Friday, May 31, 2013

1978 Crazy Foam Catalog

 

  American Aerosol Corporation began selling Crazy Foam in the 1960s but most 70s kids will remember for it the many licenses it had including the DC and Marvel Comics Superheroes. I can honestly remember choosing a tin of Robin Crazy Foam over getting a toy once. You have a pretty powerful product if a kid chooses your soap over a toy.

 
1978 was an interesting year for Crazy Foam as it saw the introduction of Color Crazy Foam, a new innovation and also introduced were two new licenses in the form of Popeye the Sailor man and TV sensation The Incredible Hulk!

More Superhero Stuff!

Marvel Superheroes Live! Our Way Studios

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Munching Monkey


Is it just me or were these things absolutely everywhere in the 1970s. I'm not sure if I had one or just all my friends did but putting that bannana in that mouth, it was just impossible not to do.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Yep, this happened


If you're like me, you wake up most mornings wondering "Did i dream a show about a hyper intelligent monkey that works in Washington or was that a thing?" 

Well, my answer comes in the form of this brilliant, meaningless rack toy from the good people at Ja-Ru. You see, there are no online tribute sites for Mr Smith (don't prove me wrong), nor is there ever hope of a deluxe DVD boxed set, this piece of merchandise truly is, one of the few shreds of evidence that this was a thing.



Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Monday, May 27, 2013

The Leader


I think if this website ever elects a king, this should be the royal garment.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Colouring Book Theatre: Gerry Anderson's UFO

UFO colouring book (Unknown Publishing)

Anyone who has read this blog might know that I am more than a little obsessed with this short lived SF series from the UK.

While this Gerry Anderson show enjoyed popularity world wide, it seemed to really catch on in Japan where its vehicles and colourful cast still enjoy merchandise. 

Merchandise that I must buy.

I am not fortunate enough to own one of these cool Japanese colouring books (I would like to!) but fortunately for me Jim of the S.H.A.D.O U.S.E.C.C facebook group shares with us a look between the covers.


Whats inside is a wonderful mash up of UK design and Japanese style, I love it! Unlike a lot of colouring books we look at, this one was made with care.

Red alert after the jump...



Friday, May 24, 2013

Pod Stallions Episode 4: Spies Like Us




Dust off your spear gun and get comfy in your volcano lair, this one's all about Spies and spy like products.

Jason and Brian talk about their love of the genre including James Bond, Man from U.N.C.L.E, Matt Helm, Derek Flint and there was just no way of avoiding discussion of "A Man Called Sloane". 


Topics of discussion include favorite Bond movies, girls and villains as well as the wonderful merchandise attributed to it. 






Thursday, May 23, 2013

Space:1999 Battle on Planet Insectus


1) I never knew this rub down transfer set from Letraset existed until last week when my pal Corey sent me this swell picture.

2) I neeeeeeeeeed it! Look at that awesome artwork. I bet they made a whole bunch of different sets, my wallet is doomed.

Toys:1999

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Fly Avengers, Fly!


Ahhh the Avengers, Thor, Iron Man, Vision and Ca...Human Torch?

This one kind of confuses me, Fleetwood toys makes Avengers toys, even carefully using the logo and adding the Vision, a character who saw little to no merchandise but pass on the always popular Captain America for Johnny Storm, who isn't an Avenger?

I'm inclined to think that they did it because Cap can't fly but seems so logical....



Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Space Amazons


"This Captain Rogers looks to be even better breeding stock than the Commander of Moonbase Alpha, have him sent to my quarters Zyla."

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Best Wishes from Batman and Wonder Woman

click for a larger version

My pal Scott hooked me up with this incredible "autographed" promotional photo of Sea World Batman and Wonder Woman, I now owe him a coke. I don't think I've ever seen this particular image and while wall space is limited in the lair, this one is getting framed.

plaid Stallions mall appearance gallery
Buy a Brick doll

Friday, May 17, 2013

Batman and the Orange Hand


My friend Todd from Hake's Americana sent me this incredible bit of 1970s weirdness. It's a UK promotional catalog where Batman solves a case inexplicably by buying a young boy some polyester pants and a few sweaters. 

Never has there ever been an item so fitting to what this website is about, it's part Mall Appearance, part Fashion Mockery with a hint of Saturday morning thrown in, did I mention it's also a touch creepy? You'll honestly think I made this up.

After the jump read the Orange Hand original story "Who's out to Murder Batman?"


Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Mack Brothers



Will their awesome ability to do the robot be enough to save the community center from the clutches of "the man"? Tune in this Friday at 9 to find out!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Orr...Bobby Orr


I recall having the Regal Bobby Orr doll as a kid, mostly because one of his skates remained in my curbside until about 1980 as a constant reminder. Me not being much of a Hockey fan, never really knew what to do with him and probably just made him a member of the Adventure Team.

I always find it funny how Toy Companies market sports figures in the 1970s, Orr should be aimed at boys but instead he comes with regular fashions like a Ken doll, same thing happened with Joe Namath and later Wayne Gretzky.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Freedom Force Binoculars


Aw yeah, another stellar find in my quest to find any merchandise from the Filmation "Tarzan and the Super 7" series. This time it's binoculars that I can honestly say were never mentioned or used on the show in any way. Such is the beauty of Rack Toys...

This was another situation where the seller charged me three times what the item cost to ship it to me (there seems to be one Canadian on Ebay making it tough for the rest of us) and I gladly paid it.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Face palm of the Force



One of the contestants in out Toy Denial competition Chris B also provided me with not only a mall appearance photo but a pretty funny story as well:

"Do you remember / did you have a Yellow Front in your neighborhood?  Ours was in Thornton, Colorado, and I still vividly remember my father driving me there for a Darth Vader store appearance.  I waited over an hour to meet him and all I could think to do when I did was attempt to screw up the controls on his life-support chest panel for the Rebellion.  He simply shoved a signed photo at me dismissively and the clerks waived me out. This was not good enough, as I had my mother purchase so many of his products since I saw him for the first time at the Continental Theatre when I was only five years old.  Plus, I worked for the Rebellion."
"With my cousin providing a distraction by screaming her lungs out, I ran back through the line, jumped over the rope barrier, rolled under a table and popped back in front of him again.  This time he stood up - my father at the ready with a camera ( as he usually was whenever his son was about to humiliate himself in front of others ) - and pretended to crush my face.  I was about to ask why he didn’t just use his force powers but I was physically hauled out by Yellow Front staff.  Perhaps they remembered me as the odd little boy who always sat in the toy aisle while my mother shopped for beauty products."

Chris has some more funny and honest  stories of fandom on his blog if you'd like to read more. Thanks for reading and as always, please send me your vintage Mall Appearance Photos!

plaid Stallions mall appearance gallery




Friday, May 10, 2013

Toy Denial Contest Winners




I'm pleased to announce the winners of our 7th Anniversary "Toy Denial" contest winners. Like most of the contests I've run here, I've really enjoyed reading the input from you all and found it hard to make a decision.

You can read the results after the jump.



Thursday, May 09, 2013

Dictator Wear


Whether you are establishing a secret Kung Fu Island fortress or enslaving an entire nation in your mad bid for world dominance, Wilson and Son's Megalomaniac fashions will have that one of a kind style that will make you stand out against those other petty despots. We're on route 9, next to the "Dad and Lad".

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Cylon Socks


Yep, two days of Battlestar Galactica themed items, you have died and gone to heaven. I think I finally found something even dorkier than these. There is just something so odd about trying to make tube socks cool..

I also love the wonderful merging of themes here, is this toy love or fashion mockery? Why, it's the love child of both! Ok, I think it's pretty obvious now that I've been drinking. Hopefully, I find a pair of these with Gil Gerard's face on them before I die, as I'd like to be buried with them.

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

A place for your cubits


For those of you who've stayed up long nights wondering what a case of Larami Battlestar Galactica wallets looked like, rest easy my friends. Also, seek help, that's not a good sign.


Say what you will about the remake series but they didn't get cheap dollar store wallets with a girl Starbuck did they? Actually, not many adult dramas get the Rack Toy treatment these days, great now I'm all melancholy......


Monday, May 06, 2013

Satin Duo


Ready, at a moment's notice, to ruin your next party or wedding.

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Bugs Bunny (and Batman) in Space Poster

plaid Stallions mall appearance gallery

My good friend, Jason in San Diego sent in this image for the awesome poster to the sequel to "Bugs Bunny meets the Superheroes" show, "Bugs Bunny in Space". I think i like it even more, especially since it seems to trying to cash in on Star Wars a little bit. I also wonder if they had the same Wonder Woman.

If you saw this show as a kid please let us know and spare no detail, I'd love to know what it was all about.


plaid Stallions mall appearance gallery




Friday, May 03, 2013

Kenner Glamour Gals 1980 Catalog



Glamour Gals was an interesting attempt by Kenner in the early 1980s to capture the girls market. Instead of doing the standard 1/6th fashion doll made so popular by Mattel's Barbie, Kenner decided to do what they at the time were doing best, action figures.



The 4" size of the figures allowed Kenner to expand the Glamour Gal's environment more than a traditional doll line could adding many play sets and environments in a cost effective manner. The line failed to catch on and was retired in 1983 but a tremendous amount of product was made during that time, one that certainly captures the decades look and fashion sense very well.

Fun Girl's Toys
big jim pack comic kenner sea wees



Thursday, May 02, 2013

Fun with Mr Action



LJN's Mr Action went by many names around the world (seriously, this line sold everywhere there were kids it seems) but it's largely forgotten it seems. Most commonly mistake many of the parts for GI Joe these days, which is ironic because lines like this actually were seriously hurting Hasbro's bottom line in the early 1970s.

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Visions in Synthetic Fabric


Nothing but foxiness surrounded by non breathable but highly durable polymers here....

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