Knock-Offs: Totally Unauthorized Action Figures is the latest book from Brian Heiler, the creator of PlaidStallions and author of “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings”. It’s a love letter to bootleg toys and action figures.
132 Pages printed in Canada. Each copy ordered through this store will be signed..
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PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures magazine is an old school print magazine about vintage toys from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s covering topics and items that don’t get the respect they deserve.
Each issue will feature collector guides, rare photographs, interviews, and articles by some of the toy experts in the Collector Field. Issue #1 will be a salute to the celebrated toy company Azrak-Hamway International or AHI and topics will include Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, Space:1999, Parachuting Superheroes and a guide to the World Famous Super Monsters toys!
Toy-Ventures is our new video series on Youtube, each week we explore a toy from the 70s/80s and talk about it's history and any annecdotes about collecting that might come with it. It's all about toy love and we get into some really hilarious stuff, we hope you'll join us on our weekly journey.See all episodes of Toy-Ventures here and if you like what you see please subscribe and tell your friends..
If you have photos and memories from a costumed character appearance in the 1970s or 1980s, I'd like to hear about it for my latest book project "Mall of Justice". The photos need not be in a mall and need not be Superheroes, I'm looking for cartoon characters, toy characters, TV and Movie creatures and I'm especially after home made looking appearances. Please visitThe Mall of Justice Page for more information.
The latest episode of PodStallions is dedicated to the elder statesman of Horror from our childhood, the legendary Vincent Price! We cram a lot in there for a jam packed two hour show, please listen. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch of our hi-jinx.
Today's feature catalog is the 1978 Azrak Hamway Rack Toy catalog full of Parachuting Superheroes, squirting phasers, Hulk vans, space robots, Donnie and Marie items and of course, Spider-Man's wicked speedboat. 1978 Azrak Hamway (AHI) Rack Toy Catalog
It's October so we've cooked up another video short about Monster Toys, this time it's the Tomland Famous Monsters of Legend and it's narrated by my good pal and co-host Jason Lenzi. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch of our hi-jinx.
He may have faded from our toy shelves in the 1970s but in Europe, Big Jim was kind of a big deal. How big a deal? In this 1984 Mattel Italy catalog, Big Jim has as many pages as Masters of the Universe. By this time, the Big Jim line is firmly set in the future with flashy villains, heroes, giant play sets and transforming vehicles. It is one of the most underrated and attractive action figure lines of our life times. 1984 Big Jim Catalog from Italy
It's PlaidStallions ten year anniversary! Yay! So Jason and Brian cooked up a special, jam packed pod cast called "Things we miss from the 1970s" and it's a hoot! You can catch the entire Pod Stallions Library on YouTube.
Presenting the first Pod Stallions Mini-Sode, an extra half hour show each month on a variety of topics that are perhaps not long enough for our standard format.
For our inaugural mini-show we decided to pick a simple question "What were the last two movies you watched?" and it goes all the map from Italian futuristic gladiators to talking bears to super human Simon Pegg to punks in Toronto.
You can catch the entire Pod Stallions Library on YouTube.
I am a complete junkie for toy store newspaper flyers, they are just such a wonderfully illustrated time capsule of our childhoods. This wonderful piece from JC Penny in 1980 is a pretty terrific example of why I love these, so many old friends are here. From bikes to big wheels, Barbie to Ms Piggy, Fisher Price Little People to Star Wars, it's a fantastic cross section of Childhood:1980. 1980 JC Penney Toy land Catalog
"Super Space Theatre" was a TV package of 14 movies that were culled together from episodes of "Space:1999", "UFO", "Thunderbirds", "Stingray", "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" and the non Anderson property "The Champions" . It had a huge impact on me as a kid and I've never quite been the same, check out the amazing Super Space Theatre Sales Kit
It's episode 42, we're both entirely too nerdy not to do an episode devoted to Douglas Adam's seminal "Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series.
Jason and Brian talk up the books, radio dramas, the BBC TV series and of course, the big budget movie from 2005.
Along the way we veer off into Doctor Who, Time Bandits and ...Threads. So, grab your towel and join us!
You can catch the entire Pod Stallions Library on YouTube.
Hasbro described Love dolls as: "She's what's happening. She's today's American teenager and she's part of the World of Love".
This was an interesting to attempt to combine the Fashion dolls with the left over hippie movement in the late 1970s as Hasbro hoped little girls would clamour to enact adventures for Love and her friends Peace, Flower, Music and Soul.
1973 Hasbro World of Love Catalog
Gabriel's Hal Needham stuntman toys is one of the most interesting action figure concepts of the 1970s, it should have been a bigger hit. 1977 Gabriel Stuntman Catalog here
Popy World Heroes Archive Launches
Popy World Heroes were made in 1980 in conjunction with the popularity of Kenner Star Wars Figures, they are 3 3/4" versions of Japan's most popular TV heroes like Ultraman and Kamen Rider. This toy line has been quietly collected and doesn't get enough attention this side of Pacific. I've created this archive to help collectors, any assitance would be appreciated.
Check out the Popy World Hero Archive Here..
