Watch CBS News

'The Amazing Kreskin' Visits Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA)- Magician. Mind reader. Mentalist. "The Amazing Kreskin" has worn all of these labels and more, in a career that spans more than 60 years. Sunday's performance at the Strand Theater in Zelienople is one of thousands of shows featuring his astonishing talents.

He has been interviewed by broadcasters ranging from Mike Douglas to David Letterman.

"She must have interviewed me thirty times," he recalled, looking at a photograph of the late KDKA-TV legend, Marie Torre.

Kreskin allows those who book his shows to hide his check anywhere on the premises. The Strand Theater is one of only ten locations, out of 6,000, in which he failed to find it.

"The most-memorable was New Zealand," he said. "I lost $51,000."

Using a card trick, he explains why the reporter chose the one he intended.

"I was able to influence you unconsciously. I projected you to stop at the card I was thinking of. And it would not have worked if you had made up your mind ahead of time."

He says he's helped police solve 84 crimes, but he said there's nothing magic about it.

"Get a feeling, and learn to feel the way that people feel. You'll pick up things about them that you didn't do, by listening or reasoning by sound. People don't listen to each other. We don't hear each other any more, because we listen to a machine that lies on the table."

It doesn't take a mind reader to know what he's talking about.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.