Ouija Board, 1968

Parker Brothers bought the commercial rights to the Ouija Board in 1966. Based on this 1968 ad, I'm guessing that they were wary of marketing it as a device for communicating with dead people. Instead, they tried to sell it as a kind of Magic 8-Ball. But really, who would ask a Ouija board such boring questions?

     Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 20, 2015
     Category: Paranormal | Advertising | 1960s





Comments
Some may scoff at me for my opinion here but I stand by it. The Ouija board is a doorway and once it is opened (by using the board) you can't always control what comes through. Its not a game and should not be toyed with.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 02/20/15 at 09:10 AM
After using one I picked up at a garage sale both Patty and I had many bad things start happening to those close to us. I can't seem to get rid of it. It also at one time had blood stains put on it. Any takers ? Free Shipping included.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 02/20/15 at 09:48 AM
While I would not totally dismiss the possibility of communication with the spirit world, I am comfortable enough asserting that you can not summon demons using something with the Parker Bros logo on it.

The whole "Funny how a boy makes the best partner" thing gives me the feeling that the daffy questions in the ad itself are just a cover, and they really expect that you're going to use this as a way to facilitate sexytimes. As in, "Look, Debbie, I know you're a good girl and all, but the spirits totally just said you should let me get to second base and we don't want to risk bringing down the wrath of the dark powers!"

I could easily imagine a spin-the-bottle type game where a group of horny, repressed teenagers take turns asking the spirits who they should make out with.
Posted by Ross on 02/20/15 at 10:19 AM
They'd've sold a lot more units if they'd've had a bikinied piece of fluff in that ad.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 02/20/15 at 10:20 AM
I'll tape that kind of picture to the back of it Expat and ship it to you :cheese:
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 02/20/15 at 11:01 AM
The trouble is.... you would!
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 02/20/15 at 11:02 AM
Where did I hide my stash?
Posted by F.U.D. on 02/20/15 at 11:03 AM
One of my cousins swore that the results of a session with a Ouija board were always true. But then she was always known in the family as having a weak mind.
Posted by KDP on 02/20/15 at 11:45 AM
You should never trust what a Ouija board tells you. The voices in my head tell me it lies.
Posted by tadchem on 02/20/15 at 12:38 PM
Packed and on it's way Expat as soon as Patty gets back from the Hospital being with Michele to give me the Greek address from what you have sent her from Athens.

She is so glad her friend came back from the "dead". I guess now Paul won't have to help finish book three of her series. For those that may not know she had a heart attack and was put in a coma with her blood and body cooled after CPR resuscitation.

If anyone wants to buy them here is a Amazon link to book one:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Fate-Decrees-Oedarian-Legends/dp/1478273925/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424468074&sr=8-1&keywords=michele+reinhart
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 02/20/15 at 04:38 PM
Back in 1970 when I returned home from Viet-Nam my town was in the grip of Ouija board madness. I couldn't go visit anyone without them pulling the damned thing out and wanting to amaze me with it's powers. Had some people up in arms. Eventually some younger kids parents took them away and gave them to the local Catholic priest who burned them. Much ado for a silly game.
Posted by Huntceet on 02/20/15 at 06:43 PM
One of these helped me score a home run in 1971 with a 17YO sweetie. I was a old man at 21 then. Perhaps the Boones Farm wine helped also.
Posted by Gator Guy on 02/20/15 at 08:48 PM
I am caught upon the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, I am partly convinced that the movement is entirely caused by one or more of the humans pushing the pointer around the board. On the other hand, you shouldn't go dabbling in stuff like that without some serious spiritual protection, which is only a prayer away. Whether or not the board works is immaterial. Whether you believe that it works is what counts.

There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 02/21/15 at 08:58 AM
It's my understanding that they have to be sanctified in some way before they're truly dangerous. It's the ones made by hand you have to really watch out for.

We had one during the craze. Probably got used twice before put away and forgotten.
Posted by Phideaux on 02/21/15 at 02:43 PM
Actually having a blessed object on the board is supposed to protect the participants.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 02/21/15 at 11:53 PM
@patty -- That's probably because it counters the board's sanctification for service to Satan.
Posted by Phideaux on 02/22/15 at 04:50 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.