Dr. Neff was not only one of the more popular, real life, spook show stage master magicians of the midcentury, he was also the star of his own heroic, golden age Ghostbreaker comicbook stories, debunking and exposing fellow fright frauds, while also pulling assorted ghastly gags of his own to thrill-seeking audiences worldwide. And here's an eerie example from the back pages of the September - October 1952 issue of Racket Squad #3, where he takes on an adversary utilizing their powers of magic for evil, instead of good.
Well, if that's what devil woman with their "hex" (sigh) appeal look like, no wonder Satan has so many souls!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun little tale, and certainly the writer did he research or got it from Dr. Neff himself. It's a good locked door mystery with the normal tricks of the trades for spiritualist of the time. My favorite is the one that got tied to a chair but could slip off their shoe and move objects and ring bells with their toes! I have to say, when money is on the line, people can be pretty inventive.
The ending (with the alarm wire) is a bit of a "as it turns out" but I'll allow it! I love the poster, it's a great spook-show type promotion.
Hey if this turns out to be the last one for October, Happy Halloween my friend, and thanks for keeping this great blog alive.
Ha ha, I love it when Neff whips the mask off that lady in a red dress, and underneath she's a turban-wearing man in a tuxedo. That's some quick change!
ReplyDeleteI really love that Madhouse of Mystery poster. The two-color Hex Appeal twins are the bees' knees!
>love it when Neff whips the mask off that lady
ReplyDeleteNeff is more magical than any of us ever expected! haha
>Hey if this turns out to be the last one for October
Nope, one more haunted hit to go-- stay tombed... thanks everyone! :)