Mel-Roy (George Holly). Mel-Roy Personally Presents His

Mel-Roy (George Holly). Mel-Roy Personally Presents His Sensations of 1933. Kansas City: Quigley Litho. Co., 1933. Full-color portrait of this Dallas-based mind reader and magician who presented an illusion show under canvas for several seasons. Skeletons and demons surround him. 26 3/4 x 40 3/4". Old folds, corners, and minor loss retouched; B+. Scarce. Mel-Roy’s illusion show had its highs and lows, but as a “radio mentalist” – that is, a fortune teller who sold answers to his listeners who wrote him with questions – he truly found his calling. The height of his broadcasting career was reached on the air of XER radio in the border town of Del Rio, Texas, where by one account, “After three weeks on the air the Third Class post office there was rated First Class, and a special truck was required to carry the mail to Mel-Roy’s office. His usual staff numbered 84, the majority of these being typists and secretaries. His payroll per week ranged around $7,000. The largest amount taken in one day was $5,250. An average day’s mail was 17,000 letters, resulting from four 15-minute broadcasts daily.”