Friday, March 13, 2015

Hasbro Ghost Gun Target Book (1974)

Here's the Hasbro Ghost Gun (1974).
It doesn't actually shoot anything, because its really just a battery-powered projector. The gun comes with a 16 page booklet of cellophane strips of printed images of ghosts, devils, spiders, etc., which are torn out on their perforated edges and slid into a slit on the gun's side.


The stock of the gun has a bit of play in it, kind of like a joystick, and can be moved a few inches in any direction, independent of the front end. Moving the stock also moves an internally mounted pin, which punctures the cellophane target when you pull the trigger, leaving a visible hole in the projected image, wherever the pin happened to be aimed.

Some ads for the gun promised "1,000" targets.
I count exactly 1,088.

There was also a white "Moving Monster" version of the gun, with different target images.

Image from PlaidStallions. Be sure to check out their excellent book of dime-store toys, Rack Toys:Cheap, Crazed Playthings.

When I owned one of these back in the 70s, I always thought the gun kind of resembled Madame Medusa's from Disney's The Rescuers, and would use it as such for Rescue Aid Society role-play sessions (yes, that was a thing in my circle of friends!)


Here's scans of all the Ghost Gun targets.

19 comments:

  1. Yes! A vague memory of having this...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I had this two, but like the previous comment, only vague recollections of it. I suspect I used it more for projecting ghosts on the wall then actually shooting at them.

    Or maybe what I had was something similar that only projected monsters? A later or earlier version of this? I remember the sheets but not punching pin holes.

    (Blogger really needs an edit button!)

    BTW, long time fan of your blog, I should mention that you might like my weekly grim reaper related comedy videos, here's the newest:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lMqql0yO94

    (I apologize if that's spam-y.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I had the white one. Even after running out of the strips, I still used it as a play gun. And once Ghostbusters came out, it made a great proton wand if you took out the front piece.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I loved this toy! I spent quite a bit of time sitting in the basement shooting at ghosts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My brother and I had one of these. Loved it. I was only a couple of years old, so it was mainly his. If anyone has one they want to sell, please, let me know!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh yes! Wouldn't it be great to own one of these?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Does anyone know where to buy one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for your interesting and informative blog. I have enjoyed reading it and appreciate the work you have put into it. Here is some relevant information for you to review .
    toy machine guns

    ReplyDelete
  9. what are the dimensions of the strips if we want to make our own?

    ReplyDelete
  10. where can you find an instruction manual? Does it take several D batteries? Just got one off of ebay and trying to see if I can get it to work

    ReplyDelete
  11. I had the white one.. every once in a while I think about it..I used to like it a lot..I was only around 5 years old..I would love to have one now.. brings back some good old memories...

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I found mine in the box with some of the original strips -

    ReplyDelete
  14. I don't think I ever used any of the strips. We used it as a sub-machine gun when playing "War". I suspect that most people did.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have one but it's not functional- anyone have any suggestions on how to fix it so it works? Maybe an electrician? All the parts are there it's just likely a simple fix. Is there a official vintage toy repair person ?

    ReplyDelete