FATE Files Vol. 1 No. 2

"Doc" Shiels chimes in on Uri Geller

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We’re back with our next installment of The FATE Files. Today we’re taking a quick look at a letter sent to FATE’s editors by Tony “Doc” Shiels regarding Uri Geller.

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Tony “Doc” Shiels (he purchased his doctorate for $5) has one of the better obituary headlines you’ll ever read. The Telegraph described him as a “hard-drinking bohemian artist who claimed to have raised the Loch Ness Monster.” Those are big shoes to fill.

“Doc” sent this promo poster to FATE headquarters in the winter of 1974 with a handwritten missive on the back.

Shiels was a magician, a practitioner of “bizarre magic,” and an unconventional monster hunter (is there any other kind?) whose specialty was conjuring sea serpents. He was like the Steven Greer of lake monsters. He claimed he could telepathically call the notoriously fickle creatures to the surface for photo ops.

The photo of Nessie on the far right was taken by Shiels after one of his monster C-SETI sessions at Loch Ness (The Daily Mirror, Sept. 7, 1977)

Shiels was much more than an eccentric cryptozoologist, but since this isn’t a recollection of his life and times, we’ll encourage you to read this, this, or this to learn more about this fascinating artist/magician/trickster. You can also pick up his book, Monstrum, which gives firsthand accounts of his exploits.

For purposes of The FATE Files, we’re more interested in the psychic climate of the 1970s.

It was an era dominated by bent silverware. Famed psychic Uri Geller (side note: we have a ton of correspondence between him and FATE that we’ll be showcasing in future editions) was in high demand after dazzling audiences across the world with his feats and a highly publicized appearance on The Tonight Show.

In January of 1974 Geller was touring Europe to the usual reactions—everything from skepticism to fanaticism—when the last leg of his journey took an alarming turn. On February 3, Geller abruptly canceled his 8-day British itinerary and went into hiding after “serious” threats on his life.

Uri never made the show in Birmingham that night. His tour was subsequently canceled and refunds were given. (Sun Mercury, Feb. 3, 1974)

Of course some saw his exit motivated by other reasons—namely the “tests” he was set to undergo by panels of British scientists bent on getting to the bottom of his abilities.

Which brings us to Doc Shiels.

No, he wasn’t responsible for the mischief that prompted Uri to hightail it out of the UK. Just the opposite. After getting maligned in the British media, Shiels wrote to FATE in support of Geller. His letter was dated March 13, 1974.

We’re not sure what stamps cost in the UK today, but back in 1974 they were 8p. “P” doesn’t mean pennies—it means pences or pounds or quid (backwards “p”) or something silly like that.

Where are the street and/or house numbers? How does the postal person deliver to an address like this? The UK must be so quaint.

Tony Shiels’ letter to FATE’s editors:

Note the nice hand-drawn letterhead done by the good doctor. Any guesses as to its meaning?

Cornwall, March 13th, 1974

Although I know most ‘serious’ ESP researchers wouldn’t touch an ‘entertainer,’ such as myself, with a barge pole, I thought, perhaps, you’d be interested to know that I support Uri Geller 100%—as several British newspapers have recently reported, I, too, have demonstrated the DBA power for various cynical newsmen.

Best Wishes,

Tony Shiels

If anyone knows what “DBA” meant in Tony’s letter, let us know in the comments below.

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