Nostalgic Toys - Carnival Games

This post isn't really about a specific toy or something we may have owned; nonetheless, it reminds us of games we would have played when spending a fun filled day at the carnival with friends and family.  

Games of chance are favorite carnival games. A random outcome gives all players the chance of winning a prize. An example of a carnival game of chance is the "Pingpong Ball and Fish Bowl", . A game like the "Duck Pond", which is geared for young children, may offer a winner every time. 

Games of skill are another favorite carnival game. These games may test a players aim at hitting a target with either a ball or a weapon. Some games of this type are the "Cross Bow Shoot", the "Milk Bottle" game, or the "Balloon and Dart" game.

Other skill testing games challenge the physical abilities of the player. Examples of this type of game is the "Rope Ladder Climb" and "Ring the Bell". 

The following pictures are of vintage games that were provided for play at Fête Paradiso, a festival of vintage French carnival rides, carousels and games.  They will appear in New York City again next summer on Governors Island in New York City.  For more information, visit FeteParadiso.com.

This game was operated by human powered wheels that when ridden on, like a bike, the mouths and arms of the puppet targets would move.  Players had the choice of playing ring toss or ball toss.

Another french vintage ring toss game at Fete Paradiso on Governors Island in New York City.

Circus Surprise Ball Set

Available now in my Watermelon Party Etsy Shop.

Nostalgic Toys - Marionettes

  Opening in 1967, the Bil Baird Marionette Theater at 59 Barrow Street in Greenwich Village presented plays for more than a decade. 

Marionettes were used in performance theatre in Egypt as early as 2000 BC when string-operated figures of wood were manipulated to perform the action of kneading bread, and other string controlled objects. Wire controlled, articulated puppets made of clay and ivory have been found in Egyptian tombs.

Ancient Egyptian Marionettes

With the rise in popularity of television and film, marionettes found a rise in popularity especially in children's programming. The story of Pinocchio and its Disney adaptation (Pinocchio), which was released in 1940, is a story about a marionette. In 1947, Howdy Doody introduced marionettes to children's television, with Howdy Doody (the main character) being a marionette, as well as some other characters.

Children of New York City watching a Marionette Show in the 1930'

Popular Howdy Doody Marionette

One of the hidden treasures in Central Park is the Swedish Cottage MarionetteTheater.   For more information go here http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/arts/swedish-cottage-marionette-theatre/

The Swedish Cottage is home to one of the last public marionette companies in the United States. Puppeteers have worked there since 1947. The cottage was originally constructed as a model pre-fabricated schoolhouse, and became Sweden's entry in the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. After the exhibit, Park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted chose the rustic building for Central Park. After a string of diverse uses, the nature study center for children and an entomological lab, for examples, the cottage became headquarters in 1939 for the Parks Department's Marionette Theater. The marionette company has long been known for its whimsical productions of classics like Peter Pan and Cinderella.
The Swedish Cottage is home to one of the last public marionette companies in the United States. Puppeteers have worked there since 1947. The cottage was originally constructed as a model pre-fabricated schoolhouse, and became Sweden's entry in the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. After the exhibit, Park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted chose the rustic building for Central Park. After a string of diverse uses, the nature study center for children and an entomological lab, for examples, the cottage became headquarters in 1939 for the Parks Department's Marionette Theater. The marionette company has long been known for its whimsical productions of classics like Peter Pan and Cinderella.

Mad Tea Party and Where Bloggers Create

If you are looking for my post for 

Where Bloggers Create for 2016 click here.  

(I somehow made a mistake when entering and placed the link for the 2014 post...sorry for the confusion).

2014 post is below..................

Today is finally the day for two annual online party events!  

First is my post for the 7th Annual Mad Tea Party hosted by Vanessa Valencia.  

Second is my post for Where Bloggers Create hosted by  Karen Valentine.

Read further for my posts in participation.

These sweet siblings and best friends share a delicious cup of tea.  The tiny pair measure just 2 1/4" tall and the teacup measures 1 3/4" tall.  Everything (except the glass cloche) is made of paper.  A removable banner hangs from the top of the cloche that reads "You, me and a cup of tea."  With care, the dolls can be posed and re-positioned.  The "tea" and two sugar cubes can be removed as well.

And here is where I create....

Not much has changed since last year except that I've taken over empty spaces on the walls and ceiling.  I use chunky frames as shelves and a drawer organizer as a place to display a collection of little things.  Paper dolls are taped or nailed to the wall and one hook holds more than one thing.

A garbage find magazine rack holds jars of buttons and sea shells and artwork from favorite artists and a vintage suitcase keeps sheets of crepe paper flat and safe.

My apron serves more often as a a pretty chair cover than as clothing protection...I never want to bother putting it on...besides, I wear junk clothes when I create anyway.

I removed a broken drawer from a vintage chest and use it to store crates of paper.

Wow!...now that I look at this picture, it looks like a lot of cluttered junk, but it's not.  I have everything I need and use most at hand.  And when I am stumped for ideas I can ponder over this "junk" for inspiration.

Thanks for taking the tour of my small workspace!

Boom Box Surprise Ball

 
This Boom Box Surprise Ball was made as a creative way to disguise a few gifts (including an Ipad) for my mom's retirement present.  Also included were two picture frames that my kids made, a greeting card, a journal and a magnet.   I included a musical device in the surprise ball that plays 20 seconds of the song I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross, which was my mom's retirement theme song.  The song was recorded on a small voice recorder that would play when the red "button" was pressed.

Nostalgic Toys - Stereoscopes

A stereoscope is a device for viewing a pair of separate images, which are almost identical, side by side.  When viewed through the stereoscope, the image appears three-dimensional.  Many may know the stereoscope more commonly as the trademarked toy, "View Master".

Publisher D. Appleton and Company's stereoscopic showroom on Broadway in New York City

Stereoscopes were wildly popular in the 1850's to 1930's where even showrooms existed to display and sell the stereograph slides.   Millions of stereographs were produced, and steroscopes were common in many homes.  In a age before movies and TV, they brought news and entertainment to parlors and living rooms.  

They captured history, landscaping, architecture and street scenes through one dimensional photos and brought them to life, transporting you into the image.

NYC Flat Iron Building Stereoscope slide 

In late 1939, the View-Master was introduced at the New York World's Fair.. It was intended as an alternative to the scenic postcard, and was originally sold at photography shops, stationery stores, and scenic-attraction gift shops. The main subjects of View-Master reels were Carlsbad Caverns and the Grand Canyon.  In more modern times, the View-Master reels began to feature fewer scenic and more child-friendly subjects, such as toys and cartoons and television series.

The New-York Historical Society recently released a book/stereoscope set which includes a sturdy metal stereoscopic viewer and 50 stereoscopic photographs of turn-of-the-century New York. The package also includes a 128-page paperback that provides a brief history of the stereograph craze and an overview of the city’s evolution during that time.    It is a fun source of historical research and it makes for a great coffee table book.

 Which one did you own?

Let's Go For A Ride - Online Workshop with Julie Haymaker Thompson

After two weeks, I just finished my first online workshop and it was well worth it.  I was able to take my time and not neglect my family and other duties by working on my piece after everyone went to sleep.  It was a fun experience and Julie Haymaker Thomspon is a great instructor who provided a very generous supply kit.  I look forward to my next online retreat at Artful Gathering!

Here is my finished "Let's Go For A Ride" sculpture.

There's still time to take the same workshop...but only until July 17th!  With element drying times, I think you'd need at least 2 days.