Thomas John Kelly was born in Wales in 1899. He enlisted in the British Army as a teen and became an artillery man in World War I. After the war, he returned home and worked in the coal mines. He contracted black lung disease which would be with him the remainder of his life.

While living in Wales, Kelly, who was called Jack by his friends, became interested in Spiritualism. He developed his mediumship abilities and eventually moved to the Spiritualist hub of America at the time, Buffalo, New York. His demonstrations of clairvoyance became the talk of the town. He would have someone blindfold him by placing a coin over each closed eye and wrapping his head with three blindfolds. He then drove through the streets unassisted until the police asked him to stop because he was distracting other drivers.

Kelly founded and was the pastor of The Spiritualist Church of Life in Buffalo. In 1950, he married Estelle Zagora. This was the second marriage for them both. He had one son and she had three from previous marriages. Kelly also helped the police solve crimes and worked as a healer.

The Dunkirk Observer reported in 1952 that Kelly healed the sight of Mrs. Donna Ball who had been blinded by an auto accident. Her right hand, which had been paralyzed, was also strengthened. Kelly had used “laying on of hands” in the Lily Dale Auditorium while 40 people looked on. He earned enough money as a healer that his donations helped build the present day Healing Temple at Lily Dale.

During seances, Kelly worked blindfolded under the control of a spirit guide who spoke in a high voice. The guide would often command audience members by saying things such as, “stop scratching your nose’’ or “quit pulling at your ear.”

Kelly is probably best known for his association with the famous movie star, Mae West. West was an ardent Spiritualist and visited Lily Dale many times. Her favorite medium at the camp was Jack Kelly. They had such a close connection that he appeared to her after his death at Estaboga, Alabama in 1964.

“He was the world’s greatest psychic,” she said. “And he’s come back. I always figured when you’re dead, you’re dead, but I wanted to know the truth. I had this yogi master travelin’ with me for five years, I gave him a hotel suite, a car, everything, but he never convinced me. Then one day a few years ago, I come into this room from my boudoir, and there was Mr. Kelly, sittin’ right there were you are, on that couch.”

Additional Reading:

Burk, Tom. “Mae West to Star Opposite Six Leading Men,” The New York Times, July 25, 1976

Buckland, Raymond. (2006) Kelly, Rev. Thomas John in The Spirit Book. Reprinted by Visible Ink Press, 2019.