Psychic reads students' minds

By Katelyn Sloane
Collegian Staff
October 11, 2006

La Salle welcomed famous hypnotist and mind reader, Robert Channing, to the stage of the Dan Rodden Theater. Channing believes himself to have a sixth sense known as ESP, or extra-sensory perception.

Channing is known for his series of shows performed on college campuses, in which he demonstrates hypnotism, mind reading abilities and psychic experimentations. Throughout his life, he has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. He is a one-man show who has predictions or “visions.” He offers a $100,000 reward to anyone who can prove that he is assisted in any way.

For his first trick, with the aid of two volunteers, Channing blindfolded himself using seven pieces of duct tape, while sealing a coin over each eye. He then placed a black blindfold over the tape to seal off any aspect of eyesight.

Everyone in the audience took out a dollar bill, and then held it over their heads. Channing’s assistant randomly selected an audience member’s dollar and brought it up to him. Channing then caressed the dollar bill with his palm and foretold that it was a 20 dollar bill. He also predicted the serial number on the back. The audience gasped in amazement.

Channing instructed his volunteers to caress each object over their head as he guessed the exact object without faltering once. He described the colors and sizes of the polka dots on a pair of rain boots and even the texture and brand of a sneaker, without having seen or touched these items. He even guessed that a book placed in front of him was about Superman, describing the colors on the cover and how it referred to a “man of steel.”

“Don’t forget to give that girl her necklace back. I completely forgot about that one,” he said, still blindfolded. Applause filled the theater as everyone sat in amazement.

Every member of the audience had received a three-by- five index card upon entrance into the theater, and for Channing’s last big trick, the audience was finally asked to use them.

Each member was told to write the funniest moment of their lives, a number that’s significant to them, any question he or she wanted answered and a nickname on this index card. It was requested that each member of the audience print, because printing comes from the subconscious.

“You learn to print as a child, and so printing is more honest and open,” he said.

The volunteers collected the index cards, upon permission, and Channing, while still blindfolded, rubbed each card on his head. After pausing for a few seconds, he called out a name or number he believed was on the card, and whoever that information pertained to was asked to stand. He then told the person in the audience everything else that he or she had written on the card, and often either described what that person was wearing or recited the thoughts going through their head. Channing successfully matched dozens of cards with the people who had written on them.

This was Robert Channing’s second performance at La Salle. Once more, the audience was in awe of him, and hopes he will return to La Salle.

“I loved his show. I want to see him again,” sophomore Melissa Palfy said.

sloank1@lasalle.edu