Hollywood View-a-Scope Coin-Op Stereoscope

United States, 1940s/1950s

This big, beautiful coin-operated stereoscope is the first of its kind in our collection. For all of its heavy metal bulk, two of the key components are a simple plastic Tru-Vue viewer and Tru-Vue filmstrip — in this case, the Sally Rand Dude Ranch filmstrip. When you push in the coin, the light comes on for 2 minutes. The film is advanced by pushing in the pin on the side. We don’t yet know the exact date of manufacture but the solid-color Tru-Vue viewer being used wasn’t produced until the 1940s so we assume late ‘40s to early ‘50s for the View-a-Scope.

Primary Material: Metal
Media Format: Filmstrip
Light Source: Battery-powered
Focus: Fixed
Interocular: Fixed