I was on facebook recently and saw one of my favorite links that I am a fan of called Kenners Give A Show Projector. Sometimes I look at these silly slides while other times I just ignore it and go to the next facebook entry. This morning I took a long hard look at the give a show slide and memories rushed to me like a flashflood that we Tucson folks used to have once upon a time ago and it got me thinking…

 We have all sorts of gadgets and gizmos that we play with. I have a great deal of these contraptions that entertain my brain. I have my computers, my Wii, my ipod and my personal favorite, my Ipod touch. Come on is there anything this thing can’t do? However, sometimes we overlook the most powerful gadget of all times, our imagination and that is probably why I was a real fan as a kid of the “Give A Show Projector.” There was also one out called Easy Show Projector, no doubt I had them both!

 Really there was nothing fancy about this toy. Basically it was a glorified cheap plastic flashlight that let you put in negatives that were on strips and watch such things as The Flintstones, Popeye and Hanna Barbera best like Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear.

 I lived on a ranch and the big room off the kitchen was a “spare bedroom.” It was really a catch all, but that is where I went to use my special give a show projector. It could entertain me for hours on end. It did not require much for my young brain when I was in first grade. Imagination and some cool slides was all a kid needed for this great toy.

 If you lacked imagination, no doubt this toy by far would not have been the toy for you. It would be one of those boring toys you use once and put in your closet until it got given or thrown away.

 I enjoy toys that allow your imagination to run wild. Today, toy makers have taken the away from us. With 3D graphics, and computer generated everything, machines have taken over our imagination. I am not knocking the new technology, I suppose what I wish is that we could have the best of both worlds.

 Indeed we can. E bay and many shops sell the original Give A Show projector and slides. I know after writing this article, clearly I will be ordering one soon. I cannot imagine more fun than sitting with a room of adults and letting our inner child out watching give a show slides. So as we all scratch our heads this week, while thinking about what bills we must pay, or how angry we are or aren’t about healthcare reform, or how much taxes we owe, simple things like Give A Show demonstrates that life doesn’t have to be so complicated.

By the way watch this great commercial of The Give A Show. In addition, there are some great places to see actual give a show’s. Give A Show or The Give a Show Blog.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 at 9:16 am and is filed under Life. Tags for this post: give a show. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.