Knowledge (XXG)

Guy Lyon Playfair

Source 📝

359:
and was fooled by Geller's tricks. According to Harris "Mr Playfair turns out to be a weak observer due to his own misplaced confidence in his abilities as an observer ... rushes along crucifying the skeptics, the magicians and almost anyone who has questioned the Geller myth."
371:
Michael Goss wrote "Playfair provides little evidence to support the existence of paranormal powers. His main theory boils down to the fact that, because so many people imitate spoonbending, someone with real paranormal abilities must have started it off."
243:(1980) that an "entity" was to blame for the Enfield disturbances, he often doubted the children's veracity and wondered if they were playing tricks and exaggerating. Still, Grosse and Playfair believed that even though some of the alleged 380:
wrote "a shade credulous in some areas, but its value as a most capable scrutiny of a classic modern haunting makes it an indispensable addition to the relatively sparse literature of full-scale poltergeist investigation in the field."
262:
has written "As a magician experienced in the dynamics of trickery, I have carefully examined Playfair's lengthy account of the disturbances at Enfield and have concluded that they are best explained as children's pranks."
287:
As well as investigating other cases of poltergeists and hauntings he also conducted experiments with mediums and investigated claims of psychokinesis and metal-bending. Playfair was described as a "devoted believer in
355:, shows step-by-step photographs and explains the process bending keys and cutlery by trick methods. In reviewing Playfair and Geller's book, Harris concluded Playfair was not an experienced observer of 279:
which dramatises the Enfield case and, according to Playfair, greatly exaggerates the Warrens' involvement. Despite his involvement in the case, Playfair does not feature as a character in the film.
895: 1093: 1036: 192:
that he first became interested in the paranormal, following direct experience with a psychic healer. In 1973 he investigated a poltergeist outbreak in a private apartment in
182: 273:
also visited the Enfield house in 1978. Playfair claimed that the Warrens did not truly investigate the case, and expressed frustration with the 2016 film
135: 1186: 1127: 1181: 1176: 820: 768: 530: 468: 1206: 496: 864: 1088: 1031: 688: 543: 522: 509: 489: 460: 447: 434: 411: 398: 1196: 1201: 1015: 942: 740: 661: 197: 591: 1191: 1071: 567: 1211: 169:
where he worked for the next 10 years as a freelance journalist for a number of international business magazines,
373: 603: 147: 896:"Conjuring the Truth: Enfield Poltergeist Investigator Says Ed and Lorraine Warren Never Investigated Case" 270: 810: 1216: 311:
He was also particularly interested in cases of telepathy between identical twins, publishing the book
1171: 1166: 228: 119: 790: 705: 348:
criticised Playfair's endorsement of Geller and described him as a "hack writer on the occult".
1011: 938: 816: 764: 736: 684: 657: 539: 526: 518: 505: 492: 485: 464: 456: 443: 430: 407: 394: 139: 785: 219:, was published in 1976. He then famously investigated the Enfield poltergeist case in 1977. 143: 1097: 1075: 1040: 872: 717: 356: 340:
wrote "Many books misuse science to gull the reader (and, perhaps the author as well, and
275: 159: 151: 733:
The Indefinite Boundary: an investigation into the relationship between matter and spirit
627: 958: 972: 426: 368: 345: 232: 212: 166: 115: 103: 654:
The Flying Cow: Research into paranormal phenomena in the world's most psychic country
247:
activity was faked by the girls, other incidents were genuine. Playfair's belief that
1160: 849: 336: 318:
He was active in psychical research until shortly before his death on 8 April 2018.
207:, on the subject of Brazilian paranormal phenomena, including events connected with 1133: 479: 331: 252: 208: 114:(5 April 1935 – 8 April 2018) was a British writer, best known for his books about 193: 1143: 678: 259: 248: 244: 181:
and Associated Press. He also served for four years with the press corps of the
474: 298: 289: 267: 1066: 303: 353:
Gellerism Revealed: The Psychology and Methodology Behind the Geller Effect
251:
are disembodied, mischievous spirits influenced the paranormal research of
236: 986: 189: 131: 60: 43: 1151: 424:
This House Is Haunted: The Investigation of the Enfield Poltergeist.
606:
Leslie Shepard, Lewis Spence, Nandor Fodor – 1991 – 2008 – Page 655
418:
The Cycles of Heaven: Cosmic Forces and What They Are Doing to You.
515:
New Clothes for Old Souls: World Wide Evidence for Reincarnation.
146:. He was educated in England and studied modern languages at the 991: 296:. He was a "psychic consultant" for the infamous BBC production 155: 150:. After completing National Service as a translator with the 138:, he was one of two sons of British Army officer and writer 812:
The Science of Ghosts: searching for spirits of the dead
761:
This House Is Haunted: The True Story of a Poltergeist
241:
This House Is Haunted: The True Story of a Poltergeist
200:
the same year. He was elected to its council in 2004.
1113:. The Contemporary Review. Volume 237. 1980. p. 166. 158:, he pursued a career in journalism and working for 568:"GUY LYON PLAYFAIR (1935 – 2018) – Obituary Notice" 227:Playfair is most famous for his endorsement of the 99: 91: 83: 75: 67: 50: 30: 23: 330:expressed his admiration for the Brazilian medium 231:. He investigated the case alongside the inventor 604:Encyclopedia of occultism & parapsychology 854:. Skeptical Inquirer. Volume 36. August 2012. 628:"Guy Lyon Playfair (1935 – 2018) | spr.ac.uk" 292:" and collaborated with him on the 1986 book 8: 592:Creeping Flesh: The Horror Fantasy Film Book 351:The magician Ben Harris, author of the book 306:night 1992 on BBC One in the United Kingdom. 921:Forbidden Knowledge: The Paranormal Paradox 484:Grafton, Jonathan Cape, Hunter Publishing, 561: 559: 235:in 1977. Although Playfair maintained the 20: 933:Geller, Uri; Lyon Playfair, Guy (1986). 865:"Monster Talk - The Enfield Poltergeist" 239:was genuine and wrote in his later book 1078:. The Skeptic. Volume 7 number 1. 1987. 555: 502:Twin Telepathy: the Psychic Connection, 344:is just one more)". The science writer 215:was published in 1975. His second book 183:US Agency for International Development 1008:Twin Telepathy: the Psychic Connection 713: 703: 313:Twin Telepathy: the Psychic Connection 7: 754: 752: 622: 620: 618: 616: 614: 612: 536:Chico Xavier, Medium of the Century. 1033:The Flying Cow by Guy Lyon Playfair 837:Colin Wilson: The Man and His Mind 735:. United Kingdom: Souvenir Press. 680:The Flying Cow - Guy Lyon Playfair 656:. United Kingdom: Souvenir Press. 14: 1152:http://www.enfieldhaunting.co.uk/ 1056:. Prometheus Books. 1983. p. 362. 973:"Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains" 923:. Lutterworth Press. 1988. p. 62. 763:. United Kingdom: Stein and Day. 517:Druze Heritage Foundation, 2006, 420:St. Martin’s Press, New York 1978 165:. In the early 1960s he moved to 1100:. New Scientist 6 November 1986. 393:Panther Books, St. Albans 1977, 376:in a review for Playfair's book 209:Francisco Candido 'Chico' Xavier 871:. 8 March 2017. Archived from 594:David Kerekes – 2003 – Page 61 198:Society for Psychical Research 1: 1187:British expatriates in Brazil 1068:Book Review The Geller Effect 1043:. New Scientist 3 April 1975. 894:Newkirk, Greg (1 July 2016). 538:Roundtable Publishing, 2010, 118:and his investigation of the 1182:21st-century British writers 1177:20th-century British writers 784:Nickell, Joe (August 2012). 1109:Whittington-Egan, Richard. 1006:Lyon Playfair, Guy (2002). 759:Lyon Playfair, Guy (1980). 731:Lyon Playfair, Guy (1976). 258:The sceptical investigator 1233: 959:"Why I love... Ghostwatch" 1207:British parapsychologists 652:Lyon Playfair, G (1975). 1074:26 February 2014 at the 839:. Element. 1990. p. 206. 404:The Indefinite Boundary. 374:Richard Whittington-Egan 71:Parapsychologist, author 217:The Indefinite Boundary 148:University of Cambridge 1197:English occult writers 1090:After the spoonbending 440:The Haunted Pub Guide. 271:Ed and Lorraine Warren 95:Non-fiction, biography 1202:English spiritualists 1111:This House is Haunted 809:Nickell, Joe (2012). 786:"Enfield Poltergeist" 677:Google Books (2011). 455:Jonathan Cape, 1985, 406:Panther Books, 1977, 385:Selected bibliography 378:This House is Haunted 815:. Prometheus Books. 1192:English journalists 1096:6 June 2023 at the 1039:3 June 2023 at the 987:"Guy Lyon Playfair" 851:Enfield Poltergeist 229:Enfield poltergeist 223:Enfield poltergeist 203:In his first book, 126:Early life and work 120:Enfield poltergeist 1212:People from Quetta 1054:Order and Surprise 791:Skeptical Inquirer 716:has generic name ( 572:europaranormal.com 391:The Unknown Power. 334:. A review in the 1144:Guy Lyon Playfair 1052:Gardner, Martin. 935:The Gellar Effect 822:978-1-61614-586-6 770:978-0-7387-1867-5 531:978-1-904850-09-0 480:The Geller Effect 469:978-0-224-02338-2 453:If This Be Magic. 416:with Scott Hill: 365:The Geller Effect 294:The Geller Effect 196:, and joined the 140:I. S. O. Playfair 112:Guy Lyon Playfair 109: 108: 25:Guy Lyon Playfair 1224: 1114: 1107: 1101: 1085: 1079: 1063: 1057: 1050: 1044: 1030:Hanlon, Joseph. 1028: 1022: 1021: 1010:. London: Vega. 1003: 997: 996: 983: 977: 976: 969: 963: 962: 955: 949: 948: 930: 924: 917: 911: 910: 908: 906: 891: 885: 884: 882: 880: 875:on 21 April 2021 861: 855: 846: 840: 835:Dossor, Howard. 833: 827: 826: 806: 800: 799: 781: 775: 774: 756: 747: 746: 728: 722: 721: 715: 711: 709: 701: 699: 697: 674: 668: 667: 649: 643: 642: 640: 638: 624: 607: 601: 595: 589: 583: 582: 580: 578: 563: 369:parapsychologist 363:In a review for 326:Playfair's book 57: 40: 38: 21: 1232: 1231: 1227: 1226: 1225: 1223: 1222: 1221: 1157: 1156: 1123: 1118: 1117: 1108: 1104: 1098:Wayback Machine 1087:Goss, Michael. 1086: 1082: 1076:Wayback Machine 1064: 1060: 1051: 1047: 1041:Wayback Machine 1029: 1025: 1018: 1005: 1004: 1000: 985: 984: 980: 971: 970: 966: 957: 956: 952: 945: 932: 931: 927: 918: 914: 904: 902: 893: 892: 888: 878: 876: 863: 862: 858: 847: 843: 834: 830: 823: 808: 807: 803: 783: 782: 778: 771: 758: 757: 750: 743: 730: 729: 725: 712: 702: 695: 693: 691: 676: 675: 671: 664: 651: 650: 646: 636: 634: 626: 625: 610: 602: 598: 590: 586: 576: 574: 565: 564: 557: 552: 427:Stein & Day 387: 357:sleight of hand 324: 302:which aired on 285: 276:The Conjuring 2 225: 152:Royal Air Force 128: 59: 55: 42: 36: 34: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1230: 1228: 1220: 1219: 1214: 1209: 1204: 1199: 1194: 1189: 1184: 1179: 1174: 1169: 1159: 1158: 1155: 1154: 1149: 1141: 1138:Fortean Times, 1122: 1121:External links 1119: 1116: 1115: 1102: 1080: 1058: 1045: 1023: 1016: 998: 978: 975:. 19 May 2015. 964: 950: 943: 925: 919:Couttie, Bob. 912: 886: 856: 848:Nickell, Joe. 841: 828: 821: 801: 776: 769: 748: 741: 723: 689: 669: 662: 644: 608: 596: 584: 566:Murdie, Alan. 554: 553: 551: 548: 547: 546: 533: 512: 499: 497:978-0586074305 471: 450: 437: 421: 414: 401: 386: 383: 346:Martin Gardner 342:The Flying Cow 328:The Flying Cow 323: 320: 284: 281: 233:Maurice Grosse 224: 221: 205:The Flying Cow 167:Rio de Janeiro 127: 124: 116:parapsychology 107: 106: 104:Parapsychology 101: 97: 96: 93: 89: 88: 85: 81: 80: 77: 73: 72: 69: 65: 64: 58:(aged 83) 52: 48: 47: 32: 28: 27: 24: 16:British writer 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1229: 1218: 1215: 1213: 1210: 1208: 1205: 1203: 1200: 1198: 1195: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1164: 1162: 1153: 1150: 1148: 1145: 1142: 1139: 1135: 1131: 1129: 1125: 1124: 1120: 1112: 1106: 1103: 1099: 1095: 1092: 1091: 1084: 1081: 1077: 1073: 1070: 1069: 1065:Harris, Ben. 1062: 1059: 1055: 1049: 1046: 1042: 1038: 1035: 1034: 1027: 1024: 1019: 1013: 1009: 1002: 999: 994: 993: 988: 982: 979: 974: 968: 965: 960: 954: 951: 946: 940: 936: 929: 926: 922: 916: 913: 901: 900:Week in Weird 897: 890: 887: 874: 870: 866: 860: 857: 853: 852: 845: 842: 838: 832: 829: 824: 818: 814: 813: 805: 802: 797: 793: 792: 787: 780: 777: 772: 766: 762: 755: 753: 749: 744: 738: 734: 727: 724: 719: 707: 692: 690:9781907661945 686: 682: 681: 673: 670: 665: 659: 655: 648: 645: 633: 632:www.spr.ac.uk 629: 623: 621: 619: 617: 615: 613: 609: 605: 600: 597: 593: 588: 585: 573: 569: 562: 560: 556: 549: 545: 544:0-9564493-1-X 541: 537: 534: 532: 528: 524: 523:1-904850-09-X 520: 516: 513: 511: 510:1-84333-686-3 507: 503: 500: 498: 494: 491: 490:0-586-07430-9 487: 483: 481: 476: 472: 470: 466: 462: 461:0-224-02338-1 458: 454: 451: 449: 448:0-245-54255-8 445: 441: 438: 436: 435:0-8128-2732-5 432: 428: 425: 422: 419: 415: 413: 412:0-586-04638-0 409: 405: 402: 400: 399:0-586-04235-0 396: 392: 389: 388: 384: 382: 379: 375: 370: 366: 361: 358: 354: 349: 347: 343: 339: 338: 337:New Scientist 333: 329: 321: 319: 316: 314: 309: 308: 305: 301: 300: 295: 291: 282: 280: 278: 277: 272: 269: 268:demonologists 266:The American 264: 261: 256: 254: 250: 246: 242: 238: 234: 230: 222: 220: 218: 214: 210: 206: 201: 199: 195: 191: 186: 184: 180: 176: 172: 171:The Economist 168: 164: 162: 157: 153: 149: 145: 144:Jocelyn Malan 142:and novelist 141: 137: 136:British India 133: 125: 123: 121: 117: 113: 105: 102: 98: 94: 90: 86: 82: 78: 74: 70: 66: 62: 53: 49: 45: 33: 29: 22: 19: 1217:Poltergeists 1146: 1140:January 2003 1137: 1134:Stephen Volk 1126: 1110: 1105: 1089: 1083: 1067: 1061: 1053: 1048: 1032: 1026: 1007: 1001: 990: 981: 967: 953: 934: 928: 920: 915: 903:. Retrieved 899: 889: 877:. Retrieved 873:the original 868: 859: 850: 844: 836: 831: 811: 804: 795: 789: 779: 760: 732: 726: 694:. Retrieved 679: 672: 653: 647: 635:. Retrieved 631: 599: 587: 575:. Retrieved 571: 535: 514: 504:Vega, 2002, 501: 478: 452: 439: 423: 417: 403: 390: 377: 364: 362: 352: 350: 341: 335: 332:Chico Xavier 327: 325: 317: 312: 310: 307: 297: 293: 286: 274: 265: 257: 253:Colin Wilson 249:poltergeists 240: 226: 216: 204: 202: 187: 179:The Guardian 178: 174: 170: 160: 129: 111: 110: 87:Contemporary 56:(2018-04-08) 54:8 April 2018 41:5 April 1935 18: 1172:2018 deaths 1167:1935 births 1147:Answers.com 1132:article by 869:MonsterTalk 714:|last= 260:Joe Nickell 245:poltergeist 76:Nationality 1161:Categories 1128:Ghostwatch 1017:1843336863 944:0224023748 742:0285622048 663:0285621602 550:References 475:Uri Geller 299:Ghostwatch 290:Uri Geller 283:Later life 188:It was in 68:Occupation 37:1935-04-05 706:cite book 322:Reception 315:in 2002. 304:Halloween 194:São Paulo 63:, England 1094:Archived 1072:Archived 1037:Archived 937:. Cape. 905:21 April 879:21 April 798:: 12–14. 696:21 April 637:21 April 577:11 April 429:, 1980, 237:haunting 213:Zé Arigó 163:magazine 130:Born in 100:Subject 79:British 46:, India 1014:  941:  819:  767:  739:  687:  660:  542:  529:  521:  508:  495:  488:  467:  459:  446:  442:1985, 433:  410:  397:  190:Brazil 132:Quetta 84:Period 61:London 44:Quetta 473:with 92:Genre 1012:ISBN 992:IMDb 939:ISBN 907:2021 881:2021 817:ISBN 765:ISBN 737:ISBN 718:help 698:2021 685:ISBN 658:ISBN 639:2021 579:2018 540:ISBN 527:ISBN 525:and 519:ISBN 506:ISBN 493:ISBN 486:ISBN 465:ISBN 463:and 457:ISBN 444:ISBN 431:ISBN 408:ISBN 395:ISBN 367:the 211:and 175:Time 161:Life 156:Iraq 51:Died 31:Born 1136:in 154:in 1163:: 989:. 898:. 867:. 796:36 794:. 788:. 751:^ 710:: 708:}} 704:{{ 683:. 630:. 611:^ 570:. 558:^ 477:: 255:. 185:. 177:, 173:, 134:, 122:. 1130:, 1020:. 995:. 961:. 947:. 909:. 883:. 825:. 773:. 745:. 720:) 700:. 666:. 641:. 581:. 482:. 39:) 35:(

Index

Quetta
London
Parapsychology
parapsychology
Enfield poltergeist
Quetta
British India
I. S. O. Playfair
Jocelyn Malan
University of Cambridge
Royal Air Force
Iraq
Life magazine
Rio de Janeiro
US Agency for International Development
Brazil
São Paulo
Society for Psychical Research
Francisco Candido 'Chico' Xavier
Zé Arigó
Enfield poltergeist
Maurice Grosse
haunting
poltergeist
poltergeists
Colin Wilson
Joe Nickell
demonologists
Ed and Lorraine Warren
The Conjuring 2

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.