Italian for Stretch Monster

The word "Stretch" I assume doesn't translate well in Italy. Coincidently "Mister Monstro" was also my wrestling name that one, magical summer in Tijuana....

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Stretch Monster and Hutch

This is the coolest crossover that never was, ABC really missed making some event television. Hutch and Steve Austin could have complimented themselves on terrible mustache decisions...



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Stretchable Heroes

1979 was a good year for corn syrup filled heroes and monsters. Kenner would eventually sue Mego over their Elastic Heroes line.

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Super People 78

When Star Wars figures came out, all my favourites from previous Christmases got sent to the Black and White pages often discounted. 

I didn't mind at the time but now it kind of makes me a little sad, save for the awesome team up of Steve Austin and Spider-Man, that just rules.

The Stretch Monster Kid Returns!

A wonderful thing happened today in the Facebook Vintage Toys group I manage with some friends. We got a visit from Mike, who is Mike you ask? He's the kid on the Stretch Monster box! Mike's gurning on that package is easily one of the most iconic 70s toy images out there. In fact, he was the subject of the very first PlaidStallions trading card nearly a decade ago.




Here's Mike 40 years later posing with his now very collectible packaging. How did he get the gig, Mike explained:

"My dad's design studio did all of the Kenner Toys packaging in the 70s and 80s. I was on a few toy boxes, but this is the most famous. I got paid $60 for the shoot, which was a ton of money for a 70s first-grader. But more importantly, I had access to KENNER. Dad would take me to the factory. I owned dozens of Stretch Monsters, Stretch Armstrongs, Stretch Octopi, and some other prototypes that never made it to market (I can only imagine what they would be worth if I still had them!)."

He had to mention the prototype word but wait, it gets even more interesting:

"And of course, Star Wars came out the next year. My little brother and I had EVERYTHING. Dad would bring home bags of spare guns. Kenner gave us the "mistakes" as well—figures incorrectly painted—that again, would be worth a lot today if we hadn't blown them up with firecrackers.

I can remember being at the design studio as a child when they were working on the Star Wars toys, but before the movie had actually come out. An illustrator named John Ham showed me a prototype figure he was painting for a package. They simply called him "Gold Man." It was, of course, C3PO."

But other than the iconic box, did Mike keep anything from those days? Just one thing:

He still has the original shirt but as one would imagine, it no longer fits.

Thanks Mike for making our day with this awesome story of what sounds like a fun childhood!

Japanese versions of US toys

I thought it may be fun to look at a few (but not all) examples of how some American favourites looked like over in Japan, the land of amazing toys and cartoons.

We'll start with the Mickey Mouse Snowcone machine, a take on the Snoopy Sno-Cone machine. This one confuses me because SNOOPY IS REALLY POPULAR IN JAPAN! Not sure why they switched to Mickey here.

Much more after the jump!

Dolls: Big Figures from Fantasy!

I recently came across this wonderful article about action figures circa 1977, it mentions Micronauts, Pulsar, Metal Man, Electroman, Stretch Monster, Shogun Warriors and their impact on the toy market place. It features interviews with not only toy buyers but toy makers from Hasbro, Mego, Zee Toys and Mattel.

Seeing as these are things that haunt my dreams 40 years later, I thought it might be of interest to all of you, read on after the jump!

Spotlight: The Original Stretch Armstrong by Jazwares

I haven't done a photo review in over a year? Thank goodness for the new Jazwares Original Stretch Armstrong.

In the past few years, there's been talk of a movie and even an animated series but the only thing I give a toss about is a reproduction of the big guy himself. I'll explain (and show) more after the jump:

Fun With Stretch Toys

I was never allowed to continue my collection of Stretch Toys after I bit mine. IT WAS BIGGER THAN ME! I HAD TO KNOW!

You know what they call a Stretch Armstrong in France?

A Royal with Ch....no wait, it's Elastic Man. There, you learned something today.

More Stretch Armstrong:

A Corn Syrup Christmas Special

I know I said I was done posting and on holiday but then Tom (who sent in this above bit of awesomeness a few years ago) sent me an early present. 

This home movie shows Tom giving his mom a lesson in how to work a Stretch Armstrong properly. If that wasn't cool enough, it's a really nice pastiche of a 70s Christmas complete with funky turtlenecks and (now) vintage beer cans. It's not even my family and this brings back good memories. 

Click here to see it on Youtube

 Thanks Tom and Merry Stretchmas!

Nerd Therapy Session: Starch of Maize

This one goes back  to 1977, a spendy new toy, the burning curiousity to know what's inside and the misery that's always certain to follow.


More after the jump.....

Kenner Stretch Armstrong Archive Debuts

Stretch Armstrong is one of the most recognizable and succesful toy concepts of the 1970s. Launched by Kenner toys in 1977, Stretch Armstrong would become a household name for generation X kids everywhere. The unique concept of making an action figure out of latex and corn syrup would create a buzz and see many a Christmas wishlist.

Subsequent figures such as Stretch Monster would prove equally succesful and move the brand into pop culture history. The line would eventually end after many successful years in 1981, where fatigue combined with increasing copycat imitators would see the line end.

The corn syrup laden hero was sold world wide and thanks to PS pal and benefactor Bill Frost, I'm finally able to showcase the many forms of Stretch and his friends on the site.



Click here to see the PlaidStallions Stretch Armstrong Index

Please do not ask me if I have these for sale, I sadly do not own a single stretch figure but do email me if you have stuff you'd like to contribute!

Popular Kenner Toys as seen on TV

I got an early Christmas present in my mailbox the other day in the form of these Kenner store display photos, which were likely meant as internal documents showcasing their hottest toys for 1978.

As we all know that was a year of Bionic Men and Women, Stretch Armstrong and massive block buster known as Star Wars. These photos make me weak in the knees.

Visit the 1978 Kenner Store Displays Gallery

More Kenner Fun

Colouring Book Theatre :Stretch Armstrong and Stretch Monster

‘Stretch Armstrong and Stretch Monster" by Resource Publishers

I think every child of the 1970s at least remembers Stretch Armstrong. I've relayed my own childhood experience with the big guy several times here. Also, Stretch Monster is the vintage toy I just seem unable to own, I've tried for like 20 years to get my hands on one.
I was kind of excited to get this book because I thought maybe it would have some sort of grand backstory and adventure for the Stretch couple which is what you'd get from Whitman or Rand McNally.

Although, the Cincinatti based "Resource Publishers" (which sounds like a subsidary of Kenner) would introduce me to one of the strangest books I've seen in a long time 
:

More after the jump.

1977 Western Auto Toy Catalog

Christmas is that magical time when stores that don't normally carry toys start selling them in a big way. In my neck of the woods it was Canadian Tire but for many of you in the states Western Auto was the unlikely source of fun.

Known year round for Auto parts and fire arms, Western Auto stocked the hottest toys during the holiday shopping season.


1977 was a great year to believe in Santa, boys got bionic and stretchable heroes, even ones with guts you could see. Girls got Donny and Marie and Farrah hair for everyone!





Click Here to Visit the 1977 Western Auto Toy Catalog

Other Toy Flyers and Circulars from the 70s

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More Trading Cards Part 1

It's been a while since I've talked about this but I printed some designs in the summer and have been happily sending them out with DVD orders and ebay auctions, figured this weekend would be a good time to showcase them.

Card #32- Stretch Armstrong

This was long overdue, seeing as he's an iconic toy born in the 1970s. It's one of the few vintage toys I had as a kid but will likely never rebuy as a collector. Those things can be timebombs and I learned my lesson years ago, so did an unfortunate mouse.

1978 Stretch Armstrong Catalog

Card #33- The Ghost of Captain Kidd
Ah, this is one of the coolest action figures of the 1970s IMO, this image was too good not to make into a trading card. I don't collect these either but wow do I think they're neat.

Matchbox Fighting Furies Gallery


Cards 34 and 35 tomorrow!