Ted Kennedy Liked the Skyliner

It was Senator Ted Kennedy who took a case of twenty-four Skyliners to hand out to friends while he helped push nominee Senator John Kerry to the presidency unfortunately taken by another man.

Senator Ted Kennedy

His response when he saw the Skyliner, "Wow! Hey, look at this! This is terrific!" 

Senator John Kerry

He wasn't the first to deliver accolades as Defense Secretary William Cohen had them for New Years Eve, 2000. He liked them enough to mail a card of appreciation for the inventiveness.

Right Winger

Make Peace

It was Senator George Mitchell who was willing to pose for a photo with the Skyliner while a member of Disney's Board of Directors.

Deane Stern with Senator George Mitchell Holding the Skyliner (v.2)

He did this to send a message to the Buyers that some of his Maine Boys had hit it big with a product he was endorsing.

Deane Stern

Academy Awards

Were you at the Academy Awards? Neither were we! But the Skyliner was when Avatar won best picture! If you went to the after party several of the guests were twirling Avatar.

The Skyliner at AVATAR's Academy Awards Party

Don't be surprised if you see James Cameron twirling the message Best Picture next time around. The first one was nominated for nine Academy Awards.

Unknown Celebrity

Martial Arts

I am no martial artist but one evening when a purse snatcher on a bicycle tried to grab my bag in downtown Detroit, he didn't realize (neither did I) that a twirly thing rotating round like a weapon of choice from another planet would end his mission. The purse was snug over my shoulder and left arm. At the moment I realized the tug I automatically swung with my right hand, missed with my fist, but caught him in the eye with moveable arm of leds. He let go and fled with shaking head down. I was lucky. Now I program in STEAL THIS!

Melonie Wentz

Marina

I was heading out with friend from the Marina del Rey for a night sail. It was just dusk when I stumbled from the dock and dropped my Skyliner. It went kaplunk into the water. It was on when I tripped because I was planning to climb aboard the 39' Catalina with an energy of excitement and a message that read, "Stern to Stern!" No one had ever seen a Skyliner so I was determined to retrieve it as I could see where it had fallen as the leds were still flashing!

Skyliner Virtual Message Writer Mast Concept

My friend Joe, who was the designated Captain, donned his diving gear and retrieved the virtual message writer. It still worked, dried quickly, and I felt we had a backup emergency device which also could spell HELP in case we ran out of wind and fuel.

Grace Stern

Playing with the Original Skyliner Virtual Message Writer

Just the other day I found one of our very first Skyliner units in a drawer, buried under some papers, I took it out and looked it over. What a difference from our current version. The old Skyliner was jet black, always loved that phrase, had 8 bright RED LED's and came with 15 preset messages. The user could essentially program one message into the unit, however, this message was not able to be stored in the unit. Unlike the current Skyliner, version 3, which allows you to create and save three of your own messages up to 18 characters in length along with accessibility to the preset messages.

Skyliner Message Writer - First Promo Sheet

We spent several months designing, testing, retesting, prototyping, revamping, twirling, checking the program for glitches, writing instructions, working on the art card and the blister packaging. We also had to select the carton configurations, inner and outer measurements, double check the finished unit weight as well as the case overall volume, decide on the number of units per master case and all this along with countless hours on the phone to the potential rep groups, the manufacturing agent overseas, the cargo transport folks, the warehouse managers, the printers, and additional potential buyers, distributors, wholesalers, agents. I used the computer almost on a 24/7 basis creating a huge number of e-mails, I printed out every e-mail page for the first 6 months, a stack that would stand at least 18 inches tall, and stored them in looseleaf binders so I had accurate information pertaining to any discussion with our entire Skyliner team. Eventually we had our ducks in a row, a bit wobbly, but at least one was behind the next and our first version of the Skyliner was introduced. Almost immediately it seemed to capture the attention of any and everyone who saw it.

So I took this old Skyliner and pressed the button to turn it on, nothing, after all, it had been sitting in the drawer for over ten years. So, I removed the battery door and replaced the batteries. It instantly lit up, and as I twirled it the message "LETS PARTY" was perfectly clear.

There is a lot more to talk about, but I need a break.

Later,

Hal
Hal Meyers

The Skyliner and the Stripper

How about the gal who called us from Houston, Tx  to tell us the reaction she got from her pole dance at a high end strip club. She had designed her routine with various Skyliner messages choreographed into the act. She wanted to let us know how well it went over.

We also had a guy call us from Orlando who called himself Leisure Suit Light Up Larry! Yeah, he was lit up with every consumer led made plus featured the Skyliner. It was a sight to see as this older man, fifties, went every night to the Downtown Disney Club to wow the crowd. After his promo of the item we had many calls by independent vendors hoping to purchase wholesale Skyliners for raves. Why not? We, Versatile Visions, a Maine company, accommodated.

Grace Stern

The Skyliner Look before you Twirl

One night while I was at a real estate company Christmas Party I thought I would bring my new Skyliner and show everyone how cool I was by programming, what else, "Merry Christmas."

I waited until the proper moment when everyone gathered to hear me speak. I spoke, and then twirled the Skyliner as I watched the eyes of the crowd in anticipation of the awe. Everyone started laughing and yelling at me! I had forgotten that I had programmed in a familiar negative FY message for a whacky friend of mine as a joke. I had the wrong message ready to go when I spoke! Until I looked up did I turn as red as the leds!



Rod Stewart

The Skyliner at Parties, Rallies and more!

I always thought it would be wonderful to use my SKYLINER to march on Washington D.C. late one night with about 100,000 other people twirling my novelty item to say "What Goes Around Comes Around." Maybe they would get the message. I got the idea when I was at a surprise tea party for my friend. Twenty-five people had them rotating around when Jim opened the door. He thought it was a room full of helicopters! Now that's an idea for helicopter pilots, firemen, or even policemen!

Party on dudes! I love this thing, probably because I don't understand how words can appear out of lights? I just move my eyes back and forth while looking at the lights and I can see words. I don't get it even when I read about it . . . .

Bob Angst

The Skyliner in New York City

One of the more exciting product testimonials about the Skyliner was in 2000 at the New York Toy Fair. It was after the convention at the Javits center and it was raining. Everyone was in the street hailing cabs in bad weather. We took out our Skyliner and rotated as instructed with the words TAXI. We were surprised as the cab driver immediately pulled over next to us, rolled down the window, and inquired about the "twirly-thing."

This brought smiles to our lips with our new invention which we had already claimed could be used to hail a cab, yet we hadn't tried it until that night. It worked!

The SKYLINER on the 4th of JULY!

Happy 4th of JULY America! 

When Versatile Visions, a Maine company, first introduced the Skyliner, one of our immediate thoughts was that it would make a terrific product to get your patriotic message out to the masses during a 4th of July festivity.

The Skyliner, especially version 3, can be seen by thousands of people in a darkened area, arena, stadium, indoor or outdoor location, and because you can input up to 18 characters (letters and numbers) including spaces, you can easily and instantly get your visual message across. The twelve (12) LED's really shine brightly at night and the tri-colored LED's change every 3 seconds from Red to Green to Orange and back to Red. And it's a fun, safe way to celebrate independence day.

Original Skyliner (3D rendering)

It's amazing how folks flocked over to us the first time we showed the original Skyliner at an outdoor event, the American Folk Festival held in Bangor, Maine. As a matter of fact we were selling Skyliners so fast that one of us had to stop twirling to answer all the questions people had about the magical messages appearing in the air. We also demonstrated just how easy it was for the onlookers to program their own Skyliners. All the while the other person was continuously twirling two units overhead displaying both the custom messages and the wide selection of preset messages. And yes, twirling for hours overhead does get tiring.

New Skyliner (actual photo)

The new unit (version 3) can be viewed by more folks since the letters are twice the height of the original Skyliner. And it's still very easy to program.

Keep an eye out, and check back often to see when the Skyliners will be available exclusively to the public from Versatile Visions, the creator and manufacturer.

Brookstone, Disney and Skyliner Techology

One day Versatile Visions received a phone call from a company who wanted to use our patent for their "POV" CLOCK. We contracted with friends of ours FASCINATIONS to use our patent which enabled them to legitimately continue production of their message clock, the XP3, which delivered the time, date, and messages floating miraculously in space. Brookstone became the key retailer to take on this product until they found it more profitable to copy it and make it their own.

Versatile Visions, llc., a Maine company, had the right to persuade them to cease and desist. We didn't. Why? Their sales were a great advertisement for the SKYLINER, and a testimonial to its success. Most products don't last but two years in Disney, and even a shorter period in Brookstone. We lasted 11 years. We kept our product in Disney until they felt the pinch. Disney has been hurt by economic conditions and needs employees who can't afford to work at the low wages the offer. It is not cost efficient for the low income earners who need to put fuel in their autos to arrive at work, or find housing affordable. Hence, they didn't have the personnel to demonstrate it. It's a Mickey Mouse Operation!

It is common knowledge in the product industry that Brookstone is not resistant to "knocking-off"a product which would enhance their profits. They are infamous for taking on a product and then making it their own a year or two later. They are not alone. This recipe for retail is more common than not. Big retailers with integrity are on a short list. Just an opinion not fact? We love them all, understand the game, go with the flow, and look forward to filling their shelves with products they will like enough to bring to the next level and become a staple.