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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Walkie Talkie Wednesday

Starsky and Hutch meet Charlie's Angels is the TV Crossover we deserved but weirdly never got.

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Batmania!

I've had dreams like this, Robin costume and all.....

Starsky and Hutch Crime Fighting Set

My pal Adam from Retrodimestore, sent this in, I think it's kind of a tease to include the keys to the Torino.

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Corgi Crime Busters!

I like to think that in this universe Kojak was the guy nobody invited but they didn't want to be rude.

1977 Fleetwood Toys Catalog

Fleetwood toys was one of the biggest and most prolific manufacturers of Rack Toys during the 1970s and 80s.

In 1977, they were truly on top of their game as evidenced by the massive amount of licenses they had this year including the Marvel Comics Superheroes, Welcome Back Kotter, Starsky and Hutch, The Rookies, SWAT, Tarzan, the Space Sentinels even Ba-Ba Blacksheep!

It's so jam packed with cool rack toys, there is no way you can't find something you like.

Click Here to visit the 1977 Fleetwood toys catalog

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More Fleetwood Toys at PlaidStallions

Pod Stallions 20: Watching the Detectives

Episode 20 is inexplicably a Quinn Martin Production and has us exploring the phenom of 70s detective shows and also has us kind of trying to figure what qualifies as a detective show (we don't quite see eye to eye). 

Regardless, as children we sure did watch a lot of people getting murdered. We discuss the Columbos, Rockfords, MacMillans and Wives,  Banaceks and Cannons of our childhood, the merchandising magic of Kojak and Starsky and Hutch.

We also go way, way off track, with discussions about Jamie Farr and Three Stooges, I'm sorry.

Episode 20 will hopefully have you asking "Just one more thing"

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Show Links:

• The (very rare)  LJN Magnum PI set Jason owns.
• The 90s FX commerical about Cannon that Brian loves.
• Simon and Simon walkie talkies as discussed in our show.
• Hello D'ere, Jason is weirdly obsessed with Marty Allen 
• Kojak got not only an action figure but a freaking playset? Yet, I got no Sleestak figures as a child, totally fair.
• The Starsky and Hutch Mego figures are awesome
• The Police Woman figures were actually repackaged versions of a British toys called HAVOK.
• Quincy takes on Punk Rock.
• Drool over the amazing Jumbo Machinders!

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Toy Sale at Wards

This wonderful piece from December 1977 arrived this week and while I plan to show case the whole thing in loving detail next Christmas, it's just to good not to share at least a little bit right now. Above is the Mattel Space:1999 Eagle which I think is on my 2014 wish list.

I think Cher's tenure at Mego burned brightly but not for a long time, she's already a good deal in 1977.

This ad for Madison Industries Shadow Toys is the first I've ever seen.

Mego's Starsky and Hutch were a hot license at the time but Wards wasn't offering a special on Captain Dobey? Who was going to yell at them?

We got lots of cops in 1977, here are LJN's Rookies and S.W.A.T on sale. One year later it'd all be about droids.

Barbie was the absolute queen of the fashion dolls in '77, many tried to take her crown but she bested the Chers and Dustys of the world.

Ideal's Jaws Game is one of the most iconic game concepts of the 1970s.

Welcome back Kotter pinball, I still kinda want one of these....



The Shadow Merchandise Gallery

Fleetwood 1979 Catalog: Marvel Superheroes, Buck Rogers, Starsky & Hutch

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There is no better time capsule into 1970s pop culture than a rack toy catalog especially if it's one by Fleetwood toys.

'79 is a great example as the company had some fantastic choices, from the TV cop antics of Vega$, Chips and Starsky and Hutch, to the less popular How the West was won. Marvel superheroes both A  and B list were present and we had Buck Rogers and Salvage 1 present to please the Sci-Fi Kids.

Check out the 1979 Fleetwood Toys Catalog

More Fun from Fleewood

Our new book Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings covers Fleetwood and much more.

Arm yourself kids!

These TV licensed gun sets were likely made by HG Toys, who never missed the opportunity to put TV show logos on weapons. Getting a S.W.A.T rifle in my neighbourhood made you a kind of royalty back in 1977.

I personally used a stick combined with the "an-an-an-an-an-an" sound effect, which totally bit....

Scotty, Beam Starsky up!

Technological advancement in the 70's made it easy for companies to market once expensive walkie talkies to us kids and wow, they were cool. While I longed for the Mego Star Trek communicators my sister and I ended up with some generic looking ones on the end. My best friend and I spent hours annoying a neighbour with a CB, we'd be playing SWAT and all of a sudden hear "WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP!"

HG Puzzles and Poster Sets for 1977

Toy Fair 1977: Who wants to colour in Starsky and Hutch? For more HG Toys check out their 1979 Catalog.