Delve into the deception of the Davenport Brothers and the Spiritualism craze in 19th century. Explore the influence of gaslight on spiritualism and how it affected beliefs in ghosts. Discover the mystery behind the strange event involving musical instruments and bound teenagers in 1855 lower Manhattan.
The tale of Brothers Davenport reveals mastery of deception in creating supernatural illusions through music.
Evolution of lighting technologies enhanced eerie experiences in spiritualism, influencing beliefs and perceptions of the supernatural.
Deep dives
The Brothers Davenport: Masters of Illusion
The tale of the Brothers Davenport showcases a mesmerizing ruse that captivated the 19th-century audience. Through a meticulously crafted performance, the siblings, trained by their police detective father, simulated a supernatural symphony using musical instruments while bound in ropes. The climax occurred when a vigilant policeman exposed their deception by illuminating the dark room, revealing the brothers actively playing the instruments. This narrative highlights the brothers' mastery of deception and the allure of spiritualist performances that blended showmanship with the unknown.
The Influence of Light on Spiritualism
Delving into the captivating allure of spiritualism, the podcast elucidates how evolving lighting technologies shaped believers' encounters with the supernatural. From candlelit seances to gaslight-infused rooms, the play of shadows and eerie glows heightened the ambiance for ghostly apparitions and mysterious phenomena. The correlation between the rise of gaslighting and heightened ghostly beliefs underscores the psychological impact of lighting on perception, offering insights into why individuals embraced spiritualist practices during a period marked by death and uncertainty.
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Music
Abisme by Shida Shahadi
Ellen’s Image from Lalo Schiffiren’s genius score to The Fox
Circulation by H. Takahasi
Liquid Spear Waltz from Michael Andrews’ score to Donnie Darko
A8 from a terrific record called NuNu by Clever Austin
Notes
I found a lot of insight in a terrific book called Extraordinary Beliefs by Peter Lamont. In it, there’s a smart historical, psychological exploration of why spiritualism was able to flourish despite all sorts of evidence opposing it.