Weird NewsHALL OF FAILED INVENTIONS

Illusion-O Ghost Viewer inducted into Hall of Failed Inventions

William Castle handed audiences red and blue cellophane viewers for 13 Ghosts in 1960; critics found the ghosts dull, and the gimmick got edited out.

On air: Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Tonight
Published 8:51 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Wikipedia: “Illusion-O Ghost Viewer”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 8:51 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Gloria Vance and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WikipediaIllusion-O Ghost Viewer

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorInductee number four: cardboard glasses that let you switch the ghosts off. They were the Illusion-O Ghost Viewer.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNineteen sixty, United States. Producer William Castle gave every patron red and blue cellophane and a choice.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA choice. In a horror movie. That's like a roller coaster with a pause button.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorLook through red, and the ghosts grow stronger. Look through blue, and they are removed.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo blue is the block button. Ghosts, muted.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have been asked to leave a haunted embassy in Prague. Nobody there offered me blue.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWait, both eyes look through the same colour. Unlike 3D glasses.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorCorrect. It was not depth. It was one very tinted opinion.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentZero stars on the unboxing video. It's a cardboard frame with candy wrappers.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe critics agreed. Per Wikipedia, The New York Times said the film would be a lot better off without this gimmick.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe headline act got reviewed as the problem.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Monthly Film Bulletin called the process unremarkable. Then television and home video simply edited it out.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe ghost viewer was deleted from its own movie.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorFor this, we induct it.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe twenty-oh-one DVD included a replica. It returned, uninvited, like the ghosts themselves.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDoes the replica come in blue, so I can unsee it?