Ben Cooper Superhero Jigglers with the Hulk

I was jazzed to find this wonderful trade advert for the Ben Cooper Superhero Jigglers (their word was Wiggly but . Ben Cooper made these floppy figures for the better part of a decade and then they were bootlegged for another 10-15 years!

It was a good way to keep Ben Cooper products on store shelves year-round; Rubber bat sales really plummeted by November. 

Joining this assortment is the Incredible Hulk, whose TV Stardom made him an A-Lister in the Superhero Merchandise game. Like the Mego World’s Greatest Superheroes Hulk figure, the Hulk’s ample frame wasn’t cost-effective, so he’s considerably shorter than the other characters. Not that any of them can stand. 

Superhero Jigglers Catalog page from the 1980 Ben Cooper Catalog

Ben Cooper tried to expand the selection of Superheroes but made some interesting choices, including The Thing, Doctor Strange and the Red Skull. The Thing and Doctor Strange had some TV appearances but I’ve never understood the Red Skull. Although I am grateful, that someone made a Red Skull toy!

This page is from the 1981 Ben Cooper Catalog, you can see more here:

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Here is another crazy Halloween discovery from my buddy Matt. 

I’ll give the reigns to him as he talks about Halco.

“Halco Universal Monster Costumes Were produced for a time in the 1960s. Before Ben Cooper dominated through the rest of the 60s and 1970s. What makes the Halco costumes unique is the highly accurate sculptures on the facemasks. Their Frankenstein contains the best Glenn strange likeness in Halloween costume form, even though Lon Chaney Junior is pictured on the body stocking. Their “Phantom of the opera” has a wonderful mask based on James Cagney from ‘Man of 1000 Faces’. This Wolfman resembles his appearance in ‘Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein’ Another interesting thing about the Halco monster costumes is the addition of glitter to the body stocking. It does make it pop somewhat. I have only ever seen examples of Frankenstein, Phantom and Wolfman. But I like to think that somewhere out there is shambling around a glorious representation of Kharis the Mummy”

 

“The picture with the two masks shows a Wolfman mask from the 1970s, made from the Halco mold. Apparently, Halco sold off their molds, and the masks continued to be manufactured throughout the 1970s”

For more on Halco please check out this episode of  “Basement of Horror”.

 

 

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Toy-Ventures: Halco Halloween

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1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog

The “Smock and Mask” costumes made famous by companies like Ben Cooper and Collegeville were still going full steam ahead in the 1980s. This was the era of action figures and toys have a full media assault of cartoons, comics and merchandise.  The 1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume catalog reflects this era with some of the most popular brands mingled in with a few that well, don’t quite have the same mojo.

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Photon

Photon was the name of Lasertag arenas and had a brief tv-series and action figures by Entertech.

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Bravestarr

Bravestarr was Filmation’s follow up to Masters of the Universe and even had a Mattel Toy Line. 

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Rambo

I don’t have to explain Rambo to anyone do I?

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Transformers

Transformers are probably the biggest license Collegeville had at this time.  I have never seen LJN Blinkins before today.

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Transformers

It’s not the 1980s until a Ninja shows up.

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog

Scratch and Sniff costumes which would encourage people to touch and smell your child.

Call me crazy but I don’t think this was a great idea.

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Nerd Candy had a costume? I learned something today!

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Peanuts

The Peanuts were pretty much a 35-year staple.

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Spooks

Generic Monsters like these means Ben Cooper had the Universal Monsters License at the time. It ping ponged between Collegeville and Ben Cooper quite a bit.

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog Spooks

At this point Collegeville has been selling that Ghost since the early 1970s, here it is in the 1973 catalog.

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog

1987 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog- Lisa Frank

A line of Halloween Costumes based on Lisa Frank stickers, the 80s were truly madness.

1987 Collegeville Masks

These stretch stocking masks are “Wet the bed” terrifying. 

1987 Collegeville Transformers Masks

Nice to see Frankenstein somewhere in this.

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Kusan may not be as well known as Ben Cooper or Collegeville for Halloween and they certainly didn’t get the “A” licenses but they sure knew how to create some innovative and highly creative costumes.

Not only is their assortment fun but their catalog is just a wonderfully well designed affair, every page just pops!

This catalog is just awash in colour, I’m a big fan.

Whoever drew this catalog deserved a raise.

A+ on the package design too, so much style.

Kazoo masks, adored by children, hated by parents.

PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Magazine #1 is now available and it’s been called “not only an entertaining read, but it’s also an impeccable work of reference” by PopCult.

I may be a man in his 40s but I’m not afraid to stay I still find Little Lulu enjoyable and regularly read it with my daughter, you should too.

I  love New Zoo Revue as a kid, the Campbell kids? Not so much?

Bolts in the heard are stock and trade with generic Frankensteins world over to this day!

The art on some of these costumes is magical

I really like the kazoo gimmick.

I enjoy the fact that Kusan drew cowboy boots on the Lone Ranger costume.

Characters like the Exxon Tiger show a real innovation in finding a recognizable character.

I wish to create an eloborate back story for Monster man.

That hippie costume is the greatest stereotype ever.

I always find it weird marketing these types of costumes to adults, all the majors did it, so they must have sold.

“Skin Faces” not at all terrifying, nope,nope,nope.

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