Magic 8 Ball
By Euphrates


Remember kids at school making those folded-paper fortune tellers?  You know, your friend
puts their fingers in the device and you select a number on the outside.  After some opening
and closing of the contraption your mate would open up a flap to reveal that you liked little
Becky Stinkerwoltz.  Well, in the late '40s the Alabe Crafts company merged the schoolyard-tested
idea of the folded-paper fortune telling system with a plastic 8-ball.  Ask the ball a question, 
give it a shake and then look in the "Spirit Slate" for the answer.  Some of the possible responses
were:


Ask Again Later

Better Not Tell You Now

Concentrate and Ask Again

Don't Count on It

It Is Certain

Most Likely

My Reply is No

My Sources Say No

No

Outlook Good

Outlook Not So Good

Reply Hazy, Try Again

Signs Point to Yes

Yes

Yes, Definitely

You May Rely On It



The ball itself was about 3 1/2-inches in diameter and was manufactured with slightly flattend
areas on them so that they could sit on a table without rolling.  In fact, they were 
originally promoted as a paperweight or a conversation piece.  


There have been many imitators, especially since the '70s.  Avon made a lotion-filled 8-Ball.
There have also been Magic 8-Ball styled key-chains, Yodas and Smiley Faces.  Alabe continued 
rolling out the original 8-Balls well into the '70s.







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