The links are sponsored.

Ben Cooper Dr. Strange Halloween Costume (eBay Affiliate Link) __

Doctor Strange got some merch in the late 1970s and early 1980s, likely due to his 1978 CBS TV movie that did not go to series. The Ben Cooper merch (including the Jigger) has this weirdly angry face for some reason. I think it works, but I have always pictured the character as a cool cucumber.

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Milton Bradley Micronauts Board Game (SPONSORED LINK)-

Someone posted this in the PodStallions group and it serves as a reminder as to how much I want a copy of this. It’s part board game and part Amsco Adventure set. 

The Shadow Bagatelle Game (affiliate link) —

The middle 70s explosion of Shadow Merchandise, primarily from the Toymaker/Pharmaceutical company “Madison Industries,” is one that perplexes me. However, the toys also are really cool, so it evens out.

Here is a recent episode of Toy-Ventures about the Madison Imports Shadow merch.

Child Guidance Kentucky Fried Chicken Playset (affiliate link) —

I can barely get to eat the Col.’s chicken anymore but wow, such happy memories of it as a kid. If anybody has that little Col. for sale? I am your new best friend. I’m also in the market for some Grecian bread.

Popy Jumbo Machinders Catalog (affiliate link) —

As a toy catalog collector for the last 40 years, this one is tasking me. I’m not immune to Shogun Warriors and well, I really can’t afford to go the “Machinder route.”

Toy-Ventures is our magazine; we’re an independent publisher trying to bring back print toy magazines; if you would like to support us, please check out the latest issue: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop

Toy-Ventures Issue 12- Stretch Monster

Click Here for past installments of 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

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The Super Collector Newsletter combines all the news from Mego Museum and Plaid Stallions and a lot of other fun stuff across the Interwebs. It’s got customs, new action figures, vintage finds and a lot of pop culture. Sign Up Here!

We co-produced this amazing action figure with White Elephant Toyz; it’s an 8″ Mego Style Officially Licensed Tura Satana figure with a beautiful box by Joeseph Linsner! Get yours while supplies last.

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book

Knock-Offs Totally Unauthorized Action figures is from the demented mind that brought you “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings” and features hundreds of hilarious, charming, copyright infringing toys. Get a signed copy in our shop! 5 Awesome

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5 Awesome eBay, 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week, five awesome things on eBay this week, Jumbo Machinders, Child Guidance, Col. Sanders, Kentucky Fried Chicken, The Shadow, Micronauts, Dr Strange, Ben Cooper, Madison Industries, Rack Toys, Halloween Costumes, Marvel, playsets,

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It’s Spooky Season, and we’re kicking it off with a look at some nostalgic Halloween Commercials from the 70s to the 1980s. Check it out, and remember, Peter Pumpkin says, “Don’t crisscross the streets!”

Look for a new audio Podcast this weekend as well.
#podstallions #vintagehalloween #halloween #halloweencommercials

BraIn

Join our weekly newsletter.

The Super Collector Newsletter combines all the news from Mego Museum and Plaid Stallions and a lot of other fun stuff across the Interwebs. It’s got customs, new action figures, vintage finds and a lot of pop culture. Sign Up Here!

Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 10 is here!

Do you miss print toy magazines? I sure did; that’s why I created Toy Ventures. A full-colour print magazine that celebrates toys from the 1960s to the 1980s. It features collector guides, interviews and even some satire. We’re on issue 10 now but still have a limited supply of our back issues; please visit our Shop for more information.

Get the Official Tura Satana Action Figure

We co-produced this amazing action figure with White Elephant Toyz; it’s an 8″ Mego Style Officially Licensed Tura Satana figure with a beautiful box by Joeseph Linsner! Get yours while supplies last.

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book

Knock-Offs Totally Unauthorized Action figures is from the demented mind that brought you “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings” and features hundreds of hilarious, charming, copyright infringing toys. Get a signed copy in our shop!

Facebook Groups we enjoy

The official FB group for PlaidStallions, come for the conversation, stay for the chill vibe. Remember, you keep the glass.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters is a group created to discuss bootleg toys and customs. Totally chill vibe for fans of Tomland, Lincoln International, Mego and AHI. It’s a super fun group, join Mego-KO-HQ!

Check out the PlaidStallions store for Toy-Ventures magazine, Tura Satana and much more:
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Topics discussed: Peter Pumpkin, Woolco, Halloween Costumes, Batman, John Carpenter, Toby Hooper, The Funhouse, Paas, monster toys, Halloween specials, dolly madison cakes, peanuts, garfield, 70s commercials, 80s commercials, Podstallions, Plaidstallions
Pod Stallions Shorts: Halloween Commercials

The post Pod Stallions Shorts: Halloween Commercials appeared first on PS.

I sincere remember this from an ad in old Gold key comics, I’ve never seen it up close before. To me, it’s an artist’s depiction of Cher being asked out by Ray Jay Johnson.

GLJ Incredible Hulk Chair (eBay link) ==

I have a mild obsession with toymaker GLJ, mainly because I want to know more about them. They made a lot of inflatable toys and heavily dealt in licensing. This Hulk chair is incredible because the Hulk’s expression is saying anything but relax. I don’t know if I’d sit in anything that looks like it will kick my ass. 

Shindana Redd Foxx Doll (eBay Link)–

I’ve probably featured one of these before, but who cares? It bears repeating. Shindana is a toy company I often cover on this site because they are just so unique. Operating out of Watts, Shindana had a message to make toys for people of colour and they made some positive, lasting change even if they folded in the early 1980s. Also, they didn’t make a Fred Sanford; they made a Redd Foxx doll, Foxx was a notoriously “blue” comic who is still funny so I applaud this. 

For more on Shindana check out issue 10 of Toy-Ventures magazine. 

Marvel Micronauts Comics bound into hard cover (eBay Link) –

I adore the Marvel Micronauts comic book series, and I’m not sure we’ll ever get any deluxe editions of those fabulous comics. It seems some brave soul hardbound all the issues into an ersatz trade. I have a few books like this, it seems a thing libraries would do. While I can’t afford the (IMO hopeful) price tag here, this tempts me.

Gary Gnu Halloween Costume (eBay Link) –

For many years, the “Great Space Coaster” felt like a bit of a fever dream to me. I watched it because it was on before “Star Blazers,” and you had to mark your TV time early lest a sibling get there first. This show ruined the word “Gnu” for me, I will always say “Ga-Noo,” but also, it also introduced me to “La Linea” which I do a cracking imitation of. 

Join our weekly newsletter.

The Super Collector Newsletter combines all the news from Mego Museum and Plaid Stallions and a lot of other fun stuff across the Interwebs. It’s got customs, new action figures, vintage finds and a lot of pop culture. Sign Up Here!

Toy-Ventures Magazine Issue 10 is here!

Do you miss print toy magazines? I sure did; that’s why I created Toy Ventures. A full-colour print magazine that celebrates toys from the 1960s to the 1980s. It features collector guides, interviews and even some satire. We’re on issue 10 now but still have a limited supply of our back issues; please visit our Shop for more information.

Get the Official Tura Satana Action Figure

We co-produced this amazing action figure with White Elephant Toyz; it’s an 8″ Mego Style Officially Licensed Tura Satana figure with a beautiful box by Joeseph Linsner! Get yours while supplies last.

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book

Knock-Offs Totally Unauthorized Action figures is from the demented mind that brought you “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings” and features hundreds of hilarious, charming, copyright infringing toys. Get a signed copy in our shop!

Facebook Groups we enjoy

The official FB group for PlaidStallions, come for the conversation, stay for the chill vibe. Remember, you keep the glass.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters is a group created to discuss bootleg toys and customs. Totally chill vibe for fans of Tomland, Lincoln International, Mego and AHI. It’s a super fun group, join the Mego-KO-HQ!

The post 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week appeared first on PS.

Ben Cooper Mazinger and Darth Vader

I recently discovered this ad for Ben Cooper Halloween Costumes for 1978. I vividly remember getting that Darth Vader suit that year but being super jealous when my friend Jerry showed up at my door as Mazinga. What I find most interesting is the mention of  Ben Cooper”Man From Atlantis” Halloween costume.

I’m a bit of a Man from Atlantis fanboy, even though I admit the series isn’t very good. I wonder what the costume would have looked like. I mean, Mark just mainly wore yellow “short shorts.” Hopefully, someday the Ben Cooper art surfaces. Surfaces? Get it! I’m here all week.

Here is a link to the 1980 Ben Cooper Catalog on the site, I need to redo this gallery someday.

We also have the 1976 Ben Cooper Catalog in case you’re curious about the “Pre-Star Wars” post “Planet of the Apes” world.

And here is the 1973 Ben Cooper Halloween Costume

#bencooper #starwars #shogunwarriors #halloweencostumes

Our long running Pod Cast, Pod Stallions is now available on Spotify.

The PlaidStallions Polyester Pals have arrived and come in green and orange. Be the first kid in the sandbox with our Podcast mascots!

Our latest book is “Knock-Offs: Totally Unauthorized Action Figures” a love letter to cheeky copyright-infringing toys. You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop, On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or eBay (eBay Link)

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAID STALLIONS

Pod Stallions is based on our podcast and is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs, and remember, folks, you keep the glass! If you like our show, then you have found your tribe.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs and bootleg action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman.  It’s a fun group where we talk about Lincoln Monsters, AHI, Mighty Gary, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoys, and other generic greats.

Ben Cooper Halloween Costume

The post Ben Cooper Ads Star Wars, Shogun Warriors and Man From Atlantis? appeared first on PS.

I couldn’t go this Halloween season without at least adding one Costume Catalog to the site, and this year it’s a real winner. 

The 1988 Ben Cooper catalogue shows “Smock and Mask” costumes still going full steam with the hottest licenses going like Superheroes, GI Joe and the Universal Monsters.

However, the real joy in this catalogue is all the weird and obscure licenses in here. 

1988 Ben Cooper Halloween Catalog

It’s interesting that Ben Cooper had the Real Ghostbusters and the Filmation Ghostbusters, really covering all the bases. The Little Rascals are a big surprise here, didn’t know that still played this late in the game.

Where to begin with this page? Small Wonder got a costume but “out of this world” gets a pass? That’s not fair, I wanted a Doug McClure costume.

While I think Tigersharks and Bionic Six are pretty obscure, nothing for me tops “Young Wizard” a Marvel show that very few people have seen.

I am sad to announce that some of these Universal Monster costumes never saw release. The Star Trek TNG costume choices are curious, especially Tasha Yar which seems short-sighted.

The Top Row are evergreen licenses all still available today, the bottom row is all cult favourites from the 1980s. I had no idea Sky Commanders got a costume. I barely remember that toy line.

Our newest book “Knock-Offs: Totally, Unauthorized Action Figures,” is now available. It’s 130 pages of bootleg goodness.
You can get this new book via the PlaidStallions Shop , On Amazon (Affiliate Link) or on eBay (eBay Link)

Barbie and the Rockers is a real step up from her usual Bride or Nurse.

Back in my day, people couldn’t see Snufflupagas (is that Greek?) and we were better off. Not to get off on a rant but that’s everything wrong with society these days! /grumpyoldmanfakerant

I swear to you, I had never heard of Dino-Saucers until the mid 2000s. No memory whatsoever, also what is a “Keyper?”

Fraggles and Muppets, I totally remember.

Aw look at l’il Peter Parker.

Loving the skirt on that Wonder Woman set, it rocks!

That Spider-Man mask looks exactly like the Ideal Captain Action Mask and below him are the two Bank Robber dudes from “Point Break!” epic movie brah!

Other Ben Cooper Posts on Plaid Stallions

Do you miss toy collector magazines?

That’s why we created Toy-Ventures magazine, an old-school print publication dedicated to vintage toys from the 1960s to the 1990s. Each issue is packed with never before seen images and information written by some of the top collectors. We’ve got 7 issues and climbing; please check our page here or visit our store.

Our book Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available again! Order through our Affiliate Link

Order Rack Toys 2.0 Here through our Affiliate Link►https://amzn.to/3Bkm9z1

FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM PLAIDSTALLIONS

Pod Stallions is based on our podcast and is one of the most fun groups on Facebook. Toys, Comics, Movies, TV, it’s all up for grabs and remember folks, you keep the glass! If you like our show, then you have found your tribe.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s Dime store knock-offs and bootleg action figures, we talk vintage toys and not others. We know the difference between Astro Apes and Action Apeman.  It’s a fun group where we talk about Lincoln International, AHI, Mighty Gary, Tomland, Bogi, Demo Man, Mortoys, and other generic greats.

Toy-Ventures: Return to Monster Bash

1988 Ben Cooper Halloween Catalog

The post 1988 Ben Cooper Halloween Catalog – Silverhawks – GI Joe – Universal Monsters appeared first on PS.

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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Rather than a focused subject, this week we just look at what a summer of flea markets, toy shows, and networking can get you as I talk about the stuff I picked up over the summer. 



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Collegeville was one of the leading Halloween costume manufacturers of the late twentieth century. 


 This extensive 1968 catalog really demonstrates the powerhouse licenses they were rocking in the 60s, including Labyrinth, The Transformers and the Go-Bots, WWF Wrasslers, Wuzzles, Rainbow Bright and the Peanuts, it’s a good group and some solid 1980s nostalgia.

1986 Collegeville Halloween Costume Catalog

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