Huebner, Louise

Psychic and astrologer who enjoyed brief fame as the Official Witch of Los Angeles County, a title she was given in 1968. Her career as a psychic began when she was only ten years old, when she began to give palm readings at a children's carnival. She later moved to Los Angeles and opened an office as an astrologer. Through the 1960s she gained local fame as a psychic and was a frequent guest on radio and television shows. She appeared regularly on a talk show on radio station KLAC for four years (1965-69). Occasionally she was invited to assist in crime detection.

On July 21, 1968, she was presented with a scroll naming her the Official Witch of Los Angeles County. At the time of the presentation, she performed a spell to ensure the continued sexual vitality of Los Angeles. The act had some immediate consequences. Some in the county were embarrassed when Huebner began to use the title to promote her writings on witchcraft and attempted to stop her. The effort ended after Huebner threatened to undo the spell. Second, members of the emerging neo-pagan Wiccan movement were somewhat upset by Huebner, who was not a part of their movement and tended to perpetuate what they felt were negative stereotypes of witches.

Huebner continued to operate as a public psychic and witch for several years. In 1970 she traveled to Salem, Massachusetts, where the mayor presented her with a broom. She produced one record album, two books, and a series of mini-books for Hallmark Cards. By the mid-1970s, however, she had largely retired from public life, and for a period she operated an antique shop in Pasadena, California.

Sources:

Guiley, Rosemary. The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft. New York: Facts on File, 1989.

Huebner, Louise. Magic Sleep. Kansas City, Mo.: Springbok Editions, 1972.

——. Magical Creatures. Kansas City, Mo.: Springbok Editions, 1972.

——. Never Strike a Happy Medium. Los Angeles: Nash Publishing, 1971.

——. Power through Witchcraft. Los Angeles: Nash Publishing, 1969. Reprint, New York: Bantam Books, 1972.

——. Your Lucky Numbers. Kansas City, Mo.: Springbok Editions, 1972.