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CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Mick-A-Matic Camera
Datec. 1971
MediumPlastic
DimensionsOverall (Camera): 7 1/16 × 7 1/16 × 4 3/4 in. (18 × 18 × 12 cm)
Overall (Instruction pamphlet closed): 4 7/16 × 7 in. (11.3 × 17.8 cm)
Overall (Instruction pamphlet open): 4 7/16 × 13 15/16 in. (11.3 × 35.4 cm)
Credit LineBarbara Levine and Paige Ramey Collection, museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment
Object number2020.137.124
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 208
Exposé

Explore Further

Department
Photography
DescriptionOne of the most iconic novelty cameras, the Mick-A-Matic was produced by Child Guidance Products in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head. The viewfinder and lens are cleverly hidden in the black plastic of Mickey’s forehead and nose, respectively. Beginning in the 1960s, plastic toy and novelty cameras started entering the market in a dizzying array of shapes and formats. As the photographer Stephen Shore noted, “The Mick-a-Matic was simply the most amazing and delightful snapshot camera. When you do portraits with Mick-a-Matic, your subject is always smiling, because they’re looking at a big, plastic head of Mickey Mouse.”
ProvenanceBarbara Levine and Paige Ramey; purchased by MFAH, 2020.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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