# The Amazing Kreskin dead at 89 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501 "2024-12-11T17:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/1 "2024-12-11T17:02:19Z")
Wonder if he predicted his own death. George Joseph Kresge Jr. [![](https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ5FHOoMWkg876pEVb-e8C_Sd-op8XyS4tiPJNWnao4XFrTkqGETnzmuhCNUROlpPclaiaITA0jTtmfI64J8elRuQ) ](https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ5FHOoMWkg876pEVb-e8C_Sd-op8XyS4tiPJNWnao4XFrTkqGETnzmuhCNUROlpPclaiaITA0jTtmfI64J8elRuQ) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/2 "2024-12-11T17:06:58Z")
He came to my school for a show. He was very, very good, and could hypnotize the right people with his voice. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/3 "2024-12-11T17:39:07Z")
Simpson Gypsy Fortune Teller: Oh, why didn’t I see that coming? (After hours use automated teller.) Please tell me he’s not from the Kresge Kmart clan. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/4 "2024-12-11T18:21:17Z")
Sorry to hear that. I saw him often enough on TV. Kreskin was one of those “psychic” performers who frankly admitted that it was all an act, which got my respect. It didn’t stop him from selling his own branded **ESP Game** > **[Kreskin's ESP Board Game](https://gspawn.com/products/kreskins-esp-board-game?srsltid=AfmBOopBSNZ0aiId5j-W2-UqHNiRmQmO5M1t_HE7ksPF_vuBND-c7F8S)** > > Kreskin's ESP Board Game sold by TV's "Pawn Stars" Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. Free US Shipping, Authenticity Guaranteed! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/5 "2024-12-11T18:34:12Z")
One hundred twenty-five bux? I didn’t see _that_ coming! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/6 "2024-12-11T18:44:15Z")
I used to watch his TV show way back when. He was good at his craft. I think the funniest moment was when he called on an attractive long-haired woman in the audience, saying “Yes, miss?” And the person responded in an obvious male baritone. Kreskin burst into laughter. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/7 "2024-12-11T19:12:38Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It didn’t stop him from selling his own branded **ESP Game** He definitely got whatever royalty Milton Bradley paid him from my family - we “played” with that enough to thoroughly innure me to the allure of woo in general and ESP in particular. Worthwhile, really. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/8 "2024-12-11T19:35:23Z")
There was also Kreskin’s Crystal, which a whole generation of kids learned about from Judy Blume’s novel _Superfudge_. (The main character tries using his to make a female classmate dream about him.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/9 "2024-12-11T19:36:20Z")
I had one of those too. Same result. Even at a young age I could see this was the prelude to inanity. When my kids were younger and asked me where were their shoes or some other item they couldn’t locate I would say “I don’t know. What am I Kreskin?”. Even with an explanation it seemed odd to them however a little later in life my youngest used that line on his boss at work who marveled that someone that young had even heard of Kreskin. My son still had no solid idea who Kreskin was but took credit anyway. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/10 "2024-12-11T19:46:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > My son still had no solid idea who Kreskin was but took credit anyway. So he pretended that he knew something without actually having the information? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/11 "2024-12-11T19:47:30Z")
Ironic ain’t it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/12 "2024-12-11T22:13:03Z")
I saw him doing stage hypnotism at the Canadian National Exhibition ten years ago. He was a little bit creaky, but it was still a fun show. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/13 "2024-12-11T22:54:51Z")
Damn is Kreskin this guy? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L6qWRvX3AwE/hqdefault.jpg "The King of Comedy 1983") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6qWRvX3AwE&t=4527) To be fair, though, he did leave a legacy to be cherished… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6LjiuYShyKA/maxresdefault.jpg "SCTV - The Amazing Kretin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LjiuYShyKA&t=1) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/14 "2024-12-11T23:07:08Z")
How does the trick work where he finds his check out in the audience? I’ve seen him do it and it is pretty well done. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/15 "2024-12-11T23:44:13Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Sorry to hear that. I saw him often enough on TV. Kreskin was one of those “psychic” performers who frankly admitted that it was all an act, which got my respect. Yeah, he was one of the good guys. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/16 "2024-12-12T01:25:21Z")
He knows where the check is. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/17 "2024-12-12T01:39:20Z")
It’s a stooge trick? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/18 "2024-12-12T01:50:37Z")
The instances I read about were similar in having a theater manager hide the check or give it someone to hold, or go with an assumed uninterested party when they hid the check or gave it to someone to hold. That’s all I know about Kreskin doing it but it conforms with how that act has been performed by others. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/19 "2024-12-12T16:00:24Z")
Finding something hidden by using someone who knows where it is a common bit. They take the person by the hand and walk around with them while jiggling their hand. People tend to tense up when they realize they are going the wrong way. The magician can detect this and change their direction. It doesn’t take much to learn how to do this. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501/20 "2024-12-12T20:34:12Z")
Huh. I thought he died decades ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-kreskin-dead-at-89/1011501.md?page=2)