Theodore Annemann
Encyclopedia
Theodore 'Theo' Annemann (stage name Ted Anneman) born Theodore John Squires (February 22, 1907 – January 12, 1942) was an American
professional magician
who specialized in the field of mentalism
. Annemann is most famous for inventing and refining many of the standard mentalism routines that continue to be used by magicians today.
singer and a magician's assistant. He eventually became interested in mentalism and used his invention and performance skills to become one of the most talented and respected magicians of the 1930s. Annemann perfected his own version of the famous bullet catch
illusion, performing the effect outdoors. Accounts of his performance describe the feat as a dramatic effect wherein Annemann would collapse from the apparent force of the gun
and then produce the bullet
from his blood
-drenched mouth.
In 1934 he began publishing the famous magazine The Jinx, for magicians. The magazine
was focused on mentalism, but also featured ground-breaking effects from other fields of magic
. The publication of this magazine ceased after Annemann's death and copies of it have become collector's items. Effects from the magazine have been published in several books and manuscripts, among them Annemann's Practical Mental Magic. This book is considered a classic in the field of mentalism.
Annemann was married twice and had a daughter by his first wife. His personality is the subject of much speculation. On the night of January 12, 1942, Annemann was scheduled to perform his bullet catch indoors for the first time. Before the performance, he committed suicide
. Since the subject of suicide is complicated, we may never know exactly why Theo decided to end his own life. It is believed that Annemann was suffering from severe stage fright
and drug abuse
among other factors related to mental distress at the time of his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional magician
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
who specialized in the field of mentalism
Mentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
. Annemann is most famous for inventing and refining many of the standard mentalism routines that continue to be used by magicians today.
Biography
Early in his life, Annemann began working as a railroad clerk and then got into showbusiness as a tenorTenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
singer and a magician's assistant. He eventually became interested in mentalism and used his invention and performance skills to become one of the most talented and respected magicians of the 1930s. Annemann perfected his own version of the famous bullet catch
Bullet catch
The bullet catch is a conjuring illusion in which a magician appears to catch a bullet fired directly at him—often in his mouth, sometimes in his hand or caught with other items such as a dinner plate...
illusion, performing the effect outdoors. Accounts of his performance describe the feat as a dramatic effect wherein Annemann would collapse from the apparent force of the gun
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
and then produce the bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
from his blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
-drenched mouth.
In 1934 he began publishing the famous magazine The Jinx, for magicians. The magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
was focused on mentalism, but also featured ground-breaking effects from other fields of magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
. The publication of this magazine ceased after Annemann's death and copies of it have become collector's items. Effects from the magazine have been published in several books and manuscripts, among them Annemann's Practical Mental Magic. This book is considered a classic in the field of mentalism.
Annemann was married twice and had a daughter by his first wife. His personality is the subject of much speculation. On the night of January 12, 1942, Annemann was scheduled to perform his bullet catch indoors for the first time. Before the performance, he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Since the subject of suicide is complicated, we may never know exactly why Theo decided to end his own life. It is believed that Annemann was suffering from severe stage fright
Glossophobia
Glossophobia or speech anxiety is the fear of public speaking. The word glossophobia comes from the Greek glōssa, meaning tongue, and φόβος phobos, fear or dread...
and drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
among other factors related to mental distress at the time of his death.
Manuscripts by Annemann
- Card Miracles (1929)
- Mental mysteries (1929)
- The Book With a Name (1931)
- The Book Without a Name (1931)
- The Trick of the Month Club Presents: A Dead Name Duplication (1931)
- 202 Methods of Forcing (1933)
- Annemann Manuscripts (1933)
- Sh-h-h--!: It's a Secret (1934)
- The Incorporated Strange Secrets (1939)
- En Rapport
Edited posthumously
- Ted Annemann's Full Deck of Impromptu Card Tricks (1943)
- Ted Annemann's Practical Mental Effects (1944)
- Annemann's Miracles of Card Magic (1948)
- Annemann's Buried Treasures (1952)
- Miracles of Card Magic (1964)
- Annemann's Card Magic (1977) ISBN 0-486-23522-X
- Practical Mental Magic (1983) ISBN 0-486-24426-1