Before computers, cell phones, and info-watches, the technology for kids (besides a few shows on TV) was an incredible invention called the Show and Tell Phono. It was more than good; it was great, giving kids a way to learn stories, science, and watch old-time cartoons all in one toy.
Show and Tell also had a place in grade school, where it meant something different: a chance for children to practice speaking in front of their peers, share something that interested them, and build friendships along the way.
I recently came across a Show and Tell phonograph along with a bunch of the records, and I've genuinely enjoyed playing and watching them. For anyone not familiar with the phono or its records, here's a brief history.
And for the grown-ups: every day, we still practice what we learned as children. We just don't call it show and tell anymore.
A Brief History
Show and Tell records are 7-inch, 33⅓ RPM vinyl discs, paired with 16mm plastic filmstrip slide keys, created for the General Electric Show and Tell Phono-Viewer toy introduced in 1964.
Each filmstrip contains 15 images. The phono itself used a mechanical gear that advanced the filmstrip, syncing each image to the small viewing screen as the record played.
GE went on to release over 140 programs spanning fairy tales, cartoons, classic literature, science, and space, giving kids a huge range of stories and subjects to explore.
All of our Show and Tell pieces are available at Dave's Discovery Den, offered in limited quantities and organized by category. They're fun for kids and adults alike, genuinely educational, and made to be played over and over for busy, inquisitive minds.