Viewmaster: The 70s child home theatre system

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While I never had the luxury of talking Viewmaster or a projector ($50 could be used to purchase more action figures than I'd ever need) I did have the "Mr. Spock's Time Trek" reel set displayed and I loved it dearly. IMO, Filmation did no wrong in the 1970s IMO.

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[CaptainTrenchcoat]

Loved viewmasters. I bought some old reels off ebay recently. I grabbed the ones where they created sets then photographed them. I think they called it table art. Some of the old Disney reels are like that.

[david_b]

I know for some shows, like the TOS Trek and perhaps Space:1999, the production staffs and actors set up shots specifically for the GAF folks, who were on the sets of those productions.. It wasn't just playing around with studio photos afterwards.

That's the coolest part of the GAF Viewmaster story to me..

david_b

[HardyGirl]

Wow! I have both the standard and talkie versions of Mr. Spocks' Time Trek, (otherwise known as Yesteryear on the Filmation cartoon). I have always loved Talking view-masters. I have the classics (2 of them) here at home, and the new talkies at my school. In fact, yesterday, since it's been pouring here, I broke out the standards and talkies at my school, and the kids were engossed for about 45 mins. I've never had a talkie projector, but I've had 2 standard projectors. When I used to teach pre-school, I would have the kids color small boxes to look like cars, break out the view-master projector, and we'd play drive-in movie. Once, I even let them eat popcorn in their little "cars". It was fun, and they had a ball.

View-masters ROCK!

[ScottA]

I still have my standard VM projector and all the reels from my younger days. Even have a nice little carrying case for it. I'm pretty sure my brother had the talking one, but I don't remember what reels it had. I want to say it was Superman.

[Wee67]

Wow! I have both the standard and talkie versions of Mr. Spocks' Time Trek, (otherwise known as Yesteryear on the Filmation cartoon). I have always loved Talking view-masters. I have the classics (2 of them) here at home, and the new talkies at my school. In fact, yesterday, since it's been pouring here, I broke out the standards and talkies at my school, and the kids were engossed for about 45 mins. I've never had a talkie projector, but I've had 2 standard projectors. When I used to teach pre-school, I would have the kids color small boxes to look like cars, break out the view-master projector, and we'd play drive-in movie. Once, I even let them eat popcorn in their little "cars". It was fun, and they had a ball.

View-masters ROCK!

Its good to know some of our teachers are still expressing, and thereby instilling, creativivity in the class.

[Mikey]

I had that !!!!!!!

The wall projector one ...

Only difference was mine was blue

I also had the talking hand held one

That one was blue too

Cool !!!!

[johnnystorm]

Viewmasters are wonderful! I'm sure they seem like cave drawings to our tech savvy offspring these days- I'm kinda surprised they haven't yet come out with some digital version. They don't release reels of everything anymore either, just retread Nick Toons and Disney Princesses, some Animal planet stuff. Last non-toon movie reel set I saw was for Superman Returns. Imagine if they still did the reel sets- wouldn't you buy a Watchmen set? And I'd think an Obama set would sell right now.

as I've said before, my favorite reels are the old travelouge reels, especially the '50s stuff. Everyone looks so happy to be at some National monument for their vacation. Good times, folks, good times.

[Mikey]

What's great about viewmasters is seeing the old TV shows you know and love --- but the viewmaster reel is a tad different then what you remember from TV.

The camera used was special and GAF would send a photographer to the TV show and movie sets to photograph the picture.

The actors would have to freeze in position for the photo to take place.... leaving us with slightly different angles and actor positions than we remember seeing on TV.

[toys2cool]

Nice,I never had a projector one.

[raider5gt]

Had the normal VM but i have never seen the projector one let alone the talking one,they must of been great to have.Put your own picture shows on for your friends

[Mikey]

The projector was very nice and well made.

You could project an image about 5 feet across on the wall.

The bulb wasn't strong enough to handle anything bigger (meaning being further away then about 15 feet.

[raider5gt]

They do look great

I still see the VM and the reels at car boot sales over here,i will have to keep a look out for a projector one.

[mego73]

I still have the green talking viewmaster projector in the picture (don't know if it works). Viewmaster reels were fantastic looks at your favorite movies and TV shows.

Looking at the reels now, you can see some funny things (besides the awesome 3D Enterprise and Captain Tracy's ship pic made using AMT models).

In the live action Star Trek reels (The Omega Glory) you'll notice that on the opening bridge shot have no "winky blinky" lights. That's because it was in between takes and they turned off the lights in between takes.

Then in a later picture, it's Uhura and Sulu at the communications colsole. The lights are off, of course, but Uhura is looking down, and on her lap, is a booklet.

Well, that booklet is a script and Nichelle Nichols and George Takai were half posing and half checking on the script.

Then, of course, there is the infamous Bonanza reels where the actors sometimes snuck in "the finger" in their poses.

I also have the "Love Bug" and "Herbie Rides Again" reels. The HRA reels have a picture from a cut scene and a picture of a scene with Herbie coming out of a window. You can see a stage light above and total black behind Herbie (the black is a turned off bluescreen).

[Hotfoot]

View Master is stopping production of the Scenic travel series!

View-Master 3-D discontinues scenic travel series - USATODAY.com

View-Master Official Site From Fisher-Price - View-Master Reels Viewers Gift Sets