The Spoon
by Maura Currie
Strangers,
In the hearts and minds of many, psychic Uri Geller is proof of the impossible; of magic, and of extra sensory experiences. He is a gateway to the unexplainable and the extraordinary.
Of course, to many others, Geller epitomizes the concept of "snake oil." His alleged gifts of ESP and telekinesis enjoyed the interest of the CIA, and the endorsement of real, high-caliber scientists (many of whom later withdrew their academic support). The spoon-bending and mind-reading that made him famous have since, of course, segued into somewhat less glitzy second careers as a QVC jewelry peddler, TV personality, and museum curator. In any case, though, Geller clearly is aware of -- and to a large extent indebted to -- his onscreen charisma.