Toy-Ventures: Top Ten 1980s Peg Warmers

This is our follow up to our 70s peg warmers list. The 1980s were an incredible time for action figures, an era we'll never see again but like anything, some items didn't really sell. Let's count down some toys that hung around.

This list is meant in jest and not to be taken seriously. Tell me what i missed in the comments.

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Return of the Space Apes!

A couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to the Space Apes, a vintage series of action figures that seemed to be knocking off Mego's Planet of the Apes line but upon further reflection, these appear to be factory seconds poly bagged and sold off to make a quick buck, more after the jump:

Pod Stallions 78: Raiders of the Lost Ark

In honour of CBS bringing back the Sunday Night Movie this week, we decided to cover Raiders of the Lost Ark and we have a special guest, Ned Hastings from Adult Swim!

We cover our childhood discovery of the film and our respective takeaways, the various rip-offs, the toylines from Kenner, LJN, and Star Toys. Our appreciation (or lack therefore of) for the sequels and basically all kinds of the usual straying from the topic like seeing films with tons of nudity with your parents, old timey movie theatres and programs, old James Bond,  Mad Mission 4, your dad seeing a movie before you and the guy who played "Toht". 

It's a fun car ride, join us won't you?

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Black Velvet Gorgeous

You had me at "Black Velvet Last Supper" but it lights up? I can't get to my Mastercharge card fast enough!

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Colouring Book Theater: Wonder Woman Faces the Menace of the Mole Men!

Time to crack open another vintage colouring book and see the madness inside!

Wonder Woman faces the Menace of the Mole Men!

This book is from 1975 and is available in two sizes, in previous CBT segments I've reviewed the Batman and Shazam books in this series.

The first thing I want to point out is how much I love how angry Wonder Woman is on the cover, the male heroes are all smiling but not Diana!




So grab your crayons and check out this adventure after the jump! 

Time to fire up the Grill!

And by "Fire it up" I mean plug it in? I just can't decide if I like Avocado Green or Harvest Gold. Which I should I go with?

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Colorforms 1976

If I only could choose one back in the day, this would be an all-day decision and the only thing I'm certain of is what I left behind would haunt me. Which would you have chosen?

Colouring Book Theatre: The Space Sentinels and the Time Machine

Time to crack open another vintage colouring book and see the madness inside!

The Space Sentinels and the Time Machine-1978 Rand McNalley

As a kid I seriously thought the world of Filmation's syndicated superheroes "The Space Sentinels" and wish it was better remembered today.

The show did get some pretty cool merchandise (I own quite a bit) and I was thrilled to find this colouring book.

Even though Rand McNalley is largely known for road atlases, they did have a children's book division and I fondly remember their Hanna Barbera children's books of the mid-1970s.

So grab your crayons and check out this adventure after the jump! 

Toy-Ventures: Planet of the Apes Playset by Multiple

This week's Toy-Ventures takes us back to the year 3978, a time ruled by Apes. We look at one of the more memorable Planet of the Apes Playsets, while that's usually synonymous with Mego, this is by Multiple Toymakers.

We discuss some of Multiple's more popular toy offerings as well as why exactly Doctor Zaius is wearing a blue outfit.

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Origins of Remco Dracula!

My friend Matt strikes again! This time he's uncovered another toy mystery, just exactly who was the source material for the Dracula on this Remco Makeup box? The answer might blow your mind. More after the jump.

Toy-Ventures: Battle of the Planets Role Play!

Another segment in our ongoing series "Battle of the Planets" Toys we got screwed out of as kids. This time the focus on the cool belts, weapons and helmets that made you part of G-Force. Check out our Facebook Page:
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Dr. Zaius Bank

This weekend, the missus and I did some exploring, hitting antique malls, visiting new towns/fairs and indulging in local cuisine (in this case a $10 grilled cheese sandwich). Normally one of us scores while the other doesn't, by the end of the day, neither of us had purchased anything but brownies. 

At our last stop, this guy was facing me as I entered as if to say "It's a Brian day" and I happily scooped him up. As an apes collector, it's really rare to find anything like this in the wilds of Canada. 

He makes a lovely addition to my Planet of the Apes display case that I installed not long ago.

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Record-Go-Round

I'll take "things that I wish my parents hadn't thrown out for $500 Alex"

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Salute to the Superheroes Water Ski Show

I found this great vintage Seaworld brochure on eBay recently, this beautiful page has some great shots of the DC Comics Superhero show that used to go on there. How I dreamed of going as a kid.

I did create a nice little gallery about it using photos from the lucky former children that did go. 

So what happened to those Last Starfighter Prototypes anyway?

You may recall that we had featured the amazing, never produced figures from Galoob's proposed Last Starfighter toy line a while back on this blog. 

Well, they've been sold but the good thing is, you can visit them anytime you like.

I was contacted by Mike, the owner of Batcave Comics and Toys in Santa Rosa California. The last starfighter figures are now on permanent display all together at his shop for everyone to enjoy. He bought them from the original owner who was just about to separate them.

So, if you're in the area, I highly advise you to visit Batcave comics and toys and visit a little bit of toy history.

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Step into the Leisure Suit Class!

Action Casuals are the perfect outfit for today's man, whether you're selling hot tubs, speaking at the Elk's lodge or sipping Singapore Slings poolside with your very special lady, this ensemble has you covered!

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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.

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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.

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Toy Show Pick Ups

I posted some photos from last weekend's Burlington Toy Con on our facebook page but never showed my pickups. The show had plenty of cool stuff but i got out of it for under twenty bucks. The Apes cup was subject to an "I love your website" discount (which is rare but fills me with gratitude) and the Trek book and record is an absolute favourite from childhood. 

Sometimes it's the little things.

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Toy-Ventures: Star Warriors?

Time to open another box of knock-off figures and these dudes are my new favorites. This line hedges all bets by crossing Star Wars with the Black Hole and Star Trek into a delicious stew of unlicensed hilarity!

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