[Ads-l] Mentalist antedate; illusionist (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill CIV (US)]

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

OED has 1909 for Mentalist: "A magician who performs feats which apparently demonstrate extraordinary mental powers, such as telepathy, precognition, etc.; a mind-reader."

I provided cites for this entry ten years ago:

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2005-January/045207.html

_The Sphinx_ Mar 1906, p. 5 col 2
"Mr. Wm. Broderson, a prominent merchant of San Francisco, has considerable fame as an illusionist and mentalist in his city and occasionally exhibits his skill there."

OED has 1850 for the magician sense of illusionist.
_Hampshire Advertiser and Salisbury Guardian_ 2/14/1835
p 2 col 2
"MONSIEUR BARON VON YAY, THE CELEBRATED ILLUSIONIST, Most respectfully informs the Ladies and Gentlemen of SOUTHAMPTON, and its Vicinity, that he will give an EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT, AND SPECTACLE MAGIQUE ET MERVEILLEUX."

_The Morning Post_ [London] 12/27/1837 p 1 col 4
"Mr. YOUNG, the celebrated illusionist and Professor of Sleight of Hand, respectfully informs the Nobility and Gentry that, if they should feel inclined to indulge their juvenile friends with PRIVATE EENTERTAINMENTS, they may be furnished with the same by applying to him at his lodgings, No. 6, Waterloo-road, near the Victoria Theatre."

_Charleston [SC] Courier_ 10/3/1844 p 3 
[advertisement] "ARRIVAL IN CHARLESTON OF MR. G. SUTTON, THE CELEBRATED VENTRILOQUIST AND ILLUSIONIST"



Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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