once upon a time in 1400s-1500s germany there was a guy named Georgius Sabellicus who described himself as “Master Georgius Sabellicus, Faustus Junior, Fountainhead of Necromancers.” this pretentious fucker got himself a doctorate and was referred to as “Doctor Faustus” or “Doctor Faustus, that eminent necromancer” whenever he came up in civil records of his time. he became world famous–or whatever was considered ‘world famous’ in 1510–for his ability to foretell the future. after he died, rumours sprang up that he had gained his powers from satan. eventually, those myths gave rise to the “Faust Chapbook,” a deeply christian story about a man, Johann Faust, who turned from god to satan and was served in his life by a demon named Mephistopheles. this legend was beautifully dramatised by Christopher Marlowe circa 1592 with his play “The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus,” and again by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1808 with his play “Faust.” both versions preserved and expanded upon the character Mephistopheles, resulting in the name entering popular culture in association with magic and tricks.
in 1939, famed poet T.S. Eliot wrote “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” one of his poems opened with this banger of a line: “You ought to know Mr. Mistoffelees! The Original Conjuring Cat.”
in 1977, Andrew Lloyd Webber began writing a musical adaptation of Eliot’s book. this musical, “Cats,” hit broadway in 1882. The Jellicle cat Mr. Mistoffelees, still a powerful magician, featured prominently.
in 2019, well, the movie adaptation of “Cats” was released.
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