Randi - known as "The Amazing Randi" - wrote a book exposing the magic tricks behind Geller's psychic claims. He spends much of his time as head of the James Randi Educational Foundation trying to debunk magicians posing as psychics and healers.
Randi said during an interview that Geller really uses his hands - not his mind - to bend spoons.
"Why did he hold it in two hands?" Randi asked. "Now, I'm 72 years of age and I can hold as much as a dozen spoons in one hand. . .But he always picks it up in two hands and walks across the room. He has to turn his back to you and walk away. At that point he puts a bend to it."
Randi said that when Geller displays the bent spoon, he holds the utensil at an angle to make it appear straight. Randi said Geller might have bent my heavy Oneida spoon a second time as we walked back to the restaurant table.
Randi was not sure how Geller made the spoon continue to bend after placing it on the table. He maintained that, no matter how he did that, it was a trick.
"I do it all the time when it appears to bend," said Randi, who once helped Johnny Carson debunk Geller on his television show. "I am simply manipulating it in my hand. Press down on one end of it, which is behind my hand and make the rest of it go down."
Randi's foundation has for years offered a hefty reward to anyone who can demonstrate any legitimate paranormal ability. The pot is up to $1 million. No one has collected.
Randi Accuses Geller of Psychic Trickery
Uri Geller said he bends spoons by using the power of his mind. Professional magician James Randi said that's not true.
[Source: Philadelphia Daily News / PA / by Theresa Conroy -- November 12 1999]
