The Adventures of G.I. Joe - Rookie to the Rescue

The Adventures of G.I. Joe
Rookie to the Rescue

Packet No. B5851974

The various diorama View-Master reels are just about the coolest thing ever. This G.I. Joe set in particular is one of my favorites. Besides probably being just about the most fun photo shoot ever, it also brings to mind that long ago forgotten skill of playing with toys. And, whether G.I. Joe was your toy of choice, or not, it makes one nostalgic for childhood. Or, if nothing else, nostalgic for toy commercials of the seventies.

This fantastic reel packet is actually three separate stories, Rookie to the Rescue, Peril in the Depths, and The Buddha's Treasure. It is hard to imagine that there were any young boy (or girl) out there that didn't beg for this reel set.

And how often does a parent get a chance to buy their child a toy commercial of their very own?

First up - Rookie to the Rescue.

1
G.I. Joe and
Sarge were
training recruits
in the desert.

The G.I. Joe Adventure Team was on a training mission in the desert land of Utah and Arizona.

G.I. Joe and Sarge, his assistant, were training a group of recruits in the use of rescue and survival equipment.

One afternoon Joe set up the portable training tower near the edge of a canyon. He had rigged up an Escape Slide from the tower to the ground.

"Nice going, Greg," he said as one recruit started down the slide. "Come on Diego - up the ladder on the double!"

Red, who had flown the helicopter to the training site from the team's Mobile Headquarters a few miles away, watched the progress of his fellow recruits.

2
Sarge arrived
in Turbo Copter
as Greg flew
Flying Rescue.

Just then the men heard the buzz of a Turbo Copter, and Sarge flew down to join them.

"Sharp-looking class you've got there, teacher!" he joked to G.I. Joe. "Say, what's that flying out there over the canyon? Is it a bird, or a plane, or Superman?"

Joe grinned. "That's our newest rookie, Greg, trying out the Flying Rescue chair with the rocket pack."

Together Sarge and Joe watched Diego take his turn going down the Escape Slide. Meanwhile Luke, a Navaho Indian, started up the ladder briskly, trying to beat the others' time.

"Everything's quiet at headquarters," reported Sarge. "I'm going to take a reconnaissance flight over the area. I'll keep in touch by walkie-talkie.

3
At headquarters,
Joe received
a call from Sarge ...

It was just sundown as the team returned to Mobile Headquarters. Sarge was still out on reconnaissance. Shortly after they returned, Joe's walkie-talkie began to beep. He answered it.

"Joe, this is Sarge," came the voice. "I'm about three miles due southwest of you. I saw a little burro tied to a tree right beside a deep gash in the ground. I flew over to investigate, and found an old prospector down in the hole. He fell in and has hurt his leg and his head. Over."

"We'll be right there," Joe promised. "Over."

4
..."A prospector
has fallen into
a crevice and
is injured!"

"Hang in there, old timer!" Sarge called to the prospector, shining the high-intensity beam of his signal light down into the hold. "Help is on the way. By the way, what's your name?"

"Zeke," said the prospector feebly. "Zeke Simmons. I seen some shiny rocks down here and clumb down on that there rope, but the rope busted and I landed in a heap. Sure glad you happened along when you did!"

5
The Adventure
Team sped to
the rescue of
old Zeke.

By the time the Adventure Team, riding across trackless desert land in the jeep and its trailer, reached the place where Sarge and Zeke waited for them, it was beginning to grow dark.

G.I. Joe drove the jeep as close to the edge of the hole as he safely could. In the back of the jeep were a Flying Rescue unit, a rescue sling, and several coils of rope. The trailer contained a searchlight and a first aid kit.

"Okay, Luke, aim the searchlight down into the hold," directed Joe. "Sarge, better lead the burro out of the way."

"This is Bessie, meet my partners. Come on, old gal."

6
Greg and Sarge
flew down into
the hole and
gave first aid.

The team worked rapidly as darkness fell. "Greg," said Joe, "here's your chance to put the Flying Rescue chair to work in an actual situation. It hasn't got enough power to pull both you and Zeke out of the hold, but if you and Sarge go down together, you can bring him up between you on the rescue sling. Sarge, you fly down into the hold with Greg. You better take the first aid kit with you. Each of you take along a coil of rope."

Greg and Sarge flew down into the hold - Greg in the Flying Rescue, Sarge in the Turbo Copter.

"Just relax, old timer," said Sarge as they knelt beside Zeke. "We're going to bandage your head and that hurt leg of yours, and then we're going to get you out of here."

7

Rescued, Zeke
proudly showed
"shiny rocks"
he had found.

Before being pulled up, Zeke insisted on bringing along some samples of the "shiny rocks" he had found at the bottom of the crevice. He hugged them tightly in his arm as Greg and Sarge, expertly piloting their different flying craft, brought him carefully up ot ground level in the sling and laid him gently on the ground.

"I'm sure mighty obliged to you gents," said Zeke as he hobbled over to Bessie and gave her an affectionate pat. "Dunno what I'd-a done if you hadn't of come along."

Proudly, he held out his "shiny rocks."

"Ain't them pretty?" he declared. "I betcha they's uranim in them rocks. I'm gonna stake me a claim here!"

Joe smiled. "Sounds good, Zeke, except for one little detail. How are you going to get the rocks out of that deep hole?"

M*A*S*H "Major Topper" - 1978

M*A*S*H "Major Topper

Packet No. J11
1978

MASH was one of those television shows that seems to have been part of everyone's life. I remember it playing in the background when I was young and even as a kid I would watch it because it had a laugh track (most of the time) therefore, I thought it must have been funny, even if I didn't really get all the jokes.

I also have a weird memory of a magazine cover that sat in a rack in my elementary school library that boasted the 10th Anniversary of MASH with a strange Picassoesque image of Hot Lip. As least I think it was Hot Lips.

I also had a hamster named Radar.

Anyway, as an adult I appreciate MASH on a whole other level. I also now understand Major Houlihan's nickname. (The nickname was so much part of the show that once I was old enough to realize the implications, I just never thought about it.)

Thanks to Rob Kelly, blogger dynamo, and operator of the blog After Mash, I am bringing you this 1978 View-Master tribute to everyone's favorite mobile medical team. Thanks Rob!

There are a couple elements of note on this reel set. While looking through you'll notice 3 frames ( B7, C4 and C6) which include a secondary images awkwardly inserted. As well as a Word Find included in the accompanying book. Now, I have seen the inset images, though rarely. But this is the first Word Find I have ever run across myself. Pretty cool stuff! (At least to a View-Master geek.)

Enjoy!

MASH 4077, the little world of courageous men and women who care for the wounded as they come out of battle. When going gets tough, Klinger wears a dress! Or Radar offers to lend Colonel Potter his teddy bear. But for Hawkeye and B.J. there's no humor in their tent mate Major Charles Winchester, better known as "Major Topper." Whatever they can do, he can do better.

"Them bones, them bones, them thigh bones ... " sings Hawkeye to Hot Lips as they splint breaks in the Operating Room.

A1

The MASH

Operating Room

"This is a tough one. I'm going to have to do a lobectomy," says B.J.

Charles begins his daily bragging routine.

A2

"Major Topper"

"Perhaps I should take that, Hunnicutee. I've done at least fifty of those in the Big War."

"What war was that?"

"The War of the Boston Commuters. You name it and I've done it ... successfully."

"Game, set and match to Winchester," quips Hot Lips.

"The snow's getting pretty think in here," says Colonel Potter, trying to keep peace.

"I'm going to get even someday," promises Hawkeye.

"Meanwhile in the mess tent, Klinger is breaking in a new man."This serving ain't a bad gig. Once you lose your sense of smell, you got it licked." But Corporal "Boots" Miller acts very strange. As Klinger hands him a ladle, he begins talking into it.

A3

"One, two, three, testing."

"One, two, three, testing. One, two, three, testing."

Colonel Potter and Father Mulcahy come through the line.

A4

"One brown

puddle. Hold

the shingle."

"Have some stew, Colonel?"

"What kind is it?"

"It could be beef, port or water buffalo. We'll never know and it won't tell."

"Just as long as it's dead. Spoon it on, son. No toast."

Boots barks into the ladle, "One brown puddle. Hold the shingle."

After the meal, B.J. and Hawkeye play chess.

A5

"It's my turn

to beat you."

"That's not fair, B.J. It's my turn to beat you."

Up pops the voice of Charles!

A6

"Did I ever

tell you... "

"Did I ever tell you guys about the time I won the Intercollegiate Chess Tournament for Harvard?"

"Oh, no! I swear someday I'll top you, Charles!"

Boots begins interviewing the men with this stew-dripping ladle.

"What's your name, soldier, and what do you do?

"My name is Colonel Potter, soldier, and I bust wiseacres like you."

Hawkeye backs away claiming "ladle fright."

Finally Boots spots Hot Lips coming into the tent.

"Ah, here's a young lad with peach fuzz still on his cheeks. How old are you, sonny?"

A7

"How old are

you, sonny?"

"Sonny?" Hot Lips asks. "What's going on? Keep him away from me, Klinger. Isn't one of you enough?"

Back in Post-Op more serious troubles concern B.J. and Hawkeye. Nurse Baker alerts them to a serious reaction to a medication.

B1

"We need more

medication!"

When Radar goes for a new batch, he finds there'll be no more until another shipment arrives in the morning!

In their tent Klinger decides to be firm with Boots.

B2

"Shape up,

Boots!"

"It's time we had a little nut-to-nut talk. The microphone bit is strictly for sandlots psychos. This is the Big Leagues, guy. Up here it takes seasoning, finesse. So from now on you just shut up, put down you ladle, and watch me."

"Right, Klinger! Well good night, Mr. Shoe.

B3

"Good night

Mr. Shoe."

And good night to you, too, Mr. Socks. Don't you worry about this hole. Mr. Toes doesn't mind at all."

Klinger doesn't believe it!

Back in Potter's office, the gang meets and decides how to get through the night until the new medication arrives fro Seoul.

B4

"Let's try a

new pain

killer."

Colonel Potter remembers when he was a boy in Missouri. His Aunt Grace come down with a terrible headache and old Doc Schumacher cured it with a couple of pills.

"What kind of magic was in those pills?" asked B.J.

"Sugar!" answered Potter.

"Sugar? Are you suggesting that we keep our wounded sedated all night with only sugar?"

"It's all we've got. If we sell it, it might work."

Hawkeye and B.J. agree that sugar pills are the only chance to prevent shock in their patients. At the pharmacy, they convince Glassberg that they have to do a spot inventory.

B5

"We need to do

a shot

inventory."

"One of our tongue depressors is missing."

When he finally leaves, Hawkeye and B.J. begin making the pills. Radar arrives with the sugar. "This is all I could scrape off the doughnuts."

Father Mulcahy drops by to see whether he can help.

"You know, I've finally gotten you boys working with me. The patients will be taking these pills on faith, and they have to work."

B6

"Let me help

says Father

Mulcahy."

Out on the compound Klinger comes to relieve Boots from guard duty.

B7

"I got two of

those gliders!"

Boots has had a busy night.

"Quiet, Klinger. You hear that? Enemy planes!"

"I don't hear anything."

"Of course not. They're gliders."

Suddenly Boots knocks Klinger to the ground and begins shooting at the imaginary gliders.

"I got two of 'em. I got two of 'em!"

"Boots, you are nuts. If they gave me a section 8 tonight, I'd give it to you. Now go back to your tent and sit up with Mr. Shoes and Mr. Socks."

Sugar pills finished, the MASH unit starts the big experiment. As they go into Post-Op, Colonel POetter warns B.J., Hawkeye and Charles, "Remember, these pills are our only chance. They have got to work. It's up to you to convince the patients they do."

"I'm a consummate actor," says Charles. "I was in the Hasty Pudding shows ... at Harvard, you know."

"Not again," moans Hawkeye.

The Drs. begin to pass out the pills.

C1

"You guys will

feel much

better soon."

Hot Lips predicts the wounded will feel better in ten minutes. "No seconds on these pills. They're too strong," cautions B.J. Even Father Mulcahy assures a soldier the pills are better than the ones they usually get.

When Radar comes in a little later, he can hardly believe his eyes. The patients are relaxed; some are even falling asleep!

Exhausted, Hawkeye, B.J., Potter and Charles retire to the mess tent for some coffee.

"Those guys really helped themselves. The best doctor is right up here," says Potter, pointing to his head.

"Don't spread it around. Well all be out of jobs," says Hawkeye.

C2

"Those sugar

pills really

worked!"

"I knew it would work," gloats Charles.

C3

"Of course. I

knew they'd

work."

The tired men walk off to their tents. Potter is suddenly stopped by Klinger.

"Sir, I've got to talk to you. That Boots is really nuts I tell you. Right now he's holding two invisible prisoners."

Just then Boots rounds the corner and fires a warning shot into the air. Klinger hits the ground and pulls Potter down with him. Boots stars running in the other direction, screaming that the prisoners are leaving on gliders.

C4

"I told you

he's nuts."

"As soon as he runs out of ammunition, get him, Klinger. I'll be in my office writing his discharge," says Potter as he gets up and hurries out of range.

Hawkeye and B.J. are trying to relax in their tent when Charles begins his bragging again.

C5

"You never

dated Grace

Kelly."

"Have you gentlemen ever heard of Grace Kelly? Well, I dated her once."

"Don't you ever give up?" says Hawkeye.

"We're calling you on this one, Chuckles."

And then and there Charles produces a picture of himself having dinner with Grace Kelly!

"I'm gonna be sick," groans Hawkeye. "Uncle!"

C6

But Major

Topper did!

A few months later Potter and Klinger receive a package from Boots Miller at the Novelite Toy Company. In it is a sock puppet named "Stinky."

C7

Boots goes home,

sends MASH

a puppet!

Boots writes: "Mr. Sock was invented in your camp. We've sold over 50,000 of them. Now I have an idea for a new toy, "Enemy Glider." Did you by any chance take any photos of the glider I shot down? Please send them by registered mail. This office is full of spies.

"He really was nuts!" cheers Klinger.

"We're all nuts." That's part of the fun." ends Potter.

Gay for Lois Lane

Need yet another blog in your life? Well I do! Please stop by and check out my new tribute to Lois Lane.

Gay for Lois Lane

Here I'll be sharing some of my favorite stories featuring the First Lady of Comics.

Batman "The Purr-fect Crime" - 1966 Part 2 of 2

11

With his amazing
Batcups, he
climbed the wall
and escaped!

Booklet Text

The ferocious Batman-eating tiger charged! Batman, with this Bat-quick reflexes, sidestepped ... fumbled in his Batbelt for his Batclaws and put them on his hands ... raced to the wall and ran up it. He slapped his hands hard against the surface and stayed there, a good ten feet off the floor! The amazing Batcups on his Batclaws held him tightly against the wall as the tiger leaped in vain.

Next, using his vast knowledge of audio-engineering, Batman reversed the polarity on his communicator, then increased the audio to 20,000 decibels. The room was filled with an ear-shattering WHINE! The tiger backed into a corner and cowered there. Batman dropped to the floor, opened the door, and escaped into a long corridor, turning off the communicator. He looked around, then stamped on a wall the luminous sigh of the bat.

12

"My tigers below,
Boy Wonder,
will be fed when
you fall ..."

Booklet Text

Meanwhile, in the Catwoman's evil playroom in the basement, Robin was stretched on a plank suspended over a pit of snarling tigers! On the opposite end of the plank, a clear plastic cylinder, filled with sand, balanced his weight exactly. One move meant horrible death!

"You must be curious, Boy Wonder, why the strange feeding method?" asked Catwoman.

"I'm always interested in the workings of the criminal mind," he replied.

"My pets are orderly beasts and have to be fed on time," explained Catwoman. "So when enough sand runs out, dinner is served!"

"Catwoman, you are not a nice person," said Robin. "You shouldn't let them get so hungry. After all, pets are a responsibility.

She shrugged, pulled the plug from the sand cylinder, and walked away. Slowly, the sand began spilling out.

13

In the catacombs
Batman saw his
Batsign again -
he was lost!

Booklet Text

In the dimly lit corridor, Batman walked along, trying to find his way out of these catacombs. He came to a cross-corridor and saw his Batsign.

What no, Cowled Crusader? Is it a cul-de-sac?

He started down the corridor to the right, but soon came full circle and saw the Batsign again.

Precious moments lost! There's only one possible way out! He turned and ran up the left-hand passage.

14

The sand
was escaping!
Below Robin the
tigers paced!

Booklet Text

While the Catwoman's henchmen watched and taunted him, Robin teetered over the awful pit. Each dropping grain of sand seemed to signal a terrible end. Batman - where are you? Below, the hungry tigers roared for their supper. He slipped slightly! The beasts nervously paced in the pit. Robin slipped again! Oh, agony! Have the sands of time run out for the Boy Wonder?

About twenty feet up the wall above him was an air vent - and in it suddenly appeared the face of Batman - wonderful in-the-nick-of-time Batman! He grasped the situation. His jaws tightened. Catwoman's men, below, did not see the vent being pried open - oh, so quietly ...

15

Batman swung
down, snatching
Robin from a
sure doom!

Booklet Text

Batman removed the grating, thrust an arm through. His Batarang whipped through the air ... the Batrope followed it, wrapping itself around a beam on the ceiling! In a flash, Batman seized the rope ... swung down ... grabbed Robin, and deposited him safely on the floor!

The henchmen were stunned. But they quickly recovered. "You take Batman," yelled Leo, "I'll get Robin!"

16

Robin launched
himself at a
catman - ZAP!
KAPOWIE!

Booklet Text

SOCK! WHAM! A general free-for-all fight took place POW! Robin finally THWACK! knocked out Felix, while OOF! Batman sent Leo sprawling on the floor.

"Tie them up, Robin," said Batman - but Leo, who had been only pretending unconsciousness, crawled stealthily toward the door ... then rose and made a break for it!

"He's gone," said Batman. "Oh well, let's investigate this lair. Perhaps we'll find Catwoman."

The feline lady had fled. But standing regally on her unguarded desk were the two golden cat statues!

17

"These cats
are the shape of
this old
treasure map!

Booklet Text

Back in the Batcave, they laid the golden cats side by side on a table and studied them carefully. "Notice the strange markings on their backs, Robin," said Batman.

"Holy geography!" said Robin. "It looks like some kind of map!"

"There's a legend that these cats were part of the treasure of the notorious pirate, Captain Manx," said Batman. "And the rest of his loot was never found." He crossed over to a bookshelf and returned with a volume, History of Gotham City.

"I've found it!" he said a few minutes later, pointing to a map in the book. "The same markings you get when both cats are side by side! Together they become a map that will lead us to Captain Manx's treasure!"

In a wooded area near the ocean, Catwoman held her cat-shaped flashlight while Leo dug. His shovel plunged through into an opening ... an underground cave! "At last!" shouted Catwoman. "Captain Manx's lost treasure! I'm rich! Fill the duffel bag, Leo!"

Along a lonely road raced the powerful Batmobile ...

Leo finished stuffing the bag with loot. "What will my share be, Catwoman?"

"This!" She took her heavy flashlight and rapped it over his cranium. He toppled like a giant redwood.

"Why'd you do that?" mumbled Leo, as his eyes crossed and he lapsed into unconsciousness.

"There's never enough for two," said Catwoman. She shouldered the loot and started for the entrance ... but, just then came Batman's voice like the crack of a whip.

18

They found the
pirates cave and
Catwoman
with the loot.

Booklet Text

The Dauntless Duo stood in the doorway, resolutely blocking her path. Catwoman whirled and ran back into the cave, with the Masked Manhunters in hot pursuit!

19

They cornered
her at the edge
of a bottomless
chasm!

Booklet Text

There followed an eerie chase through the dim, deep underground corridors. Suddenly Catwoman gasped in horror! Ahead of her the cave floor vanished, and a chasm ten feet wide lay across her path. Could she jump it?

"Don't do it, Catwoman!" Batman called. "You'll never make the jump with the load you're carrying!"

"Just watch me, Batman!" she panted defiantly.

She leaped ... missed!" She clung desperately to a stalactite with one hand, the heavy bag with the other!

Batman uncoiled his Batrope. "Hang on, Catwoman. Let go of the bag, then you can catch the rope."

20

Too greedy to
drop the loot
she lost her hold
and fell!

Booklet Text

But Catwoman's greed was stronger than fear! "I can't let go ... I just can't"

Her hand lost its hold ... and, with a caterwaul of terror, she plunged out of sight. Ten heartbeats later, they heard a SPLASH far below.

"Catwoman!" shouted Robin. "Can you hear me? Catwoman?"

"Catwoman!" came the echo. "Can you hear me? Catwoman!"

"Greed is an overpowering emotion," said Batman as he coiled his Batrope. "Come on, Robin; our job is done."

21

"Bruce, do you
think Catwoman
has nine lives, too?"

Booklet Text

The next morning, in Bruce's study at Wayne Manor, Bruce and Dick resumed their interrupted game of three-dimensional chess. Alfred looked on the interest as Bruce moved his Queen catty-corner up three levels to say: "Queen takes Knight and - checkmate!"

Dick sighed. His thoughts were elsewhere.

"Bruce, do you think she might still be alive?

"I don't see how she could be, but - cats are supped to have nine lives, Dick. It's hard to say."