1980 Archives - PS

1980 Aladin Lunch Box Catalog

Mantooth — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 18:11:14 +0000

The name Aladin and lunch pails are synonymous. For generations, many of us received these wonderful licensed metal containers to bring to school, back when kids could bring peanut butter sandwichs to school that is..

This 1980 Catalog features a great mix of popular characters, many like Barbie and Superman are still being put on lunch boxes to this day. Others such as the year’s big draw, “The Black Hole” did not enjoy long-lasting success..

V.I.NCent, the hero robot of the Disney Science Fiction opus “The Black Hole” graces the cover this year, a lot of toy companies were hoping he would be the next R2-D2.

While Buck Rogers, the Hulk and Superman had TV and movie appeal, the Universal Monsters were a neat hold out from the “Monster Mania” of the late sixties. This beautiful lunch box would be a nice start to a decade that saw the Monsters become marketed towards collectors rather than children…..

The Marvel Superheroes lunchbox is an absolute classic along with Holly Hobbie, note the early appearance of Strawberry Shortcake merchandise.

The Flash Gordon lunch pail looks to be based on the Filmation series, which is cool but I’d have loved one based on the Sam Jones film.

A Frankenstein Thermos, bliss….

Advertising a lunchbox seems almost weird now.

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And now, a whole page of diecast Shogun Warriors

Mantooth — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +0000

This page is from the 1980 Popy toys catalog and even though i wasn’t born in Japan, it feels like childhood.

New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

Don’t forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

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1980 Toys R Us Flyer featuring Mego, Mork and the Kenner Alien

Mantooth — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 12:06:00 +0000

It’s sadly looking like the end for Toys R Us in the United States, so let’s go and focus on when it was a growing company that made for an amazing experience.

This Flyer from 1980 is so jam-packed with late 1970s pop culture that every page seems to have some Incredible Hulk or Wonder Woman merchandise tucked in there somewhere, it’s a real trip!

1980 Toys R Us Flyer is really to send you back in time here.

Classic Toy Store Ads on PlaidStallions

Hagensick’s Playroom 1975

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Kenner Alien, He’s a Cutie?

Mantooth — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 13:12:00 +0000

I’ve desperately trying to scan in a newly acquired Toys R Us Flyer from 1980 for Friday (fingers crossed). I’ve been so busy with it that I only just noticed the Kenner Alien in there!

Such an iconic and coveted toy just regulated to the corner, it brings you back to the reality that the big chap wasn’t really a big hit when he made his toy shelf debut.

Anyway, consider this a Toys R Us tease.

More Kenner Alien:

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Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

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Pod Stallions 60: The Martian Chronicles

Mantooth — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:00:00 +0000

We’re back with an all new show!

This month’s episode is devoted to Ray Bradbury’s “The Martian Chronicles”, not the book so mentioned (although it is mentioned) but the epic three evening NBC mini series from 1980 starring Rock Hudson!

Topics include childhood fears, TV Spider-Man, cheap-o Rack Toys, Arthur C Clarke, Starlog, poster collecting, ventriloquist dummies, Barry Morse and much, much more.

So journey with us to the red planet!

Agree with us, have your own childhood recollection of the series? give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

Download the Show Here

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Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!

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Star Wars….exclusively at Sears

Mantooth — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:39:00 +0000

While I personally don’t remember the Rebel Command Center (which surprises me) I do recall the weird loyalty you had to have to Sears in order to “collect” Star Wars figures as a kid.

Sears wasn’t close to our house, so I’d have to tag along with my mum to get groceries or other mundane tasks in order to get my hands on the all important Ugnaught (which was exclusive and came on a weird card in Canada).

They also closed for inventory at 6pm every Thursday, that shouldn’t be a fact a ten year old knows but dammit, it was a hard lesson!

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Star Wars sale at Osco

Mantooth — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:31:00 +0000

Another newspaper line illustrated gem, this one from Osco.

I never had the Star Destroyer Playset but recently discovered some collectors I know have this weird hate on for it. Was it a disappointing toy?

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The first 48

Mantooth — Wed, 31 May 2017 12:34:00 +0000

This is where i tapped out as a kid, 48 action figures was too much to “Collect ’em all” and I remember taking a hard line with Cloud Car pilot (I already had a Bespin guard).

I may have been the exception but I really got into Black Hole and Star Trek TMP figures at this point.

The micro collection is still one of those things I secretly covet, it’s awesome.

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Star Wars….Only at Sears

Mantooth — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Another Christmas page that made me crazy, those “exclusive” figures came on these weird shrunk wrapped cards and it drove me crazy tracking them down as a kid.

Now, I wish I’d kept them as they’re worth a bundle.

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The Mego Black Hole Cereal Promotion

Mantooth — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 04:00:00 +0000

I joined ebay in 1997, since then like clock work, i have searched “Black Hole” and “Shreddies” in hope of finding this item. Recently on one boring Tuesday morning, there it was with a Buy It Now price that was so agreeable, it still makes me smile.

Sure it’s an empty cereal box but to me, it’s just something slightly more.

I’ve written about this promotion before , it’s one of those incredibly happy moments in childhood that you just smile about whenever you think about it.

Shreddies was never my favourite cereal, yet for a month in 1979, I endured three boxes of it (with a lot of help from sugar) to get these….

Actually, it was one box top per figure, an additional $2.50 per figure (plus sales tax) and my mom had to write a cheque! Hell, this wasn’t even that great a deal!

But i did it and waited the eternity for that bubble envelope (with a cool drawing of Maximillian on it) to arrive. I’d love to reunite with that envelope as well, I hope one still exists. Those figures were just….kind of earned and I still have my Vincent nearly 40 years later.

One of the saving graces of this promo that really kept me going were the kick ass Space Pal Pencil caddies that came in every box. I’m positive I ate Shreddies well into 1980 to finish my set.

These guys lined my fourth grade desk and actually i still have one at work right now.

I’m thrilled to share this happy memory, it’s one of the reasons I collect.

Thanks for reading, have a terrific weekend.

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