Pleasant Nightmares - Dr. Neff and His Madhouse of Mystery
by William V. Rauscher

This book is about an eerie entertainer who specialized in the supernatural. Bill Neff, called “The Master of Many Haunts,” brought to his midnight audiences an assortment of zombies, goofy spooks, glamorous ghosts, and other varied and weird spirits. Newspapers proclaimed, “Neff’s show makes eyes pop, pulses hop, and hearts skip a beat.”

Author William V. Rauscher presents an incisive and penetrating look at a complex man who succumbed to his own creation. With a foreword by McCarl Roberts, Pleasant Nightmares is the story of one of the best spook show magicians of this time whose theatrical attraction was entitled “Madhouse of Mystery,” a show that guaranteed suspense, shudder, shakes, and shivers. Spook Shows are part of the history of magic, and were very popular between 1930 through 1960, where shows were held at midnight in conjunction with a horror film.

We just received this book a few days ago and are currently reading it. So far we find it fascinating, because Mr. Rauscher has not only researched every aspect of this performer’s life, but because of his attempt to help us understand this very complex man. Bill Neff’s drug and alcohol abuse was very influential in his career and affected all those who surrounded him. In the book, Mr. Rauscher interviews Neff’s son, James Torrence, who says: “He (Bill Neff) was the most unlikable character I ever met, I was really afraid of him, and I dreaded him coming to town.” About The Madhouse of Mystery show he says: “He became totally absorbed and engrossed in this voodoo stuff, and that became his religion and his life.”

The book is beautifully produced – It is hardbound, with dozens of photographs, posters, and illustrations – and meticulously researched. We love biographies, and we are sure this one, albeit a somewhat tragic story, is a winner.

Hardbound - 316 pages

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