[YouTube] PrestoMagiX

https://youtu.be/bnR8A5RslkQ

Created by Gillette's Paper Mate division, PrestoMagiX was a product where users transferred characters and objects onto a page with a related background using a pencil. Like Colorforms, the idea was to create a scene but the original PrestoMagiX could only be used one time since they are not removable once transferred to the paper. However, PrestoMagiX did evolve and later made products that mirrored Colorforms called Stick 'N Lift. Many of the sets featured characters from comic books, movies, and cartoons, though there were others without a special license, such as Discovery of America, Animals of Africa, and Moon Exploration.

I showed a sealed Wonder Woman package back when I did a DC Comics post that I'll show again here. It's not in the video though because I can't figure out where I put it; losing things seems to be a specialty of mine these days. This one has the Paper Mate logo on it while the others say American Publishing Corporation which appears to have taken over in 1979 while production was moved to Italy.

An almost unused set I have is Captain Caveman Haunted House. Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels was a cartoon from Hanna-Barbera that aired from 1977-1980. If you compare the packaging you'll see they both refer to them as games. The Paper Mate one above says "Dry Transfer Game" and the others below say "Rub Down Transfer Game." I couldn't say why as there is nothing involved that would indicate they are games. 

Next is a Looney Tunes set titled Bugs Bunny at the Circus. I applied most of these though Bugs isn't looking so hot and part of his foot is still on the decal sheet.

Here is a Super Transfer Set featuring G.I. Joe from 1986 or '87 that is double-sided. A singe-sided version with only the jungle background was also released. PrestoMagiX made other G.I. Joe sets in both the small and large formats in 1982 and 1983 as well. This set included a MagiX Stick to use for transfers instead of a pencil but I cannot locate that and likely no longer have it.

The last item is the Coloforms-like Stick 'N Lift set of the Transformers. One thing I find odd about this one is Jazz, Starscream, and Sunstreaker are drawn on the background despite those characters also being included as decals. They are small enough to cover up at least if you don't want the same character appearing multiple times in the scene.

[YouTube] Fisher-Price Movie Viewer & Theater

https://youtu.be/X-ahjKHfOXk

In 1973 Fisher-Price released a toy called the Movie Viewer. Users place a plastic movie cartridge into the device, hold the handle with one hand, and turn a dial with the other. When looking through the eye piece a short movie with no audio can be seen at variable speeds that depend on how fast the dial is turned. It is similar to a View-Master, only with moving images instead of still frames, and like a View-Master light is needed to make the image viewable. The Movie Viewer was quite popular among families and in 1978 Fisher-Price released the Movie Viewer Theater that plays the same cartridges. With the Theater multiple people could watch a cartridge together either on the built-in screen or by projecting it onto a wall or other screen. To view cartridges on the Theater it needs to be plugged into a wall outlet to power a light bulb; viewing cartridges still requires a dial to be turned manually.

It appears the original cartridges were released all the way up to 1987 with characters licensed from Disney, Sesame Street, Peanuts, Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes, and Marvel Comics (all Spider-Man). Most of my cartridges are Disney, though I have a few Sesame Street and a couple Looney Tunes. The stickers that identify the cartridge sometimes dry up and fall off so I've lost a few of the labels and won't provide photos of those but I'll drop a link here to This Old Toy which has a variety of pictures for most of the cartridges and Viewers. I also have a duplicate cartridge that is still in the original packaging, however, the packaging lists a different cartridge than what is in the box. It's likely the packaging and pricing changed throughout the years as well; the price tag on mine says it cost $2.99 at Bradlees. Unfortunately, I'm unsure of the original price of the Theater but I'd guess in 1978 it would possibly be in the $30 range.

The items do look a bit dirty in the photos despite wiping them down. I think many are permanent marks as these are items dating back 40 years and were used a fair amount when I was younger.

Movie Viewer

Movie Viewer Theater

Cartridges

Above I mentioned that the original cartridges were released as late as 1987 and I said original because Fisher-Price is currently selling a Movie Viewer in its Classic Toys line that includes two new cartridges. The new cartridges are basic movies about letters and numbers as it wouldn't able to sell the original cartridges without re-acquiring all of the licenses. However, you can buy the old cartridges used and then grab a new viewer to enjoy them.