Reincarnation cocktail

[salvorhardin]

I just finished reading Mitch Horowitz's book Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation. It's not the most exciting of reads, unless you're really into the history of the occult and paranormal but I liked it quite a bit. It was fascinating to see the degree to which American culture both shaped, and was shaped by, occult beliefs. Plus there were a lot of fascinating bits of historical trivia.

For instance, Kenneth Arnold, the private pilot whose 1947 report of nine disc shaped objects flying over Mt. Rainier kicked off the Atomic Age obsession with UFOs, also had a celebrity endorsement gig hawking dandruff shampoo! It was called TURN-ERS , and ads for it ran in pulp magazines with the tagline "Because Ken’s no sissy, and he doesn’t put perfume on his hair."

Another fascinating thing I learned is that while reincarnation wasn't unheard of in the U.S., it wasn't until the mid-1950s with the publication of The Search For Bridey Murphy that it became a national craze. In 1952 Colorado businessman and amateur hypnotist Morey Bernstein hypnotized Pueblo, CO housewife Virginia Tighe who then recounted her previous life as a 19th C. Irishwoman.

Naturally, Bernstein wrote her story up as a book, which was very quickly turned into a movie, and the entire nation just went nuts for reincarnation! Quoting Horowitz:

"Suddenly, reincarnation—an ancient Hindu concept about which Americans had heard little before World War II—was the latest craze. In 1956, Life magazine wrote of past-life costume soirees called Come as You Were parties. A popular joke made the rounds: Did you hear the one about the man who read Bridey Murphy and changed his will? He left everything to himself. Books on occultism, hypnosis, and reincarnation were suddenly mainstream hits. “It’s the hottest thing since Norman Vincent Peale,” reported a Houston bookseller. Melvin Powers, a pioneering New Age publisher in Los Angeles, saw sales on some of his titles multiply twenty-five times."

There were parody songs, Stan Freberg satirized Bridey Murphy, dances, and even a Reincarnation cocktail. Here's the recipe from the March 19, 1956 issue of Life magazine:

"It consists of a jigger of vodka and a 1/2 jigger of maraschino liqueur shaken with lemon juice and crushed ice and topped with cupful of flaming rum."

That article also mentioned an "Ectoplasm Punch" but, alas, no recipe was given. I guess my hopes for hosting an authentic "Come As You Were" party have run aground the shoals of time.

Anyway, I don't know why, but I just find that kind of thing endlessly fascinating. Thought there might be some denizens of DU who might enjoy it too, if only for the cocktail recipe. Based on the photo (below, right), it looks quite elaborate so I don't think I'll be making it soon but it sure sounds tasty though!

[FSogol]

1. Actually Reincarnation was a popular theme of the Spiritualist Movement

It started in the 1840s and was popular among the upper classes in New York and London. It was mostly discredited and the fad was over by the late 1920s.

Cecil Adams wrote a column on Murphy:
http://tinyurl.com/6xhecud

[salvorhardin]

2. Yes

Horowitz's book is a comprehensive history of occult and spiritualist movements in the U.S. and talks a great deal about that. However, until Bridey Murphy probably less than 10% of the nation had ever heard of reincarnation. Bridey Murphy popularized the concept and made it a household word.

[sorcrow]

3. That recipe?

I hope the real recipe was for a capful of flaming rum. A cupful seems like a waste of good rum....

Regards,
Crow

[salvorhardin]

6. It may be a misprint

But if you look at the photo, it certainly looks like he's setting a small cup of rum on fire!

[damntexdem]

4. I've never actually believed in reincarnation.

Not even in any of my past lives. ;-)

[salvorhardin]

5. +1

:D

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Yes. And I've always added that we Libras

don't believe in astrology.