The enormity of success which Spivakovsky achieved during his maiden tour of Australia was unprecedented. Recalling the Lisztomania of the 1800s, Australians coined the term Spivomania to describe Spivakovsky's power to mesmerise audiences and inspire scenes of wild enthusiasm. Newspapers printed caricatures of him playing with four hands and warned Australians to beware his "vice-like grip" when shaking hands.