Simpsons Toy Town

This spread from 1980 has a lot of familiar faces and fond memories despite me only owning one thing from it as a kid.

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Barbie's Friend Ship

After showing Big Jim's Sky Commander earlier in the week, it seems fitting to show the Barbie Equivalent.  During this particular segment, Ken had the fish, so Barbie had to land the plane.

New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

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Barbie: 1970

When Barbie was mod...

A double Shot of 70s Barbie

I always seem to fixate on boy's toys over the Christmas season and that's kind of a shame because I always glossed the Barbie section in envy over all the cool stuff she had.

Here's a double shot from the Simpson's Sears 1979 Catalog, click on it to embiggen it.

Barbie or Big Jim?

Super Fun Camper OR

Head quarters for a top secret organization, you decide. Both have kitchens!

1980 JC Penny Toy Land Flyer

I am a complete junkie for toy store newspaper flyers, they are just such a wonderfully illustrated time capsule of our childhoods.

This beautiful piece from JC Penny in 1980 is a pretty terrific example of why I love these, so many old friends are here.

From bikes to big wheels, Barbie to Ms Piggy, Fisher Price Little People to Kenner Star Wars, it's a fantastic cross section of Childhood:1980.

Click Here to check out JC Penny Toy Land 1980

More JC Penny Toy Land

Hasbro 1973 World of Love Catalog

Hasbro described Love dolls as: "She's what's happening. She's today's American teenager and she's part of the World of Love".

This was an interesting to attempt to combine  Fashion dolls with what was left over of the hippie movement in the early 1970s as Hasbro hoped little girls would clamour to enact adventures for Love and her friends Peace, Flower, Music and Soul.

Check out the '73 World of Love Catalog here.

More Fun from the Doll Commune

Vintage Toy Store Pictures Volume 18

For this year's last Friday feature, I bring you my favourite of all sections of PlaidStallions another volume of vintage toy store pictures!

Celebrating the time when we had unique independent retailers dotting our landscape and came up with colourful and and interesting ways of selling us toys.

Volume 18 is our biggest yet and loaded with shots across the USA dating from the 1970s to the 1990s. Maybe even your favourite childhood toy haunt is included in this mix!

Notable sites include Kenner Six Million Dollar Man, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Mego 2 XL, Muppets, Fisher Price Little People, Electronic Games, Atari Consoles,  Kenner Star Wars, Gabriel Lone Ranger and much, much more.

"Take my advice kids, keep one of these in the box!"

Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 18

Don't forget to visit our archive of Vintage Toy Store Photos, it's a timewarp!

Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 17

Yes! A new installment of  one of my favorites, vintage toy store photos. A journey back to the days of oddly named department stores and independent mall toy stores and chains that are fondly remembered but sadly mostly gone.



Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 17 covers the US and Canada this time and features appearances by Big Jim, Kenner Bionic Woman,  Barbie, Shogun Warriors, Mego Star Trek, Space:1999,  Ideal Star Team, Mattel Donnie and Marie and Kenner Star Wars.

I hope this edition brings back some powerful memories like it did for me.

And hey, check out volumes 1 through 16 when you're done.

Larami Toys 1981 Catalog

In 1981, Larami was celebrating it's 20th year of bringing low cost licensed "Rack Toys" to children around the world.

This year was no exception with licenses like the DC and Marvel comics Superheroes, Barbie, Fat Albert, Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy, Mighty Mouse and the ever present Popeye, Larami had something for any kid to beg their parents for while they shopped.

Visit the 1981 Larami Toys Catalog here

And more Larami here:

1975 Christmas Toy Store Flyer

Newspaper circulars for toy stores are a tough thing to find, often thrown out immediately it's a shame when you realzie what a wonderful window into our world they truly are.

Take this one for a store called "Hagensick's Playroom" (great name) in Wisconsin, which features a veritible "who's who" of hot items for the era.

Lots of old friends in here, like the Sunshine Family, Atomic Man, Mego Wizard of Oz, the Adventure People, Barbie and much, much more..

Dig into the 1975 Toy Store Flyer right here!

More Toy Store Flyers:

1981 Toys R Us Flyer

Childworld 1975

Childworld 1981

1975 Toys R Us

Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 16

In an effort to combat the end of summer blues, I've dig deep to the days of Pegboard and regional toy stores to bring the 16th edition of our vintage toy stores feature.

Installment 16 features old favorites such as the Bionic Woman and Six Million Dollar Man, Barbie, the Osmonds, Atari, Fisher Price, Mego Diana Ross and much more.

We explore such long forgotten chains such as Bambergers, Two Guys as well as local toy emporiums such as The Toy Shoppes and Youngtown.

Check out Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 16 here.

Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 15

 

Seeing as it's the site's birthday, it's no better time to drop a new installment in what is one of my favorites, vintage toy store photos. A journey back to the days of oddly named department stores and independent mall toy stores and chains that are fondly remembered but sadly mostly gone. 

Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 15 gets all Bionic up in here with some smashing shots of Kenner Six Million Dollar man and Bionic Woman displays, joining them will be Godzilla, The Sunshine Family, Barbie and the Lone Ranger. All in the late 1970s/early 1980s glory.

Check out Vintage Toy Stores Volume 15 here

And if you haven't already, Volumes 1-14 are a pile of happiness, click the image for the full gallery.

1975 German Toy Catalog

I found this wonderful catalog from a German company called Spielzug, I remember my grandmother bringing me back some of these and how enthralled I was.

It's a really great slice of what lucky kids in Germany got, their own versions of GI Joe and Big Jim, as well as Barbie, Sindy, Lego, Playmobil and Steiff.

Check out the 1975 German Toy Catalog here.

More Vintage Toy Store Catalogs

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Vintage Barbie Love

I'll admit it, that camper van tempted me....

Fun Girl's Toys