Surveying the Gen X landscape and the origins of geek
I don’t really need to say anything, do I?
There are some different pages and variations in the pre-toy fair catalog, including a spread of the mail-away Action Figure Display Arena. I didn’t think you’d mind if I posted that too.
I’ll shut up now. Happy Friday.
When I say Zen, I mean Zen. See all sixteen (sixteen!) enlargeable images at Kenner Collector, where I found them initially. They originate from Ron Salvatore at the Rebelscum Forums, where you can find details on origin and location. Salvatore co-edits and writes for the definitive Star Wars Collectors Archive.
Lots of other beloved toys to be seen, including the Star Bird Avenger and Mattel’s Battlestar Galactica Viper Launch Station.
A pool of drool is collecting on my desk.
Regular readers will know by now the legend of Mikey Walters. D&D module designer, video game programmer, filmmaker, and compelling interview subject, Mikey has recently unearthed some jaw-dropping home video of several Christmas mornings in the 1970s.
See Mikey caress the Death Star! See Mikey fire the Laser Rifle! See Mikey apply decals to the Tie Fighter, play Electroman with his awesome Dad (“Hi, Mom!”), test the crank of the Star Bird Command Base, from which he launches his Star Bird Avenger into the stars! It’s a video prelude to the photo I posted of Mikey last year.
Here’s another one. Christmas, 1976. Look at him go!
Toys seen here include the incredible Star Trek Mission to Gamma VI playset and a Star Trek Tricorder; The Six Million Dollar Man Mission Control Center and Bionic Transport and Repair Station; the Earthquake Tower (“World’s tallest playset!”); and—wait for it—the Space: 1999 Eagle 1.
See all the videos on Mikey’s YouTube channel, and read about Mikey’s memories of those mornings on his blog.
There was a time when our biggest worry was which amazing present to open first. Here it is, in living color.
The Star Rider is the only toy I know of that tries to simulate the experience of flying a spaceship. It was pricey (about $50) and, from what I can tell, was only produced in ’79 and ’80. This 1983 article describes the Star Rider as “a young child’s riding toy now being marketed by Playskool,” but it sounds like a mistake to me. There’s nothing in the catalogs after 1980. A very rare find today.
That’s Kenner’s Imperial Troop Transporter to the right of the Falcon.
(Photo via Jack Mayfield/Flickr)
Damn you, Benjamin Oderwald and Shuffle/Repeat!
(Note big brother’s Hulk socks in the second photo. What’s on his pajamas? It’s driving me nuts.)
We looked like idiots. You must realize.
I don’t collect toys. I collect good, clean, complete images of toys. It’s the closest I need or want to get to the prizes of my childhood. The goal, for me, is to reimagine—not relive.
The R2 unit above sold for $566 a couple of weeks ago on eBay. I’m not sure how much 3PO fetched.
It’s hard to believe now, but no one anticipated how massively successful Raiders of the Lost Ark was going to be. Kenner picked up the merchandising gig late, and the Raiders play sets and action figures didn’t appear until the second half of 1982—after E.T. was released. By then it was too late. Yo Joe!
Apparently looking through the mini headpiece on the mini Staff of Ra revealed the location of the ark in 3-D.
(Images via eBay)
My kingdom for a sound file. How many thousands of times did I squeeze this trigger?
2 Warps to Neptune 