This is a combination yo-yo/spin top video. An order form for the video was included with Duncan yo-yos and tops sold during the late 1980's. The packaging for the video was a brown cardboard sleeve which also served as the shipping box. The video was also included in Duncan's Recreation Kit, which is how I obtained mine. I included a shot of the title screen from the video (above). The video was available in VHS and BETA formats. The second part of the video deals with spin tops (see review in Top section). The video starts off with a catchy Duncan jingle, then a little history of the yo-yo is given. Tom then comes out and introduces himself. He says he is a high school guidance counsellor, which sort of fits. I don't mean to be cruel, but Tom's presentation is drier than a piece of plain toast. He reminded me of a nervous person who is in a hurry to leave, but really has no place to go. In all fairness to him, Steve Brown told me that Tom winged the whole thing without a script and it was shot in one take. In fact, while he is demonstrating walk the dog you can see that there are reference notes taped to the floor. I found Tom's entrance very comical. When I saw the set I was immediately reminded of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Sure enough, a door opens, and Tom comes walking through, wearing the classic Duncan demonstrator's sweater. I almost expected him to change into his sneakers. Tom starts off with the basics, showing how to adjust the string, tie the loop, and wind the yo-yo. He also mentions how a yo-yo spins on a string and why it sleeps. He also explains and demonstrates the importance of the throw down. Tom then demonstrates what he calls the ten basic tricks: spinner, walk the dog, creeper, around the corner, skin the cat, rock the baby, sleeping beauty, 3 leaf clover, loop the loop, and man on the flying trapeze. The tricks are described in detail then shown again in slow motion. Since the video was shot in one take Tom's misses are also shown. After this Tom demonstrates four more trick catagories (see trick list below). My favorite trick, which Tom refers to as "a very interesting trick", is shoot the gun. He also does a variation of the standard elevator where he throws a sleeper, doubles up the string six inches away from the yo-yo and pulls the string across his forearm up to his elbow. He then says "The elevator is on the third floor", let's some of the string go so the yo-yo drops a little then stops. Then says "The elevator is on the second floor", then repeats this again for the first floor. Then he pushes the button (thumb), and the elevator returns. Tom then does a version of the atomic bomb. It's kind of a combination of a standard atomic bomb and split the atom. He also calls it splitting the string and magic triangle. Tom also does atomic bomb w/rock the baby and two-handed loops. After this follows a "commercial" for the Duncan Party Pack which you can send away for only $24.95. The party pack is similar to the recreation kit. It contains yo-yos, trick sheets, string, iron-ons and tips on how to run a contest. Next came the section on How to Run a Yo-Yo Contest. Tom explained that the ten basic tricks would be done and points would be awarded for the first or second tries only. He introduced eight children from the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Milwaukee Area. Then the first two kids tried the sleeper as Tom kept score. That was it. I was really pissed!!! I didn't expect the whole contest to be shown, but I really wanted to know who won. After the contest there was a "tip" from Duncan expert Gus Summara. The tip consisted of a narrator stating the importance of changing yo-yo strings while Gus performed a trapeze w/somersaults. The whole thing lasted about twenty seconds. Trick List:Spinner Tricks: eating spaghetti, elevator, shoot the gun,
one-handed star, around the corner and around the world (on the trapeze), hangman |
