The Toys Time Forgot

About a month ago, I went to a vintage toy store in Canal Fulton, OH called The Toys Time Forgot. I nearly had a nerdgasm when I walked in there. My wife had went there around Christmastime to buy me some presents (see pics here) and the only other time I'd been there was probably about 15 or more years ago. I spent way too much time just admiring all of the wonderful collectibles (my wife was waiting in the car) and I finally walked out of there with three Marvel Legends Hulk figures and a bunch of packs of Star Wars and Battle of the Planets trading cards. I dealt with the owner (who is a great guy) and think I got a pretty good deal. They graciously allowed me to take some photos with my cell phone. The one thing I wish I would have photographed was a set of Funny Face mugs with pitcher. If you're ever in NE Ohio, I highly recommend visiting this store.

Wow! A Marx Creature from the Black Lagoon and a Mummy Soaky.



All kinds of great action figures here. Ideal STAR Team Zem 21 and Knight of Darkness. Battlestar Galactica Colonial Warrior. Buck Rogers Tigerman. Pulsar and his nemesis Hypnos. V alien. I still have a Zem 21 and my brothers Pulsar.



Jigglers! I had the Mummy.



Marvel Legends.

Statues and busts galore.



Poor Howdy Doody has been lynched! I had this ventriloquist dummy when I was a youngin'.

MEGOs!!!!



Holy crap! A carded Aqualad (although the back of the card was cut open).

I love Shogun Warriors!



These Groovie Goolies statues are awesome!



G.I. Joe. I still have pieces of Mike Power, Atomic Man.

DC Super Powers Collection and Mego Pocket Super Heroes.



This one's for my brother. The Fantastic Four.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I've been having some personal issues lately and I just haven't been up to blogging. But, I wanted to stop by and wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day. To celebrate, here's a video put together by Crazy Sexy Geeks a couple of years ago. It's all about Irish super heroes. Have fun and don't drink too much green beer!

Ralph McQuarrie, R.I.P.

From The Verge --

Artist Ralph McQuarrie has passed away at the age of 82. One of the primary visual forces behind the original Star Wars trilogy, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, McQuarrie created the original designs for such iconic characters as Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO. Before partnering with George Lucas, McQuarrie had worked illustrating movie posters and creating artwork for CBS News. He collaborated with Steven Spielberg several times, including on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and eventually won an Academy Award for his work on Cocoon. Contributing illustrations and conceptual drawings to video games, books, advertising campaigns, and numerous other projects over the years, it's no stretch to say that McQuarrie influenced science-fiction sensibilities for an entire generation. For a further look at his prolific body of work, you can visit McQuarrie's site or Facebook page.

The Force Is Strong With Me!

This past weekend, the wife and I went to see the new Ghost Rider movie. Here's my review: it's not a great movie, but I thought it was kinda fun. Great review, right? Anyhoo, in the theater lobby was a huge display for Star Wars: TPM 3D with one of those standee things that you can put your face in. Of course I had to do it. I handed my embarrassed wife my phone and asked her to take a picture. I think it was meant for children, because I had to stoop down to put my face in it and you can see most of my body sticking out. Oh well, it was still awesome!

Davy Jones, R.I.P.

This makes me very sad. He was way too young. My brother and I used to listen to the Monkees all the time when we were young. R.I.P. Davy!

From USA Today --

Davy Jones, the mop-topped leader of 1960s pop band The Monkees, died Wednesday of a massive heart attack. Jones was 66.

His publicist, Helen Kensick, said the singer died in Indiantown, Fla., where he lived.

With an infectious smile and easy humor, the diminutive Briton played the Paul McCartney role in the Beatles-inspired quartet, which also included Peter Tosh, Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith.

Jones sang lead on some of the group's biggest hits, including Last Train to Clarksville and I'm a Believer.

Jones, who like his bandmates had continued to perform, had dates scheduled for March.

Formed in 1966 by Hollywood producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, The Monkess quickly stormed radio and TV airwaves with a string of chart-topping songs that went on to sell an estimated 65 million copies worldwide.

"There were certain indelible images we had of The Monkees, and that was Mike's cap, Micky's goofy looks and Davy's cuteness," says Phil Gallo, senior correspondent at Billboard. "Of all of them, Davy's character was the softest. He was the nice guy, the crowd pleaser."

Gallo recalls being a kid in the 1960s, "collecting Batman cards, then graduating to Monkees cards, way before I got into baseball cards. They were the very first boy band, when you think about it."

Jones was born Dec. 30, 1945, in Manchester, England. His long hair and British accent helped him achieve heartthrob status in the United States.

According to The Monkees website, Monkees.com, he left the band in late 1970. In the summer of 1971, he recorded a solo hit Rainy Jane and made a series of appearances on American variety and television shows, including Love American Style and The Brady Bunch.

By the mid-1980s, Jones teamed up Tork, Dolenz and promoter David Fishof for a reunion tour. Their popularity prompted MTV to re-air The Monkees series, introducing the group to a new audience.

In 1989, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the late 1990s, the group filmed a special called Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees.

Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and four daughters from previous marriages.

Funny Valentines

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with Topps Funny Valentines. Here's a description and pictures from an old Hake's Auction --

"Topps issued its first Funny Valentines set in 1959 followed by a second set in 1960. All cards are 2.5x3.5” with fronts featuring sweet Valentine greeting while backs have a humorous twist. Cards include art by Jack Davis."

10th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards!!

Since 2002 the Rondos have been fandom's only true classic horror award. They are decided by fans, for fans. Every Rondo nominee is being recognized for a significant achievement in the genre during the year of 2011.

Click the link below and vote now!

Rondo Awards

Coming Soon! KISS Retro Style Action Figures!

This is cool news. I still have my Mego Gene Simmons figure from the 70s. Never had the other guys though. Hopefully I can at least get the new 8 inch figures.

Figures Toy Company to Release Retro 8 and 12 inch KISS Action Figures

Tampa, Fl- January 27, 2012 - Finally!! "You Want It You Got It" "The Hottest Band in the World" "KISS"

KISS Collectors, Rock Fans get ready. Figures Toy Company is about to introduce KISS action figures, reminiscent of the action figures first released in 1977-1978 by the Mego Toy Company. These figures will have rooted hair, cloth clothing, 16 points of articulation and for the first time will be available in 8 inch as well as a re-release of the 12 inch.

CFO Anthony Balasco states, "I never understood why 8 inch KISS action figures were not produced back in the 1970's when The Mego Toy Company had already released the 12 inch versions. Our first release will have the retro look from the 1970's, but future releases will cover all time periods in KISS's 40 year musical career from 1972 to 2012". Look for special exclusives and limited edition releases. Collectors will be able to find these at toy stores, comic shops, music stores and on-line retailers starting in March 2012.

The deal was brokered by Live Nation Merchandise, KISS's Global licensing agent.

Robert Hegyes, R.I.P.

From ABC News --

Robert “Bobby” Hegyes, best known for playing Juan Epstein on “Welcome Back Kotter,” died in his Metuchen, N.J. home today.

He was 60.

Hegyes’ brother told New Jersey’s Star-Ledger that Hegyes, who also starred on “Cagney and Lacey,” had suffered a heart attack a few years ago and was in poor health.

Police responded to a call for assistance at his home this morning.

They found Hegyes suffering from chest pains; he was taken to a hospital in Edison, N. J., but by the time he reached the emergency room, he went into full cardiac arrest and died, a hospital spokesman told the paper.

Hegyes wrote in a note on his website that he modeled the character of the scheming half-Jewish, half-Puerto Rican Epstein on Chico Marx, noting that all the Marx Brothers were both “intellectuals” and “juvenile delinquents,” adding, “I could definitely relate.”

He continued to act after that show and “Cagney and Lacey,” appearing on “NewsRadio,” “Diagnosis Murder” and “The Drew Carey Show.”

He also appeared in the movie Bob Roberts opposite Tim Robbins, taught acting and wrote screenplays. He, along with almost all the original cast members of Welcome Back Kotter, reunited last year at the TV Land Awards to mark the show’s 35th anniversary.

Marvel: Dangerous Divas Trading Cards

These cards came out in March 2011, but I didn't get a box of them until right before Christmas. And now, close to the end of January, I've finally sorted them out. I'm kinda slow. lol

Here's the description from the Rittenhouse Archives website --

MARVEL: DANGEROUS DIVAS TRADING CARDS are coming in March 2011, with at least one color sketch card in every box. This all-new series, limited to 8,000 sequentially-numbered boxes, will feature some of the sexiest and most dominant women in the Marvel Universe!

More than 100 artists will bring their talents to Marvel: Dangerous Divas sketch cards.

Rounding out the chase cards are several exciting sets including:

• 72-Card parallel set (1:3 packs)
• 12 Women of Marvel (1:8 packs)
• 9 Sultry Seductresses (1:12 packs)
• 9 Embrace (1:24 packs)

They are nice looking cards and feature some great characters. My only problem with the set is that the backs of the cards are all puzzle-backs. I don't mind puzzle-backs, but I would have preferred one card of each character with biographical info on it.

Here's the limited SketchaFEX Sketch Card I got in my box --

Scarlet Witch by Raimundo Nonato

It's an OK sketch, but she looks kind of cross-eyed. And the bottom of the card is damaged. It looks like the artist might have taped it down and damaged it when he removed the tape.