Ted Serios, a night clerk from Chicago, claimed in the 1960s that he could capture his thoughts directly on Polaroid film. Using a small tube – the "Gizmo" – and sometimes heavily intoxicated, Serios created instant photographs that remain mysterious to this day. The camera: without a lens, set to infinity, pointed directly at his face. Initially, there were endless misexposures. Then, suddenly, deeply blackened areas – so-called "blackies" – announced the emergence of the phenomenon. In series of rapidly successive shots, surprising shapes and motifs emerged that could not be assigned to any object in the room: a hotel, a couple by a lake, a rhinoceros from the zoo next door – captured without Serios ever leaving the room. In no séance did motifs from other séances repeat themselves; instead, photographs were taken with one to a maximum of three recurring contours or structures, before the phenomenon disappeared again after hours of nerve-wracking concentration.
Over 400 of these images were created—some under strictly controlled conditions, others in front of a skeptical audience. Psychiatrist and promoter Jule Eisenbud was convinced of the authenticity of the phenomena and documented them in his book The World of Ted Serios . The central question that still preoccupies parapsychologists, illusionists, image researchers, and skeptics today: How do these images come about?
The filmmaker and artist Romeo Grünfelder reconstructs the case and shows previously unpublished Polaroid series from the séances of the 1960s, which he published in a lavishly edited photo book in 2016, as well as rare 16mm film recordings.
Afterwards, all visitors are invited to experiment with instant cameras themselves – three cameras will be available, along with a limited supply of film and beer. The role Ted Serios's alcohol consumption played in the creation of the images can perhaps only be determined through self-experimentation – visitors are welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages.
Anyone who wants to be absolutely certain that nothing has been pre-existingly prepared is welcome to contribute their own Polaroids in their original packaging – in the spirit of skeptical integrity. The resulting pictures are, of course, welcome to take home – as evidence, a keepsake, or a mystery.
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