Pod Stallions Mini Sode 4: Top Five Christmas Presents

Ok, this isn't much of Mini as it runs over an hour (Boy, we can talk!) but it is a fun show nonetheless.

For this "Mini" Jason proposed the challenge that we talk about our "top five" Christmas presents as kids. That's a hard thing to pick but we managed.

Topics include Kenner Star Wars (duh), Mego Superheroes, Hot Wheels, more Kenner Star Wars (we are Gen X after all) Six Million Dollar man, Tony Rosato, failed 80s sitcoms, calling your mom at work, Florida in the 1970s, Brian's weird childhood,  the Fisher Price Adventure People, Star Team, Starroids, Indiana Jones and did we mention Kenner Star Wars?

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Christmas Wishlist 1981

This past summer, my family sold the home that belonged to my grandparents, a place I spent some very happy Christmases in. I even wrote a blog post about it back in the fall.

While it was obviously a sad time, it also had it's bright spots. One of them was discovering the woman kept everything I ever drew or wrote in her home. It was a really warm feeling to be honest.

Seeing as it's Christmas, I thought I'd share my  wishlist from I'm guessing 1981. Every year I'd cut out pictures from catalogs and present it to her so she'd know what I'm on about. I had posted one from 1979  but  I totally forgot about this one.

As you can see Star Wars was my big thing that year. 

Smurfs? That was total peer pressure, every kid in my class was into them that year and I felt kind of like the odd man out for not having any on my desk.

I did get the At-At from my folks (and it was EPIC!) but I'm not sure I got any of the other stuff, I certainly didn't get any Smurfs.

Fond memories like this is why I started this site and I really wanted to share it. Thank you.

Rack Toys the Digital Edition Now Available!

I am so happy to announce that my baby is back! Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is finally ready and available for download here!

This new version of Rack Toys is now expanded (now weighs in at 162 pages) and includes some new stuff i've found, most of which i wished i had at the time.

It's been a wonderfully cathartic experience going through these old files, taking new photos and just reliving the whole creative process (well, save for the sitting and inevitable back pain, I really need a new chair) has been so positive and wonderful.

Seriously the other day, I noticed I had been smiling the entire time I was re-linking photos. Those things shouldn't go together....

Just a couple of the new things in the book.

So much so, that I added the following PS to my own introduction:

"PS I published Rack Toys in 2012 and it was one of the best things I ever did. I didn’t get rich but I grew as a human being and made many new friends as a result. If you have an aspiration in this life, do it, don’t listen to naysayers, just go for it. I’m so happy I took this risk, you should too"

I sincerely mean that, I'm so happy i did this and i'm grateful to everyone who came into my life as a result. Record your podcast, make your movie, audition for that play and write your freaking book! Put it out there.

A book about trash toys changed my life and I thank you.

Rack Toys: Cheap Crazed Plaything digital edition is now $6.99.

and the stockings were stapled with care

i say this without any irony, my family is actively seeking a cardboard chimney and would treasure it.

AHI James Bond Toys

Even though they were advertised for a couple of years in their catalogs, the Azrak Hamway James Bond series of Rack toys remains pretty hard to find on the secondary market. It seems they were produced in very low numbers. 

Recently a carded disc gun came on the secondary market prompting my podcast partner Jason Lenzi to quip "Is that Fred Grandy as James Bond?"

Oh and hey, my book "Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings" will soon be returning as an e-book, hopefully this week barring any problems. You can get updates at my facebook page:

Azrak Hamway Index on PlaidStallions/AzrakHamway.com

Monster Gallery

Batman Gallery

Star Trek Gallery

Planet of the Apes Gallery

Marvel Comics Gallery

Space:1999 Gallery

The Fancy Boys

"The coast is clear,  we finally gave those mean sixth graders the slip"

Arco Toys The Other World Catalog

Arco's the Other World was one of many fantasy toy lines that came out in the early 80s to cash in on the "Sword and Sorcery" craze lead by Mattel's Masters of the universe.

Unlike many of it's competitors the line had no cartoon to back it up (although comic books were included in it's packaging) and the figures were all bendable. I seem to recall seeing these at lower cost shops, the Regal catalog and Woolco as a teen.

The Other World is also a colourful line filled with imaginative characters like Jipps and Moggs, well worth checking out.

Check out the Other World Catalog here.

Durham Kung Fu!

The Durham Kung Fu figure seemed to be everywhere in the early 1970s, not based on the David Carradine series it simply captured the culture's then obsession with martial arts.

I really wanted one of these as a kid but they're pretty cheaply made and I've heard no end of stories about how his hands flew off in mid chop.

Still that display box is pretty sexy,....

Bendy Buck Rogers and Twiki

This past weekend I was grateful to recieve a surprising package from Jason, my podcast partner. If you had asked me to guess, I'd have never gotten it right but somehow it's the perfect gift. More after the jump:

The good sport

Fun fact: The ascot is the "white flag of surrender" in the dating scene....

Circus World Toy Sale!

All i want for Christmas is a MIB Stretch Monster......and some Mego Superheroes.....and a Blip....covered in Shogun Warriors.

Caption Contest Winner

 OK, let me start by saying, you made this really hard, you're good at this.

  Second, I wanted to originally go with "Rectum? Damn near killed him!" before i turned this into a contest. No less than five of you entered that into the contest. We should form a club and have meetings. 

 Third, I'm going to make this a regular thing because i love it. 

 The winner was chosen by me and my 12 year old daughter, who seemed to get the context of this, I'm a little worried. 

 John Perry wrote "guys, next time I throw a key party...bring your wives!"

Congrats John, you've won a fuzzy Brick Mantooth doll. Use it wisely.

New contest next week!

Pod Stallions 58: The Star Wars Holiday Special

We're back with a look at a much maligned (and let's face it, it's not great) chunk of our childhood, the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.

Look, we're not going to take such low hanging fruit, the truth is, it's not any worse than most of what was called "entertainment" in 1978. In fact, it's kind of status quo, so forgive it, love and like us, talk about what we do enjoy. We both seriously want action figures of those cartoon characters and if you're listening, so do you.

As always, the conversation strays to the Ice Pirates, action figures, style guides, Brian's parents taking him to inappropriate movies and a spirited debate about the amazing effects of nostalgia.

Also, Brian wants to apologize for what he said about the Goonies, please don't kill him. He has kids. 

So happy life day and  give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

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Caption this

Contest time! I couldn't think of the right caption for this, so i'm opening the floor to you, The winner will receive a pack of goodies and will be announced tomorrow, fire away!

Barbie: 1970

When Barbie was mod...

Mustard Force

"Mustard Force" an ABC series about a crew of crime solving chefs failed to find an audience and was cancelled mid episode.

Record Go Round

I'm thrilled vinyl has returned to the malls but I keep mine in a boring old box. I wish there were classy alternatives like this  so my record collection would fly all over the room every time I want to put something on the hi-fi.

Mall of Justice wants your photos and stories click here!

D and D DAS

I had a love hate thing with DAS modelling clay as a kid, I think now I realize my lack of talent/patience was more to blame than the DAS.....

Blast off with Star Trek

Remco Star Trek, why do not own this stuff?

Put togethers

Put Togethers: The official outfit of your mom's new friend that sleeps over.

Star Command Radios

Ah 1979, when if it wasn't Star Wars, it totally looked like Star Wars......

The Vest Suit Kid

Virgin Powers ACTIVATE!

Big Star Wars Savings at Venture!

If you're out Black Friday shopping today can you swing by Venture and get me a couple dozen action figures? I'll double your money, promise!

Planet of the Apes Sliderama

If you guys buy me this for Christmas, I'll have you all over for a screening. I'll even make popcorn. True Story!

Simply Elegant

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends, may you enjoy your feast surrounded by loved ones on a table set from Moonbase Alpha.

Buck Rogers Flying Model Rockets

I have never known the pleasure of flying model rockets but these Sci-Fi related kits really tempted me as a kid...

Hobbit games!

I was happily surprised to see that these games all made it to the market in 1979. 

What's the Word on the street?

The popularity of "Starsky and Hutch" had young woman across the nation donning the "Huggy Bear collection for her", each piece personally sewn by Antonio Fargas!

El Squadron Lobo Big Jim Gallery Updated

It's been ten years since I updated my little tribute page to the Kid Acero line of toys and it was long overdue.

 Known to us as Big Jim, Mexican toy maker Cipsa infused the line with a heavy dose of creativity. The result is a Big Jim's wolfpack with a rich science fiction flavour.

Also, because these toys are also incredibly rare, i had to get some help. My pal Jesus was happy enough to share his amazing collection with the world. Just look at that Jack Kirby packaging.

 So check out the all new Kid Acero Gallery at PlaidStallions!

AND THEN IF YOU'RE STILL IN THE MOOD FOR MORE JIM