Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

. HILA MORGAN“
MONDAY. JULY 1'7
7
In 1948 she enrolled at the University of California to
study rehabilitation of the deaf. She returned to
Houston and started a school for the deaf in her home.
Before her death in the early 1960s. she endeared
herself to Texans. as Mrs. Fred Wilcox. a lady very
active in the Houston Hearing Society. But to
midwesterners. she was Hila Morgan. actress and
Entertainer. who brought glamour and dreams to small
townsfolk for one glorious week each year.
Admittance ticket to the Hila Morgan tent show.
(Photo submitted by Jo Russell)
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One of the last hypnotists to present a stage show in
Anamosa was the Great Kinna during the week of April
16. 1939. Considered one of the finest acts of its kind.
the Niles Theater engaged the act to entertain the
patrons of the theater and the community.
Kirma. age 32. though billed as a Hindu. was in
reality born in Bombay. India; the son of an English
Army Officer and an American lady residing there.
He reportedly learned his psychic art from the native
tribes of Ghandi.
Kirma rarely played anywhere but larger cities. but
the week of April 16 happened to be an ‘off week. with
no billings scheduled. so the Niles Theater felt
fortunate in being able to book the performance.
The mystic's acts on the stage consisted of answering
questions by members of the audience. without first
seeing the questions. His work was said to be ‘fast.
snappy. and amazing to a degree‘.
On Monday. Kirrna started the first of a series of
demonstrations by driving an Allis-Chalmers tractor
through Main Street while blindfolded. It was noted
that cars and tractors held no terror for the blindfolded
mentalist. as in other towns he had piloted steam
launches. ridden motorcycles and even flown airplanes
while blindfolded and guided only by his ‘sixth sense‘)
Kirrrra's main attraction consisted of a woman who.
in a hypnotic state. would remain immobile in public
view for 30 hours.
Prior to this demonstration. he made several stops
around town. stopping at various business places.
These stops included McMickle Drugs. where he
painted a chair in the window while blindfolded:
Electrical Service Co.. where he inspected the Philco
radio to be used in his hypnotic demonstration; the
Anamosa Creamery. who was furnishing milk for the
sleeping subject: HO-Made Bakery. which was to
The Great Kirma
by Mildred Barker Brown
supply the slice of bread for his subject; Albert's
Cleaners. which was named to valet Kirrna and his
aides during their stay in Anamosa: Brady's Smart
Wear Shop. where his subject was to be hypnotized;
Shedek‘s Beauty Shop. where the young lady was to be
beautified before the performance: and the Quality
Cafe. where the subject would partake of her first meal
after her long fast.
At Brady's Smart Wear. Kirrna made a careful
inspection of the arrangements that had been made to
take care of his subject. He was to hypnotize a young
woman at this shop. on the following Wednesday.
where she was to remain in the window for public
viewing for 24 hours and then be taken to the stage of
the theater to be awakened. A loud-speaker was
installed so that the large audience could plainly hear
Kirma's words.
With all preparations in place. the subject was
hypnotized at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. At noon
Thursday. Kirma awakened the young woman just
sufficiently to have her partake of a glass of milk and a
piece of bread: but otherwise. the beautiful blond young
lady. dressed in a flowing. sky-blue gown. lay
hypnotized on a single cot in the window of the dress
shop. Many passers-by stopped to view the motionless
girl during the days and night she remained there.
Finally, on Thursday evening, after more than 30
hours in the hypnotic state. she was removed. as
planned. to the stage of the Niles Theater and Kirrna
dramatically awakened her before a full house of
theater patrons. After a very brief bow, the lovely blond
subject scurried off-stage to the nearest bathroom
facility. Thirty hours is a long time.
Thunderous applause from the audience climaxed
the performance and the four days of unusual
entertainment.
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- $530
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