

…..

Hypnotic Spell …Cont.

THAT’S THE DAY they’ll first meet a well known hypnotist, as well as receiving long lists of do’s and don’ts which they must follow during their pledge period. Warning signals have already been sent up for the neophytes by Pledge-master William Ohst. If Lord Hypni, as he’s known to his fraternity brothers casts his hypnotic spell on the lowly pledges it’s a sure bet they’ll be servants of the actives during the weeks of bowing down to their masters, learning the pledge manual, attending special meetings each week and participating in pledge parties.

All Can Be Hypnotized, Shorian Says

Any normal person is subject to hypnosis, according to Bradford J. Angers of 23243 Doremus. "Only those who are feeble-minded or mentally deficient are not subject to the influence of an accomplished practitioner of the phenomenon of hypnotism," l asserts Angers, who is a psychology major at the Detroit Institute of Technology. WINDSOR audience attending the Canadian premiere of the Orson Welles’ film, "Black Magic,"I were startled and intrigued by Angers' demonstrations of mass hypnosis. Especially anxious to avoid the stigma of being categorized as a vaudeville entertainer, he has been emphasizing teaching and lecturing on hypnotism.

Versed in the relations of hypnosis to crime, he has been invited by Deputy Chief Neale of the Windsor police to present a lecture demonstrating methods by which crime could be and has been perpetrated by hypnotism. In an interview, Angers declared the the average person I will be surprised to learn that the method of hypnotic exploitation does not conflict with religious factors. “Having Discussed hypnosis with many officials of various churches I have found that it only conflicted where the belief in God or one's morals was attacked or challenged summarized Angers. He has found that through the medium of scientific study he has been able to strengthen his religious faith because he has discovered, "as many other scientists have in the past and will in the future, that the further one goes in a science the more he must resort to the belief in a Supreme Being." The Rev. Stanley Murphy, C. S. B., of Assumption College, noted that Angers' method of exploitation was both "noteworthy and timely." As a result, the hypnotist may be asked to appear on the Christian Culture lecture series.

attracts. The subject will be elaborated in subsequent articles appearing in the Herald. Other topics to appear in the Herald include Psychological Application of Color, Understanding Hypnosis, Hypnosis and Child Birth and Parallel Ethics in Science and Religion.

Extensive psychological experimentation in the field of color hypnosis, Angers points out, 'indicates that the generally accepted colors cause a definite reaction on the human organization, although the reaction may vary considerably in individual cases. IT HAS BEEN found in most cases that blue soothes, red infuriates green rests and white

Master Hypnotist, Bradford Angers

states with conviction, …..“HYPNOTISM IS NOT MAGIC”

ONTARIO, TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1949

BRADFORD J. ANGERS By Annie Oakley HYPNOTISM One of Windsor's most interesting visitors at the moment is Bradford J. Angers, hypnotist. A native of the United States, Mr. Angers is now working toward degrees at the Detroit Institute" of Technology. He has studied hypnosis, psychology (applied and abnormal), anatomy, physiology, sociology, Christian ethics, ethics of the professions (medical, legal and so forth). He is also versed in the field of child psychology, having studied under Prof. James E. Stermer, noted child guidance' counselor. Versed, likewise, in the ethics and understanding of the" world's religions, Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Hindu. These subjects he has studied under Prof. Shotwell. Mr. Angers has had the advantage of traveling through many countries in both our western and eastern worlds. These travels, together with his military experience in World War II, have aided him in his understanding of the people he would have to deal with in later life.  He insists, emphatically, that he IS not a vaudeville stage performer. His work deals largely with teaching and lecturing on hypnotism. Its exploitation and experimentation have been his primary objectives.

The Theatre And Its People

In a recent interview, Rev. Stanley Murphy, C.S.B., of Assumption College, stated Mr. Angers' method of exploitation was both noteworthy and timely. As a result, though no definite date has been set, the hypnotist may appear on the Christian Culture Lecture Series. He has also been invited to give an informal lecture to Assumption students. Mr. Angers, who has taught and given consultation to members of' the medical profession, expresses a I strong desire that the peoples of [the world accept hypnosis and its I allied sciences with the enthusiasm that the younger generation of professional men have already begun to show. He has consented to give a demonstration of hypnosis and its relation to crime. In this demonstration which was enthusiastically welcomed by Deputy Chief Neale of the Windsor Police Department, Mr. Angers will lecture, define and demonstrate some of the various ways in which crime could be and has been perpetrated. He will instruct the officers in the art of detecting a hypnotized person, also la tempered instruction in the application of the art and, most important, understanding of how to awaken a hypnotized subject. This demonstration will be given as a public service. Mr. Angers states very emphatically that hypnosis is not to be under-rated. In the hands of a qualified individual hypnosis is a marvelous implement of good, but in the hands of an unscrupulous or uneducated person it could be a " dangerous and potential weapon for any evil that might be conceived. It is for this reason hypnosis must be understood and the person who casually says "no one can hypnotize me," must be educated to the understanding that all men are susceptible, as it is their under-, standing of the subject that will limit its use for good or evil. 

Clubs to Mark Optimists

Week

Members of the Grosse Pointe Optimist and Kiwanis Clubs will join forces this week for their annual observance of National Optimist Week. Highlight of the week will be a lecture and demon- stration of hypnotism by Bradford J. Angers noted lecturer and psychologist, Tuesday at 20135 Mack. The Optimists now have 1100 clubs in operation throughout the United State, Canada ad Mexico, whose primary function is working with delinquent boys.

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