Summer 2016 PDF link

Summer 2016 • Volume 6 • Issue 4
News and Events for Members, Donors, and Friends
PLAY Time
Blast off for adventure in...
The Force
at Play
Sci-Fi
Summer
Playing
with Politics
Display
Sonic’s 25th
Anniversary
Now
Open!
Page 2
3
5
6
6
New Exhibit
Open through September 5!
Explore the evolution of the
beloved franchise and view dozens
of artifacts from The Strong’s
collections, including the first 12
Kenner Star Wars action figures,
an original movie poster, and early
The imaginative universes of science-fiction classics beckon at Rockets, Robots, and Ray Guns—an
original exhibit that explores the ways that science-fiction books, toys, movies, and video games have
captured people’s imaginations and shaped the way they play. Travel to distant futures and faraway
galaxies to explore key sci-fi themes in zones that couple artifacts from The Strong’s collections with
dynamic, hands-on activities:
Aliens and Monsters
New Frontiers
Experience the realms of
other-worldly creatures and play a
variety of games based on monsters
and alien life forms, such as Galaxian,
Galaga, and Primal Rage. Zap the
attackers from outer-space and try
to save Earth in a giant version of
the classic arcade game Space
Invaders. Create your own twodimensional alien or monster on
light tablets. Listen to an original
radio broadcast of the iconic book
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.
Travel at the speed of light and learn
about humankind’s fascination with
exploring and colonizing space.
View colony play sets, and seek out
new galaxies on rare arcade games
such as Two-Player Computer Space
and a cockpit version of Sega’s
classic vector game Star Trek.
Future Perfect
Utopia or dystopia? Explore what
the future might hold and learn
about humankind’s fascination with
apocalyptic events by playing the
classic Cold War arcade game
Missile Command and viewing
artifacts such as the Nuclear War
game, the Apple II game Wasteland,
a Katniss Everdeen figure from the
popular series The Hunger Games,
and a copy of George Orwell’s
ground-breaking novel 1984.
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PLAY Time • Summer 2016
Ray Guns
Ray guns, blasters, phasers, heat
rays, and other futuristic energy
weapons have been a key part
of space lore for decades. See a
sampling of toy versions and check
out the oldest toy ray gun ever
created! Zap the bad guys in arcade
game shooters such as Alien
Extermination and Terminator II.
Robots
Marvel at a wide-range of toy robots,
including Big Loo (a talking,
mechanical robot developed by
Louis Marx and Company for
Christmas season 1963), and learn
about the influence of Japanese
toys on the development of real
robots. Make your own robot from
a variety of materials and play
robot-centric arcade games such
as Robotron: 2084, Berzerk, and
Xybots. Check out a first edition
of Isaac Asimov’s book I, Robot,
which introduced the Three Laws
of Robotics.
Rockets
Learn about trajectory and velocity
by creating and launching an
air-powered paper rocket. Solve a
giant, 3-D puzzle depicting a rocket
launch, and view rocket toys from
the Cold War era. Test your space
piloting skills on classic arcade
games such as Asteroids and Lunar
Lander. Also explore famous sci-fi
spaceships such as the earliest
model of the Star Trek Enterprise
ever made.
advertising for Star Wars toys. Check
out an intricate diorama of Star Wars
characters and vehicles depicting a
battle between the Rebel Alliance
and evil Empire. See how Star Wars
inspired other playthings, including
a variety of LEGO toys, and play
with Mr. Potato Head’s evil
counterpart—Darth Tater!
Take on the Dark Side and immerse
yourself in the fantastic video game
realms that Star Wars inspired
through the decades. Play arcade
classics, such as Star Wars and
The Empire Strikes Back, and modern
games like Star Wars Battlefront.
Jump in the cockpit and try to take
down the original Death Star or
save the ice planet Hoth in the new,
interactive Star Wars Battle Pod.
View videos of children incorporating
Star Wars into their adventures and
see a range of branded costumes,
lightsabers, and other toys used to
bring the movies to life through play.
Beware the large-scale X-Wing and
TIE Fighter models overhead!
The Force at Play is on view through
September 5, 2016.
Playable machines in the exhibit
require purchased tokens. Money
collected from the sale of tokens
helps maintain these original artifacts.
New Exhibit
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far
away, the world was introduced to
the revolutionary Star Wars movie
franchise. Learn about the impact
of the legendary films on play and
playthings at The Force at Play—a
companion exhibit to Rockets,
Robots, and Ray Guns.
Produced by The Strong’s
International Center for the
History of Electronic Games.
Space Heroes
Explore the men and women
of space—from real astronauts to
fictional heroes—through dozens of
related toys and games, including
costumes and action figures of space
opera legend Buck Rogers. Solve a
sliding puzzle to reveal a hero. Battle
enemy starships on the 3-D space
shooter arcade game StarBlade
and fight back alien creatures as
Ellen Ripley in Konami’s Aliens
arcade game.
Time Travel
Step into a time machine and go
back in time or propel into the future.
View clips from well-known time
travel movies, such as Back to the
Future and answer the question, “If
you could go back in time to change
one thing, what would you change?”
Rockets, Robots, and Ray Guns is on
view through September 5, 2016. See
page 5 for details on The Strong’s Sci-Fi
Summer activities.
Playable machines in the exhibit require
purchased tokens. Money collected from
the sale of tokens helps maintain these
original artifacts.
Produced by The Strong’s
International Center for the
History of Electronic Games
in partnership with
Rochester Institute
of Technology.
N122
www.museumofplay.org
3
New Exhibit
Sci-Fi Summer
Saturday, September 24, 2016–January 8, 2017
Travel back to the end of the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs roamed
the land and get up close with touchable dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes—
including a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. Journey though three rugged
landscapes to learn about dinosaur habitats and investigate the clues that
these mysterious creatures left behind.
Enter the Land of Fire—the Montana of 70-million years ago—and crawl
through a smoldering volcano, climb into a squishy bog, and take a closer
look at realistic dinosaurs. Then trek north to the lands of present-day Alaska
to meet cold-weather dinosaurs, such as the Edmontosaurus (a four-legged
herbivore); slide into an icy cave; and learn about the dinosaur food chain.
At the Field Research Station, grab some tools to dig up dinosaur fossils and
put together an over-sized dino puzzle with the help of family and friends.
Opening weekend only, Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25, meet
Danny’s Dinosaur, beloved character from the Syd Hoff Danny and the
Dinosaur series. Compare your height to that of dinosaurs, see how big
they would be if they were standing in the museum galleries, and leave
dinosaur footprints behind at the sand play table.
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice™ was created by Minnesota Children’s Museum.
Embark on a sci-fi adventure!
All summer long, be delighted by
special guests and enjoy themed
activities inspired by the new,
original Rockets, Robots, and
Ray Guns exhibit.
Rochester Ghostbusters
Saturday & Sunday, July 9 & 10
Meet the Rochester Ghostbusters,
a fan group of the famous film.
Visit the space lab and battle action
figures in galaxy slime. Saturday
only, meet members of the
Rochester Sci-Fi/Role Playing Geek
Meet Up Group and learn about
their interactive events and activities.
Galactic Warriors
Saturday & Sunday, July 16 & 17
Stop by a “Jedi” training camp
presented by the Rochester
Fencing Club. Join in interactive
demonstrations of fencing etiquette,
basic footwork, and blade work.
Create a foam lightsaber to
take home.
Alien Encounters
Saturday & Sunday, July 23 & 24
Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Exhibit Opens
Learn about luminaries in the
video game industry and their
award-winning creations at the
Academy of Interactive Arts and
Sciences (AIAS) exhibit. The
exhibit recognizes outstanding
achievements within interactive
entertainment and showcases
4
PLAY Time • Summer 2016
recipients of both the Academy’s
D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate,
Communicate, Entertain) Awards
and its Special Awards.
Scroll through a touch-screen
timeline to learn about D.I.C.E.
award recipients across multiple
categories, including Game of the
Year, Outstanding Achievement in
Art Direction, Family Game of the
Year, and others. Take a journey
through a second kiosk to learn
about the exemplary individuals
honored by the AIAS through its
D.I.C.E. Hall of Fame, Lifetime
Achievement, Pioneer, and
Technical Impact awards.
Display cases feature video game
artifacts from The Strong’s
collections, including the 2015
D.I.C.E. Awards Game of the Year
winner, Fallout 4, alongside a D.I.C.E.
award statuette. View rare design
documents from The Strong’s
archival collections, including
those from 2012 AIAS Pioneer
Award recipient Ed Logg (creator
of Asteroids), 2015 AIAS Pioneer
Award recipient Ralph H. Baer
(creator of the Magnavox Odyssey),
and 2007 AIAS Hall of Fame
recipient Dani Bunten Berry
(creator of M.U.L.E.). See artifacts
from past Game of the Year winners,
including box art from The Legend
of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Half Life II
and Journey.
The exhibit is produced by The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic
Games in partnership with the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.
Pose for a photo with a friendly
alien and give a high five to a
mischievous Martian. Dress up as a
creepy alien in the cosmic costume
shop and accessorize with your very
own googly-eyed headband.
Starships and UFOs
Saturday & Sunday, July 30 & 31
Cosmic Creations
Saturday & Sunday, August 20 & 21
Meet David Ramsay, who appeared
in the 1997 alien battle film Starship
Troopers. See his costume and learn
about his experience working on the
film. Snap a selfie with the TARDIS
from Doctor Who. Create a UFO
using tin foil and paper plates.
See out-of-this-world creations by
local artists, such as Gil Merritt’s
pipe cleaner characters and Dave
Pollot’s creature paintings. Visit the
craft station and use circuit boards
and metallic crayons to design an
imaginary device to take home.
Rebels and Imperials
Saturday & Sunday
August 6 & 7
Space Cadets
Saturday & Sunday, August 27 & 28
Take pictures
with
characters
from the
501st
Legion
and the
Rebel
Legion.
Check
out the
R2-D2
Builder’s
Club, a
group of
builders who
make versions of
the famous Star Wars
character. Create your own set of
Star Trek, Star Wars, and Doctor
Who popsicle stick puppets. Take
your creations to the galaxy box
theater and act out a spectacular
sci-fi scene.
Galactic Warriors
Saturday & Sunday, August 13 & 14
The Rochester Fencing Club returns
for a fun-filled visit. Improve your
“Jedi” skills at the training camp and
join in interactive demonstrations
of fencing etiquette, footwork,
and blade work. Create a foam
lightsaber to take home.
Journey to outer space at
astronaut training camp.
Strap on a pretend
jetpack and blast
through a variety of
physical challenges,
including leaping over
space rocks. View a
glowing cosmos and
a variety of light-up
toys in the ultraviolet
room. Greet a
traveling astronaut
that space walks
through the museum.
And all summer
long, view
sci-fi toothpick
creations by
Guinness
World
Record
holder
Stan
Munro
and craft
a Star Wars
character
using fingers
and ink pads
courtesy of Klutz’s
Star Wars Thumb Doodles.
Upcoming Programs & Events
Join Us for a
www.museumofplay.org
5
Upcoming Programs & Events
Friday, July 8–Monday, November 14
Sonic the
Hedgehog’s
25th Anniversary
Saturday & Sunday
September 17 & 18
Celebrate the anniversary of
the iconic game Sonic the
Hedgehog—one of the newest
inductees to The Strong’s World
Video Game Hall of Fame. Meet
and pose for pictures with the
speedy title character, watch
screenings of the animated
television show Boom, play
versions of Sonic the Hedgehog
in the eGameRevolution
exhibit, and create your own
Sonic headgear.
Cast your ballot at The Strong’s new
Playing with Politics display opening
July 8 near The Strong Express Train.
The artifacts showcase the satirical
side of campaigning. In addition to
White House-inspired paper houses
and puzzle sets, other pieces in
the collection include a Barbie for
President doll, political-party-inspired
board games, playing cards, and
jigsaw puzzles, as well as presidentialthemed paper dolls, table tennis
paddles, and a ring toss game.
“Although presidential elections are serious matters and have shaped the
course of American history, it’s still possible to view politics and candidates
from a playful perspective. The objects on display in Playing with Politics
illustrate some of the ways kids and adults have had fun over the years
with toys and games that relate to presidents and the political process,”
says Chris Bensch, vice president for collections and chief curator.
Fairy House Award
Winner Display
Tuesday, July 12–Friday, July 29
The museum plays host to 10 award-winning
fairy houses from the 4th Annual Corn Hill
Arts Festival Fairy Houses Tour. The
whimsical display recognizes categories
including Best Use of Natural Materials, Most
Unique, Most Whimsical, and the People’s
Choice Award. These one-of-a-kind
fairy habitats are made from stones, bark,
twigs, and other natural materials. Visit
fairyhouses.com to learn how to create
your own fairy house to enter next year.
Storytime Club
Celebrate the joy of reading. Hear children’s
stories on select Mondays at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Have your Storytime Club passport punched
once during each visit. Collect five punches
and receive a free children’s book.
Mondays, September 12, 19 & 26
New Beginnings
Enjoy heartwarming tales about trying new
things and making friends.
Sponsored by
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PLAY Time • Summer 2016
New Artifacts Build on
Museum’s Toy Collections
The Strong recently acquired a
collection of more than 1,500
construction toys and building sets
from George Wetzel of Illinois. Wetzel
spent more than 35 years studying
and assembling the collection, which
spans from the earliest manufactured
building sets made in Europe and
the United States, to those from the
mid-19th century through today.
The collection contains variations
of iconic construction toy brands
such as Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, and
Crazy Ikes, as well as sets of Froebel’s
blocks, ceramic bricks, metal-based
sets, and Erector sets, including
the iconic No. 10 (the largest and
heaviest set ever produced) and sets
made of rubber and early plastics. In
addition to toys, items from Wetzel
include store displays, printed
advertising and marketing pieces,
and approximately 100 built models
of castles, ships, the Sears Tower,
a 1893-style Ferris Wheel, and the
Eiffel Tower.
“For centuries, philosophers,
teachers, educators, and parents
have acknowledged the importance
of block play and building play.
This kind of play helps kids develop
their imaginations,
self-expression,
problem-solving
skills, and motor
skills,” says
Chris Bensch,
The Strong’s vice
president for
collections. “It
also fosters their
understanding
of cause and
effect and math
concepts such
as length,
measurement,
symmetry, and balance.” This collection also highlights
changes in technology and the
modern world in which children
live and develop, and it more than
triples The Strong’s holdings in
construction toys and building sets.
Another addition to collections is
a 1905 Ives O-Gauge Hiawatha toy
train set. Ives Manufacturing Co.
was the premier American toy
maker of mechanical toys from
the 1800s to the early 1900s.
Unlike other toy makers who
began powering their train sets
Rochester Criterium Bike Race Rolls
through Town in August
The Strong invites its members, guests, and
neighbors to cheer on professional cyclists
from across the nation and the globe at the
Rochester Twilight Criterium taking place in
downtown Rochester on August 13. Racing
begins at approximately 6:25 p.m.; awards
are presented at 10:15 p.m.
Criteriums are a unique, American-style bike
race, designed on city-center streets and staged on
spectator-friendly course loops. The racing provides lap-after-lap excitement
highlighting the athletes’ extraordinary bike-handling skills and explosive
speed. The Rochester Twilight Criterium is one of only 17 major races of this
type hosted in the United States.
The bicycle was inducted into The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame in 2000.
Part kids’ toy, part adult athletic equipment, and part basic transportation,
bicycles first gained popularity at the end of the 19th century. A variety of
bicycles are on view in the museum’s Toy Halls of Fame gallery and several
additional examples will be on display in the museum’s Caterpillar Atrium
from Tuesday, August 2 through Tuesday, August 16. A special online timeline
featuring examples of The Strong’s comprehensive bicycle collection will
publish on Google Culture Institute in August.
The Rochester Twilight Criterium is free for all spectators. Learn more at
rochestercrit.com.
with electricity, Ives continued to
make quality clockwork trains for
homes not yet wired for electrical
power. This set provides an early
example of train sets made to run
on standard tracks sized precisely
for the locomotive and the rolling
stock it pulled rather than across a
bare floor. Complete with inserts and
compartments for each piece of train,
as well as its original packaging box,
this Hiawatha train set showcases
exactly how the toy appeared to its
first owners.
Museum News
Playing with Politics
Nominate a Favorite
Toy for Induction into
Toy Fall of Fame
Do you have a favorite toy you’d like to
see enshrined in The Strong’s National
Toy Hall of Fame? Nominations are in
full swing and toy lovers across the
nation are encouraged to recommend
their favorite toys for induction this
November. Nominations may be made
online at toyhalloffame.org or
by mail. Submissions for
2016 must be received by
July 31, 2016. To date,
59 toys have earned a
place in the National
Toy Hall of Fame. Visit
toyhalloffame.org to
learn more about
past honorees.
www.museumofplay.org
7
Museum News
A group of former employees from the Minnesota Education Computer
Consortium (MECC)—including Don Rawitsch, co-creator of The Oregon
Trail; Dale LaFrenz, co-founder and president; and Susan Schilling, vice
president for product development—recently donated an extensive
assemblage of materials documenting the history of the pioneering
company from 1973 to 1996. The collection includes hundreds of pieces of
software, internal documents, and press clippings that illuminate the ways
that MECC integrated their educational products into school curricula
around the nation.
“MECC was a leading producer of educational games, played a prominent
role in helping schools integrate computers into classroom learning, and
produced the most recognized, most influential educational game of all
time, The Oregon Trail,” says Jon-Paul Dyson, director of The Strong’s
International Center for the History of Electronic Games. “Because of this
influence, The Oregon Trail was inducted into The Strong’s World Video
Game Hall of Fame earlier this year.”
Started in 1973 as an attempt to bring computing to school audiences
in Minnesota, MECC operated the first statewide mainframe timeshare
computer for classroom use and initiated the first statewide school
purchase contract for personal computers. The consortium (later
corporation) created a collection of more than 300 software titles that
became part of the curricula of schools nationwide, including an enhanced
and popularized version of The Oregon Trail educational game, which went
on to sell more than 65 million copies.
“MECC lasted more than two decades, evolving from state service to
private company, and several generations of its talented staff members
went on to found and populate other educational technology companies,”
says LaFrenz. “In the process, MECC influenced the education of millions
of children in the United States and elsewhere. MECC alumni everywhere
are honored to work with The Strong to create this collection of products,
documents, and artifacts that will ensure the curation of the MECC legacy.”
The Minnesota Education Computer Consortium Collection, 1968–2011,
enhances the museum’s extensive archival collection of materials
documenting the computer games industry, especially complementing
other major collections dealing with educational software such as
Brøderbund, Living Books, and the Warren Buckleitner Collection.
PLAY Time • Summer 2016
“There’s great synergy between The
Strong’s International Center for the
History of Electronic Games (ICHEG)
and RIT’s Center for Media, Arts, Games,
Interaction and Creativity in studying
video game history and working to
preserve it,” says Jon-Paul C. Dyson,
director of The Strong’s ICHEG. “This
agreement formalizes a long-standing
relationship between The Strong and
RIT, and it illustrates the important
video game work being done right here
in Rochester, which is becoming an
increasingly important center of video
game development and study.”
As part of the agreement, RIT will
provide The Strong with four co-op
students each year to advance video
game preservation efforts in the areas
of video game capture, digital data
migration, and other technical issues
related to the long-term care and
maintenance of video game data.
The two organizations will also work
together on joint exhibits—both at
The Strong and at RIT—beginning with
the science-fiction-themed Rockets,
Robots, and Ray Guns now open.
(See page 2.)
The partnership also calls for joint
participation in national and
international conferences to advance
the study of video games. The Strong,
RIT, Ritsumeikan University in Japan;
and the University of Alberta in
Canada are in discussions to bring
the “Replaying Japan” conference
to Rochester in 2017 to promote
understanding of the origins and
development of the Japanese gaming
industry and its impact on worldwide
culture. The Strong and RIT will also
explore opportunities to collaborate
on public and academic educational
pursuits, such as classes, workshops,
and lecture series. For example, The
Strong expects to make its video game
collections areas available to up to eight
RIT classes annually for behind-thescenes tours and study.
2016 Class Inducted into the
World Video Game Hall of Fame
The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame welcomed its second class in
May—Grand Theft Auto III, The Legend of Zelda, The Oregon Trail, The Sims,
Sonic the Hedgehog, and Space Invaders. The six inductees span multiple
decades, countries of origin, and gaming platforms, but they all significantly
influenced popular culture and society in general.
Grand Theft Auto III
Released in 2001, Grand Theft Auto III was the first 3-D open-ended,
“sandbox-style” game to achieve massive mainstream popularity and
widespread critical acclaim. The third standalone title in the franchise sold
14.5 million copies by 2008, acting as the first breakout hit in a series that
sold more than 220 million units as of 2015.
The Legend of Zelda
Inspired by creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s childhood expeditions through woods
and caves, The Legend of Zelda (1986) popularized non-linear, open-world
exploration games and paved the way for some of the industry’s most famous
role-playing and action-adventure games. It sold more than 6.5 million copies
and became the fourth best-selling NES game of all time, behind only the first
three Super Mario games.
The Oregon Trail
Three student teachers created The Oregon Trail in 1971 to help Minnesota
schoolchildren learn American history. First programmed on a primitive
teletype printer, the game challenged students to assume the role of Western
settlers crossing the continent on the way to the Pacific coast. In the 1970s and
1980s, when computing access was rare, The Oregon Trail not only instructed
players in American history but also introduced them to computers. More than
65 million copies of the game in its several iterations have been sold.
The Sims
Released in 2000, designer Will Wright’s virtual dollhouse game, The Sims,
pushed the boundaries of what a video game could be by allowing players
to tell stories in an open-ended environment. With nearly 200 million sales
in 60 countries and more than 20 languages, The Sims is the best-selling PC
game franchise ever.
Sonic the Hedgehog
To develop a rival to Nintendo’s character Mario, Sega introduced Sonic,
a hedgehog mascot with a brash, in-your-face attitude. Launched in 1991,
Sonic the Hedgehog’s lightning-fast game play temporarily vaulted Sega ahead
of Nintendo in the 1990s console wars. With more than 15 million copies sold,
Sonic the Hedgehog remains the best-selling Sega Genesis game of all time;
the entire Sonic franchise has sold 150 million units worldwide.
Space Invaders
Designed by Tomohiro Nishikado and released in Japan in 1978, Space Invaders
challenged players to zap an ongoing onslaught of aliens. The game included
a “high score” at the top of the screen, and this popular feature soon became
a standard element of arcade games. In 1980, Space Invaders entered the home
console market and became the Atari 2600’s most popular game.
Suzanne Seldes, executive vice
president and chief marketing
officer, joined the Museum
Association of New York’s board
of directors earlier this year.
In June she was voted to the
executive committee of Rochester
Downtown Development
Corporation where she has served
as a board member since 2011.
Curator Nic Ricketts has been
elected to the Association of
Game and Puzzle Collectors
board of directors. Curator Patricia Hogan’s article
“Studying Dolls at The Strong
National Museum of Play”
appeared in the Spring 2016
issue of Doll News, the quarterly
magazine distributed to the more
than 11,000 members of the
United Federation of Doll Clubs.
Museum News
The Strong and Rochester Institute
of Technology (RIT) announced
a partnership in June to formally
collaborate on game preservation
projects, exhibits, workshops, and
video game conference presentations
aimed at enhancing knowledge and
understanding of the history and
impact of video games and ways to
preserve them.
Producer of The Oregon Trail
Donates Video Game Collection
8
Out and About
The Strong and
Rochester Institute
of Technology Form
Partnership
In May Carrie McNeal, director
of conservation, presented
The Strong’s preservation policy
for pinball and arcade game
collections at the 44th Annual
Meeting of the American Institute
for Conservation, held jointly with
the 42nd Annual Conference of
the Canadian Association for
Conservation in Montreal, Canada.
Julia Novakovic and Dane
Flansburgh, archivist and project
archivist respectfully for The
Strong’s Brian Sutton-Smith
Library and Archives, presented
“Processing Colossal Acquisitions
with a Small Staff: Or, What to
Do After a Semi-Trailer Shows
Up at Your Loading Dock” to
archivists at the Mid-Atlantic
Regional Archives Conference in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May,
as well as to the New York
Archives Conference in
Plattsburgh, New York, in June.
Debbie McCoy, assistant
vice president for education,
presented a keynote at Geneseo’s
School of Education Convocation
and LIVES graduation ceremony.
In June she traveled to the
Opal School’s Symposium in
Portland, Oregon, to discuss
playful inquiry in The Strong’s
education programs.
Visit worldvideogamehalloffame.org to nominate your favorite video game for
consideration in 2017.
www.museumofplay.org
9
Museum News
Debbie McCoy, The Strong’s assistant vice president for education, joins Lella Gandini
and Ben Mardell, keynote speakers at the “Playful Encounters with the Reggio Emilia
Approach” conference.
The Strong’s Reggio-Inspired Conference
Offers a Playful Approach to Learning
In May The Strong held its first
national Reggio-inspired education
conference titled “Playful
Encounters with the Reggio Emilia
Approach.” Nearly 150 teachers,
principals, and administrators
from around the United States
attended the two-day conference
to explore the world of Reggio
Emilia—a playful, innovative
approach to teaching and
learning that emphasizes
collaborative exploration and
inquiry. World-renowned early
childhood educators Lella
Gandini, United States Liaison
for the Dissemination of the
Reggio Emilia Approach to
Early Childhood Education, and
Ben Mardell, Project Director of
the Pedagogy of Play, Project
Zero, Harvard Graduate School of
Education, were keynote speakers.
Volunteers Celebrated
at Luncheon
Teachers use colorful materials on overhead
projectors while others document the
experience as a way to understand how
documentation can support learning in
the classroom.
Workshops included a Light and Shadow seminar where participants
experimented with variations of lights, shadows, and colors to create shapes
that tell stories and develop imaginative play; a Woodbury School-focused
discussion on imaginative spaces; a “playful inquiry” session where
attendees explored the museum’s Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden and
brainstormed playful learning ideas to bring back to their classrooms;
and a “playful past” session where guests toured the museum’s Brian
Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play to learn about the importance
of bringing archival primary sources into the classroom to both engage
students and meet state and national curriculum standards in social studies.
PLAY Time • Summer 2016
American Journal of Play
Explores Play in the
Modern World
In the spring issue of the American Journal of Play,
Thomas Henricks, professor at Elon University and one
of the nation’s foremost play theorists, explores the place
of play and playfulness in the modern world. Henricks
notes over the last century and a half that society has grown increasingly
better organized, more technically sophisticated, and more “rational.”
He gauges the emotional impact of this revolutionary change and asks if
the softer, more expressive side of life has diminished as a result.
Greg Toppo (left), author of The Game Believes
in You, toured The Strong’s library and archives
with the museum’s Jon-Paul Dyson.
Henricks also raises questions about the effect of this shift on the way
that people play. Does modern life shrink available space for exuberant,
spontaneous, disorderly play? Henricks argues that modernity is often
associated with a certain style of play, which gravitates toward order-making,
clearly defined goals, technical emphasis, and institutional games. “Play is
envisioned as a process of advancement and skills development,” he writes.
Henricks sees this diminution of spontaneous play as problematic because
“play at its base celebrates disorder, improvisation, unpredictability, irreverence,
and impulsive display.” He posits that people need to be able to play just
beyond the edge of their own control and argues that the advent of “extreme
sports” represents a revolt against this modern organization and calculation.
Susan Bennett, the original voice of Apple’s
Siri, toured exhibits with The Strong's
Shane Rhinewald.
Other articles in the issue focus on active play on school playgrounds,
the shift in youth baseball from play to sport, and the prevalence of
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in dancers and athletes. View the
issue free online at journalofplay.org.
Collections Inform Fellowship
Recipient’s Work of Art
Through five concurrent, interactive
workshops led by Gandini, Mardell,
teaching staff from The Strong’s
Reggio Emilia-inspired Woodbury School, and staff from The Strong’s
Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, attendees discussed
creative approaches to promoting playful learning in the classroom.
10
American archivist, technology
historian, and filmmaker, Jason
Scott, recently donated more than
2,800 electronic gaming magazines
to The Strong’s Brian Sutton-Smith
Library and Archives of Play. Popular
gaming titles in the donation include
Computer, Computer Language,
Hi-Res Magazine, PC Action (Italy),
PC World, and Your Atari ST.
The Jason Scott Video Game and
Computer Magazine Collection,
1960–2011, supplements and enhances
the museum’s existing collection of
more than 20,000 electronic-game
related magazines. Overall, the
museum’s broad range of play-based
materials related to video and other
electronic games provides researchers
with a timeline that spans the entire
history of the gaming industry.
The Strong Welcomes
Distinguished Guests
Museum News
Donation Enhances
Gaming Publication
Collection
Cheryl Henson (right), president of The
Jim Henson Foundation and daughter of
the legendary puppeteer, and Karen Falk
(center), archives director for The Jim Henson
Company, toured The Strong’s Henson-related
collections with the museum’s Chris Bensch.
The Strong’s volunteers were honored at
a luncheon in May. Pictured from left to
right are Barbara Fulford, Chris Holmes,
Sarah Masterson, Marilyn Hamilton,
Shannon Peterson, John Pearsall, Alice
Sengle, Sharron Isaacson, and Valerie
Young. The group has given a combined
129 years of service to the museum.
The Strong Hosts
AP Conference
In April, The Strong welcomed more
than 900 students from 17 area high
schools to the 26th Annual Advanced
Placement American History Conference.
The conference challenged students
to think critically about progressive
activism and its influence on American
history and culture since the 1890s.
Students attended seminars by college
and university professors and engaged
in group discussions about feminism,
environmentalism, and the aftermath
of the civil rights movement.
Micha Kapetanovic and Philippe Op de Beeck
from the Brussels Conventions and Visitors
Bureau on a benchmarking tour
of the museum with The Strong’s
Jon-Paul Dyson (center).
Computer scientists from Malmo University
in Sweden toured The Strong’s electronic
games collections with The Strong's
Jeremy Saucier (far right).
Scholars from all over New York State and across the globe travel to The Strong
to explore its comprehensive collection of toys, dolls, electronic games, and
other historical artifacts of play. While some researchers document their
findings in books, newspaper articles, and dissertations, a recent fellowship
recipient used the museum’s collections and archival materials to inform the
creation of a three-dimensional sculpture.
Nancy Callahan, emeritus art professor at the State University of New York at
Oneonta, conducted research in April on the history of educational toys made
after the late 1800s. By examining The Strong’s collections of 19th- and 20thcentury board games, jigsaw puzzles, alphabet block sets, and other toys that
were used for learning—focusing particularly on ones with colorful and detailed
graphic printing—Callahan was able to inform her work on the crafting of an
art sculpture that illustrates the playful connection between toymakers and
their imaginations.
Dodson Added as Tourism Sales Associate
For more than a decade, The Strong’s annual attendance has included guests
from all 50 United States, Canada, and dozens of countries from around the
world. And each year museum activities are reported in newspapers, radio, and
television newscasts and news websites from across the nation—earning more
than 4 billion media impressions in 2015 alone. To build on its growing regional,
national, and international presence and attract guests, The Strong has hired
Karen Dodson as Tourism Sales Associate. Dodson is charged with implementing
strategic activities that drive new visitation to the museum from outside
of New York State, particularly from international markets such as
Canada, China, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
www.museumofplay.org
11
Advancement
M&T Bank has awarded The Strong a
$25,000 grant in support of the museum’s
2016–2017 education programs. These
programs provide enriching school
lessons for students in pre-K through
grade 4; dynamic lessons for high school
students; and professional development
opportunities for educators and
administrators.
The Happiest Hour
Returns in August!
Proceeds from the Happiest Hour
help to support The Strong’s
overall educational mission and
community outreach programs.
The Happiest Hour will sell out
fast. Tickets may be purchased at
museumofplay.org/happiesthour.
The Happiest Hour is presented
by The Strong Play Makers
Leadership Council, a volunteer
group of young professionals who
believe in the importance of play
for people of all ages, and by the
generous sponsors listed below.
The Strong provides play-based school
lessons annually for thousands of students
from across the Rochester region. Each year,
The Strong also provides a suite of professional
Strong’s Lisa Feinstein and
development opportunities for pre- and in-service The
Rollie Adams with M&T’s Curt
teachers, administrators, and curriculum
Provenzo and Sara Jane Deisinger.
development professionals. Designed to help
extend the school curriculum beyond the classroom,
The Strong’s lessons encourage learning, creativity,
and discovery amid the museum’s dynamic exhibits
and world-renowned collections.
Says Dan Burns, regional president for M&T Bank’s Rochester region,
“Building for a bright future, supporting growth—these are just as important
to M&T Bank as they are to The Strong. The Strong makes an extremely
positive impact in our community in terms of inspiring learning and creativity
among our local youth, and we’re honored to help ensure their educational
programming continues for years to come.”
Delta Air Lines: Official Airline
of The Strong
Photo right: Katie Carroll, national sales account executive,
and Tricia Rumola, community affairs manager for Los Angeles
and New York, both from Delta Air Lines, visit the museum’s Sesame Street exhibit.
On the evening of Friday, October 21, The Strong will transform into an
adult-only wonderland of glittery magic and glitzy, sophisticated fun at
Play Ball—Rochester’s most playful gala! Play Ball 2016 will feature an
eclectic array of larger-than-life performers, costumed characters, delicious
dinner and dessert, creative cocktails, amazing auctions, and an exclusive
performance by a nationally renowned singer.
Dave and Margaret Burns and their family are serving as honorary chairs of
Play Ball 2016. The Strong and the Burns family are proud to pioneer
a multi-generational model of chairmanship for Play Ball. Dave Burns has
served on The Strong’s Board of Trustees since 2003.
Proceeds from Play Ball support The Strong’s educational mission and
outreach programs. Tickets are $175 each. To purchase tickets, learn about
sponsorship opportunities, or make a gift in support of Play Ball, please
contact Kylee Fassler, advancement services and special events manager,
at 585-410-6346 or [email protected].
“The Strong is a unique Rochester institution with a reputation for excellence
and fun, and Delta is proud to continue our valued partnership,” says Gail
Grimmett, Delta's senior vice president–New York. “Delta is committed to
giving back to the communities in which we live and serve, and as New York’s
largest carrier, we’re especially pleased to support the rich culture of the
Upstate community through partnerships like these.”
“We are grateful to Delta Air Lines for their support
of our ongoing family programs and fundraising
efforts,” says Lisa Feinstein, The Strong’s vice
president for institutional advancement. “Family
programs play an integral role in The Strong’s
mission to explore play and the ways in which it
encourages learning, creativity, and discovery
and illuminates cultural history.”
Save the Date for The Strong’s Annual
Play Ball on October 21
Guests can join in the transformation by wearing metallic and shimmery
tones, spectacular sequins, and glittery accessories—or go all out and come
dressed as your favorite character, game, or toy. At Play Ball, costumes are
admired but not required!
The Strong is pleased to name Delta
Air Lines the official airline of the
museum. The Strong welcomes more
than half-a-million guests annually,
including guests from all 50 United
States and six continents. As the
largest air carrier in New York, Delta
Air Lines support demonstrates
a shared interest in the Greater
Rochester community and beyond.
The Delta Air Lines partnership provides generous
financial support for the museum’s 2016 schedule
of family programming and The Strong’s annual
Play Ball fundraising gala.
PLAY Time • Summer 2016
Above: Dave and Margaret Burns (left)
with son, Neal (center), daughter, Collene
(far right), along with her husband, McLean,
and son, Jackson. Inset left: Dave and
Margaret Burns’ daughter, Hannalore (right),
along with her husband, Zach, and their
children, Cooper and Abigail. Inset right:
Dave and Margaret Burns’ son, Zachary,
with his wife Sarah.
Advancement
M&T Bank Renews Support for Education
Programs at The Strong
The Strong will host its next
Happiest Hour on Wednesday,
August 17, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The Happiest Hour is a ticketed,
after-hours fundraiser and
museum experience for “big kids”
age 21 and older. The sciencefiction themed event will feature
a sampling of snacks, cash bar,
lightsaber training, music and
dancing, out-of this-world arts
and crafts, cryptozoological
surprises, and full access to
The Strong’s interactive
exhibits, including the all-new
Rockets, Robots, and Ray Guns.
12
Burns family photos
by Gerry Szymanski
Thank You Corporate Partners
Businesses that make a financial
contribution to The Strong as
corporate partners and sponsors
provide meaningful support for the
museum while receiving valuable
benefits for their employees. To learn
how your company can participate,
contact Michelle Parnett-Dwyer
at 585-410-6353 or
[email protected].
Thank you to these corporate partners and supporters for renewing
their commitment:
Brown & Brown of New York, Inc.
Danisco US Inc.
Diamond Packaging
Garlock Sealing Technologies
Harter, Secrest & Emery
M&T Bank
Monroe Veterinary Association
Nixon Peabody LLP
Pepsi Beverages Company
Thomson Reuters
Trane
Xerox Corporation
www.museumofplay.org
13
Kids Page
Hey little sci-fi fans, can you spot the five differences between the two
pictures below? Visit the Rockets, Robots, and Ray Guns exhibit for more
science-fiction fun. See page 2 for details.
A
Summer 2016
Programs underwritten in part by
official airline of The Strong.
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JULY
Book Nook
Librarians’ picks from the
Grada Hopeman Gelser Library
Darth Vader and Son
Now Open: Rockets, Robots,
and Ray Guns
Saturday & Sunday, July 9 & 10
Sci-fi Summer: Rochester Ghostbusters
Saturday & Sunday, July 16 & 17
Sci-fi Summer: Galactic Warriors
Travel to distant futures and faraway galaxies
as you explore the world of science fiction.
Meet the Rochester Ghostbusters and enjoy
sci-fi themed activities.
Stop by a “Jedi” training camp and learn
fencing etiquette, basic footwork, and
blade work.
Now Open: The Force at Play
Tuesday, July 12–Friday, July 29
Fairy House Award Winner Display
Explore the evolution of the beloved
Star Wars movie franchise.
by Jeffrey Brown
(for the younger readers)
Now Open: Academy of
Interactive Arts and Sciences
Darth Vader faces his greatest
challenge imaginable: raising his
four-year-old son, Luke Skywalker.
From bedtime meltdowns to play
ground tussles to Take Your Child
to Work Day on the Death Star,
the Dark Lord of the Sith meets
the challenges of parenthood with
the power of the Force on his side.
(shelved in Rockets, Robots, and
Ray Guns).
Discover the luminaries in the video game
industry and their award-winning creations
Friday, July 8
Playing with Politics Display Opening
See the award-winning fairy houses from the
Corn Hill Arts Festival Fairy Houses Tour.
Friday, July 15
Sold Out: Koo Koo Kanga Roo
All-Ages Concert
The only Rochester appearance of Koo Koo
Kanga Roo!
7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Saturday & Sunday, July 23 & 24
Sci-fi Summer: Alien Encounters
Pose for a photo with a friendly alien and
Martian, dress up in the cosmic costume
shop, and more.
Saturday & Sunday, July 30 & 31
Sci-fi Summer: Starships and UFOs
Meet David Ramsay from Starship Troopers,
snap a selfie with the TARDIS, and more.
View artifacts highlighting the satirical side
of politics.
Whales on Stilts!
AUGUST
by M. T. Anderson
(for intermediate readers)
Lily Gefelty doesn’t know much
about her father’s job. Sometimes
he complained about the lack of
air-conditioning or raved about
the new packages of muffins in the
vending machine. So it was a bit of
surprise to twelve-year-old Lily on
Career Day when she finds out that
he works for a mad scientist seeking
to conquer the world. (shelved in
Rockets, Robots, and Ray Guns).
Saturday & Sunday, August 6 & 7
Sci-fi Summer: Rebels and Imperials
Saturday & Sunday, August 13 & 14
Sci-fi Summer: Galactic Warriors
Meet with characters from the 501st Legion
and the Rebel Legion, visit with the R2-D2
Builder’s Club, and more.
Stop by a “Jedi” training camp and learn
fencing etiquette, basic footwork, and
blade work.
Sunday, August 7
Member Discount at George Eastman
Museum’s Dydren Theater
Wednesday, August 17
The Happiest Hour
Strong members receive $2 off adult tickets
to Close Encounters of the Third Kind at
the Dydren Theater through a partnership
between the museum’s Sci-Fi Summer
activities and Dryden Kids film series.
Saturday & Sunday, August 20 & 21
Sci-fi Summer: Cosmic Creations
Sunday, August 21
Member Discount at George Eastman
Museum’s Dydren Theater
Strong members receive $2 off adult tickets
to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at the Dydren
Theater through a partnership between
the museum’s Sci-Fi Summer activities
and Dryden Kids film series.
Saturday & Sunday, August 27 & 28
Sci-fi Summer: Space Cadets
Journey to astronaut training camp, see
a glowing cosmos in the ultraviolet room,
and more.
See out-of-this-world creations by local
artists, discover the inner workings of
electronic devices, and more.
Wool
by Hugh Howey
(for older readers)
In a suffocating, post-apocalyptic
world where the land and air are
toxic, people are forced to live in a
144-story silo dug deep into the earth.
It is dangerous to talk about what
lies outside the Silo. Those who ask
too many questions risk the ultimate
punishment of getting what they
wanted: sent outside. (shelved in
Rockets, Robots, and Ray Guns).
SEPTEMBER
Mondays, September 12, 19 & 26
Storytime Club: New Beginnings
Enjoy heartwarming tales about trying new
things and making friends.
Answers: Tilted moon, additional UFO, missing tooth, missing phone,
gray mountains.
14 PLAY Time • Summer 2016
Enjoy a playful happy hour for big kids
ages 21 and older. Purchase tickets at
museumofplay.org/happiesthour.
SAT
Calendar of Events
Spot the Differences
July 2016
SUN
Saturday & Sunday, September 17 & 18
Sonic the Hedgehog’s
25th Anniversary
Saturday & Sunday, September 24 & 25
Exhibit Opening: Dinosaurs: Land of
Fire and Ice
Meet and pose for pictures with Sonic the
Hedgehog, create Sonic headgear, and more.
Be amazed by dinosaurs of all shapes and
sizes, crawl through a smoldering volcano,
climb into a squishy bog, dig up dinosaur
fossils, and more.
Unless otherwise noted, events typically end by 4 p.m. and are free to members.
www.museumofplay.org
15
Nonprofit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Rochester, NY
Permit No. 4144
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
The Strong® is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of
play. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization, The Strong is funded in part by contributions
and grants from individuals, corporations, foundations, and state and federal entities. It is home to the
International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video
Game Hall of Fame, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the
American Journal of Play and houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical
materials related to play.
Museum Admission
General Admission (does not include admission to
Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden®): age 2 and older
$14, under age 2 free, museum members free.
Admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden: $3
per person for members, general admission fee plus
$4 for nonmembers; children under age 2 free. Entry
to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden is by reservation
only. Reservations may be made at the museum’s
admissions desk.
Board of Trustees
Bernard Birnbaum
David J. Burns
Michael J. Cicero
Roberta DuBeshter
Steve Dubnik
Zeke Duda
Cecilia Griffin Golden, PhD
Don H. Kollmorgen
Laura Saxby Lynch
Linda McGinley, EdD
William W. Napier
Aaron C. Newman
Joy Ryen Plotnik, Esq
Bruce Raiffe
William D. Rice
Donald J. Riley
Fred W. Smith, PhD
Matthew Tipple
Jeff Valentine
John E. Van de Wetering, PhD
Mee F. Wing
Admission rates and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden
fees subject to change.
G. Rollie Adams, PhD
President and CEO
Parking
Limited free parking is available for guests during regular
museum hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
On high visitation days, the museum lot may reach
capacity early in the day. If space is not available on
site at the time of your visit, you will find additional
parking (fees apply) at neighboring municipal garages.
The Strong is supported with public funds from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the New York State Council
on the Arts (NYSCA), a State agency. The Strong is accredited by
the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and is an institutional
member of AAM, the American Association for State and Local History
(AASLH), the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), and the
Museum Association of New York (MANY).
Museum Hours
Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
The Strong is a United Way donor designation agency (ID#2556)
The museum will close at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 4.
DINING
The museum offers a variety of dining options
including Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell Express,
Subway, Louie’s Sweet Shoppe, and Bill Gray’s
Restaurant. Visit museumofplay.org for hours
and information.
On weekends, holidays, and during school breaks,
dining tables and chairs are reserved for restaurant
customers only.
Information
585-263-2700 • museumofplay.org
PLAY Time
Editor: Kelly Murphy Lucyszyn
Contributing Writers and Photographers:
Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, Lisa Feinstein, Crissi Harrison,
Beth Lathrop, Noelle McElrath-Hart, Allison McGrath,
Bethany Mosher, Kelly Murphy Lucyszyn,
Shane Rhinewald, Suzanne Seldes, Olivia Viterna
The Strong Named Number One Family
Travel Destination in the United States
The Strong was named the number one “Family Travel Destination” in the United
States by readers of FamilyFun magazine. Two thousand readers nationwide
responded to survey questions and rated hundreds of destinations across five
categories. The Strong emerged at the top of a list that included such places as
the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, DC, and Mount Rushmore
National Memorial.
Art Director: Niki Kruger, Zimmet Group
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