Dave Elman

Dave Elman (May 6, 1900 – December 5, 1967), birth name David Kopelman, was a noted Jewish American radio host, comedian, and songwriter, and important figure in the field of hypnosis. He is most known today as the author of Findings in Hypnosis. Over the course of his life, he was also well known as the creator and host of the popular radio show Hobby Lobby as well as a songwriter and lyricist.

Early life

Dave Elman was born David Kopelman to Jewish parents Jacob and Lena on May 6, 1900, in Park River, North Dakota. In 1902, the family moved to Fargo, where they started a business on Front Street making wigs, switches, and related performance equipment. During World War two and at the behest of the Roosevelts, Elman used his Hobby Lobby radio platform to run Victory Auctions to raise money for the war effort. He raised $25,000,000 and was awarded commendation from the War Department. Hobby Lobby was on the air until 1948.

In 1949, Elman decided to pursue teaching hypnosis to people in the medical professions, primarily doctors and dentists. From 1949 through 1962, he traveled extensively throughout America teaching his training course in hypnosis as a series of lessons called "Medical Relaxation" which he published as audio recordings. He also recorded a series of recordings entitled "Hypno-Analysis" which were actual sessions in hypnosis that he referenced for his course. In 1963, after a long illness, he decided to write his findings on the subject. It was a 336-page book which he dictated to his wife, Pauline, a stenographer, and then gave to his son Robert Elman, an author and editor to edit. He copyrighted and self-published the book in 1964 under the title Findings in Hypnosis. Elman died suddenly on December 5, 1967, having recovered from a heart attack five years earlier.