Editing The Amazing Criswell

{{Short description|American psychic (1907–1982)}}
{{For|the TV psychic Kreskin (1935–2024)|The Amazing Kreskin}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = The Amazing Criswell
| image         = Plan 9 Criswell.jpg
| caption       = Criswell in ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'' (1957)
| birth_name    = Jeron Criswell King
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1907|8|18|mf=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Princeton, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1982|10|4|1907|8|7|mf=y}}
| death_place   = [[Burbank, California]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery|Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park]]
| other_names   = Jeron Criswell King<br />Charles Criswell King
| known_for     = Making erroneous predictions, predicting the future on TV, radio, books, records and in newspapers and as a narrator and actor in the films of [[Ed Wood]]
| television    = ''Criswell Predicts''
| notable_works = ''Criswell Predicts from Now to the Year 2000!'' (author)<br />''Plan 9 from Outer Space'' (narrator and actor)
| occupation    = Showman, actor, writer, seer
| years_active  = 1950s–1970s
| spouse        = [[Halo Meadows]]
}}
'''Jeron Criswell King''' (August 18, 1907&nbsp;&ndash; October 4, 1982), known by his stage-name '''The Amazing Criswell''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|ɪ|z|w|ɛ|l}}), was an American [[psychic]] known for his wildly inaccurate predictions. In person, he went by '''Charles Criswell King''', and was sometimes credited as '''Jeron King Criswell'''.

Criswell was flamboyant, with [[Kiss curl|spit curled]] hair, a [[wikt:stentorian|stentorian]] style of speaking, and a [[sequin]]ed [[Black tie|tuxedo]]. He owned a [[coffin]] in which he claimed to sleep. He grew up in a troubled family in [[Indiana]] with relatives who owned a funeral home, and frequently stated he became comfortable with sleeping in caskets in the storeroom. 

He appeared in two films directed by [[Ed Wood]]—''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'' (1957) and ''[[Night of the Ghouls]]'' (1959)—and also appeared in ''[[Orgy of the Dead]]'' (1965), which was written by Wood.

==Early life==
Criswell claimed he never actually talked until the age of four. During a thunderstorm he first spoke, making his first prediction, "the rain will stop." From this point on, he was talkative, often placing himself in the center stage at any opportunity.<ref>{{cite book |last=Criswell |title=Criswell Predicts from Now to the Year 2000 |url=https://archive.org/details/criswell-predicts-from-now-to-the-year-2000/ |publisher=Droke House |year=1968 |lccn=68-13824}}</ref>

==Career==
Criswell said he had once worked as a [[radio announcer]] and news broadcaster. He began buying time on a local Los Angeles television station in the early 1950s to run [[infomercials]] for his Criswell Family Vitamins. To fill the time, he began his "Criswell Predicts" part of the show. This made him a minor off-beat celebrity in Los Angeles and around Hollywood, and his friendship with old show-business people such as [[Mae West]] and rising fringe celebrities such as [[Korla Pandit]] made Criswell an entertaining presence at parties. His fame brought him appearances on ''[[Tonight Starring Jack Paar]]'' (1957–1962). 

He published predictions in three issues of ''Spaceway'' magazine (February 1955, April 1955, and June 1955), as well as in a weekly syndicated newspaper article starting on September 6, 1951. He later published three books of predictions; ''From Now to the Year 2000'', ''Your  Next Ten Years'', and ''Forbidden Predictions''.  

He also recorded a long playing record, ''Your Incredible Future'' (which  was later released on CD), featuring 84 minutes of his predictions in his own voice. 

Criswell appeared in the movies of writer and director [[Ed Wood]]. 

After Criswell's death, his longtime friend [[Paul Marco]] released Criswell's song "Someone Walked Over My Grave" on a 7" record which was recorded by Criswell as a memorial song he only wanted released posthumously.

===Filmography, recording and television appearances===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|- "
! Year !! Medium !! Title !! Role !! Director
|-
| filmed 1956, premiered [[1957 in film|1957]]<ref>Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 203. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.</ref> || Film || ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'' || Himself || [[Ed Wood]]
|-
| filmed 1958, premiered [[1959 in film|1959]]<ref>Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 205. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.</ref> || Film || ''[[Night of the Ghouls]]'' || Himself || Ed Wood
|-
| [[1965 in film|1965]]|| Film || ''[[Orgy of the Dead]]'' || The Emperor || [[Stephen C. Apostolof]]
|-
| [[1982 in film|1982]]|| Film || ''[[It Came from Hollywood]]'' || Archive footage|| Malcolm Leo, [[Andrew Solt]]
|-
| [[1994 in film|1994]] || Documentary || ''Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora'''<ref>{{IMDb title|0144185|Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora}}</ref> || Archive footage || Ted Newsom
|-
| [[1996 in film|1996]] || Documentary || ''The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.''<ref>{{IMDb title|0113270|The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood Jr.}}</ref> || Archive footage || Brett Thompson
|-
| 1970 || Spoken Word Recording (LP) || ''The Legendary Criswell Predicts Your Incredible Future'' || Himself || Horoscope Productions
|-
| [[1970 in television|1970]], [[1965 in television|1965]], [[1963 in television|1963]] || Television || ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' || Himself || [[Frederick De Cordova]]
|-
| [[2007 in television|2007]] || Television || ''[[Cinema Insomnia]]'' (''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'' & ''[[Hardware Wars]]'') || Himself || [[Ernie Fosselius]] & [[Mr. Lobo]]
|}

==Predictions==
[[File:Plan 9 from Outer Space - Criswell Predicts.ogv|thumb|250px|"Criswell Predicts" scene in ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'']]
Criswell's predictions were nationally syndicated and he appeared on the television show ''Criswell Predicts'' on KLAC Channel 13 (now [[KCOP|KCOP-13]]) in Los Angeles as well as being recorded for syndication. His announcer was Bob Shields, who later played the judge on ''[[The Judge (TV series)|The Judge]]''. Criswell wore heavy makeup in public after his live program was broadcast in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]. Only selected people were allowed in the KCOP studio during his broadcast.

Criswell wrote several books of predictions, including 1968's ''Criswell Predicts: From Now to the Year 2000.'' In it, he claimed that [[Denver, Colorado]], would be struck by a ray from space that would cause all metal to adopt the qualities of [[Natural rubber|rubber]], leading to horrific accidents at amusement parks.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://deeky.blogspot.com/2010/02/criswell-predicts-pt-1.html| title = Dharma Pancakes: Criswell Predicts (Part 1)| date = 22 February 2010}}</ref> He predicted mass [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]]<ref name=predicts>{{cite web| url = http://deeky.blogspot.com/2010/02/criswell-predicts-pt-5.html| title = Dharma Pancakes: Criswell Predicts (Part 5)| date = 26 February 2010}}</ref> and the [[Global catastrophe scenarios|end of planet Earth]], which he set as happening on August 18, 1999<ref name="predicts"/> (which would have been his 92nd birthday).

Criswell was a student of history. He believed history repeated itself, that the United States were the "modern Romans". Each day, he read the ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' looking for clues for his predictions.

Some sources claim Criswell's most famous prediction was on ''[[Jack Paar#Prime time|The Jack Paar Program]]'' (1962–1965) in March 1963, when he predicted US President [[John F. Kennedy]] would not run for reelection in 1964 because [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|something]] was going to happen to him in November 1963.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://c-e-n-t-e-r.com/ed_interview.html |title = C-E-N-T-E-R Art Project interview with Criswell biographer Edwin L. Canfield |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007094538/http://c-e-n-t-e-r.com/ed_interview.html |archive-date=7 October 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Sources say that Criswell never claimed to be a real psychic; however, those who knew him, including actress and fellow ''Plan 9'' alumna [[Maila Nurmi]] ("Vampira"), believed he was. According to writer [[Charles A. Coulombe]], whose family rented an apartment from him, Criswell told Coulombe's father {{nowrap|"[I]}} had the gift, but [I] lost it when I started taking money for it."{{cn|date=June 2023}}

==Private life==
Criswell married a former [[speakeasy]] dancer named [[Halo Meadows]], who once appeared on ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'', and whom Coulombe describes as "quite mad": "Mrs Criswell had a huge standard [[poodle]] (named "Buttercup") which she was convinced was the [[reincarnation]] of her cousin Thomas.<ref name="criswellpredicts.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.criswellpredicts.com/criswell.htm|title=Who Was Criswell?|publisher=Criswell Predicts|access-date=14 August 2013|archive-date=1 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901230551/http://criswellpredicts.com/criswell.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> She spent a great deal of time [[Sun tanning|sunbathing]]&nbsp;... which, given her size, was not too pleasing a sight."

[[File:Charles Criswell King Grave.JPG|thumb|200px|Niche of "The Amazing Criswell" at Valhalla Memorial Park]]

[[Mae West]] used Criswell as her personal psychic; he once predicted her rise to [[President of the United States]], whereupon she, Criswell and [[George Liberace]], the brother of showman [[Liberace]], would take a rocket to the Moon.<ref name="criswellpredicts.com"/> Criswell and West were great friends and she would lavish him with home-cooked food which she had delivered to the studio that he shared with [[Maila Nurmi]] ("Vampira").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/85365/haunted-world-of-ed-wood-jr|title=Watch Haunted World of Ed Wood, Jr. online &#124; Free|publisher=Hulu|access-date=14 August 2013}}</ref> It is said that West sold Criswell her old luxury cars for five dollars.<ref name="criswellpredicts.com"/>

Criswell died on October 4, 1982, at the age of 75; he was cremated days later.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.criswellpredicts.com/jeron-charles-criswell.htm | title=Criswell Predicts - Who Was Criswell? }}</ref>

==Legacy==
* In 1955, Mae West wrote and recorded a song called "Criswell Predicts" for her album ''[[The Fabulous Mae West]]''<ref name="criswellpredicts.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://musicnotmusic.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/mae-west-sings-about-criswell/|title=Mae West Sings About Criswell &#124; Music/ Not Music|date=3 January 2009|publisher=Musicnotmusic.wordpress.com|access-date=14 August 2013}}</ref>
* In 1994, Criswell was portrayed in the [[Tim Burton]] biopic ''[[Ed Wood (film)|Ed Wood]]'' by actor [[Jeffrey Jones]].<ref>{{IMDb title|0109707|Ed Wood (1994)}}</ref>
* In 1997, several actors, including Sean Phillip Mabrey,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o3L539Xb5g| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/7o3L539Xb5g| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Plan 9 From Outer Space: The Musical|publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=1997|access-date=14 August 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> have played Criswell in ''Plan 9 from Outer Space: The Musical'', written by David G. Smith.
* In 1999, the film ''Devil Girls'' featured a portrayal of Criswell by Rob Gorden.<ref>{{IMDb title|0198417|Devil Girls (1999)}}</ref>
* In 2000, the song "Criswell Predicts" by pop punk band [[Groovie Ghoulies]] appeared on their album ''Travels with My Amp''.
* In 2005, Criswell and the ''Plan 9'' cast were lampooned in an episode of the television series, ''Deadly Cinema'', and clips of this episode were featured in the documentary, ''Vampira: The Movie''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vampirathemovie.com/cast.php|title=Cast of Vampira: The Movie|publisher=Vampirathemovie.com|access-date=14 August 2013}}</ref>
* In 2006, Craig Brown played Criswell in ''Plan Live from Outer Space'', a stage adaptation of ''[[Plan 9 from Outer Space]]'' which won a Canadian Comedy Award the following year.<ref>{{IMDb title|1108860|Plan Live from Outer Space (2006)}}</ref>
* In 2009, a teaser trailer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJh-gdpJxJo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/eJh-gdpJxJo| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Plan 9 Teaser Trailer|publisher=YouTube|date=8 September 2009|access-date=14 August 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> was released by Darkstone Entertainment for the John Johnson film ''Plan 9'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plan9movie.com/|title=PLAN 9|publisher=Plan9movie.com|access-date=14 August 2013}}</ref> a remake of ''Plan 9 from Outer Space''. The voice of popular television [[horror host]] [[Mr. Lobo]] can be heard narrating the trailer as Criswell. He also portrayed Criswell in the film, in a much larger role in this re-imagining of the original Ed Wood story. In addition, for the purpose of promoting the film on the internet, Mr. Lobo has produced 62 episodes of ''Criswell Predicts!''<ref>{{cite web|author=Darkstone Entertainment |url=http://vimeo.com/11636849|title=Criswell Predicts! #7 - Community of the Universe on Vimeo|publisher=Vimeo.com|date=10 May 2010|access-date=14 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Darkstone Entertainment |url=http://vimeo.com/11616048|title=Criswell Predicts! #6 - Body Modification on Vimeo|publisher=Vimeo.com|date=10 May 2010|access-date=14 August 2013}}</ref> which is a parody and homage to Criswell's original television program of the same name ''sans'' the exclamation mark.
* In 2013, the song "Criswell Predicts" by pop-punk band Hey Mister! appeared on their EP ''A Trip for Biscuits''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Trip for Biscuits, by Hey Mister! |url=https://hey-mister.bandcamp.com/album/a-trip-for-biscuits |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Hey Mister! |language=en}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb name|0188186|Criswell}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060412123559/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/22973 "Criswell Predicts"]&nbsp;&mdash; ''[[The Onion]]'' A.V. Club, August 11, 1999

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Criswell, Amazing}}
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century apocalypticists]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American psychics]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery]]
[[Category:People from Princeton, Indiana]]
[[Category:Male actors from Indiana]]