Heather Toupin says she dictated the list to her grandfather. The “Kitten????” is priceless. I was stoked to see the Star Rider, a cool toy that was made only for a couple of years. Glow in the dark Shrinky Dinks were a thing.
Archive for the 'Christmas' Category
Christmas Morning, 1978: Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and Adventure People
Published December 3, 2015 Adventure People , Battlestar Galactica , Christmas , Christmas Morning , Fisher-Price , Kenner Toys , Mattel Toys , Spider-Man , Star Wars (Original Trilogy) 7 Comments
Another shot starring the Death Star and the Daredevil Sports Van, not to mention all the major Battlestar Galactica vehicles, via Darrick Bachman. I also see a Tie Fighter, a die-cast X-Wing Fighter package, a Spider-Man Mobile Crime Lab (below, via Jon Knutson), and a Nylint Trail Blazer (below, via eBay).
Christmas Morning, 1978: Star Wars and Adventure People
Published December 3, 2015 Adventure People , Christmas , Christmas Morning , Fisher-Price , Kenner Toys , Star Wars (Original Trilogy) 7 Comments
The kid fondling the Death Star, as his brothers look on a little enviously, is Stephen Fry. That’s Kenner’s Stretch Octopus in the pink and orange box, and you can also see the Adventure People Daredevil Sports Van, first released in 1978. Fisher-Price’s Adventure People may be the greatest action figure line of all time. There, I said it.
Christmas Morning, 1984 and 1985: G.I. Joe Headquarters Command Center and M.A.S.K. Boulder Hill Playset
Published December 2, 2015 '80s Decor/Design/Fashion , Christmas , Christmas Morning , G.I. Joe , M.A.S.K. 1 Comment
The happy kid is Bo Nash. Competition among toy lines, particularly lines geared to boys, was never fiercer than in the ’80s. Despite the shrinking middle class, parents continued to save up and shell out to make their kids happy. My mom would often put toys and other Christmas gifts on layaway in the middle of the year, or even earlier, so that they would be paid off by Christmas. M.A.S.K. is after my time, and clearly derivative of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, but Kenner didn’t disappoint: the toys and package design are excellent.
Christmas Morning, 1985: Sectaurs Hyve Action Play Set and M.A.S.K. Boulder Hill Playset
Published December 2, 2015 '80s Decor/Design/Fashion , Christmas , Christmas Morning , Kenner Toys , Sectaurs 1 Comment
Nice loot, Kris Klinge. I dig those sofas, too.
P.S. The art on the Hyve box is incredible. I’m not sure who painted it, but I’ll look into it.
Christmas Morning, 1983: The Saga of Crystar – Crystal Castle (Remco, 1983)
Published November 30, 2015 '80s Decor/Design/Fashion , Christmas , Christmas Morning , Fantasy Toys/Playsets , Remco Toys 4 Comments
Christmas Toy Aisle Zen, 1983
Published November 30, 2015 Christmas , Dimensions for Children (DFC) , Kenner Toys , Remco Toys , Star Wars (Original Trilogy) , Toy Stores/Toy Aisles/Toy Departments 1 Comment
The store is a K-Mart in Billings, Montana, and I’m only going to name one of the toys I see, other than the gorgeous, underrated Crystar figures the kid is holding: there are Dragonriders of the Styx figures hanging on the rack in front of him. You guys name the rest.
‘Tis the season. Visit posts of Christmas past here.
(Photo via the Billings Gazette)
Happy Holidays to all! Have fun and be safe. I’ll be back on January 5th.
(Ad is from a 1964 Chicago Tribune TV Guide, via Rick Goldschmidt)
Christmas Morning, Circa 1981: Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
Published December 24, 2014 Christmas , Christmas Morning , D&D 2 Comments
Dr. Glaze wins Christmas!
Christmas Morning, 1978: S.T.A.R. Team’s Knight of Darkness
Published December 23, 2014 '70s Decor/Design/Fashion , Christmas , Christmas Morning , Ideal Toys , Micronauts , S.T.A.R. Team 4 Comments
Rick Shithouse sent in this shot of him in Torquay, Victoria, Australia on what he believes is Christmas, 1978.
I remember being highly excited as this was my first Star Wars Christmas, and I’m pretty sure I got some action figures and the remote control R2D2. Kind of hard to pick out what else I got that year however, because my birthday’s in early December, so those early years kind of blur between both gift receiving days.
I’m holding an Ideal Knight Of Darkness, which my parents thought was Darth Vader. My disappointment about this when I corrected them is still clearly in my expression…
The Micronauts Aquatron is on the table next to him, and I see Bert and Ernie dolls as well. Pictures of the major prizes, via the Star Wars Collectors Archive and all-things-Micronauts collector Chuck, are below.
2 Warps to Neptune 