Fortune Tellers
 
1957 Genco Gypsy Grandma Fortune Teller. Moving Automatons which forecast the future began appearing in the late 1800's with many major manufacturers such as Exhibit Supply, Munves and others producing variations through the years. Animatronic fortune tellers have taken on a almost magical mystique with their use in movies such as 'Big' starring Tom Hanks. The Genco Gypsy Grandma fortune teller is considered by many to be one of the most intricate animated fortune tellers ever produced. A patron asks Grandma a question via the 'microphone' on the upper left side of the front glass. A dime is then inserted and Grandma comes to life. The figure appears to breath with her chest moving in and out. Her head moves and her hand moves. Amazingly, she moves her hand over to a drawer, opens it with her other hand and then actually selects a fortune card, gripping it via a moving fingers and thumb. Grandma then lifts the card over to a caldren and drops it whereby it goes down a chute to the waiting patron. Finally Grandma blows the patron a kiss and goes back to sleep. This early animatronic figure is truly lifelike and amazing to watch! This particular machine came from the now long gone Meyer's Lake Amusement Park which was outside of Canton Ohio. The crystal ball placed inside was part of the amusement parks presentation of the machine.
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    • Coin Crafters Grandmother Predicts Fortune Teller. Based upon the now very rare Mutoscope Grandmother Predicts fortune teller of the 1920's, this modern fortune teller is housed in a traditional oak cabinet. This machine was built by Coin Crafters company of Colorado. The patron inserts fifty cents and the crystal ball lights. Grandmother then comes to life moving her head and waving her arms over the cards on her table. After Grandmother devines her prophesy, a card is vended into the tray in the front left bottom of the cabinet. In addition to a fortune, the card entices the patron to insert more money for another fortune reading.
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    • 1961 Admiral Vending Fortune Theatre. This interesting machine, produced by Admiral Vending company of Chicago provides thirty seconds of animated dancing, pouring from a bottle and drinking from a cup. The bears eyes light up and he dispenses a fortune card, all for five cents! Interestingly, even though these are commercial coin operated machines, power is provided internally by two D-cell batteries. Admiral vending offered 100 different 'live action puppets' each of which could be used in the same machine mechanism thus providing variety for operators.
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    • 1950's Swami Fortune Teller. Who could forget the Twilight Zone episode 'Nick Of Time' where a young actor, William Shatner, has his life controlled by a fortune telling diner napkin holder. This is a original Swami which the episode was based on. Fortune telling napkin holders were ubiquitous at diner's in the 1950's and have all but disappeared now. One insert's a penny and asks the Swami a yes or no question. The lever on the right is pressed down and a fortune slip is dispensed from the front. The slip answers the question as well as providing a more detailed fortune and even some 'lucky numbers' for the patron to use.
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    • 1987 Zoltar The Palm Reader. Fortune teller machines continue to be produced and earn revenue for operators today. This electronic fortune teller was produced by Mr. Vend of Chatsworth California in 1987. It has a crystal ball which glows and flash's as well as a mysterious voice which summon's people nearby to please give Zoltar a quarter and he will read their palm. When a quarter is inserted, Zoltar asks the patron to place their hand on the crystal ball which begin's flashing. Zoltar announces that he is feeling the patrons fortune, then begins to display individual attributes of their fortune on LED bar graphs. Such items as Love, Health, Luck etc. are all analyzed and displayed. Finally Zoltar asks the patron to consider inserting more quarters for further readings. These modern fortune tellers can be very sucessful in bars, mall's or arcades and continue to bring in revenue for operators as all fortune tellers have for over one hundred years.
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    • 1939 Exhibit Supply Ask Me Another About Love. This fortune teller was produced by Exhibit Supply company in 1939. A nickle is inserted and the patron is allowed to select one of fifteen questions displayed on the front via a rotating knob. As the knob is rotated, questions such as 'Does she love me' are illuminated. After the question is selected, a metal button is pushed and 'Yes' or 'No' is randomly displayed in the center of the glass. This machine as well as several varients led to the development of more complex fortune machines.
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    • 2006 Renovatia Living Dead Bride. Designed and built by Diego Alvarez and Maxi Farias of Argentina, this modern fortune teller is both imaginative and well built. Alvarez and Farias have previously designed several other fortune tellers under their "Renovatia" label. The living dead bride sits silently with her tombstone dimly lit until a quarter is inserted. A selection is then made as to whether the patron is male or female. The bride then comes alive appearing to float in air with her veil dramatically illuminated by black light. A one minute fortune is then spoken and the bride returns to sleep. While the bride herself is electromechanical, utilizing a motor and servo's, the fortune telling portion of the machine is computerized. The actual audio fortunes are stored on a CD with random tracks being chosen during gameplay. The use of a CD creates the ability to easily change the fortunes for any type of special event. The art of fortune teller design is still alive and well in the twenty first century.
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