Name: The Aye Ball

Release Date: Summer 2006

Brand: McDonald’s

Stock Number: Number 2 in the Pirates of the Caribbean Happy Meal Set

One of the most innovative promotional Magic 8 Ball’s I’ve discovered yet, The Aye Ball was released as a McDonald’s Happy meal toy to help promote Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest.  It’s slightly larger than the small 7 cm size Magic 8 Balls, but instead of being a ball is a fully sculpted skull wearing a pirate bandanna and eye patch.  The answer window is not on the bottom, but rather tucked away under the eyepatch.

…read all of McDonald’s Pirates Of The Caribbean Aye Ball – 2006

Name: Disney Hannah Montana Magic 8 Ball

Release Date: 2007

Brand: Mattel

Stock Number: M0984

Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, seemed to take over the world back in 2006 with every girl between the ages of 6 and 16 seemingly obsessed overnight.  Mattel rarely misses a marketing trend yet still managed to take a full year to get the Hannah Montana Magic 8 Ball to market after the series premiere.  While I’m not privy to any actual marketing or sales data, this does seem to be one of the most widely spread official magic eight balls that has been released in the last decade or so.

…read all of Disney Hannah Montana Magic 8 Ball

Name: The Mystical Orb

Release Date: Unknown

Brand: Unknown

Stock Number: 279

The Mystical Orb is, by far, the most ubiquitous unofficial Magic 8 Ball in the free world today.  Alas, it is also one of the most mysterious.  Despite my best efforts I have not only been unable to discover when it was created, but I haven’t even learned who created it.  Although the box is beautifully designed it bears neither copyright nor trademark statements.  The stock number is clearly printed, as is the legally required “made in China”, but there is nothing like a company name for either a manufacturer or distributor.

…read all of The Mystical Orb (aka Purple Orb Magic Eight Ball)

Name: Magic Answering “8 Ball”

Release Date: Early 1950s

Brand: Alabe Crafts, Inc.

Stock Number: None

Once again, no way for me to be certain about the release date on this one.  I believe, however, that it is the very first Magic 8 Ball to be sold in this black, white and red “caricature” box.  It’s clearly prior to 1962 as US Patent #3119621 had not been awarded yet, and most likely not even applied for (or there would be a “patent pending” notice) and Magic 8 Ball was not yet a registered trademark.

How and why the name went “backwards” from The Magic Eight Ball to Magic Answering “8 Ball” is unfortunately still a complete mystery.  If you can offer any insight into this (or any other) issue, please leave a comment below.

…read all of Magic Answering “8 Ball”

I’m neither a sports fan in general or a baseball fan in particular, but this Pirates Magic Baseball has still become one of my favorite promotional Magic 8 Balls.  I only wish I knew why.

I’ve been told that the Pittsburgh Pirates Magic 8 Ball was most likely a ballpark promotion in 2003 with one being given to every kid under the age of 10.  Seems likely given the logo on the ball, the custom answers, and the sponsorship by grocery store chain Giant Eagle.  Now that I think of it, that sponsorship may well be what makes this ball special to me.  The Giant Eagle logo is on the ball twice, yet it’s clearly not a Giant Eagle Magic 8 Ball.  They just helped pay to have it made.

…read all of Food King – Pittsburgh Pirates Magic Baseball