Toy-Ventures: The Incredible Doctor Steel

We return with an exhaustive look at one of the most iconic action figures of the 1970s, the enforcer with a ghastly gleaming hand, the incredible Dr. Steel. We explore the character's origins, many foreign iterations, knock offs and all the different variations. Special thanks to Pascal Pinteau for his amazing help with this one, To order his magical book "Big Jim: Un Monde D'Adventures" click here: https://amzn.to/37qi0dW Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions) PlaidStallions Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Plaidstallio... Plaidstallions facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/22262... Twitter: @plaidstallions

Pod Stallions 73: Guilty Pleasures?

Our last podcast of the year began with the premise of Guilt Pleasures but evolved live into a discussion of whether or not the concepts should exist anymore at all.

This episode covers a ton of ground and includes a variety of topics including Jim Wynorski, Life Force (again), Hallmark channel movies, comfort food, there is a whole point where we just fanboy about the Watchman and we crescendo into Jason's new friendship with Rian Johnson. It's one of the most fun experiences we've had in taping this show and honestly, that's saying a lot.

Also, I'm super sorry about the sound quality, i've already made some purchases to fix that in the new year.

Please  give us spirited debate in our new Facebook group.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Toy-Ventures: Planet of the Apes Display!

This week we take a look into my place and the new Planet of the Apes display case I put together. 

Most of the stuff I haven't discussed prior to this including some cool AHI rack toys, Mego figures from Mexico and Japan, Super 8 movies and model kits.

Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions) 

 PlaidStallions Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Plaidstallio... 

Plaidstallions facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/22262...

The Star Trek Metal Detection Probe

I've written about this item before, a working metal detector with the Star Trek logo slapped on it but now, thanks to collector Dan Simpson, we're able to get a nice close up look at it. Join me won't you?

Toy-Ventures: Popy TV Heroes

Toy-Ventures this week is all about the Mego Inspired line by Popy of Japan where they took the concept of the "World's Greatest Superheros" but used their own homegrown TV Superheroes at the time. It resulted in 8" Mego like figures of Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets to us) and Battle Fever J.  Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions)
 PlaidStallions Facebook Page 
 Plaidstallions facebook group 
 Twitter: @plaidstallions

Official Star Trek pinball game by AHI

I am a total sucker for mid 70s Star Trek merch, the fonts, the bright colours, the flames shooting out of the Enterprise combined with a complete and total disregard for any sort of cohesiveness, nirvana. 

 


I will require a Space:1999 Pinball game.



Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

The best picture you will see today

My friend Ken shared with me this wonderful photo from around 1980 I suspect. I wish more of our parents took photos like this. Ken grew up not far from me and we can't ascertain if this is a WH Smith store of the Dominion Playworld in the Scarborough Town Center.

Either way, it's just glorious and I love the Mego Micronaut cameo.

If you have photos like this and want to share, PLEASE send them on down.

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Adventure People Rock!

The Fisher-Price Adventure people were a Christmas staple in my house, so much so that they always trigger happy memories when I see them. I still have my originals so I don't actually have a large collection of them.

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Toy-Ventures: Sears Space Command Playset

Time for another Toy-Venture, this week we look at the Sears Space Command Playset, a generic action figure environment that's also a recording studio for fashion dolls. Did I mention the working AM radio and microphone? 

 Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions) 

 PlaidStallions Facebook Page 

 Plaidstallions facebook group 

 Twitter: @plaidstallions

Moon Shadows!

In 2049, Mankind will be conquered by a group of genetically modified cyborg super pimps led by Dr. Xxxtasy and his constant companion Milky Way.

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Five Incredibly Strange, Incredible Hulk Toys on eBay this week

A special thank you to my nerd blood brother David Lockwood for inspiring this post with his love of the Hulk and ridiculous items. 

Incredible Hulk Lantern- The Hulk appears to be screaming in pain from having his midsection been removed and replaced with a lamp. Also, you know this probably is better at throwing shadows than providing any significant light.

AHI Incredible Hulk Utility Belt- AHI and Remco had this belief that whatever sells for Batman, works for all other Superheroes. That may be true but when you get to the Hulk, it also produces comedy. I remember staring at this when I was 9 and laughing at it right before I chose the Batman Utility belt.

Hulk Hang Glider- This is so wonderfully hilarious and i can't help but think of the time Klinger tried to hang glide out of the 4077...

Hulk and Spider-Man Intercom set- "Mr. Parker your puny 3 o'clock is here"

Ice Pops- Nothing whets the appetite more than pictures of what is essentially a shirtless homeless man who is also radioactive. MMMMMM, where do I lick?

Blast off for the Empire with Star Wars action toys

So, is Montgomery Wards encouraging kids to join the Empire?

Also, I leave a running tape recorder in a briefcase when I exit a room.

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Mattel Clash of the Titans Zeus figure

My friend Jason (not the one I do podcasts with, I know two guys named Jason, perhaps more) surprised me with this extremely rare find. A prototype head sculpt from Mattel's very short-lived Clash of the Titans toy line, more after the jump:

FLARE BOTTOM DOUBLE KNITS!

Are you a bandleader or a band follower?

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Battle of the Planets Figures 2: Toy-Ventures

This time we look at the 8" Megolike Battle of the Planets action figures produced in France by Ceji Arbois. Figures that were cobbled together by using bodies from three different Hasbro toy lines. This video is for adult collectors aged 18+ because that's who watches my channel. All of our videos are on our Facebook page, please like it in case I close up shop on YouTube. https://www.facebook.com/Plaidstallionsdotcom/ Twitter: @plaidstallions

Biddy Biddy They don't take Diner's Club Buck!

I tell you, whip this puppy out at your next get together and you will be the most talked-about person in the room. Trust me, I have experience in this matter. 

Also, I leave a running tape recorder in a briefcase when I exit a room.

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Toilet Seats: 1975

I had the Owl one as a kid, being nostalgic for a toilet seat feels like rock bottom.
Things can only up from here!

Also, I had no idea it was #WorldToiletDay

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Sailaway!

Sailors' Pants: for the gentleman who doesn't need to "pee" in a hurry.

New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Toy-Ventures: Box of Mego Knockoffs 2

Everybody loves a sequel and I got a second mystery box of Mego Knock Offs from the UK. This one holds some real surprises for me. 

Check it out on Youtube:https://youtu.be/pDkgu2tmnc0 

Toy-Ventures- Evil Cowboys by Zodiac Toys

This week we talk about one of my "white whales" in knock-off monster toy collecting, the elusive and vexing "Evil Cowboys" action figures made by Zodiac Toys in the late 1970s. I wish I knew more about these but here is everything i have on the subject.

Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions)

PlaidStallions Facebook Page


Plaidstallions facebook group


Twitter: @plaidstallions

Evel Knievel in Australia

This PR photo from an Australian toy magazine just goes to show how popular this toy concept and Evel's celebrity extended well past the United States. Heck, even the Japanese weren't immune!

Check out our Red Bubble Store!

Cool Combo

Lady attached to your thigh sold separately (redheads sold out!).

New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Toy-Ventures: Halloween Costume Countdown

Toy-Ventures this week is a look at five classic Halloween costumes from my collection, some are weird, none are scary but they're all infused in some magical 1970s pop culture goodness. 

Happy Halloween from PlaidStallions, check out every episode of Toy_Ventures here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Y8qhZtGdGEoqxu544ENnkiWa0w_NBNQ

Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions)

PlaidStallions Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/Plaidstallionsdotcom/

Plaidstallions facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2226244254053126/

Twitter: @plaidstallions

Nosferatu statue 1981

The Esco Company was famous for its chalk were statues of famous celebrities and movie characters. The height of their popularity was in the 1970s, and for monster fans their most famous chalkware statues were a Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Bride of Frankenstein. They are some of the best likenesses ever produced on any Universal monster Merchandise.

In the early 1980s, they extended the monster line with statues of Nosferatu, Phantom of the opera, and the invisible man, as well as some other characters.

For my money, this Nosferatu statue is the prize of the lot. He's just perfect. It contains everything that is needed in the sculpt., and nothing that isn't.

Pod Stallions: John Carpenter

Seeing as it's Halloween, what better time to discuss one of the most influential directors of our youth, John Carpenter.

We discuss how we discovered his work, chronologically going through the body of work, discussing the good, the bad and the seriously underrated pieces in his filmography.

We sidetracked a little bit but anyone who listens to us knows how we do.

We hope you enjoy and have a happy Halloween!

Please  give us spirited debate in our new Facebook group.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Universal Monster paint by numbers

These glow-in-the-dark paint by number portraits of the Wolfman and the Phantom of the Opera were made by craft House in 1975.

They also made a Frankenstein who is somewhat generic-looking, and then a Mummy who bears no resemblance to the Universal Mummy.

The Wolfman is by far the best of the lot. Although I like the way the Phantom resembles his Aurora model counterpart. I love the glow-in-the-dark paint.

New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.