Learned from my “research” that Zener has always been the name used for those symbol cards. Zener is the name of the man who designed them, Dr. Karl Zener, a perceptual psychologist who worked with Dr. Rhine in developing the various tests for ESP.
While my focus was on J.B. Rhine, from my reading it looks like Dr. Zener may be a more valuable “icon” for the presentation, since Zener’s work revolved around psychology and the analysis of perception (which is exactly what I want to convey to the audience). Dr. Rhine, although testing for ESP, was also searching for methods of communicating with the dead, and was heavily influenced by Sir Arther Conan Doyle; this is precisely the direction I DON’T want to go!
Found another online book concerning mentalism, no new material, but a couple ideas for presentations I hadn’t thought of. A large (poster sized) card showing three of the Zener symbols. A spectator is asked to choose one, and is always correct. Of course this is the “multiple out” principle and, while it’s not very strong as a stand alone, it could be a terrific ice breaker.
Concerning the “feel” of the show, I want to stay as far away from magical staging as possible, so a “flash opening” leaves me a little unsatisfied. I think (at least for now) that a gradual build-up is more appropriate, allowing time for the spectators to become more comfortable with the material.
The “Zener board” (above) may provide the right solution, giving a professional (as opposed to over-the-top) opening, which is light, quick, and interesting. It provides space for me to begin molding their expectations with suitable “patter” (sorry, my purist friends, but there just is no other word for it) which will shape the rest of the show. And it allows me to “size up” an individual, to determine whether (s)he is suitable to bring onstage as a “volunteer”.
I think I just found my opener!