70s Toy Packaging Art love Fest

Toy packaging art has always fascinated me and it actually inspired me to pick up some paintbrushes, so it's actually made my life better, here are five random personal favourites but I'd love to see yours be it at the MegoMuseum Forums, our facebook page or on Twitter. Show me your favourites, please!

The Mego Mad Monsters series by legend Gray Morrow.

I can't tell you how much i love the Big Jim Gold Commander Artwork.

I could go on for days about Mego's fantastic packaging (and have) but for this exercise I'll just point out this epic Ross Andru Spider-Man box.

Even when the artwork is a bit simple, there is a tremendous joy in it. The Lincoln International Monsters have a cartoonish look but they are amongst my favourites of all time.

Show me your favourite 70s toy packaging, let's flood the internet with this joyous art.

Toy-Ventures the Magazine is coming this Summer from PlaidStallions Press.

Pod Stallions : Phantom of the Paradise

As we're into the coolest month ever, we pontificate upon one of Brian's favourite movies of all time, the Brian Depalma classic " Phantom of the Paradise".

Please note we thought of the topic exactly one minute before taping but that really wouldn't stop someone who's seen the movie50 times, there was no "boning up" required, we talk Paul Williams, where we first saw the movie, influences, Winnipeg,  the merchandise, alternative casting, shared locations with Logan's Run, the amazing Gerrit Graham and somehow end up at Zardoz? How? Anyway, It's a jam-packed hour.


Please Enjoy and we have a new PodStallions Facebook group, please join us.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Give us some love on the PodStallions Facebook page!

PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES

PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

The Last Star Fighter Prototypes Found

This past week I got one of those emails that I just absolutely live for and that is from the owner of the hand painted set of prototype figures for the Last Star Fighter. Pictured about is the original catalog page we showed here. 

Originally proposed by Galoob, these figures never saw light of day, probably due to the film's lackluster box office (it's a good movie too, I saw it opening weekend). It haunts collectors such as myself a little and that's why this image and the following story made me smile.

More after the Hyper Jump!

Pod Stallions 63: Convention Stories

The last PodStallions we did was so much fun, we rushed back to do another, look at us being proactive! This week’s show is all about conventions and toy shows.

We explore our humble first conventions (which were mind blowing to us then) and eventually get all the way to modern tales of San Diego comic con.

Along the way we talk about celebrity encounters, being a dealer, terrible conventions, John Colicos, Colin Baker, Jon Pertwee, spending all our money, getting drunk and renting adult videos? How did we even? Nevermind.

Please join us on the Pod Stallions Facebook page and let us know what you think!

  give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!






PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Pod Stallions 62: Action Figure Collecting

We're back with an all-new show, this one is a little different, more of a "Free-form jazz" sort of thing as we just go back and forth talking about action figure collecting, the madness we both share.

Discussion includes our favorite lines and styles of plastic people, our various collecting rituals and of course, our top three "must have" action figure lines.

On Topic Conversations include Mego, Hot Toys, Bif Bang Pow!, Kenner, Funko, Super 7, Hasbro, Star Wars POTF,  exclusives, customs, Mattel Flash Gordon, GI Joe, the Waltons and Wizard of Oz.

Sidetrack conversations abound in this one and we get into Richard Lynch, Maverick, Jellyfish, Target, Barney Miller, Planet of the Apes, Kenny Everet, toy guns, toy shows, Solo: A Star Wars story, meditation and weird things we did as kids.


Can you read our mind? Listen along and tell us!

Disagree?  give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!






PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

1981 Lone Ranger Catalog by Gabriel Toys

http://plaidstallions.com/gabriel/81.html

The Lone Ranger was riding high in 1981 thanks to a popular Saturday morning Cartoon series (by my favourite company Filmation) and the promise of a big budget film (that didn't work out so good).

So, Gabriel Toys blasted the toy shelves with two distinct toy lines, a relaunch of their popular 1970s 9" Toy line and a 3 3/4" line so you could have Tonto get a sasparilla in the Creature Cantina!

Visit THE 1981 Gabriel Toys Lone Ranger Catalog here!

Pod Stallions Episode 59: 2017 Retro Awards

Another year, another pile of amazing pop culture.

As every retro awards, we talk about the things that most hit us in the feels in our nostalgic journey that is Pod Stallions.

We talk about our favourite movies, books, DVD releases and toys of this past year.

Topics include Planet of the Apes, Wonder Woman, the Super Friends, Doctor Who, Blade Runner, Al Adamson movies, Kung Fu, Mystery Science Theater, Elvira and much, much more.

So sit back, relax and please don't give a second thought to the fact that two music nuts never thought to talk about albums......


So happy life day and  give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!






PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

View-Master Store Displays

I can't remember the last time I saw one of these but there are a lot of old friends in there. 

Electronic Bowling

We thought Electronic bowling could never get better but  eventually it would become sentient and wipe us all out.

Mall of Justice wants your photos and stories click here!

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!

The Man of Steel becomes the man of gold

I couldn't get over the sincerity of this licensing advertisement for Superman from 1983. which states that Superman 3 will "Make box office history for the third time in a row" and "we're expecting the strongest sales ever".

I remember seeing Superman 3 with my best friend, we were both 12 and I remember being really excited for a new Superman movie. 

The robot lady gave me awful nightmares and the popcorn had me throwing up all night. So, I don't have fond memories of Superman 3 (Unlike Trading Places, the film we saw the week prior which made men out of us, ahem) and likely didn't buy any merchandise that summer.

I think it's so weird to see a spread of Superman merchandise that doesn't include an action figure but with Mego going out of business that year and one year until Super Powers, this was a weird void.

My kids have never known a world where they couldn't go to a store and see a Superman action figure in some form. That's a weird concept because i certainly remember "the dark times"

Pod Stallions Episode 55: Tarzan

Episode 55 is all about the Lord of the Jungle, Tarzan of the Apes

J&B (the hosts, not the crappy scotch) discuss their initial exposure to the Lord of the Jungle in his many television, film, print and comic adaptions over their life times culminating with last summer's adaptation.

Some of the subjects we touch upon are Mego action figures, DC and Marvel, Filmation, Mike Henry, Doctor Who, Chimp Genitals, Dakin, Casper Van Diem, Ron Ely, Batman, Sheena, John Carter of Mars, Flash Gordon,  At the Earth's Core, toys, Big Jim and oodles more.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!






PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Pod Stallions 54: Movies of 1982

For our 54th show, we start with a brief (well for us) discussion about our thoughts on the newest actor to take the mantle of Doctor Who. 

Then we dig deep into the movies released the summer of 1982. Some call it the greatest summer for movies and hey, a lot of these movies went from flops to being revered, so it's worth discussing.

Topics include spirited debate on Blade Runner, Poltergeist, Beast Master, The Wrath of Khan, Tron, Dark Crystal, The Thing, Conan the Barbarian, Swamp Thing among others.

As always we get sidetracked into talking about merchandise, carnivals, Harrison Ford, Marvel comics, Brian's love for the work of Jim Wynorski and how freaking expensive it was to buy VHS movies back in the day.....

Join us won't you and as always we want to you to tell us your opinion on our facebook page.

SDCC Attendees- Please stop by booth 2343 and say hi to Jason!

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!






PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Happy Friday, here is another one from the recently digitized archive, this is the revised for the Mattel Battlestar Galactica toy line that clearly states the missiles no longer fire. We all know why....

More frakking cool toys:

Pod Stallions 50: Listener Request Show

For our 50th show we put it to you, our wonderful audience and boy did you have some good ideas, seriously you gave us a year's worth of topics, Jason and I don't have to do any thinking in 2017 and we thank you because we hate thinking.

But for this show we chose these three themes:

• Who we are in the real world?
• What are our holy grails in collecting? 
• Charo?

OK, Charo isn't a question, we just discuss Charo.

It's one of our more interesting episodes and we have all of you to thank. Enjoy and look for many of your suggestions

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Show notes:

• This is the worst thing ever. Seriously, click on it at your own risk. This was on TV, it was one of three choices you would have had on a Friday night. You'll never decry having too much choice again.

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!






PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Pod Stallions 45 : The Monkees

We're thrilled to be back recording PodStallions after some truly turbulent times.

Today's show is all about our mutual love for the Monkee's, although neither of us were alive for the show's original run we were both hooked on reruns and records during the middle 1970s.

We kick off the show playing catch up and discussing Jason's adventures at San Diego Comic Con, including a chance meeting with SCTV's Dave Thomas and being on  the Famous Monsters of Filmland panel.

Then we get into the Monkee's, our early impressions, favourite bits of merchandise, songs and episodes. We even get into the disastrous "New Monkee's" series that should just be forgotten.

Hit us up on our facebook page and tell us what your favourite Monkees song and merch is!

Show Notes:

•  The Box Set Jason mentioned
• The Monkee Mobile was repackaged as Fonzie's car in 1976
• The amazing Monkees dolls being produced by Figures Toy Company
• Pin Mates by Jason's company Bif Bang Pow!
• Trailer for HEAD
• That version of "Listen to the Band" Brian mentioned
• An excerpt from Mike Nesmith's Television Parts.

  Download the Show Here

Listen here

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!

PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES

PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Hasbro 1973 World of Love Catalog

Hasbro described Love dolls as: "She's what's happening. She's today's American teenager and she's part of the World of Love".

This was an interesting to attempt to combine  Fashion dolls with what was left over of the hippie movement in the early 1970s as Hasbro hoped little girls would clamour to enact adventures for Love and her friends Peace, Flower, Music and Soul.

Check out the '73 World of Love Catalog here.

More Fun from the Doll Commune

Beno's Toys Christmas book from 1979

Seeing as Christmas and shopping is all that on our minds right now, let's take a look at the specials offered 36 years ago with the Beno's Toy flyer.

I've never heard of this California based chain but I sure recognize the toys like Kenner Star Wars, Play-Doh and a metric ton of classic hand held electronic games!

Begin the tour of the Beno's Christmas Book right here!

Classic Toy Store Ads on PlaidStallions

Hagensick's Playroom 1975

1981 Toys R Us Flyer

Childworld 1975

Childworld 1981

1975 Toys R Us

Mold-A-Rama Blow Mould Frankensteins

Turning the reins over to my buddy Matt today, who provided not only the photos but the prose as well. Take it away Matt!

These are the wonderful, magnificent, Mold-A-Rama Blow Mould Frankensteins.

Mold-A-Rama first appeared in the mid-60s, and was a staple of the Museum and Zoo experience for lucky kids in the 60s, 70s , and 80s. 

For around $1, you could watch a vending machine make a version of your favorite museum or zoo souvenir using an injection mold.

The piece would come out of the machine scalding hot, and have a wonderful plasticky smell. It would feel like candle wax. At zoos you would frequently get Gorillas, Elephants etc. 

At Museums, you could Space Shuttles, Presidential busts, The Space Needle etc. 

This Frankenstein is one of the best and most sought-after Mold-A-Rama creations. 

He was made from the 60s through the 70s. His copyright on the back sometimes says "Universal Pictures, Co" and other times says "Universal Studios", depending on when it was released. 

Any Mold-A-Rama and monster lover must have every color available!

Notice that the figure resembles the Rapco bisque monsters available in the 70s

Sears Floor Model Computer

I finally tracked down a toy I've been after for ages. Made by Sears and sold in the fashion doll pages this toy hits on something I love, OLD TIMEY COMPUTERS. 

I'd have to say that this was not meant as an accessory for Barbie but more for the Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman figures of the day.



You may notice a lever on the side, even though this thing takes no batteries, it does produce an effect that has to be seen to be believed, so i made a (1990s cable access show quality) video.





Did I mention it works just dandy with mego figures? 




And just to prove how cool a toy this is, my daughter has asked to play with it twice this week. I'm not made of stone.

There are more in this series, one even features a wood panelled office, hopefully i can find them.