Why does the Amazing Kreskin keep sending me Christmas cards?

This is an unlikely Christmas story. It involves CBC Radio's As It Happens, the Amazing Kreskin, thousands of Christmas cards — and me. 

It began back in May of 2009, when I was working as a radio producer at the radio show As It Happens. I was responsible for finding and booking guests to come on-air to speak with host Carol Off. The Amazing Kreskin had a new book out at the time, and I thought that was a great reason to book him for an in-person interview. 

Kreskin is a world-renowned mentalist who rose to popularity in the 1970s when his series The Amazing World of Kreskin was broadcast across Canada and syndicated in the U.S. He also made numerous appearances on talk shows, appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson an estimated 88 times. 

When describing his work as a mentalist, he has written: "I dramatize and demonstrate the mental abilities that are untapped in most people." 

For the grand finale of the interview, Kreskin read Carol's thoughts. The demonstration involved Kreskin's watch — he was able to correctly determine the time Carol was focusing on.

"I use the term mentalist because what I do deals with how people think," Kreskin explained. "It isn't a magic act. The essence of what I do is capturing the mind." 

Kreskin first captured my mind when I was a kid through his popular TV series. It was a thrill to meet him in person, even all those years later. He was friendly, charismatic, and eccentric — exactly what you'd expect from a celebrity mentalist. 

An unexpected delivery

Seven months after the interview aired, I got something in the mail: it was a Christmas card from the Amazing Kreskin. After showing it to all my colleagues at As It Happens, I took the card home to display on my mantle, you know, to make sure Santa could see it.

But the story doesn't end there. Since that interview aired, I have received a Christmas card from the Amazing Kreskin every single year, for more than a decade. 

They're always beautifully printed with the lettering in a delicate cursive font. The verse usually reflects on the meaning of Christmas and the holidays. 

There's nothing that would really indicate that the card comes from a celebrity mentalist. However, one year part of the verse read, "My best thoughts for an ESPecially Happy New Year" – a season's greeting that quietly made mention of the extrasensory powers of the mind.

The cards have become a pleasant part of my holiday ritual. But I began to wonder, "If he's sending me an annual card, a guy who booked him for an interview a decade ago, who else is on Kreskin's Christmas card list?" 

A quick search on social media revealed many people who get cards from Kreskin, including some of my CBC colleagues. 

Heather Barrett, who was a CBC host and producer in St. John's, got on Kreskin's mailing list much the same way I did: by booking him for an interview on the local radio noon show. 

Heather says she thought of it as "a really gentlemanly thing to do, to follow up a normal everyday work transaction with a Christmas card." 

She too has gotten a card every year since. 

It's not just journalists who get these cards. Musicians Lizzie Shanks and Brandon Scott Besharah share a very unique connection to Kreskin. They wrote a tribute song for Kreskin 22 years ago called The Amazing. 

Kreskin apparently loved the quirky song with lines like "Can I have this trance?" and references to "supersonic ESP." In fact, Kreskin ended up opening for their band Besharah at the release of their album Cereal Suits at Toronto's Glenn Gould Studio in 1998. 

Lizzie and Brandon always appreciate the yearly reminder of their connection to Kreskin. "In a world, I think, where people are disposable and our relationships are very fleeting," explains Lizzie , "it's so nice to have someone do something that just remembers a bit of the past."

Brandon  explains what happens when he mentions that he gets Christmas cards from Kreskin: "People go, 'What?' and I say, 'Yeah, this is what he does.'"

This is what he does. At a time when people send fewer and fewer Christmas cards, Kreskin not only continues to send them, but continues to add to his mailing list year after year. 

A unique Christmas card club

When I did that search on social media for "Kreskin Christmas cards," I found dozens of people who posted about these cards — every single one of them, proud to be a member of this unique Christmas card club. 

This year I decided that there was one person I still really wanted to talk to about these cards, someone I really needed to thank. 

I decided to get in touch with the Amazing Kreskin. It was easy to get in touch with his manager but I didn't know what he would think when I put in a request to interview Kreskin about sending cards. But he got back to me right away and assured me that Kreskin would love the idea.  

Now 85 years old, Kreskin was more than happy to talk to me about Christmas cards. He told me that he sends out an astounding 2,000 cards every year.  

I asked him why he mails out so many and he told me: "Because I love the holidays and the people who in different ways have touched my life, as you have. I don't forget people. I really don't."

A very personal connection

Kreskin's cards are professionally printed, and I always assumed I was on a big mailing list. Yet the cards have always felt very personal to me and seem to connect with me in a powerful way. Now I understand why. 

"I look at every single card before it goes out," he said. "It takes weeks, because in so many cases, I'll think of something about the person. I remember that the person had had this interest in their life. I wonder if it came about." 

Kreskin told me he believes that Christmas cards can reawaken memories and experiences. I find the idea of Kreskin taking a look at my card and recalling the time we met more than a decade ago very touching. 

 After speaking with Kreskin, I took another look at all the cards he's sent me over the years. I came across one that read: "There is something about actually holding a card — enabling one to pause and experience for a few quiet moments the joy and inner peace of Christmas." I totally agree.  

I suggest you take the time to send a card to someone you haven't been in touch with for a while. I'm no mentalist, but I know they'll be amazed to hear from you. 

About the Producer

Kent Hoffman has worn many different hats at CBC Radio working on many programs including Spark, White Coat Black Art, Outfront and As It Happens. His radio philosophy is the same as the late Eddie Van Halen's music philosophy: If it sounds good — it is good.