Oh, and to correct John Johnston above, it's not
"his skin flashed open" it's "the screens flashed open"
It's referencing those telescopic viewers they have at some tourist attractions. You put a coin into the viewer and the shutters ("screens") open and you can look around as if using a pair of binoculars. That's why the girl was asking for a nickle in the first verse.
Oh, and to correct John Johnston above, it's not "his skin flashed open" it's "the screens flashed open"
It's referencing those telescopic viewers they have at some tourist attractions. You put a coin into the viewer and the shutters ("screens") open and you can look around as if using a pair of binoculars. That's why the girl was asking for a nickle in the first verse.