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.

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Toy-Ventures 8: The Martian Chronicles

This week's installment of Toy-Ventures is all about the action figures produced by Larami for the 1980 TV mini-series "The Martian Chronicles", just how does a mini-series get an action figure line the first place? We'll try to explain. 

You can check out our gallery of Martian Chronicles Toys Here. 

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Random SuperHero merchandise from 1980

Here are a few random pages from the 1980 Pedigree Toys catalog from the UK, being 9 at the time I can honestly say I WANTED ALL OF THIS! I had a special love for the Remco utility belts.


 

Please add a long life obsession with the Remco Batcopter to my life long list.



OK, I never had anything to do with roller skatea and these looked really weird and dangerous...

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Pod Stallions 60: The Martian Chronicles

We're back with an all new show!

This month's episode is devoted to Ray Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles", not the book so mentioned (although it is mentioned) but the epic three evening NBC mini series from 1980 starring Rock Hudson!

Topics include childhood fears, TV Spider-Man, cheap-o Rack Toys, Arthur C Clarke, Starlog, poster collecting, ventriloquist dummies, Barry Morse  and much, much more.

So journey with us to the red planet!


Agree with us, have your own childhood recollection of the series?  give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

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Battlestar Galactica Stamp Set

It's impossible to know just how many children this set inspired to become notaries/astronauts.

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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:

Super Hero Skates

Larami did these SuperHero skates for years and as weird as they are, they must have sold.

Like every toyline from the mid seventies, the Hulk was very quickly added to the mix once his TV show aired.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Banana Splits Flute Set by Larami

Spied this shopping on the weekend, one thing I've noticed about Larami toys is often the connection to the licensed product was instantly lost when you took the toy of it's card.

Not that a sticker makes it more official but you get what I'm saying.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Amazing Chan Monster Target Set

'

My pal Matt sent me this photo and I have to say, I'm a l'il jealous of this killer monster themed rack toy. While a licensed toy (based on the Saturday morning antics of Charlie Chan) it's also got a some copyright infringement going on in regards to it's targets.

Ahem, those gentlemen look familiar, I want this...badly.

Flash Gordon Galaxy Aliens

These "Galaxy Aliens" are from the planet "RecyclusToyMoldus IV".

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Spider-Man Super Sleeper

 

It's not well known but Kraven the Hunter was easily distracted by Spider-Man's ability to "walk the dog" making it easy for our hero to win the day..

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Super Skates

As weird as these are, I've got to admit I kind of love their design.

If I had got these as a kid, the only in my size would be Wonder Woman and I would have bought them....

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Marvel Superheroes Air Force

The Incredible Hulk may be the most "unpilot like" superhero character ever born. Advantage Ben Grimm....

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

End cap of cheap joy

I'm super tired tonight, so here is an awesome store display of Larami goodies circa 1981.  I vividly remember that guy on the gun box. He kinda looked like my third grade teacher. 

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Squirt gun fever

While generic, I find the art work on these water pistols completely captivating. A lot of effort went into their look and Pop Art is completely missing from our current Rack Toy experience.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Underdog Gun

Underdog may have been my first exposure to Superheroes as a wee one, he definitely sparked a life long love of the genre.

I'm not sure I would have felt that way had I seen Underdog shooting up a bowling alley.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Moonbase Medic

I'm not sure what I like most about this piece, the fact that it's clearly just a regular Doctor kit repackaged, that it never shows the Doctor character from Space:1999 or the wonderfully awesome, over the top image of Martian Landau on the card.

Gotta go with Landau....

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Hey. Hey.Hey Recycling is OK

Remember that awesome Dick Tracy Wrist TV from 1975 a few weeks ago? Here it is again in a somewhat less logical form from 1982. I guess you could imagine that Dick threw out his old wrist TV and the Cosby kids found in the junkyard? I dunno it's a bit like dissecting gossamer really....

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Land of the Lost what?

Behold the Land of the Lost Moonbase Rocket, brought to you by people who never watched a single second of the show. It's stuff like this that just makes me oddly happy.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Galactica Cruiser

These little ships knocked around under a different bunch of names before Galactic. My dad sold them with a weird generic sci fi card that I'm going insane trying to find.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.