The Particle Thrower (also known as Proton Blaster, Proton Gun, Positron Collider[1], Nutrona Wand[2], Neutrona Wand [3][4], or Proton Wand[5]) is the blaster that is connected by a hose to the Proton Pack. It is used to fire Proton Streams, a stream of positively charged ions, at ghosts in order to hold them in place for a Trap to be opened and hold them indefinitely.
Canonicity
The Particle Thrower in the Primary Canon is developed from Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. In Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions), a Secondary Canon, Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II pre-date the game, Ghostbusters: Afterlife conflicts with the game. The Particle Thrower (prime) appears in the IDW Comic Series, a Secondary Canon, which follows Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II, also includes some elements from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) and Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Stylized Versions); as well as being canon to Tobin's Spirit Guide (Insight Editions). The Particle Thrower (from Dimension 50-S) in the IDW Comic Series, is an alternate version based on Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime. Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime video game, deemed a Tertiary Canon, follows Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II. Ghostbusters: Legion and Ghost Busted Manga, both deemed a Tertiary Canon, follows Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II. Ghostbusters: The Board Game, deemed a Tertiary Canon, loosely follows the events of the IDW Comics.
History
Primary Canon History
Before Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
The Ghostbusters Engineer Corps created the Ionic Separator for the extraction of ghosts from objects. After the ghost was extracted, it was sent to a second chamber where a series of Particle Throwers arranged in a circle at the base activate and herd the ghost into a smaller chamber where they are stored in a Trap.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
In the summer of 2024, Phoebe Spengler used a Particle Thrower concealed in the sidecar of Ecto-C to destroy possessed Patience the Lion statue outside the New York City Public Library.
Secondary Canon History
IDW Comics
When Chi-You was in possession of Winston Zeddemore, his Proton Pack was also transmogrified. The pack took on the appearance of an axe.
Trivia
Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia
- Originally, the Particle Throwers were wand-like and attached via black flex cords to a back-mounted proton power source. The wands were strapped in place at the wrist - one in each arm - and extended out along the palm to a point 6 inches beyond the fingertips. When fired by means of an elbow toggle switch on the back pack - phosphorescent beams of red and green light issued forth.[6]
- During production of the first movie, Ivan Reitman wanted more bass and more bottom added to the sound effect of the thrower being turned on.[7]
- During filming, the throwers had flashbulbs which aided the special effects team during post production.[8]
- The earliest the Particle Thrower appears in the first movie is during Dana Barrett's interview in the Firehouse, there are a couple of Particle Throwers on the table behind her. They can be seen when Egon turns and shines his head light on Peter and when he stands up.
Ghostbusters II Trivia
- In the August 5, 1988 draft, the Ghostbusters adjust their throwers to two settings while fighting Vigo - Delta Wave, Full Stream and Gamma Wave, Force Five. The latter was achieved with newly installed converters.[9][10]
- In the November 27, 1988 draft, on page 109, Egon tells everyone to adjust to Full Neutronas, Maser Assist.
- In the movie itself, Egon tells them to go Full Neutronas.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trivia
- Ashley from the Alberta Ghostbusters designed a neutrona wand box that was ultimately unused. It ended up in her home.[11]
- At one point, the thrower for the gunner seat was going to be white and plastic.[12]
- The Spengler Particle Thrower prop was the basis for the Hasbro Ghostbusters Plasma Series: Spengler’s Neutrona Wand. Hasbro visited the set and took photos, measurements, and a 3D scan of the real prop then they went back and forth on 3D models. The specifications were honored and models were updated to reflect them. Like the real prop, the switches must be turned on in the correct sequence or it won't work like the Hasbro wand. The real prop also rumbles like the Hasbro wand.[13] The packaging is based on a box that the wand for the gunner seat is found in and during filming, the crew sussed out the S hook was more of a spacer to level it with the Proton Pack. Hasbro sent a gray scale model to the set and Eric Reich and Ben Eadie went over it and sent back notes.[14]
- Mckenna Grace couldn't hit the trigger on the thrower so an ad hoc trigger was built near the wood grip.[15]
- The gunner seat's Particle Thrower was designed by Kirsten Franson then built by The Hand Prop Room.[16]
- The thrower for the Ecto-1's gunner seat pack was lost at the Turner Valley Gas Plant during filming so armorer Ben Eadie had to scramble. He removed a Particle Thrower from a Phoebe Proton Pack prop and taped it to the gunner seat prop. They then added the tape to every thrower hose for continuity.[17]
- The Particle Thrower for the Ecto-1's gunner seat is shorter and lacks a barrel extension mechanism. It took inspiration from military vehicle weapons having a shorter barrel so troops could get in and out fast. The thrower was named the "snub nose."[18]
- Ernie Hudson accidentally hit Bill Murray's head with his Particle Thrower prop after Jason Reitman called cut on the scene. It left a mark but Murray returned a few minutes later.[19]
IDW Comics Trivia
- On page 10 of Ghostbusters Annual 2015, the internal electronics of the thrower appear to be inspired by recent fan developments to produce a mechanized barrel extension system.
See Also
- Particle Thrower/Animated
- Proton Pack/Animated
- Proton Pistol (IDW Comics)
- Proton Pistol
- Proton Pack
- Proton Pack/Realistic Version
- Proton Pack/Stylized Version
- Particle Thrower/Spirits Unleashed
External Links
Appearances
Primary Canon Appearances
- Ghostbusters
- Ghostbusters II
- Chapter 01: Start
- Chapter 10: Their Day in Court
- Chapter 11: The Scoleri Brothers
- Chapter 12: Two in the Box
- Chapter 16: Vigo 101
- Chapter 22: No Dent
- Chapter 23: The Statue of Liberty
- Chapter 24: A Harbor Chick
- Chapter 25: Breaking and Entering
- Chapter 26: Ghostbusters vs. Vigo
- Chapter 27: The Fifth Ghostbuster
- Chapter 28: World is Safe Again
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife
- Chapter 06
- Seen in online video only.
- Chapter 08
- Chapter 09
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 06
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Expanded Universe
- Ghostbusters
- Ghostbusters II
Secondary Canon Appearances
- Ghostbusters: The Video Game
- IDW Comics
- Ghostbusters: The Other Side
- Ghostbusters: Displaced Aggression
- "Past, Present, and Future"
- "Tainted Love"
- "What in Samhain Just Happened?"
- "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
- Ghostbusters: Infestation
- Volume 1
- Volume 2
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ghostbusters
- Ghostbusters Get Real
- Ghostbusters Annual 2015
- "Daydreams and Nightmares!"
- "Bait Date"
- "Hot Foot"
- "No Sale"
- "World of the Psychic"
- Volume 3
- Ghostbusters International #1
- Ready to Believe Everyone
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #2
- Benvenuti A Venezia
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #3
- Help Wanted
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #4
- The Plot Thickens
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #5
- Viva La Louvre
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #6
- Part 6
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #7
- Part 7
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #8
- Part 8
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #9
- Part 9
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #10
- Part 10
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #11
- Part 11
- Haunted America Case File
- Ghostbusters International #1
- Ghostbusters Annual 2017
- Haunted America: A Prairie Hell Companion
- Second City Ghostbusters
- Pagan's Bust
- Answering The Call
- Ghostbusters 101
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2
- Ghostbusters Annual 2018
- Ghostbusters Crossing Over
- Ghostbusters IDW 20/20
- IDW 20/20 (Dimension 50-S version only)
- Down The Basement Stairs (Dimension 50-S version only)
- 35th Anniversary: Ghostbusters
- Transformers/Ghostbusters: Ghosts of Cybertron
- Ghostbusters Year One
Tertiary Canon Appearances
- IDW Publishing (non-canonical to the prime continuity of IDW)
- Cryptozoic Entertainment
- Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
- Ghost Busted (manga)
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- 88MPH Studios
References
- ↑ Peter Venkman (1999). Ghostbusters - Chapter 13: "Nice Shootin', Tex." (1984) (DVD ts. 37:22-37:26). Columbia Pictures. Peter says: "Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider, huh?"
- ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 82 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "Though the nutrona wands employed in the film are clearly rifle-inspired firearms, the high-tech ghost-herding devices of Dan Aykroyd's original concept were indeed wand-like. Attached via thick black flex-cords to a back-mounted proton power source, the wands were strapped in place at the wrist -- one on each arm -- and extended out along the palm to a point six inches beyond the fingertips. When fired -- by means of an elbow toggle switch on the backpack -- phosphorescent beams of red and green light issued forth."
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Version)- Panic in Times Square Level "Over the radio, Egon introduces and activates the Boson Dart" (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Atari. Egon Spengler says: "I wanted to test these first, but since we're waiving that safety step today anyway, you should be aware that I modified the Neutrona Wand which normally releases the particle stream."
- ↑ Screengrab of Panic in Times Square; spelling for 'Neutrona Wand'
- ↑ Peter Venkman (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Version)- Welcome to the Hotel Sedgewick Level "When Peter and Rookie enter Alhambra Ballroom to capture Slimer" (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Atari. Peter Venkman says: "To trap him, you've gotta grab him and to grab him, you use the other half of the Proton Wand, the Capture Stream."
- ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 82 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "Though the nutrona wands employed in the film are clearly rifle-inspired firearms, the high-tech ghost-herding devices of Dan Aykroyd's original concept were indeed wand-like. Attached via thick black flex-cords to a back-mounted proton power source, the wands were strapped in place at the wrist -- one on each arm -- and extended out along the palm to a point six inches beyond the fingertips. When fired -- by means of an elbow toggle switch on the backpack -- phosphorescent beams of red and green light issued forth."
- ↑ Joe Medjuck (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 32:10-32:20). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Joe Medjuck says: "There was a lot of work done on the sound effects of these backpacks, the guns, turning it on. I remember Ivan was always wanting more bass--more bass and more bottom to it."
- ↑ Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 36:29-36:39). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "The Neutrona Wands which is the thrower actually had a flashbulb at the end. So, when we triggered them, the special effects guys had something to cue the start of the stream from."
- ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 101). "Egon Spengler says: "Delta wave, full stream."
- ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 101). "Egon Spengler says: "Let's try the new converters--gamma wave, force five."
- ↑ The Black Firehouse Podcast Spotify "Session 3: Ghostbusters Afterlife Gunners Seat & Sentry Proton Packs" 19:28-20:41 1/25/2022 Jordin Johanson says: "So just members of my franchise that helped out would be Ashley, who did a lot of paint, weathering, and detailing. She also designed a different neutrona wand box that was ultimately unused but now exists in her home secretly. My good friend James was also involved. He was the one who recommended me specifically which was great. He did a lot of the modeling. He also modeled parts of the Ectomobile that needed to be made. Another friend, Sean. Cast--brought on for casting a dummy version of the R.T.V. That would stick out of the Ectomobile that couldn't eject because was only half a body, it ended before--And Dustin who did electronics and wiring and also ran the wrap party which I also got to be gently involved in. And finally for Ghostbusters friends, Rob who worked on the Sentry Wands specifically. Yes, Genesis Custom Sabers is his company."
- ↑ The Black Firehouse Podcast Spotify "Session 3: Ghostbusters Afterlife Gunners Seat & Sentry Proton Packs" 24:34-24:39 1/25/2022 Jordin Johanson says: "The original wand for the Ectomobile was white. It wasn't a black wand."
- ↑ Ghostbusters News "Hasbro Spengler's Neutrona Wand in hand overview + interview with Ghostbusters: Afterlife's Ben Eadie!" 8/26/2020
- ↑ Yes Have Some YouTube 8/26/2020
- ↑ Tested YouTube "Adam Savage Inspects Ghostbusters: Afterlife's Hero Props!", 2:33-2:42 10/18/2021 Ben Eadie says: "But the girl we have, Mckenna couldn't hit the trigger properly so we had to do a quick little impromptu and there's a tiny little trigger hidden underneath up there for small hands."
- ↑ Inguanzo, Ozzy (2021). Ghostbusters: Afterlife The Art and Making of the Movie, p. 99. Titan Books, London UK, ISBN 1789096529. Line reads: "Multiple variations of this sawed-off proton blaster were designed by Franson, with the final specialty prop built by The Hand Prop Room in Los Angeles."
- ↑ Hasbro Pulse YouTube "Fan First Monday | Ghostbusters HasLab Plasma Series Spengler's Proton Pack Livestream" 35:32-36:42 11/22/2021 Ben Eadie says: "At the very beginning of the show, we had shot some stuff out in an industrial area and then afterwards we're shooting the Ecto and in my infinite lack of wisdom, one of the throwers was left behind. The one that belonged in the Ecto. So what I ended up doing out of half panic and half trying to figure it out is as I went to one of the Phoebe packs, forgive me Eric, and I cut the wand off and I taped it onto the hose on the Ecto. I then realized that the problem we had was is that this was like sort of the second set of scenes we'd done so I was okay as far as that modification went. There's only one scene that potentially would come up that would have hat on it and so we spent the rest of the time putting all the wands back but adding that chunk of tape to every hose and every pack so that we had the continuity so it was this sort of backwards scramble thing and I think you're the first people to know about this and Eric's probably thinking like, "Oh my God," but while these things happen."
- ↑ @dreadmakerroberts TikTok "Was there a continuity error on the wand in the Ecto that Trevor used in the final battle?" 00:16-00:46 1/8/2022 Ben Eadie says: "Okay, I'm not trying to bug ya man, but the wand was actually made as a snub nose. Now you'll notice--I'm ex-infantry so when you have vehicle weapons, they always have a shorter barrel and the reason for the shorter barrel is that you can get in and out of the vehicle a lot faster. That same methodology or thought process went in on the wands so the Ecto wand was shorter and did not extend so that it would kind of go with everything. It was also called the snub nose."
- ↑ Vanity Fair "The Day Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson Became Ghostbusters Again" 11/22/2021 Line reads: "After Jason Reitman called cut, the guys shambled to their feet while the crew prepared a new setup. Hudson rose first and swung around just as Murray began to stand beside him. That's when his proton blaster connected with Murray's frontal lobe. Hudson winced as if he were the one who'd been struck. "I hit him on the head with my gun as he was getting up," he explained to onlooking crew members, as Murray left to get checked by the set medic. The accident slowed things down for a beat. Murray got knocked hard, enough to leave a mark. But he was okay. He returned a few minutes later, playing it up like he was gravely wounded but had valiantly rallied. His young costars went along with the joke. "Yeah, I mean, what's a concussion anyway?" Wolfhard said."