1981 Toys R Us Flyer

Toys R Us is one of the last toy chains we have left and the only one featured on this site that is actually still around. This flyer from December 1981 is a time capsule of what we could have expected under the tree, Barbies, Glamour gals, Atari games, Remco Monsters and Mego Superheroes.

It'll make you want to go shopping!

More Toy Store Flyers:

Childworld 1975

Childworld 1981

1975 Toys R Us

Christmas Adventure

Adventure People were a Christmas staple for me from '75 to '79, I'm not sure I ever even asked for them but they were welcome. The hours I spent playing with sets 1 through 3 probably outnumbered the amount I studied in college, so more than nine hours...

Other Fisher Price Links

The pointer suit

A pointer suit man knows how to treat a lady, especially when she's good 'n hammered. 

76 Superheroes

This page from Simpsons is pretty much all I thought about in 1976, Big Jim P.A.C.K, GI Joe Super Adventure Team and Mego Superheroes, throw in monsters and sandwiches and that's the brain patterns of six year old me.

I think it's ironic that the Mego heroes are so small on this page, their popularity influenced both Joe and Jim to change their looks and by 1977, they were the only ones left.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I own 99% of this page as an adult collector now.  They are my happy place...

Canadian Star Wars

Or as I called it Star Wars, this page from 1979 shows a lot of the unique Star Wars items that could be found north of the US border.  From the cardboard deathstar to the regal plush ending with the (very collectible) cheap-o utility belts that recycled some pieces from Remco.

I want to add that I never partook in any of those unique items as a kid, not that I'm complaining (I did great!) but I just find it kind of funny.

The Incredible Dr Steel Commercial

Today is an epic day for Plaidstallions.  I finally tracked down the film reel to a commercial that has haunted me since 1975 and I get to share it with all of you.

 I remember it vividly, watching Space:1999 on my parent's black and white TV when this commercial aired. Already a fan of the Big Jim toy line, the concept of a villian (although he really isn't clearly defined as such) just captivated me. I needed this toy, I had to have it!

Sadly, my mother took one look at that bald head and tattoo and nixed the whole thing. It's another thread in the tapestry of why I'm a toy collector and also probably explains why I have no tattoos.
While I finally did get that Dr Steel, tracking down this ad makes me even happier. I'll be including it free with my DVD package going forward.

More Big Jim than you can handle!

The exciting suspender pant!

Forget those other boring suspender pants, these are the real deal. Why, you can already hear those panties hitting the dance floor!

79 Micronauts love

I love old Christmas catalogs, I love Micronauts but the 1979 Sears Canada catalog will always be a favourite of mine as it holds a special place in my heart.

My Micronaut love really piqued in 1979, spurred on by those glow in the dark aliens with gorgeous Ken Kelly package art. However, the real reason I love this catalog is that I used it's graphics for a detailed letter to Santa, probably my last and the only one still in my possession:

I didn't get everything on that wishlist (although I have most of it now save for the cat calendar and the remote controlled sand crawler.) I clipped a lot of images out of that wishbook but some were lost to time. Whenever I look at this thing, it brings me back to that great time.

Roadstars:1999

Road stars were a fun little series of cheap diecast vehicles that used popular licenses like Spider-Man, Archie, Hogan's Heroes (!) and Space:1999.

There is a lot wrong with this card, in today's world these would all have to be shipped back to the manufacturer or destroyed. First, Space:1999 isn't a Hanna Barbera production, secondly, this isn't a Hawk transporter, it's an Eagle. Hawks were only used in one episode and LJN never made one. They did however make the moon buggy and an alien craft from a memorable episode, more on those later.

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. We're offering a big bundle at the Mego Museum mall that includes Rack Toys and other items at a terrific price, it makes a great Christmas present!

Meanwhile on the coolest planet ever...

Here is the coolest pic you will see all day, make it your happy place.

Wishbook-A-Rama!

Seeing as it's December (which I'm actually surprised about, seriously where the hell did November go?) and this site is about catalogs, I am launching "Wishbook-A-Rama". Each week I'll post different Christmas catalog spreads, some you've seen, some you haven't and we can all make our respective wish lists. This will be combined with the usual Fashion mockery, rack toys and podcastery. I'll even have a Cyber Monday special for the first time in my life.

Enjoy and happy holidays.

-bRaIN

Pod Stallions 11: Flash-Ahhhh!

Well, the subject of this episode can't really be a surprise to anyone who has listened in the past. 

Episode 11 is dedicated to Flash Gordon, not just the (wonderful) file from 1980 but the character itself and our first introductions to him, either from serial or the amazing Filmation animated series.

We delve into the merchandise (and lack therefore of), the fact that we initially bonded over this film, the soundtrack, Get Carter and the singing career of Peter Wyngarde.

Download the Show Here

Listen here

Show Links:

• Filmation's Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of all is on Youtube, see it while you can!
• The Mattel Flash Gordon figure line was awesome but could have used some ladies.
• Mego made a wonderful line of figures based on the Alex Raymond artwork.
• The amazing theme to "Get Carter" by Roy Budd
• These puffy stickers are some of the only merchandise for the 1980 film.
• The Alex Ross cover to the DVD release of Flash Gordon that Jason had a hand in.
• The Italian Prince Barin play suit Jason mentioned on the show
• The custom Rocket Sled for Bif Bang Pow figures.
• Peter Wyngarde who played Klytus also released some records, here is Neville Thumbcatch, if there is one thing you do today, click that link.
• Flash Gordon Paint by Numbers set based on the Filmation show.
• This Ming Pistol by Mattel may be the rarest item Jason owns.
• The TV version of The Spirit starring Sam Jones is now available from Warner Archive.

Plenty more content on the PodStallions Facebook page!

PODSTALLIONS ON ITUNES
PODSTALLIONS RSS FEED

Space World Ray Gun

1979 is a candy land if you like vague Star Wars knock offs, the card art on this one features the love child of Harrison Ford and Martin Landau. I honestly prefer stuff like this to licensed Star Wars merchandise and that's saying a lot.

The Night Owl

For the man in your life who wants to look like a cruise director on Buck Rogers.

Land of the Lost Cosmic Signal

There is so little Land of the Lost merchandise out there (specifically Sleestak related stuff) that I covet all the rack toys that were produced. The majority of them were from the Larami stable and repeated ad nauseum for any ol' license but that's ok because the card art kind of makes up for that right? right?

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. It would make an ideal Christmas present as well.

Introducing Satin Monster

Presenting the latest release by Odeon Toys, Satin Monster, one of our mascots,  is a limited edition 8 inch action figure in the 70s Mego style. He comes complete with genuine vintage threads (real thrift store clothing was murdered to create each figure) and packed with more manliness than is allowed in the state of Tennessee. 



Every one of the ten action figures comes on this clamshell card, so he can be displayed MOC or..




To be life of all your man-doll parties. Warning, all your other action figures will be jealous or possibly pregnant.

Special thanks to Steve M for the fabric, David Lee for the head work and the amazing Theressa for the sew magic!

Limited to ten units, Satin Monster will be available on the Ebay and at the Mego Museum mall. Once they're gone, they're gone!

Coming in January:

Mattel Spin Welder Commercial

This is another commercial I recently had converted (and now giving away with my DVD sets). I don't have much to say about Spin Welder other than it's a cool concept and my parents would never have let me have it. The font in it's logo was used more famously by Mego for the Micronauts line.

 Link to commercial on youtube here.

the people's champion

Muhammed Ali was one of my earliest heroes as a kid, I religiously watched his cartoon series and I was first in line to watch him punch Superman.

I must have never run into his action figure because I never owned one, with my dad being a boxing fan, this would have been an easy work too...

Added Bonus, The Canadian commercial for these toys in French:

Kings among men

Let me know who is king of the  bungalow with a bold ensemble that roars with confidence. These men never have to take out the trash....

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.