View-Master Family, 1957

But first … get tix now for CHARLES PHOENIX & THE THIRD DIMENSION — Retro Slide Show Story & Glory of 3-D in 3-D! — Sunday afternoon at 3pm on August 5 at Los Angeles’ DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT THEATER.

This eye-popping, 2-act, 3-D slide show performance celebrates more than a century of spectacular 3-D images including: space age coffee shops, 1950s show cars, SoCal landmarks, early sci-fi TV, Disneyland, World’s Fairs, the world of View-Master, sensational stereoscopes of the Victorian era and much more!

PLEASE NOTE: Red and turquoise 3-D dress encouraged but not expected … Free 3-D glasses for all … AND … this show is rated 3-D-PG due to some cheesy cheesecake!

And now for the View-Master Family…

This spirited people portrait isn’t about the blond-framed oriental curios and paint-by-number artwork hanging high on that very beige wall; the two-tiered lampshade peeking on the right; dad’s magazine; the smiley boy; the smirky girl; or the TV Guide with Phil Silvers on the cover. This slide is about the View-Master.

It’s hard to believe this is the only slide I’ve ever run across with a View-Master in it considering that virtually every American household had one at one time or another.

View-Masters were introduced at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. They were the modern Kodachrome color alternative to the black and white 3-D stereoscope images that had been around since the Victorian era.

View-Masters were the brainchild of a Portland, Oregon postcard manufacturer and a 3-D photographer. Originally, they were sold at stationary stores and scenic attraction gift shops as a postcard alternative.

Since then, more than 1.5 BILLION View-Master reels have been sold. WOW!

View-Master introduced most of us to the wonderful world of 3-D. Thank you, View-Master!!!

Here’s to the family, View-Master and YOU!

Charles Phoenix
June 9, 2012