Spock Socks!

I will never bore of the phrase.

Call me Igor

Seadevils for '70

I'll probably never get into a position where I'll have the money or the space (I'm reaching "hoarding levels" at the compound) to collect Mattel's wonder Sea Devils line of toys.


Hopefully, I've inspired some of you to however. Anybody collect these and want to share shots of your collection? 

More Sea Devils:

Count Pantypeel

Never far from the Count is his constant companion and manservant "Schultzy".

1975 Mattel Heroes in Action Catalog

 During a time when many toy companies were shying aware from realistic military toys thanks mostly to the Vietnam conflict, Mattel toys launched Heroes in Action.  Heroes in Action was a very early attempt at the 3 3/4" figure market made popular by the Fisher Price Adventure people and later Star Wars, it's crew comprised of muscular dogfaces with bulging biceps and "rat-a-tat-tat" sound making ability. Heroes in Action wasn't a smash hit and many simply don't remember it but Mattel ran it two years and it seemed to be particularly popular in Italy.    
Click Here to visit the 1975 Heroes in Action Catalog
More Heroes in Action

1976 Mattel Heroes in Action Catalog

I've got a tough assignment for you

Growing up,  my neighbour Dave had a talking Joe, all it ever said was "I have a tough assignment for you" to the point where Dave came up with his own "tough assignment" and smashed Joe with a hammer. 


It made me giggle when I read the ad copy on this page. Last I saw Dave, he was a repairman...

Stripes and Cuckoldry

The addition of Evan seemed to have a signifigant, positive impact into Wayne and Doris's marriage.

Space Adventure

I haven't a clue what this early 70s space set is called but honestly who cares, as generic space/army man sets go this one seems to have an above average sense of style.

Village of the Plaid

Don't look directly into their eyes!

Super Belts

My buddy Steve sent me this great sales sheet for these awesome Superhero belt buckles I'm sure I saw in the Heroes World catalog when I was in short pants. It's a wonderful pistache of mid 70s Superhero merchandise, the top tier from both houses are present.

It's kind of funny how these mention "boys sizes" seeing as I can enter any major department store right now and find Superhero merchandise to cover every inch of my "lummoxy" frame. Not so much in 1975..... 

More Superheroics

. ;

Talking celebrities

Growing up I knew who Bozo and Mrs Beasley were but I can honestly remember having no clue what a Flip Wilson was when I saw one of his gender bending  dolls on clearance. 


I had to ask my Mom, who smiled and said "Oh he was funny!" which really didn't answer the question....

Mirror Universe Billy Jack

This one also goes beserk......for scrapbooking.

Right in the pouch!

Do they make a version with Chickens?

Gornderwear

The Star Trek merchandising fad reached it's peak in '75 when Gorn Underoos were released. Sales were extremely poor, resulting in the cancellation of the Andorian thong.

Nerd Therapy Session: Thanks Mom

Today's Nerd Therapy Session is a little different from previous examples, it's not a single story but more of a mother's day card of sorts relating to a patient woman and her sometimes nerdy son.

More after the jump

Little Big Man On Motorway Patrol

My pal Dom from Vintage Toyz and Collectibles sent in this new addition to our Palitoy Little Big Man gallery and it's quite a big deal. This is due to the fact that before now, most LBM collectors thought it didn't exist.

It's not everyday a toy never thought to be produced surfaces, it's even crazier when a boxed one arrives, so kudos to Dom for sharing his fun discovery with us.

See more at the Palitoy Little Big Man gallery page:

The Visible Man and Visible Woman

True confession time: These kits terrified me as a kid.

No, Mr Bond....

"I Expect you to die!"

Play Family School

Fisher Price Love for a Tuesday!

Raggedy Nightmares

What child wouldn't enjoy sleeping in the eviscerated corpse of a beloved icon?  Better yet crawl deep down and pretend that Andy is pregnant...with you! I want to point out this is eight years before "The Empire Strikes Back"....

Hulk vs Stretch Monster

Well, not really but this shot of Lou with a Kenner Stretch Monster customized to look like him as the Incredible Hulk is likely the coolest picture you will see today.

The Top Ten Coolest 70s Marvel Comics Toys

The 1970s was an absolute windfall of Marvel comics merchandise, the house of ideas sold out and we were better off for it. By 1976, the Marvel comics license was shared with dozens of toy manufacturers all vying for our parents hard earned money.  Here are top ten of the best Marvel comics toys from a time when a big screen Avengers movie would have starred Reb Brown and Lou Ferrigno.     10: Hasbro Richocet Racers
These had absolutely nothing to do with the comic books but who honestly cared? Ricochet Racers were rifles that shot cars featuring the likeness of Spidey and Cap. Joyous! 9: Remco Hulk Muscles
Most of the Incredible Hulk merchandise that bubbled out of the popularity of the CBS Television series made little to no sense, things like Hulk Helicopters and utility belts were clearly just lazily recycled Batman toys.
However, Remco did get super clever with this Hulk specific item which allowed kids to transform just like David Banner. You wouldn't like Billy when he's angry...  Read the whole list here.



Dull gifts for children

OK, I'm sure that  there are some in the PS audience who a) Had these as a kid and were thrilled to have them or b) Collect them now but honestly, I'm going to go on a limb and say the  average eight year old would probably rather have oh, a Stretch Monster than a pile of long since dead politicians.

As an adult, I kind of think it's cool, sort of like when all the Doctor Who's get together and that little White House is equally awesome and I want one now....

It's Party-Time!

I miss sleepovers, well the ones that don't involve hangovers...

The Visitors are our friends...

It's kind of a bummer how little merchandise the "V" television and mini series got, LJN promised some killer action figures but wound up only releasing a 12" figure.


The majority of V merchandise seems to be Rack Toys mostly made in South America (watch out for fakes) which are unrelated spaceships, pistols and these little PVC figures of the characters. Yes, this crude little guy is the closest thing the world will ever see to Marc Singer/Mike Donavan action figure.

We deserve more..
 

Check out our upcoming book!