Playing with Glass?

Many years ago – okay, I am really dating myself here –  way, way back in the 70′s, there was a little TV show that was just starting out called Saturday Night Live.  Perhaps you’ve heard of it?  I’m talking about the original version with the original cast – specifically,  a show that aired in Season 2, in 1976.  I was a kindergartner about that time so I don’t think I watched this episode live, but I must have seen it later on a “Best of…” type show.   It’s about the holidays and it focuses on a character played by Dan Aykroyd, who is almost always hilarious.  With Hanukkah and Christmas fast approaching, I really wanted to share this with everyone, while introducing a really cool, really fun, awesome new gift we just got at Jewish Gift Place.  So hang in there with me and you’ll see where I’m going with this…

In this episode, Dan Aykroyd plays Irwin Mainway, the sleazy President of Mainway Toys, who is being interviewed by a reporter investigating the safety of Mr. Mainway’s so-called “harmless” toys.  His company is the maker of such wholesome playthings as  Pretty Peggy Ear-Piercing Set, Mr. Skin-Grafter, and Johnny Switchblade.  But the skit got laugh-out-loud funny when the reporter holds up a giant bag of bits and pieces of jagged glass.

Here is an excerpt from the actual skit:

Irwin Mainway: Yeah, right, it’s you know, it’s glass, it’s broken glass, you know? It sells very well, as a matter of fact, you know? It’s just broken glass, you know?

Consumer Reporter: [ laughs ] I don’t understand. I mean, children could seriously cut themselves on any one of these pieces!

Irwin Mainway: Yeah, well, look – you know, the average kid, he picks up, you know, broken glass anywhere, you know? The beach, the street, garbage cans, parking lots, all over the place in any big city. We’re just packaging what the kids want! I mean, it’s a creative toy, you know? If you hold this up, you know, you see colors, every color of the rainbow! I mean, it teaches him about light refraction, you know? Prisms, and that stuff! You know what I mean?

Consumer Reporter: So, you don’t feel that this product is dangerous?

Irwin Mainway: No! Look, we put a label on every bag that says, “Kid! Be careful – broken glass!” I mean, we sell a lot of products in the “Bag O’” line.. like Bag O’ Glass, Bag O’ Nails, Bag O’ Bugs, Bag O’ Vipers, Bag O’ Sulfuric Acid. They’re decent toys, you know what I mean?

The entire skit was just  two characters - it was one of the funniest I have ever seen and you can watch it here at SNL – Irwin Mainway.

My family still jokes around the holidays that if you’re not good, you’ll get a Bag O’ Glass!

So,  when is it okay to play with glass?  When its safely housed inside a kaleidoscope!  We carry some really unique kaleidoscopes that are amazing works of art and we have just added something new to this category - these awesome kaleidoscope necklaces by Healy Designs.  These genuine sterling silver necklaces are superior in their quality and attention to detail.

The pendant is a working kaleidoscope filled with little bits and pieces of beach glass, crystal gems, and dichroic glass, which has a shimmering quality to it.  When you spin the cylinder, tiny mesmorizing patterns and designs of rainbow colors are formed.  What makes the kaleidoscope even more unique is that the pendant is also a mezuzah - with a  Shema on parchment inside -  accented by a Star of David charm dangling on the outside.

I can think of so many occasions that these necklaces would be perfect for – a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a special birthday, Hanukkah, Mother’s Day, any day you want to celebrate.  I love that the mezuzah kaleidoscope combines faith and fun and can make anyone feel like a kid again.

Deborah and Kevin Healy, the talented artists behind these enchanting pendants, say it best : “The swirling colors and patterns of kaleidoscopes have enabled us to add a new dimension to how our jewelry may be enjoyed.  As artists, we feel fortunate to participate in the revelatory and peaceful world of kaleidoscopes.”

Guaranteed to be so much more fun – and a whole lot safer – than the Bag O’ Glass!