Re: View-Master Adult Sets

[P3D Marvin Jones <72657.3276@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I'm truly pleased that the ire of our Listers (and Listerines) has been
> risen to attack the Tyco company to bring back View Master to the serious
> status it once held.  I agree with every idea that's been voiced.  Indeed,
> adult interest, be it art, travelogue, science, sculpture, architecture and
> yes, even nudies should be considered.

This and several other postings seem to suggest that Tyco is somehow standing in
the way of third-party reels being produced. With some limited exceptions this
isn't true. It is possible to have a "limited run" of just about any subject
made. They do keep some rein on subject matter--I, for instance, wanted to
produce a set of extremely tame 'n' tasteful 1950s nudes--no deal. But Jamie
just did a reel for the museum, and while he had some horror stories to tell
about the experience, they were triggered mostly by his time crunch and the fact
that he was dealing internationally, not by any actual lack of cooperation on
Tyco's part. Under more conducive circumstances, you can get a thousand 3-reel
sets produced for something just over $2 per set. If you've got the market,
that's a very workable wholesale price. But that's a mighty big caveat back
there--if you've got the market. Remember that this list is made up of rabid 3D
buffs. Beyond here, how many View-Master sets of travel subjects, or science or
fine art could be sold? At the San Diego NSA convention, I spoke to a guy who'd
produced a series on hot rod automobiles, and he was complaining that he'd lost
his shirt on the deal. No matter how much time and effort and money and
promotional push he made, he'd only sold a tiny handful of his sets. And I
suspect hot rods are more popular than Rodin's sculptures. So if somebody here
thinks the world is just salivating for a View-Master set on Piccadilly Circus,
go shoot the pictures, make up the set, and write us when you go into profit!


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