Postcards from Deda

Share this post
Little Paper Movies
deda.substack.com

Little Paper Movies

Carrying on a tradition

Jan 17
Comment4
Share

Sam and I have decided our parents had some things in common. Our mothers were frugal and our dads were inventive, probably echoes of the Depression that we ourselves missed by a few years. My dad was an artist so my brother and I often found handmade cards and toys on the breakfast table on our birthdays. My mother recycled gift wrap and ribbons, adding her paper doily and crepe paper decorations.

I have one of my dad’s inventions on my bookshelf. “The Goofy Show” box has a label on one end that says, “Penny’s Girls’ Hosiery”. He cut and decorated an opening in the lid. You turn wire handles to view the illustrated paper strip, and to rewind it.

Box is about 9” wide by 4” high by 2” deep

Here are some of his characters.

As kids we loved cut-out projects for paper movies in comic books, magazines and newspapers. Popeye had a Thimble Theater. The example below is simple, like the ones I remember.

Along these lines I made a greeting card for my Etsy shop, “Annie Tabby Goes to the Movies”. It comes with short film strips along with two blank ones so a child can draw stories of their own.

Silent movies with a piano player

A family in the audience
Annie and the movie theater refreshment stand

They say it’s never too late to grow up, but I don’t think I stand a chance!

Leave a comment

“The Goofy Show” is owned by Deda Edney
Thimble Theater example
Annie Tabby art work is by Deda Edney
NOTE: My Etsy shop, Threepenny Mailbox, is now open again after the holidays
Comment4
ShareShare

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

cindy cheek
Jan 17Liked by Deda Edney

Love it. So CLEVER and creative!

Expand full comment
Reply
Beth Pensiero
Jan 18

These are adorable. Never grow up!

Expand full comment
Reply
2 more comments…
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 Deda Edney
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing