Origin
The functional component of the Magic 8 Ball was invented by Albert C. Carter, who was inspired by a spirit writing device used by his mother Mary, a Cincinnati clairvoyant. When Carter approached store owner Max Levinson about stocking the device, Levinson called in Abe Bookman, Levinson's brother-in-law, and graduate of Ohio Mechanics Institute. In 1944, Carter filed for a patent for the cylindrical device, assigning it in 1946 to Bookman, Levinson and another partner in what came to be Alabe Crafts, Inc., combining the founder's names, Albert and Abe. Alabe marketed and sold the cylinder as The Syco-Slate. Carter died sometime before the patent was granted in 1948. Bookman made improvements to The Syco-Slate, and in 1948 it was encased in an iridescent crystal ball. Though not successful, the revamped product caught the attention of Chicago'sCultural impact
Although originally sold as a paperweight, the Magic 8 Ball would remain popular for several decades. It was popular as both an office toy and a children's toy. In 1971, Bookman sold Alabe Crafts, Inc., to Ideal Toys who marketed the ball firmly at children. In 1987, the rights were again sold to Tyco Toys, spurring on another marketing campaign and resurgence in interest. Despite its numerous owners, the Magic 8 Ball has changed little in design and implementation.Design and usage
The Magic 8 Ball is a hollow plastic sphere resembling a black-and-white 8 ball. Its standard size is larger than an ordinary pool ball, but it has been made in different sizes. Inside the ball, a cylindrical reservoir contains a white plastic 20-sided regular icosahedronPossible answers
A standard Magic 8 Ball has twenty possible answers, including ten affirmative answers (●), five non-committal answers (●), and five negative answers (●).Film adaptation
A live-action horror film based on the toy was reportedly in development in 2021 at Blumhouse Productions, with Jeff Wadlow signed on as the director. In August 2022, Blumhouse announced it was no longer producing the movie.See also
* * * * *Patents
* —''Liquid Filled Dice Agitator ca. 1944'' *—''Liquid filled die agitator containing a die having raised indicia on the facets thereof, 1962'' *—''Amusement Device ca. 1961''References
External links
* {{Mattel Products introduced in 1946 Cue sports toys and games Divination software and games Novelty items Mattel 1940s toys 1950s toys 1960s toys 1970s toys 1980s toys 1990s toys 2000s toys 2010s toys