Disclaimer: These links are sponsored, gotta earn dem nickels!

Big Jim Dr. Bushido (sponsored link) —

Big Jim’s European Adventures in the 1980s felt a lot like it was mimicking 80s Italian cinema with its spy and science fiction mashups. Take Jim’s futuristic enemy, Dr. Bushido, who has this new wave “Ming the Merciless” thing going on, combined with a freaking glow-in-the-dark samurai sword! He looks like an extra from the unfilmed “Yor: The Hunter from the Future” sequel. Now, all we need is a soundtrack from Goblin!

Glasslite Blue Thunder Frank Action Figure (sponsored link)

Glasslite of Brazil is one of my favourite foreign toy makers, and I’m sure I only appreciate a 10th of their output.  These Blue Thunder action figures are something different from the Multi-Toys versions in the US. This Frank Chaney doesn’t resemble James Farentino, but the card art certainly bears a resemblance to Roy Scheider!

A sealed can of Mattel Slime (sponsored link) —

Wow, a true 1970s legend is sealed in there or is it? If you purchase this item, not only do you get a classic toy, but also a thought experiment in quantum mechanics. Is there still slime in there, or is it something else? This is Schroedinger’s Slime.

Gatchaman Japanese Pop-Up Book (sponsored link)

How did this excellent book escape my gaze? As some may know, I met my wife because of this cartoon, and hey, that really worked out, so I truly love the merchandise. I’m always a fan of stuff that features a lot of Zoltar and also the insides are gorgeous!

I mean, will you drink this in? It’s wonderful!

Micronauts BioTron Ben Cooper Halloween Costume (sponsored link)

I’m currently working on a Toy-Ventures episode about the amazing Micronauts merchandise not made by Mego. These Ben Cooper costumes are part of that discussion and SO up my alley. You’d think I’d own this, but no, I’ve never had that moment. 

BONUS ITEM!

Rarer AHI Mr Spock Bop Bag sold at Pool Stores (sponsored link) —

So AHI (Azrak-Hamway Inc) was famous for Rack Toys like the Mr. Spock Bop Bag (which is my doorstop here at the office) they also had a thriving pool toys business. This version of the Bop bag has a different design and is sold in a large baggie.

Hal Needham Stuntman Playset by Gabriel Toys (sponsored link)

This is a truly innovative toy concept from the mid-1970s, a doll based on the legendary stuntman Hal Needham. This allowed kids to do real stunt work. Obviously, this set saw some play, as Hal’s head came off, which is probably not something that happened to the real guy.

The Mighty Hercules Book and Record set from Japan (Sponsored Link) 

As a Canadian kid, I thrilled to the Adventures of the Mighty Hercules and his idiot sidekick, Newton, his idiot sidekick, Newton.  (if you get that joke you are cool) I am blown away that this show had any popularity in Japan but now this is all I can think of.

Spider-Man Super Klobbers by AHI (sponsored link)

I’m not surprised that AHI chose to rip off Socker Boppers; they sold a lot of inflatable toys and well, they had the Spider-Man license. What’s surprising is how rare these are, I guess they did not take off.

Big Jim Cipsa Kid Acero Lobomovil (sponsored link) 

This vehicle was known as “The Beast” in the USA and was the first vehicle available for the P.A.C.K toys, mainly because it’s a repainted Camper. In Mexico, they didn’t have the same characters so they drew over the (GLORIOUS!) Jack Kirby’s art and turned them into bad Guy Garfio and Good guy Hombe Bionico. I love this so much but this freaking thing is such a space killer. Ugh, this is going to bug me….

Oh God, I just realized Hombre Invisible was added! Agggghhhh I have no money!

Issue #13 of Toy-Ventures Magazine will feature the never-before-seen plans for the 1983 World’s Greatest Superheroes toy line and a cover featuring artwork specially commissioned for Mego’s catalogue, gloriously coloured by Robyn Adams, founder of the Mego Museum.

The Blood-A-Rama Shock Festival Pack

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!

Facebook Groups we enjoy

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

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5 Awesome Things on eBay this week- G-Force Pops Up, Micronauts, Spock Bops, Micronauts, Blue Thunder & a Slime dilemma.

Glasslite, Blue Thunder, Frank Chaney, Mattel, Big Jim, Dr Bushido, Gatchaman, Battle of the Planets, Pop-Up Books, Slime, Mattel Slime, Mego, Micronauts, Ben Cooper, Biotron, Baron Karza, AHI, Azrak Hamway, Mister Spock, Star Trek, Bop Bags, five awesome things on eBay this week, 5 Awesome eBay, Plaidstallions,

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

Toy-Ventures counts down the top ten coolest toys from the legendary series Space:1999. Eagles, Stun Guns, Action figures and Moonbase Alpha itself in this blast from the future past.
#toyventures #space1999 #gerryanderson

Check out our Space:1999 Playlist on Youtube
 

Issue #13 of Toy-Ventures Magazine will feature the never-before-seen plans for the 1983 World’s Greatest Superheroes toy line and a cover featuring artwork specially commissioned for Mego’s catalogue, gloriously coloured by Robyn Adams, founder of the Mego Museum.

The Blood-A-Rama Shock Festival Pack

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

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!

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

. 

On the 4th of September 1975, one of the most ambitious and expensive Science Fiction genre TV series of the 1970s debuted. Space:1999 was a British production but with US leads hoping to attract an American network. The networks passed, and 1999 came to our screens via first-run syndication. The show was the creation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, who morphed a second-season concept of their amazing UFO series into its own thing. The enduring popularity of Star Trek in syndication was a big motivator. Topics Discussed Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson, Space:1999, Moonbase Alpha, Eagle One, Eagles, Mattel, Vertibird, Martin Landau, Mego, Palitoy, Playsets, Mattel Eagle, Captain Zantor, LJN, roadstars, Colorforms, Dinky, Dinky Eagle transporter, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Amsco, Dragon’s Domain, Commlocks, AHI, Rack Toys, Remco, Stun Gun, Toyventures, Plaidstallions, MegoMuseum, Brick Mantooth,

The post Toy-Ventures: Top 10 Coolest Space:1999 toys appeared first on PS.

The following article is from the June issue of Toys, Hobbies and Crafts and deals with toy retailer reaction to the cancellation of Battlestar Galactica’s television series on ABC.

NEW YORK – If the sales of licensed items carried as much  eight as ratings, “Battlestar Galactica” would return next fall. But that’s not the case, and ABC-TV will cancel the show after its summer re-runs.

However, Mattel and Monogram, who have capitalized on the show’s former success, are going ahead with plans to introduce and promote Battlestar Galactica merchandise. The two manufacturers are optimistic about the sales of their items this year because of a Battlestar Galactica theatrical release scheduled at presstime and the continued popularity-of the merchandise.

At press time, a Mattel spokesman told TH&C that a new merchandising program was being formulated for retailers, designed to spur buyers to continue carrying the Galactica product.

The program includes a provisional guarantee aimed at minimizing the retailers’ downside risk, said the company spokesman. Mattel is also planning to spend well over $1 million in advertising its Galactica products. The company also expects sales to be bolstered by an ABC-TV Galactica special in the fall as well as the movie, which, at presstime, was being shown in 400 U.S. theatres, the spokesman told TH&C.

But some retailers are less optimistic.

Mattel Battlestar Galactica Store Display in 1979 from the PlaidStallions Archives.

Several contacted by TH&C indicated that they were doubtful that Galactica merchandise would sell as well after the show’s cancellation and, as a result, are planning on cutting back their orders.

ABC made the decision to cut the show after ratings slipped this year.

Though the show has a 19. 9% ranking and a 30% share, and is rated 34th among regularly-scheduled prime-time shows, a spokesman for the network indicated that the high production costs of Battlestar Galactica were the main reasons for its cancellation. However, at this time there is an outside chance that NBC or CBS will buy the show. (Narrator: They didn’t)

Monogram introduced two new Galactica items at the Hobby Show and according to the company’s Jeff Jacobson it will go ahead with its production plans.”

“We look forward to the continued success of Battlestar Galactica merchandise through 1979,” he noted. “There are three basic reasons for this: “Our two 1978 Galactica items had phenomenal sales, and every kid who bought one of the items last year is a prime prospect this year. “

“The theatrical release was test marketed in the U.S. and Canada last summer and fall and had tremendous success. “And,” continued Jacobson, “just because a show like Battlestar Galactica is cancelled, it won’t stop the momentum of interest in the licensed products.”

Told of ABC’s decision, retailers were not convinced that the merchandise would be as successful as it was last year.

“Without the TV program, the Galactica merchandise may die,” said Bob Kuhns of Heck’s. “What will continue to sell it? I may have to cancel out on my orders of this line if no other network picked the show up in the near future.“

Dan Head of Target, however, was more optimistic. He sees Battlestar Galactica remaining a viable category in toys through the fall selling period.

Andy Anderson of Minneapolis based Toy King Distributors said that “the two Monogram models have done extremely well at retail. But I’m not sure about what will happen to them.”

“I have no choice but to cancel everything in the Galactica line with Mattel,” said Pamida’s Dale Thomas. “I haven’t been totally sold on the line anyway and have just been carrying the Mattel die-cast Galactica series. I have bought very little of the product and hope that I can sell through during the summer when re-runs continue.“

“I also believe this will make Star Wars merchandise more important. It will stand out more in the space category.” Said Gary Jackson of Sterling Stores, “We’ve seen dollars in Galactica toys, but if the show is cancelled, we’re going to very cautious. We’ve had good movement on it in the past. But it needs TV exposure every week.“

Here’s a UK article from the launch of BattleStar Galactica.

Issue #13 of Toy-Ventures Magazine will feature the never-before-seen plans for the 1983 World’s Greatest Superheroes toy line and a cover featuring artwork specially commissioned for Mego’s catalogue, gloriously coloured by Robyn Adams, founder of the Mego Museum.

The Blood-A-Rama Shock Festival Pack

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

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!

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

. 

Battlestar Galactica, Vintage toy article, Toy industry, Toy Retailers, June 1979, Mattel, Monogram, Plaidstallions, Cancelled Battlestar Galactica

The post Toy Industry Reacts to the cancellation of Battlestar Galactica appeared first on PS.