Smell-O-Vision

[InformationGeek]

When Spy Kids 4-D: All the Time in the World pop into theaters, along did an strange old movie gimmick that I thought died a slow and painful death back in the 90's when it tried moving to cartoons: smell-o-vision.  Probably not the official term, but it is basically you get a card to go with a movie, you scratch a certian section when the number for it pops up on screen, and you smell something.

I know some movies had done that before in the past (probably before my time) and Nickeledon did that once with a couple of shows (which is how I am very familiar with the concept), but I never thought it pop up once more.

For those of you who are more familiar with this concept or probably have encountered it more than I did, what are your thoughts on it and how many movies ever used this smelly idea?  Also, would you say it is more useless than 3D?

[Olivia Bauer]

That sounds stupid and pointless. I want to watch the damn movie! I'm not gonna stop so I can scratch a stupid card that smells like something nasty! That just wastes my time.

[The Burgomaster]

I wanted to see John Waters' POLYESTER when it was in the theater so I could experience the scratch and sniff odors of a John Waters movie.

[Flick James]

Perhaps they should bring back "Feel-A-Round"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCq_nzlou0Q

[The Burgomaster]

Perhaps they should bring back "Feel-A-Round"

I prefer "do it myself" feel around . . . but that's another story.

[Archivist]

Wow, is this serious?  They really had a scratch-and-sniff adjunct to some movies?  That is wacky.

I'm just thinking about handing someone dried toilet paper in the darkness of the theatre.  "No, this is the right one, try this one!"

I'd be more impressed with one of those scent-generators automatically pumping out fumes as different scenes roll by.  Salty air smells for the beach, sweet perfume for the femme fatales, and brackish swamp gas for the black lagoon.

[Raffine]

I'd be more impressed with one of those scent-generators automatically pumping out fumes as different scenes roll by.  Salty air smells for the beach, sweet perfume for the femme fatales, and brackish swamp gas for the black lagoon.

SCENT OF MYSTERY (1960) ustilized the thrilling innovation called Smell-O-Vision (really) where they actually tried something like that. Apparently the process - stank.

According to Variety, aromas were released with a distracting hissing noise and audience members in the balcony complained that the scents reached them several seconds after the action was shown on the screen. In other parts of the theater, the odors were too faint, causing audience members to sniff loudly in an attempt to catch the scent.

John Water's scratch and sniff Odorama, on the other hand,  actually works. I've got a reproduction of the original card that came with my copy of POLYESTER.

[benjamindlevin]

The only one I know of was Polyester... what else has used this?  I see "Scent of Mystery" is mentioned, but I am totally in the dark on this as being something widely used.

Also, Spy Kids is doing this totally as a gag more than a gimmick.  The last one was in 3-D, so this one had to do one better... I see it more as a joke really.

[The Burgomaster]

Back in the 1970s or 80s Hustler or Penthouse (or one of those "gentlemen's" magazines) had a scratch and sniff centerfold.  I remember adolescent boys coming from miles around when they found out someone had a copy.

[Newt]

Back in the 1970s or 80s Hustler or Penthouse (or one of those "gentlemen's" magazines) had a scratch and sniff centerfold.  I remember adolescent boys coming from miles around when they found out someone had a copy.

Pheromones? 

[Archivist]

What, the kids didn't have a tin of sardines handy?