My childhood bedroom carpet everyone! How i miss it.

This was a Mego toy book that I was attempting to write when I was 17, using photos of my collection (many toys were from childhood) and what little pre-internet knowledge I had to catalog toys, many of which I had never seen but only read about. The photos are made using my Kodak Disk camera (a terrible product) and the backdrop is my childhood bedroom and other parts of my parent’s house.

I believe what ended this dream for me at the time was the lack of resources and skill to make such a thing happen, I abandoned the project but the itch was still there, this felt right like something I should be doing.

I tried for decades to write a Mego book, in the early 90s I had another draft down using the computer lab at Ryerson, and my design school pals at the Academy down the road even designed a cover using this thing called photoshop, I got close with that one but while I was still working on it not one but two Mego books were released. The first not being very good but the second? It had stuff I couldn’t have imagined in it.

I gave up the dream, fortunately for me, this was the “dial-up days” of the internet and my new friend Robyn Adams started the MegoMuseum and I got to throw all that info, all those photos her way. Eventually, Robyn gave me the reins of the Museum which pushed me to explore HTML and Photoshop (my early work is pretty cringy, I know) which lead to the creation of PlaidStallions, one of my best decisions.

I would not see Alan Carter until 7 years later when I was 24 years old.

PlaidStallions lead me to enroll in night school for design, so I could publish Rack Toys, my first (but hopefully not last book) and then I attempted another Mego publication, this time a collaboration called “MegoZine” but the timing was bad, I was still tired from the book, everyone believed print media was dead and I put it aside.

Flash forward to now and I look at the pages of Toy-Ventures magazine and this recently discovered notebook.

Seeing the full circle of those initial very crude designs with the actual realization of what they finally became 34 years ago, well it’s not hard to get a little emotional.

So much so that derailed a day of production because this needed to come out.

At this point, I assumed the Denys Fisher figures were 8″ tall and by palitoy, I had only seen a photo of them.

I want to thank everyone who supported this not only by buying it but to the people in my life who could see what it meant to me and put their own feelings and life aside to encourage me, offer their time, skills, connections, honest advice and voices to spread the word. Your actions were appreciated so very much.

I am eternally grateful.

GET Issue 3 of Toy-Ventures here! 

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Pod Stallions is one of the most fun groups on Facebook.

Mego Knock Off Headquarters– The leading group discussing 70s dimestore goodness, we talk vintage toys, not others.

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PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Issue 2 is now available for pre-order.
http://www.megomuseum.com/odeon/store/products/

Issue two covers a number of genres and has some exciting new voices from the hobby.

H.R. Puppet Stuff! By Kroffty
This colourful piece tracks the careers of the legendary Sid and Marty Krofft through puppet merchandise, it will make you smile.

The Lost Outer Space Men
Contributor Steve Fink returns with another tale of tracking down an impossible grail or in this case, six, the legendary second series of Colorforms Outer Space Men.

Godzilla’s Gang
Ray Miller does a deep dive into the 1978 Mattel “Godzilla’s Gang” toyline, highlighting their origins. This is a lot of fun.

The Guide to Denys Fisher Doctor Who
One of my passions, the Mego produced Doctor Who toy line is explored in great detail with prototype shots, variations and never before seen reveals.

A figure called Sloane
Chris G blew us away when he discovered the abandoned Kenner Toy Line to the obscure 1970s TV series “A Man Called Sloane”. Did I mention that I love that show?

Oscillating Vibrations
A love letter to the Saturday morning series “Monster Squad” with a complete merchandise guide featuring never before seen items.

BONUS FOR PREORDER CUSTOMERS
Everyone who pre-orders Toy-Ventures Issue 2 will receive 3 Monster Squad trading cards featuring the unproduced Ideal Toys action figures of Bruce W. Wolf, Frank and Drac.

Toy-Ventures Issue 2 will ship at the end of December 2020 and each US Purchase will include tracking.

Retailers, interested in selling Toy-Ventures magazine? Email us at toyventuresmag@gmail.com

Pre-Order Now:
http://www.megomuseum.com/odeon/store/products/

The post Toy-Ventures Issue 2 Announcement and Pre-Orders appeared first on PS.

We’re pleased to announce that Issue 2 of Toy-Ventures magazine will feature a guide to the Denys Fisher (Mego) Doctor Who action figure range with a detailed look at this highly collectible 70s toy line. Look for it this December.

For more Updates on Issue 2, follow our shiny new Toy-Ventures Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/toyventuresmag

You Can Purchase Toy-Ventures issue one at our online store here:

http://www.megomuseum.com/odeon/store/products/

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.

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