This is topic Johnson Smith in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.


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Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on September 19, 2008, 04:13 PM:
 
Hands up all those who bought from JS catalogues!
 

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Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on September 20, 2008, 10:29 AM:
 
Trevor,

I sure did! I sent away for the "U-Control 7-Foot Life-Size Ghost" which turned out to be a ghost face balloon with a white plastic sheet attached. A reel of monofilament line came with it so you could "control in secret". All for only 95 cents!



Doug
 

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Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on September 20, 2008, 11:08 AM:
 
We had our UK equivelant... ELLISDON'S. UK reader's confessions please (from the wrinklies amongst us!)

Martin
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on September 20, 2008, 11:13 AM:
 
When I was seven years old I would have gladly traded my older sister for that hovercraft. Then again at seven years old I would have traded her for a cookie and a cold glass of milk!

(Still have her...glad I didn't trade her now!)
 

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Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on September 20, 2008, 01:30 PM:
 
Steve,

Very funny! Here's a closer look:




Doug
 

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Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on September 20, 2008, 02:22 PM:
 
Love it! Cheap innovative fun from a by-gone-era. I once purchased a small submarine with a compartment that you would put a small amount of baking soda in. This would allow it to submerge in water. Wow!
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on September 20, 2008, 03:13 PM:
 
Chapter 7 of Jean Shepherd's(1) book "The Ferrari in the Bedroom" is about Johnson, Smith and Co. and is titled "The Rosetta Stone of American Culture"

-and I quote:

"Johnson Smith is to Man's darker side what Sears Roebuck represents to the clean-limbed soil-tilling righteous side., a rich compost heap of exploding cigars, celluloid teeth and Anarchist (stink) Bombs. The Johnson Smith catalog is a magnificent smudgy thumbprint of a totally lusty, vibrant, alive, crude Post Frontier society"

Notes:

1)You know: "A Christmas Story"..."You'll shoot yer eye out, kid!"

People from ‘round these parts may remember his nightly radio show.
 

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Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on September 20, 2008, 04:05 PM:
 
Doug, you got 'em all! - Shorty
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on September 20, 2008, 04:17 PM:
 
By George!

They're still with us!

http://johnsonsmith.com/

(I guess somebody who still uses Super-8 really shouldn't be that surprised!)
 

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Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on September 21, 2008, 06:20 AM:
 
Not the same magic as the big old books now Steve And they are not keen on selling to the international market.One amazing thing about this outfit was the way it would,"post anywhere in the world",for nothing! Even a great big handcranked Keystone Moviegraph projector!
 

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