Viewmaster: The 70s child home theatre system

[Mikey]

Besides the classic TV show ones, my fav's used to be the ones you'd buy at tourist attractions.

There's just something so cool about seeing '60's era tourest attractions in 3-D ... It's like you're there.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

My view master was all tan/brown and was the regular one. Always wanted a talking one and never had a desire for the projector because I knew it wouldn't be in 3-D. I used to love that they came in their own sleeves and had a reading booklet along with them and sometime a demo reel (and of course I would use it as my check list to see what to get next). Never did get the Snoopy versus the Red Baron that I wanted for years.

I bought some new sets for my two kids and they love them (cars, Dora, Mickey mouse, etc), but it is sad that they don't get a book to read along or even sleeves to keep the discs in after the package has been open.

[VintageMike]

I had red hand-held. I remember having the Spock set (came back to me whent hey released the filmation Trek DVD set) but can't remember any other set I might have had.

[kryptosmaster]

I still think View Masters are cool. I have a few of them. Most are my Mom's old ones from when she grew up in the 50's. I know I have a Man in Space one too.
I see them all the time at antique malls but they are either missing the packaging or too overpriced.
Never had the projector or talking ones but was aware of them.
Rich

[vulcan2074]

I never knew about the Projector Viewer. It's Really Cool. I would totally digg having that
Sammy

[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

[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).

[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.

[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]

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

[toys2cool]

Nice,I never had a projector one.

[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.

[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]

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 !!!!

[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.