DING DONG!

This was the ideal way to smuggle people into the country back in the day, a small huddled mass of crouching migrants in each pant leg.

Monster Contest Winners Announced

Last week, if you recall I held a contest for my newly printed Monster trading cards, folks just had to answer this question Who is your favourite Monster?

Well I got so many great replies (although I'm sorry, the correct answer was Frankenstein ;)) and I'm happy to announce that everybody who entered gets a set of Azrak Hamway and Lincoln International Monster cards along with super secret Plaidstallions card #37.

Thanks to everybody for entering, especially those of you who went the extra mile and explained their choice, you didn't have to do that and it was fun to read. Look for more contests in the very near future.

1978 Kenner SSP/ Smash Up Derby Catalog

SSP stood for "Super Sonic Power" and it was one of Kenner's flagship brands in the 1970s, mostly because of the popularity of "Smash Up Derby" a toy that combined boys love of cars with their desire to wreck stuff (Genius).

1978 saw a lot of goodness with the introduction of Monsters, Vans and Star Wars to the line, such a cool brew of fun.

Click on the images below to see larger pages with descriptions:

The 1978 Kenner SSP/Smash Up Derby Catalog

More Kenner Fun

Tiled Mirrored Happiness

Call these ugly if you will but for some reason I am completely comforted by the sight of them, they make me feel safe and happy. Must have had a good experience in a house decorated like this, the memories of which are buried deep in my psyche.

I thought he'd be taller

I always figured Nerfman would be 6' 4" at the very least. I would really love to see photos from a Nerfman appearance.

Paint the town red

"Come on boys, let's show this two bit town what the staff of "Grubner's Carpet Warehouse" are made of"

Almost Four Stories!

 

For some reason the commerical for the Astro Blast Power Center stuck in my brain as a kid, a cool idea from Mattel.

Even more Monster Love at Plaid Stallions

In my quest to improve the site I actually updated two galleries so much that I thought it deserved it's own Friday update, both relate to my personal obsession with cataloging 70s Monster Toys.

Firstly, I've finally expanded the  Azrak Hamway Monsters section of the site and given everything galleries including other stuff like the Jigglers, windups, vintage ad gallery and Bend 'Ems.  I still have a lot of stuff to add so if anybody has something I don't, I'd greatly welcome pictures.

AHI Monsters Section

 

Secondly (and to me more importantly) I've created new galleries for my personal favourite, The Lincoln International Monsters. There you'll find new updated galleries, photos, information and a little insight as to the why I'm obsessed with the line so much. I also share some things I probably shouldn't, like this portrait of a spare Dracula head I had lying around...

Be gentle....

Lots more goodies at the Lincoln Monsters Galleries.

As an added Bonus, I've created a set of collectible trading cards based on these characters and I'm giving away ten sets. To enter simply email me here with an answer to this question Who is your favourite Monster?

I'll draw the ten winners next Saturday, until then, enjoy the 8 inch terrors that await you at these new galleries.

The man of steel is incredibly lazy

I picked up this weird variation of the AHI Superman parachute figure from Italy, I guess they originally came bagged but for some reason these weird cards were also used, seems like false advertising as I wouldn't know where to put my lips on this thing.

BTW it's fully licensed, it just looks like it isn't, I love this sort of thing. 

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The handsomest heist ever

Cracking safes and breaking hearts, that's what this gang does best.

The way cool kids tell time

I really need a Steve Austin watch, Cookie Monster one too.

Be my Dolemite Valentine...

Won't you get into my purple Cadillac  and let me sweep you off your feet? The music and the food at my club, they can't be beat.

Happy Valentines Day Honkies.

A Wonderful Appearance

I absolutely love these shots of Wonder Woman, who was making the rounds in Austin Texas circa 1975. I get plenty of Spider-Man here, not that I'm complaining (keep 'em coming!) but it's especially nice to see DC's first lady holding court.

Send me your mall appearance photos!

More Vintage Lingerie

Seeing as Valentines Day is coming up and although it's been nearly three years since I did a Lingerie piece it's still one of the top reasons people ever visit PlaidStallions ( Sex sells, I must remember to write that down) I thought it was high time to take another look at what I call "Eww-la-la" with another look at a crusty old lingerie catalog.

It's the usual mix of timeless sexy...

aaaaand stuff like this plus the sleaziest catalog drawings this side of Ikea. It's all in Vintage Lingere Volume 3.

 Happy Valentines Day and don't forget the original trips to Lingerie land. bring your purel:

Justice Weague of Amewica

The super babies may be the first clue in my young life that I was something of a nerd. Upon first sight of them as a child,  I was just a little bothered by Superman's blonde curly locks.

Dine in style

TV trays will forever remind me of my grandparents, who despite having a dining room table that faced the television chose to sit in comfort while they dined and watched "CHiPs" reruns. All the time, the police scanner blared away....

Jiggling Monsters terrorize my wallet

New to the AHI Monster Gallery is this awesome display box of Super Monster Jigglers. I'm not very observant because someone smarter than me had to point out that there are two sizes of Monster Jigglers, the larger ones that came in this box that have tags and the slightly shorter ones that came on cards (someday)

Dracula was absent from this line for some reason, I'm guessing it had to do with the likeness rights of Bela Lugsio.

I've also revised a bunch of photos in the AHI Monster Gallery.

Funk meets future

That's the unmistakable futuristic looking buildings of Ontario Place in the background of this picture. Which now seem somewhat retro but in a cool way.

I know it's hard to stop staring at those jeans...

ToyTown Grand Opening with Batman and Robin

Think anybody went just to see the duck?

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Evel Knievel for 1974

Another glorious look at one of the decade's greatest successes and possibly one of the biggest hits in toy history. When Ideal toys licensed the likeness of Robert "Evel" Knievel known for his wild (and painful) stunts and combined it with one of the grooviest toy concepts known, it was gold!

During these years, the EK stunt set was a top ten best seller in North America and it was a steady rocket ride for the next couple of years.

Visit the 1974 Evel Knievel Ideal Toys Catalog and see what started it all.

More Daredevil stunt goodness.