ANNA EVA FAY
ANNA EVA FAY
(1851 – 1927)The High Priestess of Mysticism
Anna Eva Fay was one of the most iconic and successful mediums and stage mentalists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known as "The Indescribable Phenomenon" and "The High Priestess of Mysticism," she enthralled audiences with her psychic powers, convincing many that she could summon spirits, communicate with the dead, and read minds. Her astonishing stagecraft made her a headline act across the United States and Europe. She was a pioneer in spiritualistic performance and a savvy performer with a striking personality who dominated a male-dominated field for nearly four decades.
"She was unquestionably the most successful act of her kind ever to appear on stage." — David Price, A Pictorial History of Magic
Early Life and Spiritualist Roots
Born Ann Eliza Heathman in Southington, Ohio, on February 3, 1851, Fay entered the world just three years after the Fox Sisters had sparked the spiritualist movement. Her childhood was steeped in hardship. When her mother died young, Ann was fostered by a spiritualist family and lived as a servant in a barn. The spiritualist influence took hold early. Surrounded by table rapping, slate-writing, and seances, she gave her first public exhibition in a schoolhouse at a very young age.
By 1869, she had adopted the name Anna Eva and performed her seances. She later recounted that she "grew up in an atmosphere of spiritual manifestations" and began to believe in her mediumistic powers. Her earliest performances earned her mere coins but gave her a taste of audience awe that would fuel her ambition.
Rise to Fame with Melville Fay
Fay's life took a dramatic turn when she met H. Melville Cummings, a con man with ties to both exposing and perpetrating spiritualist frauds. He became her manager and common-law husband. Under the name "Henry Melville Fay," he taught Anna the secrets of fraudulent mediumship, including the intricate rope tie techniques she would become famous for.
Together, they toured the U.S. and Europe, combining magic and seances in a theatrical format. Melville performed ventriloquism and magic while Fay delivered the Light and Dark Seances that made her famous.
Mastering the Spirit Cabinet
In her Light Seance, Fay performed her original Dancing Spirit Handkerchief effect — later adopted by famous magicians like Harry Blackstone Sr. Her Dark Seance included a now-legendary rope tie act inside a curtained cabinet. Using the Cotton Bandage Test, she was tied to a post. Still, she produced ghostly manifestations: tambourines flew, bells rang, and even a disembodied head was seen floating above the cabinet. Her method was both clever and straightforward, often involving mechanical aids like hidden tubes in accordions or manipulated props under her voluminous costumes.
Fay's cabinet was not a traditional box but a small, curtained enclosure, enhancing the illusion of spiritual phenomena. She demonstrated ingenuity in constructing effects that appeared impossible under tight physical constraints.
Influence, Exposure, and Reinvention
As her fame spread, Fay's performances drew the attention of sceptics and scientists. In 1875, she participated in a test by respected British chemist Sir William Crookes, during which she managed to fool him into believing her powers were real. Using electrodes connected to a galvanometer in another room, she convinced him that the circuit remained unbroken even as spirit activity occurred. Historians like Barry Wiley have since speculated that her success in the experiment may have been aided by Crookes's assistant, Charles Henry Gimingham, who may have acted as an accomplice.
Fay's son, John Truesdell Fay, born in 1877, became part of her act, sometimes hiding under her skirt to aid in the manifestations. After her relationship with Melville dissolved, she married David Pingree, who became her promoter and stage manager. Her act gradually evolved, with spirit manifestations giving way to mind-reading and mentalism.
The Somnolency Act and Q&A Feats
Now presented under the title "Somnolency," her new act was a two-part performance culminating in a stunning Question-and-answer routine. Audience members wrote questions on slips of paper before the show. These were collected and secretly switched, enabling Fay to give startlingly accurate answers while seated in a trance under a gauze cloth.
Her delivery was brisk, engaging, and mystifying. Using assistants and sleight-of-hand techniques, she maintained the illusion of true telepathy. When the act concluded, she would dramatically collapse into her husband's arms, enhancing the theatricality of the performance.
A Cultural Icon
Fay was one of the first women to command the stage in an era when female performers, especially in magic and spiritualism, were rare. She adorned herself with jewels and elegant gowns, reinforcing her persona as a mystical and authoritative figure. Audiences adored her, and even sceptics were often left wondering.
While she frequently dealt with exposure by rival magicians and journalists, these controversies only seemed to heighten public interest. She was clever with her disclaimers, neither confirming nor denying her powers: "If you think what you see is real, you are welcome to think that. We present these demonstrations for your kind consideration
Family Tensions and Tragedy
In 1898, her son John married Eva Norman, and the couple began touring as "The Marvellous Fays," effectively copying Anna's act. The strained relationship worsened until John accidentally shot and killed himself in 1908 while handling a pistol.
Despite the tragedy, Fay continued to tour successfully. Her wealth grew substantially. She owned a large home in Massachusetts and was reputed to be the highest taxpayer in her district.
Friendship with Houdini and Final Years
In 1924, Harry Houdini visited Fay and later claimed she had revealed many of her secrets to him, including the galvanometer deception. However, historian Barry Wiley and others dispute this, suggesting that Houdini exaggerated their conversations.
Fay never claimed supernatural abilities, although her performances remained ambiguous enough to keep audiences guessing. She was elected the first Honorary Lady Associate of The Magic Circle in London in 1913 and remained a respected figure until the end.
After a stage accident in Milwaukee in 1924, Fay retired. She passed away on May 20, 1927, and was laid to rest in the Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Legacy and Influence
Anna Eva Fay paved the way for countless mentalists and performers who followed. Her combination of stagecraft, psychological acuity, and theatrical flair made her a legend. She was admired by her contemporaries, befriended by Houdini, and studied by magicians long after her death. Her blend of mysticism and entertainment continues to influence performers today.
References:
* Wiley, Brian H. The Indescribable Phenomenon. (Seattle, WA: Hermetic Press Inc, 2005.) * Price, David. Magic: A Pictorial History of Conjuring in the Theatre. Photo: * TMC Archive (Cranbury, NJ: Cornwall Books, 1985)
* Charvet David: Alexander The Man Who Knows. Mike Caveney’s Magic
* Beckman, Darryl: The Life and Times of Alexander
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