Talking View-master Reels

Talking View-master Reels
The Magic Kingdom
AVA955 1973

In 1971, GAF developed the Talking View-master.  And as an official sponsor of WDW, it only made sense that they would create these Magic Kingdom reels with ''an exciting new combination of 3-D sight 'n sound."

The reels highlight all of the lands of the Magic Kingdom with the exception of Tomorrowland.  They also come with a booklet that contains a transcript of the narration.  More on that here.

100,000 Flashbulbs

Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World
compliments of GAF
1975

General Aniline & Film (GAF) was an early sponsor of Walt Disney World.  They produced these guides for several years in the mid-70's.  This edition in my collection is from 1975.  Most of them use the stacked globe-head logo.

The brochure has a 3 panel map in the middle that shows the GAF Photo Trail and picture spots that '...have been carefully researched and selected as the best locations for taking memorable pictures.' -precursor to the Kodak Photo Spot.

Part of the 30 pages was dedicated to photo tips. My favorite: 'An Important Word About Flashbulbs: Don't try to illuminate large subjects or anything further than 12 feet away....A flash picture of the Cinderella Castle would require more than 100,000 flashbulbs!'

To see more from this guide, check out these other posts: Part 2, Part 3

How Do I Get There From Here?

Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World
Compliments of GAF Corporation
1977

Here is the second half of 'Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World: Compliments of GAF Corporation' from 1977. This section uses the same caricature map as 'The Vacationer's Guide to Walt Disney World.'

 
The labels on the map have been added as well as the parking lot section names like Grumpy & Bashful.  Pages 18 - 21 feature the 'GAF Photo Tips' and 'Extra pointers for movie fans.'

My favorite movie tip: 'Wind motor after each scene.'  Favorite photo tip: 'Some pictures don't need the family.'
Pages 22 - 27 highlight the resorts with better photos but less info compared to the 1975 edition.

Page 28 has an ad for two new Disney movies, including 'The Rescuers....a triumph in Disney animation!'  The 'Transportation Schedule' map replaced a great caricature map but this one appears to be more functional.

1977 View of Walt Disney World

Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World
Compliments of GAF Corporation
1977

As Walt Disney World grew, so did the GAF Corporation's guide.  The 1975 version was 3.75"x8" but this 1977 edition is 5.5"x8".  The content is very similar but the wider format allows for more images. 

Page 4 was a new addition. "Getting Around at Walt Disney World: A special guide for guests in wheelchairs."  Coincidence, do you think, that 1977 saw nationwide sit-ins calling for changes to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?

Each area of the Magic Kingdom had its own page.  Somehow Liberty Square's title was lost on page 9.  My copy has the notes from the original 'dizzy' owners.  Apparently they rode Mad Tea Party 'about 15 times.'

The cover features the 'right-justified' Big D/Globe Head logo that was commonly used on GAF products.  I have not found any other items that use this 'right-justified' version.  More to come from this 29 page brochure...

Celebrate America With Big Headed People

America On Parade GAF PANA-VUE Slides
Set Four WDW-78

In honor of our countries birthday, here is a souvenir from Walt Disney World's Bicentennial celebration, 'America On Parade.'  This 5 slide set is the 4th in a series put out by GAF, an early sponsor of WDW.  You will notice in most of the images that the GAF Camera Shop on Main Street USA just happens to be captured in the background.  Coincidence?  I think not.

The slides in this set are: 'The First Thanksgiving' (WDW781), Fife & Drums (WDW782), Historic Liberty Bell (WDW783), Cannooneers (WDW784), Captain Navigates Showboat (WDW785).  To see the images and the big headed people from the parade, check out DisneyPix.  To learn more about the parade itself, visit Walt Dated World.

Tomorrowland View-Master Reels

Viewmaster Reel A9521
Tomorrowland

Not to be left out, here is a GAF View-master reel set of Tomorrowland.  They are older than the 1973 Talking View-Master Reels from my collection because they show pictures of the WEDway PeopleMover and Mission to Mars which both opened in 1975.
Reel A actually refers to 'Mission Control for Journey to Mars.'  Does anyone know if that was an alternate name for the attraction or is this just a typo?

Magic Kingdom Talking View-Master (part 2)

Talking View-Master Booklet
Magic Kingdom
AVA955, 1973

The booklet that accompanies the Magic Kingdom Talking View-Master contains the narrative used on the reels.  The cover uses the stacked Big D logo found on many of the other GAF sponsored items.

The intro describes the park's various lands.  Tomorrowland gets its only mention here: '...where the forces of the atom and the blinking light of future knowledge highlight journeys into science and outer space.'

Along with the narration, the booklet contains some great drawings of rides and attractions, including the Mad Tea Party sans canopy.  The middle has a great map showing the location of each reel image.

The images show some iconic locations such as Cinderella Castle, Swiss Family Treehouse and 'it's a small world.'  As well, a few extinct attractions are featured, such as Mickey Mouse Revue and Skyway to Tomorrowland.