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1982 Knickerbocker World of Annie Catalog

Annie was a film based on the hit 1977 broadway musical which in itself was based on the classic syndicated comic strip “Little Orphan Annie”. Thankfully the movie didn’t remove everyone’s pupils for authenticity. The film was expected to be a blockbuster smash and companies such as Knickerbocker hedged their bets by preparing a slew […]

Wacky Trucks

Fleetwood Toys introduced the “Wacky Truck” in 1982, combining the Wacky Pack to a toy? Perfection! My only problem with it is I don’t own one.

1982 Gabriel Legend of the Lone Ranger Catalog

The big budget film “Legend of the Lone Ranger” saw a triumphant return to the license by toy company Gabriel (who had made some pretty epic Long Ranger toys in the 1970s). While the movie was a big disappointment, Gabriel once again brought their “A Game” and made some kicking toys and action figures for […]

1982 Kenner Indiana Jones Line

Despite it’s parentage of Lucas and Spielberg, Indiana Jones has never been the merchandising success like it’s cousins Star Wars and E.T. Although one could blame that on it’s historical surrounds or it’s lack of wookies, it’s really never been established why. One of the best attempts at merchandising Indy was Kenner’s 1982 “Adventures of […]

Viva Zorro!

In the early 1980s Gabriel Toys, (known mostly for their fan-freaking-tastic line of Lone Ranger toys) picked up the license to the Filmation Zorro television series and worked their usual magic with a series of awesome 3 3/4″ action figures. Click on any of the images to explore the 1980 Gabriel Zorro Catalog. More Western […]

G.I. Joe Real American Hero 1982 Catalog

I know it’s technically not a 70s toy but it is related, plus these figures came out when I was eleven and had the distinction of being the last toys I bought to play with. In fact, on my twelfth birthday my mom made me a G.I. Joe cake (as I’ve explained before, she was […]

The Empire is still striking back

Not many movies can still keep selling toys two years after their debut but I guess that’s why Star Wars was such a phenom. The kenner toys were kind of in a state arrested development by this point, next year would see Jedi and tons of new toys but at 13, I found much of […]

He Man Envy

Masters of the Universe was another toy line that caught my eye during this time. It’s bright colors and simple themes reminded me of a simplier time (pretty amazing considering I was 12 at the time). Castle Greyskull is also one of the best done playsets I have ever seen. Although I closet watched the […]

1982 week begins with G.I. Joe

I wanted to write a big long preface to this week but it was nice outside yesterday and I forgot about it. To be brief, 1982 represented the time when I stopped playing with toys, I drifted aimlessly until I started collecting them three years later.One of the last toylines I picked up was the […]