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Cris Johnson's Spooky Library Programs
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Adult Library Program · 60 Minutes · Any Room, Any Size
Twenty years ago, someone asked me how I got my powers.
- Adults
- 60 minutes
- Fits your smallest meeting room
They weren’t joking. I’d just finished a mind reading show — for a room full of other entertainers — and one of them waited until the end to ask me, quietly and seriously, where the ability came from.
That question is the reason this program exists.
Check my October dates What your guests will see
Or call me directly — (716) 940-8963
Said out loud, on your stage
The honest part, up front
Nothing I do in this program is accomplished with supernatural abilities. I’ll say that on your stage, out loud, in the first few minutes — the same way I’m saying it here.
That isn’t a disclaimer buried in the fine print. It’s the whole point of the evening.
Because the interesting question was never “is it real?” The interesting question is: how did these people convince millions of intelligent, skeptical, grieving human beings that it was?
Your guests will get a taste of exactly what made true believers out of the witnesses who sat in those rooms a century ago. And they’ll leave knowing how it was done — which is a far more unsettling feeling than being fooled.
Why this fills a room
Adults will come — if you give them the right reason
Are you looking for ways to draw more adults into your library?
Adults will happily come to your library if you offer the right program. The trouble is that most performers either only do kids’ shows, or their subject matter simply doesn’t appeal to a grown-up audience. So the adult slot on your calendar stays a lecture, or stays empty.
This one appeals to adults, and it does it on a subject almost nobody can resist.
The supposed mind-reading abilities of psychics satisfies a strong wish fulfilment in adults. And the ability of mediums to commune with the dead is a powerful way to give people closure — or hope for departed loved ones.
But is direct mind-to-mind contact possible? Can we really contact the departed?
The problem is simple: even if these abilities were real, the field is littered with frauds. There have always been people looking to take advantage of our deepest desires — to know what our futures hold, or to reach someone we’ve lost and hear that they made it to the other side.
As a mystery performer, I’m still amazed at how badly people want to believe.
Who your guests will meet
The people in the program
Since that night twenty years ago, I’ve spent decades researching past psychics, their methods, and the lengths mediums would go to in order to prove their abilities. I’ve collected the best of it into one evening.
I reach as far back as Nostradamus and as recently as Sylvia Browne:
- Uri Geller — the inexplicable spoon and fork bending that convinced a generation
- Jean Dixon — and the astrological readings that reached the White House
- Edgar Cayce — the sleeping prophet, and his supposed knowledge of the future
- Cora Scott — spirit communication in front of packed halls
- The Fox Sisters — the humble rappings, started right here in New York, that launched the entire Spiritualism movement
- Thomas Edison — who was riveted by the idea of communing with those who have passed on
I bring photographs of all of them, so your guests see the faces as well as hearing the stories.
What happens in the room
The evening, in six questions
“Psychics & Mediums” is a 60-minute historical demonstration. Your guests hear the stories — and then I demonstrate the actual techniques these supposed supernatural experts used to work their magic.
- How did Uri Geller convince millions of people he had psychic metal-bending powers?
- How did Sylvia Browne’s “visions” convince her followers she was genuine?
- How did the famed “Question & Answer Act” convince sitters that psychics could tell their fortunes?
- Why was Thomas Edison convinced we could commune with the departed?
- How did the Fox Sisters convince millions of followers they could speak with the dead?
- Are your guests ready to witness supposed physical proof of spirit communication?
After delving into the lives of history’s most colourful mediums, your group witnesses the same kinds of demonstrations those mediums used to show their sitters that the spirits were present.
The hairs will raise on the backs of their necks as contact with the afterlife is apparently made.
And your guests won’t just watch. They’ll be involved. Some may be too frightened to join in.
Nothing here is supernatural. That’s what makes it frightening.
Adults · 60 minutes · fits the coziest meeting room you have
Why this one
Of everything I’ve built, this one took the longest
Of all the programs I’ve created, this is the one I’ve spent the most time researching.
Starting in my teen years, I’ve spent decades convincing people I have strange powers. Most of my library clients have never seen these demonstrations anywhere else — they aren’t the tricks that turn up at parties. They’re the ones that emptied bank accounts and started religions.
Your guests will be astounded. And they’ll talk about it for months afterward.
“Psychics & Mediums” is also perfect for a library specifically, for a reason that has nothing to do with the show: it sends people looking. Every name in the program has a shelf of books behind it, and your patrons will want to do their own research. They’ll be back.
Proof
What librarians and media specialists say about Cris Johnson’s adult programs
“There are typically two types of programs — ones that are interesting and ones that are fun. This was that rare experience of being both. Everyone left engaged and happy.”
Patrick MontanaroLibrary Director
Ogden Farmers’ Library, Spencerport, NY
“Cris was a very self-sufficient and flexible performer. The audience was very engaged and entertained, with several true shocks and surprises. Great mix of history, surprises, and the supernatural.”
Kirstra OttoLibrarian
Greece Public Library, Greece, NY
“I loved your program — it was a great mix of spooky and fascinating and informational. The patrons loved it, too! The props were amazing! I was thinking about them all weekend.”
Amy HendersonAdult Services Librarian
Irondequoit Public Library, Rochester, NY
“This was one of our most popular programs of the year! Our patrons enjoyed the audience participation and were very happy with the program. Highly entertaining and educational. Thank you so much!”
Carol Ellen Kowalik-HappyLibrarian
Olean Public Library, Olean, NY
“It was mind-boggling — I don’t know how you did what you did! It was awesome, I loved it!”
Stacy WicksallLibrary Director
Macedon Public Library, Macedon, NY
“It was a great performance! He kept me wondering what was next! Cris was very knowledgeable. I thought it was very interesting and informative.”
Nancy RaymondLibrary Director
Genesee Public Library, Little Genesee, NY
“Fascinating history of sites, regardless of whether you believe in ghosts or not! Great thrills and scares!”
Theresa StrebLibrary Director
Lyons Public Library, Lyons, NY
“WOW! Totally awesome show — our audience was blown away! Also learned quite a bit about some historical facts. I recommend for libraries to have Cris Johnson come and present a show.”
Kate PuehnLibrarian
Elma Library, Elma, NY
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Easy to host
The easiest adult program you’ll book this year.
- I bring everything — the photographs, the props, and every demonstration.
- The only thing I need from your library is a place to present. That’s genuinely it.
- Designed to fit the coziest of meeting rooms — this show doesn’t need a stage, a platform, or a big room to work.
- Works for any size audience, from a dozen people to a full hall.
- Fast set-up, and I work around your schedule.
- Poster and a customized press release to publicize the event.
- No deposits. Ever.
The no-risk part
If you don’t feel I delivered an amazing evening, I return your check — and I donate $500 to your library.
In over 20 years of full-time professional work, performing 200+ shows a year, no one has ever taken me up on it.
Book it
October always sells out.
That’s when most clients want “Psychics & Mediums,” and there are only so many October evenings in a year.
Call me at (716) 940-8963 — that’s my cell number — or email [email protected] right away to lock in your preferred date.
An Adult Library Program on Psychics & Mediums for the Northeast
Adult library programming gets a standout evening with Cris Johnson’s exploration of psychics, mediums, and the paranormal — history, mystery, and eye-opening demonstrations rolled into one. Libraries throughout New York and Pennsylvania book it to fill the calendar with something genuinely different for grown-up audiences. A memorable night that gets people talking.