Pod Stallions 57: Amicus Films

It's our October double shot!

Episode 57 is all about the films by England's other horror studio (even though it was run by two Americans) Amicus!

We get into every film they make touching on their classic horror anthologies, Doctor Who movies and their amazing adventures with Doug McClure. We even discuss later films such as "The Monster Club"

Have a Happy Halloween and tell us your favourite Amicus production on our facebook wall.

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Vintage Halloween Pics Round up

At the beginning of October I put out the call for your vintage Halloween costume photos and brother, did you respond with your wood paneled goodness like this photo from Jason above.

To be honest, putting them all together became a daunting task, however, that's a good problem to have. An incredible vintage costume explosion awaits after the jump.

Monster Pillow Case Mystery

This pillow case was an awesome gift from my friend Corey at the last Mego Meet show. It's incredibly awesome but neither of us know it's origin.

It seriously looks like Fluffy from Creepshow but that's not possible right?

If anyone has any insight, I'd love to hear it! Until then, my daughter has taken posession of this and likely won't return it.

Denys Fisher Monster Factory

Sometimes I buy Monster toys and then totally forget about them in October, case in point this set. A wonderful "do it yourself" craft set from the UK that includes Frankenstein, the Wolfman and Dracula (the Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry of the monster world).

What's that you ask? Can we look inside Brain? Your wish is granted after the jump!

Les Super Heros!

This catalog page from France is like every other thought i had when i was eight. Nowadays I sadly think a lot about sandwiches more than Shogun Warriors....

Da Grail! Da Grail!

I managed to track down a major Halloween costume grail this past weekend and while it's certainly not the most expensive or most desired suit on my want list, it sure is a personal  favourite. More on this after the jump!

1968 Collegville Costumes Catalog

It's Halloween season and that means a shiny new costume catalog from one of my favourite companies in the entire world, Collegeville!

This year we go waaaaay back to 1968 and check out what was hot for kid's costumes that year. Leading the charge is Doctor Doolittle but in his wake are such familiar characters such as Tarzan, The Phantom, Doctor Solar, Major Matt Mason, Flipper and a nobody named Mr Spock.

Check out the 1968 Collegeville Catalog here!

More Super 8 Monsters

This year my collection of Super 8 Monster movies has increased 300 fold (mainly cause i started with like one last year). While I planned to only buy these in the wild, some good deals on our vintage toys facebook group combined with Rodan coming from a generous friend makes me a happy boy.

I'm picky what monster movies I get on Super 8 but honestly Toho, Hammer and Harryhausen are everything right about the genre to me.

Official King Kong Water Gun by AHI

I haven't really added anything to my collection of Azrak-Hamway monster stuff in a long time. Mostly because the stuff I want is either a) extremely hard to find or b)insanely expensive or a combination of the two.

That's why I was excited to snag this open carded Kong squirt gun at the last Mego Meet for a decent price.

The AHI water guns are notoriously hard to find loose, so getting any on the card is a nice get. I don't know if I'll ever find a creature so it was nice to have at least one.

However, this display still gives me goosebumps and probably always will....

Collegeville's TV assortment

I love this assortment from 1969, the majority of these characters would end up on costumes for decades. Promotion for these was done on TV spots but not in the usual manner but through participation with the myriad of local kid's shows that peppered the landscape at the time. 

Here are a couple of photos:

We need to bring back cartoon show hosts...

Canadas Greatest Toy Show and Sale

I had the pleasure of visiting the toy show that started it all for me today. The CTS show was the first I ever attended (probably when it was in it's 15th year and I in my 16th) and i'm happy to say it's going strong.

The joy of this show is that it's an old school vintage toy show, no Funko pops, no Hot toys, this is all about tin, die cast, Barbie, Mego and Joe. These dealers are toy lovers first and I'm happy to see the same faces I've been seeing for decades.

I even ran into the woman who I made my first show purchase from in 1987 (a carded Bulletman for $15 BTW), she didn't remember me but oh well, it was still a blast to be there and scrounge.

More Photos on our facebook page.

A visit to Comicazi

Fate landed me in Boston this week and i managed a brief tour of the amazing store Comicazi. Where Dave, Bob and Mike run an absolute Museum of vintage toy goodness. Seriously, I can't think of anything on this scale that I've been too in ages and well, pictures don't do it any justice, you should just go.

While I use the term "Museum", everything is for sale and brother, if you think about it, they got it and often quite reasonably. They even have a Brick Mantooth doll for sale, which brought me considerable joy.

I'll be uploading an album of photos to the PlaidStallions Facebook page this morning, so check them out here.

Also! Comicazi has a Halloween exhibit of monster toys going on this weekend, you should go. It wasn't ready when i showed up so i'm a little jelly if you do go, know that in your heart.

Pod Stallions 56: Hammer Films

Episode 56 is all about the films by England's Hammer studios and we honestly try to mention all of them including the one's we haven't seen!

Our exhaustive retrospective talks about all the sexy vampires, frankenstein monsters, mummies, zombies that the studio that dripped blood could produce!

Some of the sidetrack subjects we touch upon are action figures, Amicus movies,  Doctor Who, Thriller and i think Jason mentions a little film called "Blade Runner 2049".

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Cory's awesome Halloween collection

Yesterday i saw the most fantastic collection of Halloween decorations and luckily, it's owner Cory was totally down to let me share it with you all.

What follows is presented with out commentary cause all i would is say "need it, got, need it, need it". Click after the jump for the coolest selection of blow molded decorations and goody buckets you ever done saw.

Revell invades action figure market with Power Lords

While I had (briefly) "grown out" of action figures by 1983, I still liked to shove my face up against the bakery window so to speak. Revell's Power Lords were probably the most intriguing to me as they were so....uncommercial in their designs.

To be honest, their designs looked almost frightening and appealed to my 12 year old sensibilities.  This article from 1982 (part of a larger piece I'll reveal at a later date) reveals the big plans Revell had for the Power Lords.

Collegeville Mask-o-rama

I honestly don't ever remember seeing a display like this as a kid and I'd like to think I'd remember it. 

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving here in Canada, so i'm updating the blog to let you know i'm not updating the blog? Anyway, have a terrific day even if it's not Thanksgiving for you. I'm truly grateful for all the amazing support and laughter this year.

I'm off to eat Nachos, drink hard cider and watch "Airport '79: The Concorde" because I don't have enough Charo in my diet. Toodles.

Dargon of the Sectaurs visits a Toy Store!

Ahhhhh the 1980s were a goldmine for costumed character appearances from toy lines weren't they?
Do you have photos like this in a drawer? Any fun memories of the experience?

This is the kind of thing I'm looking for in my next book "Mall of Justice".

How you can get involved: I'm looking for your photos and your recollections! Even if you've submitted them to the site before, I would likely need higher resolution and I'd want to talk to you.

What am i looking for: Appearances of costumed characters during the 1970s and 80s, be they from comic books (Batman, the Hulk) , cartoons (, toy lines (Masters of the Universe, GI Joe)  or movies (Planet of the Apes, Star Wars) , a date and place and a description of how you felt meeting these iconic characters. Did you think they were real? 

Does it have to specifically be in a mall: 
HECK NO! Car shows, county fairs, grocery stores, heck I'd even accept birthday party shots. It's all fair game.

Learn more here:

http://plaidstallions.blogspot.ca/2016/04/new-book-project-mall-of-justice.html

Or simply send me an email at Kid70s*at*gmail.com (replace the at with an @, i just don't want tons of spam from publishing my email(

A Halloween Force

Star Wars pretty much dominated my Halloween experiences from '78 to '82, I can't be alone on this. Vader, Storm Trooper, Boba Fett and Yoda were my choices as a kid.

Whole-Head Horror Masks! Collect them all!

Oh man, in me lurks a mask hoarder that I keep locked up deep down. This image ain't helping.

Seeking Vintage Halloween Photos!

Ah, It's my favourite time of year again and like always I'd like to put out the call for your vintage Halloween photos, show me me your store bought and home made costumes from the times of orange and brown.

Send them on in to Kid70s*at*gmail.com (replace the at with an @ of course) or load them to our facebook wall! I'll feature them on the blog this October!

The Enterprise over Gotham City

Oh to have a rainy afternoon with these two sets as a kid. Riddler to beam up!

Top stitched slacks make the scene

This is so much like my personal life, it's scary!
(I hope my wife isn't reading today....)