Forum Thread

Mon, April 1, 2023 at 1:53 PM

To: < [email protected] >
From: < [text omitted] @whrp.net >
Subj: Re: Confirming arrival! Plus…?

Hello.

We are overjoyed you have received all of the work we have so far uncovered! Please take care of it while it is in your possession, but under no circumstances should it be touched with your bare hands. Please wear gloves. If a substance begins to grow on anything delivered, please place it back in the box it was shipped in and return it to us at your leisure. If you or anyone in your team experience nausea, dizziness, or fatigue, please don’t be alarmed.

We also thank you for your offer to assist in restoring these pieces, but I cannot accept your offer.

Thank you.


~ [text omitted]


Hello again [text omitted] !

The shipment of works for the exhibition arrived today - thanks again for being so generous with these items! At some point I would like to run down the full checklist with you to confirm which are originals and which are restorations/reproductions, so we can include that information when we write the didactic labels. Let me know if it’s easier for me to email you a list or if you’d like to have a phone call about it.

Speaking of restoration, I also wanted to ask - would you like us to work on having any of these items professionally touched up while we’re here for the exhibit? I’m sure the folks we usually work with would be thrilled to work on something so unique (some of them were kids in the 60s and 70s, maybe an opportunity to get some eyewitness accounts too?) and it seems only fair for us to offer, what with you so kindly loaning us all this material to exhibit. Totally understand if you’d prefer to keep that work among your own team, of course. Just let me know.

Excited to get this all on display, will send photos soon when we start installing!

~ [text omitted] Head Curator
Questions Answered! Curatorial Services
Exhibition Design, Curation. Archival & Restoration

https://inbox.wemail.com/mail/?FMfcgzHseLpLGBGbzoRtzKm&=print

Wally Darling was sitting at the foot of my bed with a rotary phone in front of him, ringing away. It looked just like the little toy phone we were restoring for the exhibit. It kept ringing. Wally stared at me like he was waiting for me to pick up the phone. Just staring, unblinking. The phone ringing and ringing. I couldn't move. I couldn't figure out how to move and pick up the phone. He kept waiting. I couldn't pick up the phone.
​
I keep getting phone calls, now. Or at least, I assume that's what's happening. I keep hearing it ringing. All day, sometimes. I check my phone and there's no new messages. I thought maybe some of the site staff were pranking me, but I tore up the workspace and couldn't find another phone that might be ringing. All that was there were the toys for the exhibit, and obviously those couldn't be ringing. But I kept hearing it anyway. The phone ringing and ringing.
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The more I work, the more questions I have. Why didn't any of the site staff I worked with remember this show? Even the ones who grew up in the 70s? Why can't I find any files on the Playfellow Workshop? Why isn't there a single TV guide ad saying what network or time the show was on? I keep digging and digging. I've poured over every recovery the WHRP has given me access to, every inch of their website, and the things I find make less and less sense.

Mon, April 3, 2023 at 1:53 PM

-ived all of the work we have so far uncovered!
-on, but under no circumstances should it be touched with your-
-If a substance begins to grow on anything delivered, please-
-shipped in and return it to us at your leisure. If you or anyone in-
-dizziness, or fatigue, please don’t be alarmed.

Blacklight text underneath paragraph reads: I am so sorry.

Email reads:
-offer to assist in restoring these pieces, but I cannot accept your

[text]

[text] !


-for the exhibition arrived today - thanks again for being so generous with these items! At some point-
-own the full checklist with you to confirm which are originals and which are restorations/reproductions,
-information when we write the didactic labels. Let me know if it’s easier for me to email you a list or if-
-phone call about it.

-ed to ask - would you like us to work on having any of these items professionally touched-
-the folks we usually work with would be thrilled to work on something so unique-
-maybe an opportunity to get some eyewitness accounts too?) and it seems-
-this material to exhibit. Totally understand if you’d prefer to-

Text on orange sticky note attached to television reads:
“BROKEN??? Call facilities ASAP”

Yellow sticky note reads “ATTN STAFF: Still waiting on safe code. If guests complete worksheet offer to send prize later once we get this open!”
Pink sticky note: “This one is mine also for research
ALSO DO NOT WRITE IN >:(“
!!!Blacklight text on sticky note reads: “THE PHONE IS RINGING”

Do you know anyone who worked at the Playfellow Workshop or are you a former employee?
​
No, I am not affiliated with the company. Ronald Dorelaine, he is the creator. We will find the other names too.
​
​
Are we able to join your team?
​
At the moment we aren’t accepting new members.
​
​
Who is your favorite resident?
​
Everyone on our team has their favorite, but if you ask me, mine is Wally Darling! He is the most.


When I unwrapped the first letter, I felt it. I heard it. Open. Open. Open. I want it out. I need to get it out.


What’s your favorite or least favorite part of the research/restoration work?

Our favorite part? Uncovering more information, of course! As well as restoring pieces with beautiful results! Nothing feels better quite like a job well done! Our least favorite part however? Nothing I can think of!
Everything is so disgusting to touch. Sometimes the mail doesn’t come for weeks. I want to rip into everything I have. My head feels so muddled too. Ever since I opened that envelope.