Toy-Ventures 10: Slade Super Agent from Shindana Toys

This week's installment of Toy Ventures is all about one of the coolest action figures of the 1970s, Slade: Super Agent by Shindana. 

We talk about Slade but also a little bit about the company that was Shindana toys and how they changed the landscape for the better. 

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Tickle Me Jimmie Walker

 So powerful was Jimmy Walker's presence on "Good Times" that he was the recipient of two different plush novelties in 1976. Above the deluxe talking edition, which is the least terrifying looking plush on the page.

A scowling plush of James Evans Sr (played by John Amos) that said things like "I'm gonna get my belt!" would have been the perfect companion to this (and likely not sell a single unit).


 

And here is the lower priced, "Kid Din-O-Mite" doll.

Both of these figures were made by Shindana, a company that I personally adore. You can see the 1976 catalog here.

Shindana Toy Center

I love seeing stuff like this 1977 article and especially a  whole store display of Shindana merchandise like the JJ Walker plush, Wanda and of course, the amazing Slade Super Agent dolls.

1978 Shindana Toys Catalog

Formed in 1968 (with some no obligation assistance from Mattel), Shindana Toys was a Los Angeles based company that wanted to create unique toys for black children.

This catalog, from the company's tenth anniversary sees them branching out into a toy company that now provides a diverse selection of ethnic characters.

Speaking of characters, Shindana still offered such notable celebrities such as Redd Foxx, Dr J and even Marla Gibbs.

Check out the 1978 Shindana Catalog here


And don't stop there, we've also got the 1976 Catalog here:

Shindana : where it's at

It`s nothing to see multi cultural toys today but Shindana was truly a pioneer. I love finding ads like this.

The Origin of Slade

It should be obvious by now that I have a mild obsession with the Shindana Slade doll, which most would instantly recognize as being a non licensed doll version of Richard Roundtree in Shaft, it's pretty obvious but as I explored a little further I noticed some other factors that inspired the so called "Super Agent's debut, namely Big Jim and his Wolf P.A.C.K....

More After the Jump

Flipside

One of my earliest "Vintage Toy Finds" as a kid was digging through the back part of "Pinnochio's Toys" around 1980, the 1970s were alive and well there, Mego Planet of the Apes play sets, Big Jim dolls,  Aurora models and this oddity. At nine, I had no concept of who Flip Wilson was, his show ended when I was four and my mom just said "Oh, he was funny".

 So I was sort of confused by this doll of a cross dressing man. At the time, I would have no idea the significance of this piece, one of the bigger releases from a company called Shindana.

Trading Card #31: Slade

Card #31 is one of my bigger regrets in toy collecting, I used to actually own a Shindana Slade doll and loved it but in the massive purge I did in preparation for my first child, he was cut from the team. It was one of those panicked things first time fathers do I guess.

During that period I got rid of a ton of different toys, Stretch Armstrongs, my Aquaman collection, M.A.C, Mego dolls, G.I. Joes, Big Jims but Slade is the only sale I regret. As toy concepts go, he's one of my favourites.

This has never worked before but if you have a Slade doll for sale, please contact me.

Shindana Toys for 1976

Shindana (a Swahili word roughly meaning "to compete") toys was formed in 1968 after "Operation Bootstrap" was created. Their goal was to improve black self image by producing ethnically correct toys. According to their literature, they did this to promote understanding and love.

I've always wanted to do a feature about Shindana on Plaidstallions as their actions truly changed the face of toys. Before Shindana children of color often had to make due with crudely repainted toys if they could find any at all. Any look at a toy catalog in the early 1970s will see the dramatic impact Shindana had on the marketplace.

1976 was a hot year for the company, they were running with their successful baby dolls, had hot celebrities in the form of Jimmy Walker and OJ Simpson and they created IMO one of the most awesome action dolls ever, SLADE!

Visit the 1976 Shindana Toys Catalog Here.

More from 1976

Scenes from Toyfair 1976

If there is a toy company that I would like to have a catalog from, it'd be Shindana, they made some neat-o toys in the mid seventies and their president had the world's greatest sideburns.

A shot of the 1976 Azrak Hamway booth shows the two different sizes of Mr. Spock Bop Bags. It's funny to read an article where the person has no idea what Star Trek is...

JJ and OJ

Two celebrity dolls, two very different professions. The guy on the bottom is J.J Armes by Ideal, a real life detective who lost his hands as a child and uses prosthetics. I saw the commercial for this as a kid but for a long time thought I dreamt it.

The other doll by Shindana had a real spike in value in the mid ninties, for reasons I don't want to remember.

Shindana Toys for 1977

Toy Fair 1977: Shindana's crime fighting "Slade" figure out cools just about any other action figure this year. I still want a Redd Foxx doll as well.

Shindana releases Rodney Allen Rippey Doll

Toyfair 1974 :Commercial spokeskid Rodney Allen Rippey got his own doll courtesy of Shindana in 1974. Poor Mason Reese......

Kid Dino-Mite!

I need this toy and I need it now, I watched Good Times religiously. This would be just the thing to annoy the hell out of my wife on long car rides.

You Gotta Wash Yer Ass, Kid

I love Redd Foxx but I kind of think it weird that a toy company (my guess would be Shindana) thought that the nightclub comic and TV Superstar would make the perfect Teddy Bear.

Maybe his TV Character Fred Sanford but Foxx himself worked pretty blue, bless his heart. One of his sayings, "Wash your face before you kiss me kid" makes me laugh though, I so have to own this.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to go put batteries in my daughters Tickle me Artie Lange.