Criswell

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Criswell's prologue in Plan 9 from space

Criswell , also known as The Amazing Criswell (real name Jeron King Criswell , born August 18, 1907 in Princeton , Indiana , † October 4, 1982 in Burbank , California ) was an American entertainer, clairvoyant and actor in the films of Ed Wood .

Life

Before Jeron King Criswell became one of the most famous psychics in the United States under the name "The Amazing Criswell", he worked as a newspaper editor and radio host. He studied music at the University of Cincinnati . Between 1953 and 1961 he had his own five-minute daily television show, Criswell Predicts , in which he predicted future events. He has also appeared on other television and radio shows. He also published the book Criswell Predicts: From Now to the Year 2000 with its prophecies in 1968 . Criswell himself stated that 87% of his prophecies came true. In his private life, when asked whether he really could see clairvoyance, he is said to have replied that he had the talent "until I started taking money for it."

His best-known - accurate - prediction he made on March 10, 1963 in the "Jack Paar TV special" when he announced that US President John F. Kennedy would not stand for re-election in 1964 because " something happened to him" in November 1963 . Other predictions, such as the end of the world on August 18, 1999, and his own flight to the moon (together with his girlfriend Mae West as US President), did not come true. History-buff Criswell viewed the United States as the modern day Romans.

Criswell is also known for roles in three trash films by his friend Ed Wood : In 1959, he acted as the narrator in Wood's film Plan 9 from Outer Space , holding both the prologue and the epilogue of the film. Plan 9 from space is now often considered the worst film of all time. That same year, Criswell starred in Night of the Ghouls , another cheap Wood movie. In 1965 he again played the Emperor in the film Orgy of the Dead under Woods' direction . Through his appearances at Wood, Criswell became an important figure in trash culture.

Criswell was also a colorful personality in private life, liked to surround himself with like-minded people and cultivated a bizarre image. His close friend Mae West employed Criswell as her personal clairvoyant, selling him her old luxury cars for $ 5. She also recorded the song Criswell Predicts . Criswell's habit, for example, was to occasionally sleep in coffins and rave about their comfort. Criswell found his final resting place after his death at the age of 75 in the Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park , North Hollywood - in an urn.

He was married to Halo Meadows (1905–1985), a dancer and actress.

Filmography

  • 1959: Plan 9 from Outer Space
  • 1959: Night of the Ghouls
  • 1965: Orgy of the Dead

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Criswell Predicts: From Now to the Year 2000
  2. ↑ http://musicnotmusic.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/mae-west-sings-about-criswell/

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Criswell
ALTERNATIVE NAMES King, Charles Jerome Criswell (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American entertainer
DATE OF BIRTH August 18, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH Princeton , Indiana
DATE OF DEATH 4th October 1982
Place of death Burbank , California