The Mad Mad Mad Scientist Laboratory

[BijouBob8mm]

I love seeing these great old sets.  I recall seeing something at a local toy shop (owned by the same family for several decades) a couple of Christmas seasons back.  It was part of a nice-sized display of magic sets and magic tricks.  I want to say it was called something along the lines of The Magic of Science, but won't swear I've got the name right.  Basically, it showed how science could be used to create optical illusions, chemical reactions, etc..  Tried looking online, and came up with a couple of possibilities:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/25575587?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227018493605&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40944292832&wl4=pla-78883686752&wl5=9016549&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=25575587&wl13=&veh=sem

http://www.target.com/p/4m-showtime-science-magic-kit/-/A-51633225

Next time I'm in the toy shop, I'll look to see if it was either of those, or something else.  (Maybe take the cell phone for a shot of the box, if they still have any left.  They tend to have a pretty healthy selection of magic kits/tricks.)

A local antique mall has an old Mandrake the Magician magic kit for sale.  Forget what they're asking for it but, except for the sponge rubber rabbits, it appeared to be in pretty good condition.  (The sponge bunnies appeared to have dry rot setting in.)

[Hepcat]

This has been a popular one in craft stores the last few years:

[Hepcat]

Does anyone know anything about this repro of the Mad Mad Mad Scientist Laboratory that was sold on Ebay in June 2016?

Mad Mad Mad Scientist Laboratory - Worthpoint

[Hepcat]

So evidently the repro Mad Mad Mad Scientist Laboratory pictured in the Worthpoint link was listed and sold by Samjo123:

http://www.ebay.ph/itm/THE-MAD-MAD-MAD-SCIENTIST-LABORATORY-1965-FAMOUS-MONSTERS-OF-FILMLAND-CAPTAIN-CO-/231773305671

His listing does not specify by whom the set was reproduced. I'm guessing that he himself may have had the set reproduced since he has previously been involved in reproducing other monster related items.

Like those of many sellers, his descriptions often contain an element of puffery. In this case he states that "...the Mad Mad Mad Scientist Laboratory sold in 1965 only through the back pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine." That's just not true. I bought mine at Seven Mile Hobby Shop(?) in Detroit in the summer of 1964.

[Monster Bob]

The Mad, Mad, Mad, Magician Set was produced. I picked one up this Summer. Even more rare than the M,M,M, Laboratory set. It exists!

[Hepcat]

It exists!

Dare we hope for a picture or two?

[Monster Bob]

Can't seem to post pics here. See me on facebook...

[Mike Scott]

Dare we hope for a picture or two?

There's one in the archives.

[Monster Bob]

That's the unique promotional  poster used to sell the idea  of the set to Aurora. I have the MMM Scientist Lab one. These two pieces came from the collection of Mort Kunstler himself, and were  personally signed by him.

[Mike Scott]

That's the unique promotional  poster used to sell the idea  of the set to Aurora.

Thanks for the info! I thought it was the box top.

[Monster Bob]

Same art- you can see the two folds if you look close. Folded in thirds vertically.

[Mike Scott]

Same art- you can see the two folds if you look close.

Oh yeah!

[Hepcat]

That's the unique promotional  poster used to sell the idea of the set to Aurora. I have the MMM Scientist Lab one.

Aurora? How was Aurora involved? The Mad Mad Mad Scientist Laboratory was a HomeLab product.

These two pieces came from the collection of Mort Kunstler himself, and were  personally signed by him.

Approximately when did he let them go? I know he no longer had the original art in 2008-09 because I contacted his office and inquired about the original art at the time.

[Monster Bob]

Home Lab was a Subsidiary of Aurora.

[Monster Bob]

Approximately when did he let them go?

About 1989/1990, I think.