GENE DENNIS
(1904 – 1947)Gene Dennis: The Wonder Girl
Gene Dennis was one of the most talked-about psychics of the 1920s and 1930s, captivating audiences with her mind-reading feats and stunning stage presence. Alongside Joseph Dunninger, she stood as one of America’s most celebrated mentalists, winning over the public and the press with her poise, accuracy, and beauty. She wowed the likes of Albert Einstein, President Franklin Roosevelt, and other notable figures of her time. Despite her incredible popularity and media dominance during her lifetime, Gene Dennis is today a relatively forgotten figure in the history of mentalism.
“Gene is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.” — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Early Life and Psychic Awakening
Eugenie Dennis was born in Topeka, Kansas, in 1904. Raised by her parents, Nannie and Frank Dennis, in modest circumstances, she later adopted the more glamorous stage name Gene Dennis. Her early life took a spiritual turn after her mother’s death and the arrival of Ike Gilberg, a local tailor with a deep interest in metaphysics. Gilberg believed young Gene had psychic gifts and encouraged her to develop them.
Gene’s talents became locally known during her teenage years when she began finding lost objects for classmates. At 14, she gave readings at a local reception—an appearance that garnered significant attention after she told unwelcome truths to guests. When she correctly told a man where to find the $1,000 he had misplaced, the story made front-page news, launching her into the public eye.
The Rise of a Prodigy
The story about Gene’s abilities triggered a flood of public interest. She received over 1,000 letters, many with cash enclosed, asking for help. Visitors lined up outside her home, and she began performing daily readings. Newspapers from the Minneapolis Star to the Kansas City Star called her a “mysterious” and “astonishing” teenager. Her meteoric rise caught the attention of magician and psychic researcher David P. Abbott, who invited her to Omaha for a series of tests.
Abbott was intrigued but cautious. Though he found her personable and supportive rather than exploitative, he noted that many of her results seemed to rely on guesswork and cold reading techniques. Still, he respected her and even helped her craft a booklet of psychic advice to sell at her shows. He never published his planned manuscript about her, The Wonder Woman, but excerpts appear in House of Mystery, edited by Teller and Todd Karr.
From Parlour to Stage: Creating a Unique Q&A Act
Gene transitioned from private readings to public theatre shows under Abbott’s guidance. Her performances quickly evolved into a Q&A act but with a twist—no questions were collected beforehand. Instead, Gene simply invited audience members to stand and ask their questions aloud, which she answered instantly and with uncanny detail. By eliminating the usual tricks involving billets and earpieces, she stunned audiences with what seemed like pure telepathy.
This streamlined approach made her stand out from her contemporaries and turned her into a box-office draw. Within months, she was performing four shows daily, captivating audiences with charm, accuracy, and apparent supernatural insight.
Publicity, Predictions, and a Media Darling
Gene became a master of media manipulation. She issued daring predictions about crimes, political events, and natural disasters—some accurate, others not. Headlines praised her as a psychic marvel, with one proclaiming: “Girl with Psychic Eyes Astounds Scientist” (Los Angeles Times, 1922).
One particularly dramatic prediction involved a policeman’s death, which happened shortly after she described it in a reading. Her audience base exploded, particularly among women, prompting her to hold women-only matinees that were wildly popular. With the help of young promoter George Davidson, she adopted publicity stunts like piloting a blindfolded flight from New York to Washington and promoting local businesses with her image.
Clashes with Houdini and the Press
Gene’s rise brought scrutiny. Harry Houdini, a fierce debunker of psychics, claimed her murder case revelations were faked with hidden transmitters and accomplices. He featured her in his radio segment, “Ghosts That Talk—by Radio,” and described technical deceptions involving concealed microphones and reporters.
Abbott defended Gene, stating her techniques were genuine and not reliant on such gadgets. Her warm persona and ability to impress sceptical journalists helped maintain her credibility. Still, not all press was flattering. The New York Times ran a piece questioning the legitimacy of her predictions and policy collaborations.
Celebrities, Einstein, and the White House
Despite occasional controversies, Gene’s career flourished. She opened significant film premieres, advised Hollywood directors, and even predicted the winners of sporting events. She reportedly read the will of a surprised journalist and impressed many with her health and relationship insights.
Albert Einstein met with Gene for several hours in 1932 and told the Chicago Herald Examiner: “She told me things no one could know… It was miraculous.” That same year, she signed a $2,000-per-week tour contract with the Warner Circus—the highest sum ever paid to a mind reader at the time.
She was invited to perform for President Franklin Roosevelt in Washington during a White House dinner. Her fame extended overseas, and she became the first psychic performer to appear on British radio during a successful 1934 tour of the UK.
Family Life and Tragic End
In 1935, Gene married John G. Von Herberg, a wealthy Seattle businessman. The couple had five children named Denny, Jay, Jensen, Jeannie, and Virginia—all paid homage to their mother. She retired from the stage and continued writing a psychic advice column and publishing a self-help magazine titled Amity.
Von Herberg’s death in 1947 devastated her. Gene passed away just three months later, on March 8, 1948, at the age of 44. Though officially the cause was cerebral oedema, close friends believed she died of a broken heart, compounded by struggles with alcohol in her final years.
Legacy of The Wonder Girl
Gene Dennis was a remarkable combination of charisma, intelligence, and intuition. She was smart enough to reject mystical trappings, always framing her abilities as grounded in human potential rather than the supernatural. Her clever stage techniques, intense media presence, and mass appeal made her a household name in her era. Though largely forgotten today, her impact on mentalism remains significant.
References:
* House of Mystery. The Magic Science of David P. Abbott edited by Teller and Todd Karr. The Miracle Factory. pgs 324 - 348
* Much of this article has been extracted and edited from the excellent book and the chapter ‘Abbott and the Schoolgirl Psychic’
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