HERE'S A DISCUSSION PAGE WHERE SOME FOLKS WRITE IN WITH THEIR MEMOIRES OF THIS TOY INCLUDING THE BOY ON THE FRONT OF THE BOX PICUTRED ABOVE:
EASY SHOW PROJECTOR CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
THE EASY SHOW PROJECTOR WAS IN FILM REEL VERSION. ONE OF THE BOXES SAYS THE PROJECTOR IS MOTOTRIZED, BUT THE BOTTOM BOX IN THE PHOTO SHOWS THE BOY CRANKING IT BY HAND
HERE'S A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF THE KENNER GIVE-A-SHOW PROJECTOR:
THIS TOY HAD THE FILM ON A SLIDE STRIP THAT WAS THEN PROJECTED ONTO A WALL OR SHEET, OR CELING AS SOME WOULD HAVE IT. HERE'S A DISUCSSION ON THE GIVE-A-SHOW PROJECTOR FROM THE SAME WEBISTE FROM ABOVE:
GIVE-A-SHOW PROJECTOR MEMORIES DISCUSSION
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF THE MATTEL FUNLIGHT WITH COLORED DISKS 9NOT TOO MUCH INFO ONLINE ABOUT THIS ONE:
NOT MUCH DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE WEBSITE:
ASK METAFILTER.COM FUNLIGHT DISCUSSION
HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE VIEWMASTER PROJECTOR WITH CASE (I HAVE ONE OF THESE MYSELF, BUT IT NEEDS A NEW BULB THAT I'M HUNTING FOR):
HERE'S SOME MORE OF THOSE 1971 SEARS WISHBOOK PAGES SHOWING MOST OF THE ITEMS I'VE LISTED HERE:
I GOT ONE OF THESE PLAYDOH FUN FACTORY SETS FOR CHRISTMAS IN 1965. I LOVED IT:
DISNEYKINS DISPLAYER - THIS WAS PURCHASED AT OUR LOCAL SEARS IN THE 1960'S, AND HUNG ON MY BROTHER'S AND MY BEDROOM WALL UNTIL I GOT MY OWN FIRST APARTMENT IN 1984.
I MISSED OUT ON A LOT OF THE TOYS I'VE SHOWN HERE. HOWEVER, ONE I DID RECEIVE THAT FOR ME WAS ONE OF 3 OF MY ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GIFTS WAS THE MARX FT. APACHE PLAYSET. I PLAYED WITH THIS SET FOR HOUR AFTER HOUR UNTIL I "OUTGREW' IT, AND IT WAS GIVEN AWAY TO A YOUNGER COUSIN (DANGIT).
AH YES. THE OTHER SORE SPOT FOR ME, AND ANOTHER ONE OF MY THREE FAVORITE ALL-TIME CHRISTMAS GIFTS. JOHNNY WEST AND CHIEF CHEROKEE WITH HORSES. I GOT ALL FOUR OF THESE WHEN I WAS 12 IN 1967. WHEN I LEFT TO GO IN THE ARMY IN 1974 I STILL HAD ALL FOUR STILL IN THEIR MINT CONDITION BOXES. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME FOR LEAVE THE FIRST TIME, MY PARENTS HAD GIVEN AWAY ABOUT 3/4 OF ALL OF MY TOYS TO YOUNGER COUSINS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. HERE'S A CROPPED SEARS WISHBOOK PHOTO OF JOHNNY WEST & HIS HORSE THUNDERBOLT (I DIDN'T HAVE JANE WEST, BUT I DID HAVE THE CHIEF CHEROKEE AND HIS HORSE):
Oh man, thanks for the flashback. I forgot all about these. I had one, I think it was the smaller version. I think I had a Popeye set and the Mary Poppins. Syncing up the record and the film strip was not quite as easy as the directions made it sound. Quite often the record would be telling the next part of the story while the film strip just sat there. Attempts made to force them into sync would cause the film strip mechanics to grind horribly as it was yanked into the right position, maybe. Usually so busy working out the sync we missed most of the show. And yea, the picture was no way near that clear. One side was always more focused than the other, as if it was being projected at an angle. Anyway, sorry to ramble. Going from completely forgotten about the thing to total recall so quickly has been a head spinner. Thanks for the post!!
ReplyDeleteHeh. This was one of my favorite things growing up. The picture was quite crappy. It was like a smaller than 8mm image illuminated by a plain light bulb onto a magnifier like those cheap-o things people used to put in the back windows of vans.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention this. A few weeks ago, I'd gone to work and when I came home my wife told my my folks had been by. I had no idea they were coming. Well, guess it was of vital importance for my mother to reunite me with my Snow 'n Tell because she laid it on my wife and here it sits, in the basement with me.
Man, I haven't plugged it in since it moved here. Maybe I'll do that tonight. :)
OK, lol, I can give you a little more info. The one I have is the $27 one in that Wishbook page. Yeah, it still works.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, time probably hasn't done this thing too many favors. The turntable is quite a bit wobbly, for instance. But to say the picture in the ad is simulated would be an understatement of huge proportions.
Even back in the 70s, I remember having to use this thing in a completely dark room to actually see anything. Today you have that plus the fact that the filmstrips look like Eastmancolor to me which means they're all fading out to red.
It's weird how things can just come flooding back to you though. I put on a record to test it and damned if I didn't remember the whole thing. Haven't heard it in ages, but I distinctly remembered the story and the horrible voices they used (it was a Donald Duck story.)
I have a pretty good chunk of the library for this thing, if the back of the jackets are to be believed. Most of them are Captain Kangaroo, then there's a bunch of Disney. Bringing up the rear are fairy tales and one lone disc about animal fossils.
You may have inspired me to blog about this over at my place, so I'll stop here. But yeah, if you need anymore info, hit me. :D
Glad I was able to bring back some nostaligc thoughts to your minds. I missed out on these, but have recently acquired a bunch of the record and filmstip sets. I don't suppose you'd be interested in selling yours rob G.(if it still works)? I'm trying to get my Grandkids turned on to the vintage stuff, and get them to use their imaginations a little instead of sitting in front of a DVD player for hours. I already have them liking readlong record sets, and viewmasters. I thought next I'd work on a Show 'N Tell and maybe one of the Kenner Slide Show sets.
ReplyDeleteDave
Oops. I just now read your second comment. I'm judging from your exictement that you wouldn't be interested in selling your machine. I'll have to keep hunting for one somewhere. I'll be anxious to read your blog about it. Good luck, and have fun.
ReplyDeleteDave
My dentist had one of these! I always wanted one, of course (despite being fully aware of the less than perfect quality of the viewing experience offered by it), but never got one.
ReplyDeleteThe one at the dentist's office showed educational film strips (about flouride and the importance of brushing and such as that) but he'd also show more entertaining fare every once in a while. I recall seeing one with Pluto in it once. It actually did a pretty good job of getting us kids interested in something other than the torture that we were about to endure.
That's cool. All our Dentists had were old magazines. Not even any comics for the kid patients. I think I've seen some of those Educational Film strips/records for sale on ebay.
ReplyDeleteDave
I wouldn't mind hearing the audio from some of the records, both A and B sides, if anybody wants to rip them and the quality is decent or if it's restorable.
ReplyDeleteMe too. If I ever get any that is what I intend to do. There is one already posted here at Secret Caverns Of Readalong Treasures. That's where I found the Hulk photo at. He now also has scans of the Hulk filmstrip to watch as you listen to his record rip download.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I got an email from someone yesterday who sent me photos of his Children's record collection. One photo was of one of the red and white Show 'N Tell Viewers on a table. Underneath the table he must of had several hundred of the record and film strip sets. I'm going to ask if he will rip them for me.;-)
Dave
hey dave - matt here from the cavern - I have another couple of these show and tell records featuring superheroes, i'll try and get them posted soon! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteThat'd be great. How did you get the scans of the film strip to come out so clearly?
ReplyDeleteDave
These were also available in Bible stories (60 were made, by Canon). I remember using them in Sunday school back in the '70s. I have a lot of 42 listed in my eBay store: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300254432436&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=020
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone can use them.
I just found one of these while cleaning out my grandparents house. It looks to be in near mint condition and has tons of records with it. Cant wait to try it out ! Do you know anyone who would be interested in buying it?
ReplyDeleteHow much were you wanting for it? If it works perfectly well I might buy it for my other Grandkids. I wouldn't need any record sets though. I've got over 100 already. You could sell those on ebay for about $3.00 to $4.00 a piece.
ReplyDeleteDave