The 2012 PlaidStallions Retro Awards

Another year has passed and it feels strange I’m already typing another entry in my fake awards show. Happily, we have a lot of ground to cover and things to praise this year. Also, look for some announcement with respect to the future plans on the site. (it’s mostly good)

It all gets underway after the jump, I promise not to sing the theme song.

Gerry Anderson Toy Tribute

The passing of legendary TV producer Gerry Anderson yesterday, put me into a real funk. Anderson created two of my favourite science fiction series of all time in UFO and Space:1999, not to mention a pile of super cool kid's programming in the 1960s. 

The man was a visionary, Whenever Anderson's name appeared, awesome merchandise followed. What better way to honour the man's legacy than to take a look at some of the playthings inspired by his output.

Spectrum is green after the jump!

ROYAL MAIL AND BBC WORLDWIDE TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF DOCTOR WHO

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, the longest-running science fiction series in the world; the first episode was broadcast on 23 November 1963 · Each of the Eleven Doctors is featured in the set of 11 stamps depicting the actors who played the role over the last five decades · Fans can pre-order the stamps by registering at www.royalmail.com/DoctorWho 

From 26 March 2013, the stamps will be available to buy online at www.royalmail.com/stamps by phone on 08457 641 641, and in 9000 Post Offices across the UK March 26 2013, will see Royal Mail celebrate the 50th anniversary of the world’s longest running science fiction series in TV history - Doctor Who - with the launch of a special set of 11 stamps. 

 The stamps will feature each of the actors who have played the role of the Time Lord over the last 50 years. The stamp design will see the face of each Doctor appearing out of the iconic swirling screen idents, made famous by the opening credits of the TV show. The first two stamps are in black and white, as the first two incarnations of the Doctor were broadcast in monochrome. 

 Featuring on the stamps are the present Doctor, Matt Smith, as well as David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston, Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Tom Baker, Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and the First Doctor, William Hartnell. In addition to the 11 stamps featuring the Doctors, a five stamp miniature sheet will also be available. In the centre of the sheet is a stamp featuring the Doctor’s space and time travelling machine, the world famous Time and Relative Dimension in Space or the TARDIS as it is more commonly known. 

The remaining four stamps feature some of the Doctor’s most famous foes; a Dalek, a Cyberman, an Ood and a Weeping Angel. Andrew Hammond, Managing Director, Stamps and Collectibles at Royal Mail, said: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate this remarkable 50th anniversary. These stamps pay tribute to the brilliant actors that have played the Doctor over the years as well as the adversaries that helped make the show so popular.” Fiona Eastwood, Product Development Director, BBC Worldwide Consumer Products said: “The Doctor Who stamps are the perfect way to mark and celebrate the 50th anniversary of this much-loved programme. 

The collection is really impressive, and I am sure they will delight all Doctor Who fans.“ The stamps launch on March 26 2013, but fans can pre-order today by registering at www.royalmail.com/doctorwho

 The Doctors in order: 
 First Doctor: William Hartnell – First broadcast in 1963 until 1966 
 Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton – First broadcast in 1966 until 1969 
 Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee – First broadcast in 1970 until 1974 
 Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker – First broadcast in 1974 until 1981 
 Fifth Doctor: Peter Davison – First broadcast in 1982 until 1984 
 Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker – First broadcast in 1984 until 1986 
 Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy – First broadcast in 1987 until 1989 
 Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann – First broadcast in 1996 (TV film only) 
 Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston – First broadcast in 2005 
 Tenth Doctor: David Tennant – First broadcast in 2005 until 2010 
 Eleventh Doctor: Matt Smith – First broadcast in 2010 to date

A Corn Syrup Christmas Special

I know I said I was done posting and on holiday but then Tom (who sent in this above bit of awesomeness a few years ago) sent me an early present. 

This home movie shows Tom giving his mom a lesson in how to work a Stretch Armstrong properly. If that wasn't cool enough, it's a really nice pastiche of a 70s Christmas complete with funky turtlenecks and (now) vintage beer cans. It's not even my family and this brings back good memories. 

Click here to see it on Youtube

 Thanks Tom and Merry Stretchmas!

Holiday Wishes from Brick Mantooth

I can think of no better way of wishing you Season's greetings than this wonderful Christmas card created by my MegoMuseum partner in crime Scott C Adams. I can only imagine that Brick has a bottle of ripple for me there along with several carded mego figures.

Wishing one and all a joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year from my family to yours.

I only wish I had that hair

Thank you for reading and writing in, making me laugh and  being amazingly supportive.

We'll return with the Retro Awards at the end of the year and new features will begin Jan 3rd.

Until then, I've got books to ship, for which I should say thanks again.

Brian

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is now available!

After almost three years in the making, the finished inventory of our first book "Rack Toys, Cheap, Crazed Playthings" have arrived at the Mantooth Warehouse.

I am pleased to announce it's available to order from the PlaidStallions store right now. If you buy through us you'll get three exclusive Rack Toys post cards, however, the book is also available on Amazon.

For those just tuning in, Rack Toys is a celebration of fun toys that broke super easy and covers such generes as Superheroes, Monsters and Horror, Saturday morning cartoons, Generic items and dreaded knock offs.

If you were a child during the 60s to the 90s, there is something you likely had or wanted within this 144 page, full color book.

For now, I'm going to sit in shock and figure out where to put them all. To all of you who followed the progress here and on facebook,  emailed me, asked me questions, sent me photos or gave me advice, thank you.

Please don't stop, for everyone that orders a copy, please tell me your thoughts and spread the word. 

 We'll be closing briefly for the Christmas break (as will the Canadian post office so, no harm done) but orders will continue shipping out next week.

1975 Pied Pier Toy Catalog

I've never heard of Pied Piper Stores, not surprising, as I didn't grow up in California in the 1970s. No doubt they were one of the many "Mom and Pop" toy store chains that at one magical time dotted our landscape.

One thing i do know is that Pied Piper stores had a pretty grasp of what was popular in 1975, the pages are brimming with the hottest toys of what was a great year. The Six Million Dollar man is present, as is Evel Knievel and more Mego 8" action figures than you can shake a stick at:

More Vintage Toy Store Catalogs

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Christmas is.....Soft Knits

And don't you *&%^ing forget it!

Nothing in this life, did I loathe more than that prerequisite itchy V neck sweater from an Aunt and Uncle. I have never been more honest in saying "You shouldn't have"...

Santa Putty

Ever wonder what makes Santa tick? Wonder no more, rip ol' Saint Nick apart and spend hours playing with his magical (possibly delicious but definitely non toxic, so dig in!) guts.

Stocking Stuffers!

Any Christmas catalog worth it's ilk has a stocking stuffers section, a glossary of lower priced and unrelated items that are "just perfect". I personally own the skeleton bank about and am totally eyeing that cow creamer. More perfect last minute gifts after the jump:

Rack Toys in your stocking

Hey, even Santa has a budget and shoving a cheap-o rack toy into your stocking is a time honoured, fun tradition. There's nothing particularly Christmassy about what's inside the display but it didn't matter. I've put together a collage of different Christmas dump bins (I'll always giggle when typing that word) from the shag decade.

70s Santa Explosion

Let's kick the week off right with a sampling of  Santa suits and other bric a brac from the era when I knew he was real. I will say that suits like captain eyebrows above, give me the willies. It probably has to do with a childhood viewing of "Tales from the Crypt", not the HBO show, that British one.

More polyester jolliness after the jump

PlaidStallions 70s Christmas-O-Rama Week

Seeing as this blog is pretty much a celebration of 70s Christmas catalogues, it seems only fitting to make the entirety of next week a Texas sized helping of all the things that make Christmas what it is.

So get ready for mountains of itchy sweaters, gaudy ornaments, plastic Santas,  strange stocking stuffers and more cardboard chimneys than you'll ever need to see.....

Top Ten Coolest 3 3/4" Action Figure Lines of the 1970s

I gave up writing a weekly list for Topless Robot, in order to finish writing Rack Toys. I will admit to missing it from time to time, so I’m going to keep fresh by churning out the odd one for PlaidStallions. 

 One of the things children of the 1970s were witness to was the birth of the 3 ¾” action figure, this was something that was entirely ours as a generation. The 3 ¾” action figure was to us, what the Slinky or Mr Potato-head were to  baby boomers. 

 The explosion happened so quickly and so many companies followed suit that it’s easy to over look who did some of the best jobs.

Disclaimer: Your favorites might not be here, sorry about that but this list is merely meant as a fun distraction and doesn't serve in any sort of "official capacity". I don't really consider myself any bigger an expert than you, trust me. I'll probably do an 80s one in the coming months. .

#10- Butch and Sundance Kenner

Kenner’s Butch and Sundance line wasn’t based on the Paul Newman/Robert Redford classic from the early 1970s but on the prequel William Katt/Tom Berenger film “Butch and Sundance The Early Years” yeah that happened.

Kenner went all out on this line making figures of other characters played by Peter Weller and Brian Dennehy. The figures had better articulation than Star Wars figures, their legs moved they could ride horses and pull their guns with quick draw action.

All the bells and whistles couldn’t save the line from the fact that cowboys had fallen out of vogue and the movie it was based on wasn’t a big hit. Frugal Kenner recycled some of this line for their “Adventures of Indiana Jones” line in 1982, which filled it with additional win.

Click here to read the Top Ten 3 3/4" Action Figure Lines of the 1970s.

More Top Ten Fun

Wonder Women

How ABC didn't see how a Dolly Parton/Wonder Woman team up wasn't ratings gold I'll never know.

Demotivating thought for the day

I'm court ordered to mention that captain sleazy here most likely got laid all over town.  I know, it's just not fair....

Battlestar to the moon!

At first glance the Larami L.E.M lander looks more logical, almost in synch with the series. I mean these guys packaged EVERYTHING under the BSG banner save for sewing sets including jets, yes just plain ordinary fighter planes. However, the L.E.M lander is just a repackaged moon landing toy and has absolutely nothing to do with the series. So, the track record is flawless...

Dr Fabulous

A lesser known Bond Villian, Dr Fabulous ran SPECTRE from his Plastic Surgery clinic, his plan to give everyone breast implants was one Bond defeated albeit reluctantly....

Big Jim Italy 1979

Big Jim was an international sensation in 1979, he just wasn't available in the country of his birth. By 1979, Big Jim was still enjoying popularity in Europe where he had gone through several changes and permutations to become a strong compeititor to the Hasbro lines based on GI Joe which was also no longer available in the United States.

This 1979 Italian catalog shows just how versatile the Big Jim brand was, he was not just the action sportsman adventurer but a James Bond like super spy, a cowboy, a soldier of fortune and a world explorer.

He was even a pirate! I think these figures are crazy cool.

Check out the 1979 Big Jim Italy Catalog here. 

Warning: It may be harmful to your wallet.


More Big Jim than you can handle!