Collectiblog

Forget the Tricks - Bring on the Treats!

TVLTheLink — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:52:36 GMT

Lisa Sutton discusses Dum Dums to Candy Corn in her new Collectiblog article, Forget the Tricks - Bring on the Treats!.

Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 10-28-2009 12:07 PM

Takin' Care of Blogging with Elvis

Lisa_Sutton — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:40:24 GMT

It's been 32 years since the passing of Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977 -- though in many ways he never left the building. The songs of Elvis are still played on the radio daily. He still sells more albums than many new artists, and people still flock to his famously decadent Memphis home, Graceland, for a glimpse of how he lived.

There's also a lot of Elvis memorabilia out there; more than enough to write a book about. There are genuine outfits and personal effects, plus there are countless other items manufactured with the iconic image of the man still thought of as the King of Rock. Badges, wallets, gum cards, and of course, the LP collection -- which accounts for around $1 billion in sales since their original release dates.

However, there's one item that I see as the singular stand out of all Elvis products manufactured: the TCB emblem. Elvis reportedly designed the logo and had 14k gold bracelets made for each member of his “Memphis Mafia”. He gave one to each of his band members along with his oath of “more self respect and respect for fellow man,” among other things.

I've always admired the insignia, which is essentially a Captain Marvel lightening bolt (a symbol for “do it quick”) and initials T, C & B suspended from a gold chain. I never knew the origin until recently. I know TCB stands for Taking Care of Business, but wasn't aware that it was initially derived from a 1968 Motown TV special of the same name -- not the 1973 BTO song as many people assume. I never knew before this year that TCB is also what Elvis called his band.

There are conflicting stories of how many were originally made, but it's said that 13 insignia bracelets were crafted for the inner circle (including The King himself). Over his lifetime, it is thought that Elvis bought close to 1,000 of the gold emblems from the original jeweler who crafted them. Every now and then an original piece of TCB jewelry comes up for auction, but they're almost indistinguishable from the countless commercially available variations. Currently, the logo appears on T-shirts, necklaces, earrings, key chains and even Elvis' signature sunglasses.

The TCB emblem was made for the men in Elvis' world, but he also made a TLC (Tender Loving Care) charm charm for the ladies in his life (and really, there were more than a few). Although I can appreciate the distinction, I personally choose to wear my own TCB necklace, and wear it proudly in memory of the greatest rock icon of all time.

Message Edited by Lisa_Sutton on 08-28-2009 03:46 PM

Goodbye, Gumby, Goodbye

Lisa_Sutton — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:57:24 GMT

There have been a lot of high-profile deaths in the entertainment world lately. The news touches each one of us in a different way, yet generally brings back a stream of memories based on our association with that famous name. The name Dallas McKennon will not necessarily bring on the flood of emotion that other recent celebrity passings have caused, but for me, hearing that the voice of Gumby had passed made me more than a little sad.

Gumby was actually voiced by several different VO artists, starting with Norma McMillon (a.k.a. Casper the Friendly Ghost) and Dicky Beals (Speedy Alka-Seltzer), but McKennon was the classic voice from 1959 to 1964. When Gumby was revived in the '80s it was Dal McKennon who supplied the voice as well. McKennon also took on the voices of Pokey and Prickle, a task he shared with Gumby creator Art Clokey.

Gumby first debuted in 1957 and ever since has remained a pop culture favorite. The clay animation series had several resurgences in popularity over the years and spawned many products. The first, of course, was the bendy Gumby figures, which remain the staple of the Gumby collection. There have been dozens of variations on the Gumby figures over time and they're still available today (individually and in sets). In the '60s, you could buy some great action outfits to go with your Gumby, an idea that was revived in the '90s with "The Incredible Adventures of Gumby" line. There were board games, books, coloring books, puppets, bop bags and a long list of others.

The '80s saw a huge Gumby revival, possibly spurred by Eddie Murphy's characterization of Gumby on Saturday Night Live. Gumby T-Shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, plush dolls, watches, badges, buttons and videos were bought and sold as fast as they could be produced. To this day, you can still find current products featuring Gumby, plus his buddies Pokey, Prickle, Goo and the Blockheads. I personally remain ever vigilant on my search for any thing featuring Nopey, Gumby's contrarian pooch who could only say, well, "nope." Anyone out there got the goods?

Message Edited by Lisa_Sutton on 07-29-2009 11:00 AM

Happy Anniversary, SpongeBob!

Lisa_Sutton — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:54:51 GMT

Imagine, if you will, a pineapple. Not just any pineapple, but one that is located under the sea. Alright, if you've read this far, you've already know where I'm going: right to the sub-aquatic town of Bikini Bottom and the home of the world's most famous sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants.

It's hard to believe the ubiquitous sponge is celebrating his 10th year on the air. That not only represents a lifetime in kid years, but a hefty challenge for a collector with an appreciation for TV-inspired kitsch.

I first became interested in the effervescent yellow rectangle while seated in my dentist's chair. He has (and for the past decade HAS had) a shelf of SpongeBob SquarePants tchotchkes to give to the little ones for enduring their teeth cleanings. For years I've wanted to ask for the SpongeBob sippy cup, but have continually settled for the hopelessly generic floss samples saved for adults. Not surprisingly, saving face with my dentist lead me to the local toy store where a virtual tidal wave of SpongeBob products can be purchased for far less than the price of a hygienic cleaning.

SpongeBob was a hit with kids and adults alike from the time the series premiered on July 17, 1999. By 2000, kids (and less mature adults like myself) could start picking up plush SpongeBobs, T-shirts, key chains and a barnacle load of other trinkets. Today, a simple search turns up more than 350 separate items.

Since I am a lover of vintage items, some of my must-haves are boxed games and toys based on things I also loved as a kid; SpongeBob Ants in the Pants, SpongeBob Lego and the SpongeBob Plastigoop kits that remind me of my Mattel Fun Flowers with all the goofy faces and bright colors. SpongeBob Monopoly is a hoot whether it be the board game or the electronic version. And who can resist playing "Operation" with a SpongeBob theme?

As a fan of great commercials, I had to archive the recent Burger King ads with the creepy King dancing to "I Like Square Butts," advertising SpongeBob kids' meals. Though the ads may be a speck more adult than some thought they should be, the toys are pretty cool. SpongeBob has turned up many times at Burger King over the years, so there are a quite a variety of these little keepsakes floating around.

I think the ultimate in all SpongBob tie-ins has to be the SpongeBob roller coaster at the Mall of America. For those who can't make it out to the world's biggest indoor mall, SpongeBob bounce houses are available for your next party. Had I been asked to design it, I may have opted for a giant pineapple, shape but for pure bouncy fun, the rectangle shape will do.

After a decade of SpongeBob, there's a long list of items I'd like to add to my collection: camera, bedding, pajamas, costume and sno cone maker and, of course, the 10th Anniversary Play-Doh Playset. I look forward to the challenge as the list continues to grow, right along with the phenomenon of SpongeBob SquarePants.

What's your favorite SpongeBob collectible?

Message Edited by Lisa_Sutton on 07-10-2009 07:55 AM

Remembering Farrah

Lisa_Sutton — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:26:03 GMT

It is with great sadness that I reflect on the passing of Farrah Fawcett, who died at a Santa Monica hospital this morning. She was 62.

Although it was commonly known that she was battling colon cancer for the past two and a half years (recently documented in the jarring NBC special Farrah's Story, which was viewed by 9 million people) it still hurts to lose someone so culturally significant. Fawcett wasn't merely an actress or a starlet, but a symbol of youth and beauty. She was as much an icon as a person, loved for reasons as varied as her numerous fans.

The sparkling Texas beauty arrived in Hollywood in the late '60s and almost immediately found herself garnering small parts on shows like I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun and The Partridge Family. She turned heads in the outlandish cinematic farce Myra Breckenridge (which also starred a pre-famous Tom Selleck) in 1970, and, not surprisingly, was singled out that same year by Look Magazine as a face to watch. They couldn't have been more right.

Fawcett married actor Lee Majors in 1973, while still building her burgeoning resume, which included four appearances on her then-husband's show The Six Million Dollar Man. She had appeared in a number of TV commercials earlier in the decade (most notably for "creaming" Joe Namath's face for Noxema) but her 1975 gig as the Wella Balsam girl led to a paradigm shift in the world of pop culture.

Based on the shampoo ads, the Pro Arts poster company hired Farrah to pose for a pin-up. The poster was released right around the same time Charlie's Angels, her first blockbuster series, debuted. The combination was explosive. Suddenly, Fawcett was catapulted past the status of "It Girl" and directly to international star. Almost what seemed like overnight, everyone wanted anything associated with the glamour girl -- her poster ended up on a record-setting 12 million walls.

Fawcett's feathered coif became the hairstyle of the decade, far surpassing the Jackie O or the Dorothy Hamill by leaps and bounds. The combination of her wildly popular "jiggle" TV show and the iconic poster was magic, and her image was quickly merchandised in every imaginable format. Dolls, purses, shampoo, jewelry, T-shirts and countless magazines -- ranging from gossip rags to teen ‘zines -- flew off the shelves. A personal favorite from the era was the unlicensed "Farrah's Fawcetts," spigot-shaped pendants that were sold in the back of the tabloids and in gumball machines at the height of her fame.

It's hard to think of Fawcett without thinking of the fresh-faced, fluffy-coiffed sex symbol of the ‘70s, but part of the phenomenon of Farrah was that she was able to transcend the hype and reinvent herself as a serious actress. Although legions of fans were disappointed when she opted out of Charlie's Angels after its first season, the decision proved wise as it led her to the more serious roles she desired. After getting her feet wet in a few lighter cinematic roles, Fawcett proved she was a true talent in 1984 with her Emmy-nominated portrayal of a battered woman in The Burning Bed.

Her equally dramatic part in the Broadway play "Extremities" (and the subsequent film adaptation in 1986) left no doubt that Fawcett was more than just a pretty face. As recently as 2003, she was still gaining accolades for her dramatic prowess with her guest spot on The Guardian, which also earned her an Emmy nomination. Always more self-aware than she may have seemed, Farrah appeared in TV Land's seven-part reality series, Chasing Farrah, and more recently allowed her illness to be the subject of the documentary A Wing and a Prayer: The Fight for Farrah's Life.

There are stars, there are divas and, less frequently, there are pop-culture phenomenons. Fawcett was all of these. In fact, she exceeded all definable terms and will remain an icon of such huge proportions that will never be forgotten, and forever be missed.

Photos courtesty Getty Images Entertainment and Wire Images.

Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 06-25-2009 02:05 PM

Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 06-25-2009 02:32 PM

Returning to Land of the Lost

Lisa_Sutton — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:57:54 GMT

Like many people who grew up at the tail end of the Baby Boom and beyond, my Saturday mornings were always spent watching one Sid and Marty Krofft show or another. I was savvy enough at an early age to recognize these shows as cheap and juvenile... even though I myself was fairly juvenile when the best-known ones debited. But that didn't matter. They were colorful and engaging, and had an unexplainable charm regardless of their low budgets.

Earlier Krofft shows like Lidsville and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters were on the silly side, but Land of the Lost , with its time travel and magic crystals, actually stood out as a solid piece of Science Fiction Fantasy that transcended its Saturday AM roots. Because of its combination of retro cheese and moviegoer's fascination with dinosaurs, this summer's big-screen remake will most likely be a big hit.

The first time around, Land of the Lost was so popular it lasted three seasons on NBC. That was unheard of at a time when most kiddie shows made 16 episodes that ran endlessly until the following fall, never to be heard from again. It was also popular enough to warrant the release of many tie-in items that are now quite collectible.

In the '70s, having a lunch box is the ultimate symbol of success in the kid market, and Land of the Lost had one. There was also a second Land of the Lost lunchbox two decades later when The New Land of the Lost debuted on ABC in 1991. Though harder to find, the later one was merely mold-injected plastic with an illustrated decal of the show's logo and some dinos. The '70s model featured action scenes with Will, Holly and Chaka fighting Grumpy, the T-Rex and was way cooler. There's also a trio of Sleestaks depicted on the side. And speaking of Sleestaks, one of my all-time favorite Halloween costumes was that of a Sleestak. I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt that way, as I hear there will be a new Sleestak costume available this coming Halloween. Very scary! I'll probably just stick with the Sleestak Bobblehead.

There were the requisite coloring books, puzzle and board game, but Land of the Lost also spawned a series of carded toys of the dime-store variety including a plastic pinball machine, plastic telescope and "Time Machine" (also known to the less imaginative as a toy watch.) There was also a View Master and Give-A-Show Projector film-strip as well. These days, you can by the whole DVD set, but back in 1974, these two items were the only way you could watch your favorite Saturday morning characters at a will.

While the original Land of the Lost memorabilia is generally harder to find, the New Land of the Lost had the benefit of being after the post Star-Wars toy licensing renaissance. There were action figures, bendies, wind-up toys and plush dolls. There were also VHS tapes of the episodes (remember those ancient relics?) along with the fanfare generated by the theatrical release, will hopefully appear for the first time on DVD. In the meantime, the original series which was reissued in a collectible lunchbox.

The new movie will no doubt spawn some collectibles. There already is a set of collector cards and drink cups at Subway sandwich stores as well as T-Shirts and posters popping up. I've also seen a very creepy Chaka backpack. Subway even transformed a Santa Monica, California branch into its own virtual Land of the Lost. For those prefer collectables for the modern world, the Land of the Lost movie web site offers ring tones.

I'm generally not a fan of remakes of classic TV shows, though I believe the new Land of the Lost movie has the right sentiment. With the creative participation of Sid and Marty Krofft, it retains essence of the original while adding the benefits of modern filmmaking. The fact that Sid Krofft has Enik's original crystals built into the staircase of his wonderful tree house home in the Hollywood Hills is proof enough that these guys really care about their work. And, after seeing the fabulous and warmly received tribute made to the Kroffts at the 2009 TV Land Awards, I believe the world is ready to ride down the waterfall again.

Where No Collectiblog Has Gone Before

Lisa_Sutton — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:55:24 GMT

The recent opening of the new Star Trek movie sent my mind reeling, doing cartwheels remembering the opening of the one that started it all: Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

I admit it. I've always been some kind of a Trekkie. Yes, a Trekkie and NOT a Trekker. There is a difference. Trekkers can go ahead and scoff, though my personal fandom started long before there was even such a distinction. Star Trek was the first TV show I ever saw in color, and I will never forget that horrible Salt Vampire and its horrible little suction-cupped fingers, which I glimpsed when I boarded the Star Ship Enterprise for the very first time.

Not long after my introduction to the world of living color and the final frontier, I saw a toy phaser for sale at a local variety store. Though I'd gaze at it longingly each time my mother brought me into Woodburry's 5 and 10 to shop for her sundries, I never quite developed the courage to ask for it. By then, Star Trek was off the air, and it was, after all a boy toy. It would have been wrong for me to want to play with the little plastic pistol that shot neon disks that could probably be set to stun (especially if you got someone in the eye with one of the discs.)

It wasn't until a few years later that I was initiated into the active word of Trek Toys. By the time I was in 6th grade, I was reading books like The Making of Star Trek and watching the show daily in reruns. I must have worn my love of Trek on my sleeve. Because for my 12th birthday, a friend bought me a Klingon Battle Cruiser model kit. Though I was woefully inept at assembling it (and had NO clue how to paint the black plastic kit grey like it was supposed to be) I proudly displayed it in my bedroom at a time when, if I were like most girls, I would have been swooning over David Cassidy. Around that time, I also ordered a genuine Tribble from the back of the Star Trek Fan Club Newsletter.

A few years later, Trek mania had grown to unprecedented proportions. A cartoon series helped quell the desire for new Trek adventures, and an endless stream of novels was published. The Mego company released a set of dolls and a matching Enterprise play set, but at this point I was far too self-conscious to pay with a Spock doll... no matter how much I wanted it. I merely settled for gazing at my Star Trek calendar and studying my Star Fleet Academy Handbook.

News of a proposed Star Trek movie was long discussed in these newsletters. At the time, it seemed like a fantasy since it had never been done before. Not only was the idea of a movie based on a TV show absurd, but adapting it from a failed one was even more preposterous. The anticipation was beyond measure as it became a reality. A small group of us, including a few alums from our junior high Star Trek Club, waited in a long line on opening night. One (not me, I swear!) made a Tribble costume out of a pink toilet seat cover and bathmat she stole from her parents.

Around the time the movie was released, so were McDonald's Star Trek Happy Meals. The girl who dressed like a Tribble and I started going to McDonald's daily to collect all the box variations and toys that came with them. There were so many types of rings, wristbands, games and stickers we never came close to completing a set -- though we saved a giant stack of boxes in her bedroom that went halfway from the floor to the ceiling.

Besides Happy Meals, there were merely a few items made to merchandise Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The pinball machine was the grandest, and a semi-plush Spock doll was perhaps the most sublime. There were dolls of Ilea, the bald crewmate played beautifully by the late Persis Khambatta and I believe a doll representing Commander Decker, played by Seventh Heaven's Stephen Collins. There was a new Enterprise model kit and a Star Trek: The Motion Picture lunch box. There were also tons of comic books, coloring books and posters. It was pretty amazing and the start of a major franchise. Even though the movie itself was somewhat of a cinematic disappointment, the merch seemed to fly off the shelves as the box office tally topped out at over $80 million.

I haven't seen the new movie yet, but I will. I'm a little saddened that there will be no Happy Meal to go with it, though I know there will be tons of new merchandise to consider. No doubt, there is more to come as the franchise will live long and prosper.

Thank You for Being Our Friend, Bea

Lisa_Sutton — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:42:27 GMT

Bea Arthur, star of stage, screen and television passed away April 25 at her L.A. home at the age of 86. According to a family spokesperson, she died from cancer.

As a fan of classic TV, I'm always saddened at the passing of a familiar name and a familiar face, but hearing of the death of Bea Arthur struck me a little harder than the average celebrity. She always stood out as someone special. Her strong persona and unmistakable dry humor made Bea Arthur more than just a star -- it made her a pop culture icon.

Arthur started her career as Broadway and off-Broadway actress, and became famous as Yenta the Matchmaker in the original Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof." Yep, she appears on the original soundtrack album from 1964. She later won a Tony Award for playing Vera Charles in "Mame" in 1966 and reprised the role 1974 on the big screen, opposite Lucille Ball. Although she reportedly felt Angela Lansbury deserved the role, Arthur remained diplomatic about the casting.

Arthur was already 50 years old when tapped to play Edith Bunker's cousin Maude Findlay on All in the Family, a guest appearance that resonated so strongly it won her the title role in the spin-off series. Maude ran from 1972 through 1978; it was definitely not your average sitcom, taking on weighty topics and adopting a larger-than-life attitude to play the bossy and politically outspoken lead character. Arthur seemed made for the role with her quick and equally dark wit. When Maude said "God will get you for that," you believed it. One icy stare from Bea made you believe -- and that was part of her comic genius.

There were so many memorable moments from Maude, though the most famous episode was the most controversial: A middle-aged Maude Findlay decides to have an abortion rather than becoming a mother at her advanced age. It was a heartfelt performance, which was groundbreaking and realistic. The subject matter has never been explored in the way it was in that show, and Arthur deserves recognition for her willingness to participate in such a monumentally risky role.

Eventually, she was rewarded with a well-deserved Emmy Award for playing Maude in 1977, the show's fifth season. Although she opted out during the sixth season, she surprisingly agreed to appear singing and dancing in a surreal segment of the legendary 1978 "Star Wars Holiday Special." For that I'm particularly thankful.

At an age when most actresses are reflecting on their glory days, Arthur was cast in what would become her second signature role, and perhaps even more popularly remembered one as Dorothy Zbornak in The Golden Girls, which ran in primetime from 1985 to 1992. The phenomenon of that series defies explanation, as it fit no set demographic and would most likely be impossible to sell in today's youth and reality-obsessed media.

Surprisingly, many of the Golden Girls' biggest fans are too young to have seen Maude in its heyday, though they loved and related to the irritable, facetious and somewhat abused Dorothy. Arthur channeled the best of what she learned from playing Maude while still creating a whole new character in Dorothy, and was subsequently awarded with her second Emmy in 1988.

One of her final public appearances was at the 2008 TV Land Awards, where she reunited with her Golden Girls castmates Betty White and Rue McClanahan to accept the Pop Culture Award.

Due in part to her acerbic wit and piercing glares (and maybe a little bit for her unique look), Arthur also became somewhat of a camp figure. It's hard not to laugh when thinking of Maude's pantsuits of Dorothy's towering frame, but Arthur was equally adored by many, and seemed to take even herself with a knowing sense of humor. The fact that her illness was kept private made her death all the more surprising and shocking to those who admired her. Arthur's legacy of laughter will linger on in reruns for years to come.

Peeps: Not Just for Easter Anymore

Lisa_Sutton — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:33:43 GMT

As long as I can remember, the ultimate sign that Easter was near was the annual reappearance of Peeps in the local pharmacy’s candy aisle. Their squishy presence always brings a smile to my inner child. Even though I’ve never been a huge consumer of marshmallow products, I’m a sucker for cute foodstuffs, and Peeps simply have the market cornered on cute.

According to various scholars of ancient candies, marshmallows date back to ancient Egypt, where the marsh mallow root grew. Coincidentally, ancient Egypt makes me think of Easter as well, since the annual network airing of The 10 Commandments often falls close to the Christian holiday as it generally is around Passover. But I digress… marsh mallow plants also grow freely near the banks of many a marsh (hence the prefix) in the eastern part of North America as well. Peeps are currently made of a more modern concoction of sugar and corn syrup, but they are practically ancient by modern standards. The pastry tube-squeezed chicks were invented in the 1920s by the Rodda Candy Company, but remained nameless until the Just Born company bought out Rodda in 1953 and cornered the market on commercial marshmallow production.

Although the yellow chicks are the cornerstone of the world of Peeps, the pink ones are a close second. In the 1960s, Peeps began to branch out and were made into green Christmas trees and orange pumpkins at Halloween. Over the years, with ever-increasing sales, Peeps chicks emerged in blue, green lavender, red and orange. In fact, marshmallow chicks, bunnies and tulips sell in such quantities each spring, the total production line could circle the earth (and possibly end world hunger if shared generously amongst the Peep-impoverished nations of the world.)

Some of the newer additions to the Peeps Empire are delicious chocolate-mousse bunnies and teddy bears. For those who can’t bear to bite the head off the cute little critters, Peeps (along with Applause toys) released a series of plush Peeps to put in your Easter basket. More mature fans of Peeps might want to look into the Lennox China Peeps for a charming variety of Peep-inspired ceramics.

Since the company’s motto is “Always in Season,” there are always new Peeps coming along, from Valentine’s hearts, Christmas snowmen, Halloween ghosts and bats plus a whole array of brightly colored Peeps can be found at the appropriate time of year. A the rate they’re going, it wont be long before there are Peeps to celebrate every holiday on the calendar. The official Peeps website offers a variety of recipes transforming Peeps into impossibly cute concoctions including my personal favorite, Peepsicles. Although it’s been said that dropping a Peep into a cup of hot cocoa is a taste sensatio n not to be missed, I believe that to be Peepicide -- and can’t help but wonder if Peeps Fondue is a touch more humane.

Although Peeps were meant to be eaten fresh, there are those who believe they should be kept until they get crunchy. I personally prefer not to eat them, but put them neatly in their packages on the shelf and admire them for what they represent -- all the sweet times in life.

What’s your favorite kind of Peeps?

I Pity the Fool Who Don't Love the A-Team

Lisa_Sutton — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:45:28 GMT

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was equally as excited and frightened when word came out recently of an A-Team feature film. Although I think the premise is sound enough to create a 70mm spectacular, I personally would prefer a cheesier reunion movie. I can see it: Faceman is worried he is losing his looks, B.A. is grumpier than ever, Hannibal is working on a plan… you get the drift.

Regardless of what happens with this new A-Team, there’s no doubt there will be merchandising. There were all kinds of A-Team toys and collectibles the first time around.

It always struck me as a little off-kilter that most of the A-Team items were aimed at younger fans, but I suppose the action and violence was of the comic-book variety and not terribly damaging to the psyches of the pre-teen viewers. After all, their older brothers were probably playing the same games with their G.I. Joes a few years before, so it’s only natural that there were a large variety of 6-inch and 3.5-inch action figures and accompanying vehicles to role-play with. There was a plastic Murdock, Faceman, B.A., Hannibal and even Amy Allen (whose face looks remarkably like that of Faceman). There were bad guys for them to fight, plus helicopters, trucks and of course, the A-Team Tactical Van.

Because Mr. T was the most cartoonish of the cast, B.A. got the star treatment when it came to merchandise. There was a larger Mr T./B.A. doll who was just tall enough to date a Barbie doll. Later, when Mr. T was actually given his own cartoon series on Saturday mornings, he got his own breakfast cereal. How cool is that? Of all the related merchandise, my favorite had to be Mr. T’s Water War, strange combination of throwbacks Toss Across and a Water Wiggle. A close second on my list is the Mr T. Chia Head that was made by TV Land as a promotional item when the A-Team came to the network.

Coloring books, sippy cups, board games and picture puzzles were among the many items that displayed the A-Team in some fashion. Of course there was a lunch box, Colorforms, slot cars and trading cards as well.

The A-Team lasted in prime time for five years, but will remain in the hearts and minds of action TV fans forever. And what better way to remember than with a shelf-full of A-Team toys?

I love it when a collection comes together.

Message Edited by Lisa_Sutton on 03-27-2009 10:47 AM

My Funny Valentine

Lisa_Sutton — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:01:03 GMT

Valentine’s Day can be difficult. Buying the right gift, getting the right gift, getting no gift at all… if not done just right, it can lead to a lot of disappointment. Rather than worrying about giving (or getting) that right piece of jewelry or the perfect box of candy, I think it would be much more civilized if we all just treated Valentine’s Day like we did back in grade school -- with silly cards that you gave to everyone so no one felt left out.

I have a couple of Valentine’s Day cards from way back. I didn’t save them for any particular reason -- they just somehow got stuck in my old photo album -- but I always loved getting them. They all have a great generic feel with big hearts and slightly scary illustrations. The images look like they were drawn by people who graduated from the art school that advertised on the back of matchbooks. I often wonder who drew these, and even more importantly, who came up with the concept for each card? There are literally thousands of them out there, all so similar, yet so different.

I must confess, I don’t know a whole lot about the history of Valentine’s Day or the cards, but at some point in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s a shift came where the kid’s cards went from generic to featuring famous cartoon characters like the Peanuts gang, Disney and Warner Bros. as well as Marvel Super Heroes. All the biggies were immortalized on small, amorous cards.

If you didn’t get your share of cards on Feb. 14 in 1971, Topps put out a line of “Nasty Valentines” in gum card packs with crazy cartoons that folded over to reveal sophomoric jokes about romance. They’re not all that funny (though they made me laugh when I was 9 years old) and have really goofy illustrations that could only have come out of the post-hippie era. I also liked the McDonald’s Valentines of the mid-‘70s, featuring the Krofft-like images of McDonaldland characters including Ronald McDonald, Big Mac and the evil Grimace.

In the ‘80s, you could buy Valentines of The Transformers, Rainbow Bright, Fraggle Rock and Care Bears. The next decade brought some of my favorite collectible cards, like Ren & Stimpy and the Power Puff Girls. Since then, there have been Valentine homages to Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. This year’s biggie seems to be Hannah Montana, and though I haven’t seen any High School Musical cards yet, I’m guessing they are out there.

For those who prefer candy, the new Pez Valentines might steal your heart (heart shapes or cherub placed atop a standard footed dispenser). I’m not a hugely sentimental person, but I know that I would certainly take notice if someone sent me a bouquet of Pez for Valentine’s Day. OK, I admit it -- I’d take notice if I even got one of those cheesy relics from the past.

Message Edited by Lisa_Sutton on 01-28-2009 10:09 AM

Everyone Knows, It’s Slinky!

MediaDweeb — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:12:49 GMT

This past November, the toy industry lost one of its most distinguished members. Betty James, the woman who named and popularized the “Slinky,” passed away at age 90, after over a half-decade of promoting one of the most popular toys in history.

It all started in 1943 when Navy engineer Richard James was trying to find a way to stabilize ship’s instruments while at sea. After seeing a spring fall off a shelf in his office, he observed the way it bounced and came up with a way to replicate it in a walking toy.

A couple of years later, the Slinky made its debut at Gimbels department store with resounding success. Betty James took over James Industries in 1960, when her husband opted out of the business world. Taking a major risk and mortgaging of her home, Betty brought the Slinky to the New York Toy Fair -- where it became a national hit in 1963.

Not long after the toy fair, Slinky hit the airwaves with its unforgettable TV commercial and jingle “It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky….for fun it’s a wonderful toy…” and has been a staple of toy collections ever since.

As the toy became a multi-million-unit selling product, several variations were added to the Slinky roster. Slinky Mobile, Slinky Train and Slinky Dog were some of the first emerged using Slinky at its core. Slinky Caterpillar and Slinky Snail were also added to the roster along with Slinky Elephant, Slinky Hippo and Slinky Frog. There was even a Slinky Soldiers set with a group of flat, printed soldiers who marched along attached to wheels and a spring. Along the way, there were also Slinky Seal, Slinky Worm and Slinky Kitten as well.

Slinky was also released in a variety of colors as well as a rainbow Slinky. In the ‘70s, they were manufactured in plastic as well as the original steel, for a kinder, gentler Slinky. In 1995, the Slinky Dog experienced a revival with a starring role in the movie Toy Story and in 1999, the U.S. post office commemorated the walking spring with its own postage stamp. Today there are a number of Slinkys available from plain old Retro Slinky and Retro Slinky Dog to the new, educational Slinky Science kits.

The original Slinky sold for $1, and came in a small square box. Today, 300 million Slinkys later, the same toy comes in a very similar box for the cost of around $4. In 1990, a national poll was taken which revealed that 89 percent of people recognized the Slinky name or jingle, proving that it is true: “Everyone knows it’s Slinky.”

Which Slinky did you own?

Message Edited by MediaDweeb on 01-16-2009 12:46 PM

The Chia Pet and Other Christmas Mysteries

Lisa_Sutton — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:29:46 GMT

What makes something collectible? Ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 answers. For me, a collectible is anything that you want for the purpose of display rather than practical use. With that definition in mind, I present some of the collectible mysteries of Christmas past and present... or should I say “presents”?

Every year, there seems to be an item that defies our usual shopping sensibilities. The first product of this kind that comes to mind is the Chia Pet. Although I would swear they’ve been around longer, the first Chia Pet was advertised nationally in 1982. From what I've read, they first emerged in 1977.

The Chia Pet is a clay pot shaped like an animal, which sprouts a bushy coat of greenery when spread with "magical" Chia seeds. The first Chia pet was a ram, which was joined a few years later by a Chia Hippo, Kitty, Pig, Puppy and Turtle. The only thing that makes a Chia Pet collectible is the advertising, which has beaten into our psyches over the years that it is the best Christmas gift out there. The marketing remains brilliant, as Chia Pets of all varieties fly off the shelves every year at this time.

With so many variations and its firmly cemented place in pop-culture history, the Chia Pet is a genuine holiday collectible, far surpassing soap on a rope as the default gift of choice as best gift for the person you haven’t a clue what to get. With options like Chia Shrek, Chia Garfield and Chia Homer Simpson, there is a Chia for everyone. There’s also a Chia herb garden for the less figuratively inclined. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not dissing the world of Chia. In fact, I’m a seed-spreading lover of all things Chia. I’m especially in awe of the person who came up with the brilliant campaign (and unforgettable “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia jingle) that made the Chia Pet part of our annual holiday vernacular.

Other Christmas fads that seemed to spread more organically were the manias that grew up out of Cabbage Patch Kids and Tickle Me Elmo dolls. Each of these toys created a mania beyond expectation (and belief) when they became scarce due to much higher demand than supply in the holiday seasons of 1983 and 1996, respectively causing tug-of-war shopping tactics as well as gross overpaying. In some cases, hundreds of dollars over retail were paid in hopes of pleasing kids on Christmas morning with the hottest toy of the year. It must have made sense to those who waiting in long lines or got in shouting matches with hapless store clerks, but it still defies explanation as to why a mass-produced toy of any kind was worth that much stress (or huge mark-up), especially when they would be readily available (and for actual suggested retail price) just a few weeks after the Winter Solstice. Both items, which were so coveted in their initial release, are still available, making the frenzy seem even more baffling.

From Beanie Babies to X-Boxes, Pet Rocks to Furby, each year seems to have its own special fad gift that seems to defy normal conventions when it comes to demand. This year’s big winner remains to be seen, but if the true spirit of Christmas lies in the giving, it really makes no difference. A Chia Pet really could be the best gift ever if delivered with the right amount of spirit.

What do you think this year's biggest holiday fad purchase will be?

Do You Hear What I Hear... Coming From the TV?

Lisa_Sutton — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:34:02 GMT

The day after Thanksgiving is a big day for a lot of people. For me, it marks the day I dig through all my old Christmas albums and begin a month of holiday tunes. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of musical collections available each year with a yuletide theme, but I seem to always gravitate towards those related to TV.

To keep this specific blog from running from now until New Year's Day, I am limiting this to a list of my Top 5 Favorite Holiday Tracks:

5) The Littlest Angel Soundtrack

This 1969 Hallmark Hall of Fame TV special ran for years as a Holiday favorite, though it has sunk into obscurity with time. The all-star cast is head up by Johnny Whitaker of Family Affair fame as a young boy who enters heaven singing catchy pop tunes with Fred Gwynne of The Munsters, Tony Randal, Cab Calloway and E.G. Marshal as God. The special effects are primitive, but it has a retro charm that makes it a must see or must listen if you can find the original soundtrack LP. There are two versions out there of the LP; lucky collectors will get the original 1969 issue with the gatefold cover. The soundtrack is not available on CD, though it is on DVD and the original LP was a big enough seller to turn up in thrift stores and Ebay with some frequency.

4) A Charlie Brown Christmas

I can't imagine any citizen of TV Land not being a fan of A Charlie Brown Christmas. It has aired at least once a year since 1965 and has some really great, jazzy classics and originals from Vince Guaraldi. This soundtrack has sold millions upon millions over the years, making it hard to fathom that CBS executives in 1965 were afraid the music was inappropriate for a kid's special. As a kid, I loved this LP especially for the song "Linus & Lucy," that great piano instrumental that has come to be thought of as the theme song to Peanuts in general.

3) "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" -- Bing Crosby and David Bowie
Bing Crosby was a staple of TV specials for many years, remaining famous for his 1942 rendition of "White Christmas." Bing was a little out of my taste-zone in 1977, but I was a diehard David Bowie fan and tuned in for what seemed like a very unlikely pairing on the holiday special Bing Crosby's Merrie Old Christmas. Bing invited Bowie, who he had never heard of previously, to appear on his special when it was suggested that he get a young star to be on his show. Bowie was apparently a big fan of Crosby, and jumped at the chance to sing with Der Bingle. Bing picked "The Little Drummer Boy," and the show's writers added the newly penned "Peace on Earth" to showcase Bowie's voice better. The result was legendary and priceless. Bing died before the show aired, but it helped to bridge the generation gap that existed at the time. The record was not released as a single until 1982, but has been a bestseller ever since. For collectors, there are both 7" and 12" versions available.

2) Partridge Family "Christmas Card" B/W "Merry Christmas from The Brady Bunch"
OK, I know, I'm cheating here, but these two classic shows are mentioned together so often, it seems appropriate to promote their holiday offerings as a pair. The Brady Bunch Christmas album is more of a kitschy delight with some real ear-splitting moments, released in the second (of five) season of the show. Hard to believe, but Cindy Brady's very lispy "Frosty the Snowman" was released as a picture-sleeve single.

The Partridge Family Christmas album is very easy on the ears, and has some great classics sung by Shirley Jones and David Cassidy, as well as the original "My Christmas Card to You" written by Tony Romeo, who also authored the P-Fam's monster hit "I Think I Love You." Both original vinyl versions are fairly easy to find for your collection, though collectors will want the original issue of the Partridge Family with the removable Christmas card slipped into the cover (later issues had the card printed right on the cover.)

1) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Soundtrack
This has to be the best made-for-TV soundtrack ever. It aired for the first time on Dec. 9, 1964 and has remained a favorite ever since. The soundtrack is comprised of original tunes by Johnny Marks, who wrote the song back in 1945. Most of the tracks are sung by the late, great folkie Burl Ives, who was immortalized in Animagic as Sam the Snowman. I'm not sure which I love more — the album or its original LP cover with Sam putting his arm around Rudolph.

Andy Williams, with his many Christmas specials and soundtracks, also deserves honorable mention, as do the soundtrack to How the Grinch Stole Christmas, "Christmas on the Ponderosa" (from the Bonanza cast) virtually any old compilation (as advertised on TV) from K-Tel. All of the above make for great tree-trimming and stocking stuffing, while instantly sending you back to Santa Claus Lane.

Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 12-08-2008 06:40 AM

Message Edited by MediaDweeb on 12-11-2008 09:46 AM

Finger Lickin' Good Collectin'

Lisa_Sutton — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:18:43 GMT

I know most of us still have turkey on the brain (or at least around our waistlines), but I thought it was an appropriate time to discuss one of my favorite icons of the poultry world; Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Believe it or not, there's a lot more to collecting KFC than an original recipe leg, thigh and slaw combo. There are a whole bucketful of collectibles that range from paper goods made for the restaurants to licensed toys, promotional items and premiums featuring the face of the beloved Colonel Harlan Sanders.

The story is now legendary; the 40-year-old Kentucky resident began selling pressure-cooked chicken in 1930 to road-weary travelers passing through his state. His real moment of brilliance was in 1952, when he sold his first franchise in Salt Lake City and put his now unmistakable image on the packaging. The chain grew and within a decade, the Kentucky Colonel was a national icon, appearing on thousands of boxes, buckets and wet naps from coast to coast.

The early boxes are easy to spot. They have a sort of salmon-colored strip with a color illustration of the disembodied head of Colonel Sanders. Each container also announced "It's finger licking good" and the words "So tasty, so tender," among other things. The earliest boxes also had the lyrics to "My Old Kentucky Home" on the back. Collectors of fast-food-iana would probably gravitate toward collecting the various classic packaging elements: the box, the bucket, the napkin, the potato and the coleslaw containers, with the original graphics. There were also bucket-shaped lamps in the early days, as well as the Colonel's face wall clock and little buckets filled with matches given out at the stores. Statues of the Colonel were made available to the outlets, but you'd have to be a really hardcore KFC collector to want one for your own collection -- I know I wouldn't turn one away if it landed on my doorstep.

More traditional KFC collectibles include a variety of Colonel Sanders Nodders made over the years, figural salt and pepper shakers, banks and ceramic cookie jars. I happen to be quite fond of the various plastic food sets that have turned up over the years. Equally as amusing were the three different Christmas records I know of ( "Christmas With Colonel Sanders," "Christmas Eve With Colonel Sanders" and "Christmas Day With Colonel Sanders" ), all from the mid '50s to '60s. I don't have any of those, but a friend made me a copy of the '70s promotional LP with several variations of the very popular "Get a Bucket of Chicken" jingle written by Barry Manilow.

There have been many KFC items manufactured over the years, many of which are on display at the Kentucky Fried Chicken Museum in Louisville, Ky. The museum is housed in the headquarters of Yum Foods, KFC's current owner. The building is appropriately designed as a Southern plantation and was constructed on the site of the very first restaurant opened by Harlan Sanders.

It's especially interesting to see the evolution of the KFC logo and the image of the Colonel himself. Harlan Sanders was already 60 years old when his face became an American icon, though today he looks pretty hot -- even without the steaming chicken in his bucket. His 2006 graphic facelift was a big success, and is sweeping franchises around the world. His face can also be found on a new, insulated picnic bag sold with various chicken combos. The next year should hold some more interesting variations as the company has announced a planned switch to Kentucky Grilled Chicken, making the old packaging even more collectible to those seekers of Kentucky Fried nostalgia.

The holiday season may be all about the bigger stuffed bird, but if you're looking for a barrel of fun, say goodbye to the gobblers and hello to the Colonel.

Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 11-25-2008 12:01 PM

Talking Turkey: 3 Terrible Collectibles

Lisa_Sutton — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:33:27 GMT

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, I find myself thinking of turkeys. Not just the birds that have become such a symbol of our Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas feasts, but the other kind of turkeys: items so badly conceived they earn the metaphor of "turkey."

There are so many bad ideas out there, I could (and probably will) write many blogs on the subject of flops and bad ideas, but for this entry, I will focus on my three absolute favorites from my collection.

1) Oobi. The first thing that comes to my mind is a toy so obscure it really may be one of the biggest kiddie failures of all time. I've been told that Oobi was the worst-selling toy in the history of Parker Brothers, but I can't authenticate the remark other than observing the scarcity of the Oobi from the public consciousness.

Oobi was based on a hippie notion of communal mail delivery, sort of like a cross between a fortune cookie and note passing via a lot of hands. It was a cute, red plastic oval with a slit in its back for sticking in a note and a place to write a destination on the top. The packaging gave instructions that Oobi didn't like mailboxes, so it was supposed to be left in some public place to be picked up by a stranger to leave in another location until it was filled with notes and eventually made it to its destination. I can remember seeing a TV commercial for Oobi back in 1970, and wishing that someone would send one to me. I found an Oobi 30 years later, but with the email and texting, it seems even more absurd than ever.

2) Growing Up Skipper and Earring Magic Ken. Barbie is the best selling doll line in history, yet. Mattel unleashed two incredible turkeys under the banner of the Barbie Empire. The first was Growing Up Skipper in 1975. This was Barbie's flat-chested little sister Skipper, though she was equipped with a special arm crank that made her breasts grow and waistline pinch in to the impossible proportions we've all come to associate with Barbie. Most kids of the appropriate age were embarrassed to play with this doll.

In 1993, the same people came up with Growing up Skipper revealed Earring Magic Ken, who had such a Castro-Street feel to his wardrobe that he was soon dubbed "Gay Ken" by the media. The world simply wasn't ready for the shirtless, earring-wearing pretty blonde boy doll who wore a round metal ring around his neck which I will leave to your imagination why it may have symbolized gay culture.

Today, Earring Magic Ken would fit in comfortably with the My Generation Barbie line, but in the mid-'80s, it was still rather unthinkable and a very poor seller outside of the collectors' world and was pulled from stores. Mattel was able to salvage the necklace accessories and included them later in one of the outfits for Beverly Hills, 90210 Brenda doll.

3) The New Monkees. There have been many ill-conceived products based on licensing, but one of the worst ideas ever to be merchandised was The New Monkees.The original Monkees TV show was a huge marketing success with products selling in the millions. When the show and band made an unprecedented comeback in the mid-1980s, some marketing genius missed the fact that the excitement was based in nostalgia, and thought it would be a grand idea to re-launch a New Monkees TV show and band with a 100-percent '80s sensibility. The sound of this show flopping was heard around the globe and practically no one bought any of the hastily produced merchandise -- the show was cancelled within a few weeks of its debut. A toy New Monkees guitar, a New Monkees Mustang GT Convertible model kit and a CD of original music were released and went straight to the cut-out bins as fans of the original Monkees and their kids all preferred the groovy version to the New Wave reboot.

There are so many more I could add, but that's enough turkey for one day. What toys are on your worst-ever list?

Discuss these and other classic collectibles on the Classic Collectibles board
Chat about The New Monkees on The Monkees board

Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 11-19-2008 03:55 AM

Kooky Spookys and Other Ghostly Collectibles

Lisa_Sutton — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:16:28 GMT

Although Halloween is merely one day out of 365, the sheer fun and popularity of the holiday inspired me to write an additional blog about the subject. It also gives me a chance to write about a very obscure collectible toy line that has always fascinated me: Kooky Spookys.

You'd have to be a genuine baby boomer to know about these, and they were not even big sellers, making them all but forgotten today. Kooky Spookys were a line of glow-in-the-dark ghost finger puppets. Seems like an odd idea, but they were released by HASBRO around the same time as the 1965 glow-in-the-dark board game "Green Ghost," which was a huge seller, along with its mystical side kick Ka-Bala (both by Transogram games). In the late '60s, kids went mad for shows like The Addams Family and The Munsters. Therefore, it makes sense that toys and games based on ghosts and ghouls like the creepy "Witch Witch" and the "Mystic Skull Game" were kid favorites.

In 1968 someone combined the concepts of ghosts, pop music and hippies. This resulted in the strangest line of dolls of all time. I welcome anyone to challenge that sweeping statement, but read on. Each of the six Kooky Spookys had its own hippie picket sign and fluorescent pink highlights. The most desirable of the Spookys is Mama Kaskit. The unmistakable reference to Mamas and Papas singer Mama Cass (who was still very much alive when the doll was manufactured) makes it both a toy and music collectible. Because of its scarcity, a Mama Kaskit in its original packaging can go for over $400, while the others go for far less. It is much easier to find them out of the package; therefore loose dolls go for a more reasonable amount, especially when they're missing their accessories. Tina Terror with her glowing "love" picket sign ( backed with the word "fun" ) is probably the second-most desirable, though the reference to Tina Turner is a little more obscure.

Daddy Booregard looks remarkably like Flavor Flav with his big glasses and oversized clock around his neck. Brother Mortimer comes with a banjo, while Grandma McCreak is equipped with granny glasses and a parasol. Baby Spook'em holds a sign that says "Boo!" Grandma McCreak ( which makes me think of The Mamas and The Papas song "Creque Alley" ) is the easiest to find of the lot -- though I've yet to find a Baby Spook'em to complete my collection. For a short time there existed a mail-away, premium haunted house, which is now very difficult to find.

Also a highly desirable vintage toy is the Kooky Spooky Whistling Tree, though it has no connection to the HASBRO Kooky Spookys. The large tree is a mechanical tin toy and was made by the Marx toy company. It routinely goes for $400 or more.

Of course, these aren't the only ghost-related toys and collectibles in the '60s. On the other end of the popularity spectrum was Casper the Friendly Ghost, who made an amiable appearance on items ranging from Halloween costumes, games, lunch boxes and even a jack-in-the-box. Casper also made a big comeback in the '80s, when his story was made into a feature film.

For a quick fix and reasonably priced collectible ghost, Halloween time sees the annual production of Boo Berry Cereal, which can easily be found this time of year at Wal-mart and Target if not at your local cemetery... er, I mean supermarket.

Photo credit (top photo): Don Cravens/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Message Edited by TVLTheLink on 11-19-2008 04:27 AM

From the Small Screen to Halloween

Lisa_Sutton — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:14:47 GMT

Each year as the sun starts setting a little earlier and the weather starts to cool off, the black and orange decorations start to go up in the neighborhood signaling that it's almost time for the second most popular holiday in the US; Halloween. Although Halloween still takes a back seat to Christmas, Halloween is always fun for so many reasons. I was one of those kids who had a mother that insisted on making costumes for me and my sister, but later in life I developed an interest in collecting store bought costumes I had missed out on in my early years related to some of my favorite TV shows and stars.

The history of Halloween goes back over 2,000 years and began as a Celtic holiday for adults. Over the centuries, and particularly the mid-20th century, Halloween became focused on community and children. It was partly due to rising vandalism and mayhem, but mostly because of the huge baby boom. With the shift to kids came cheap, commercially manufactured costumes that made trick or treating much easier on the less creative spirits and weary parents with no time or interest in making their own ghoulish garb.

In the beginning, there were all kinds of generic costumes with traditional Halloween themes like black cats, devils plus monsters made famous by movies like Frankenstein and the Wolfman. They came in a small box with a mold-injected thin plastic mask held onto the head with a rubber band. Along with the mask came a plastic jump-suit with some kind of graphic image on the smock. Some of these more generic ones were made for many years. Because the Ben Cooper company had the official license to Universal Movie Monsters, rival costume manufacturer Collegeville was left to be a little more creative with their monsters and came up with some very creepy-looking generic ones.

Every generic form of pop culture hero or icon was given the kiddie costume treatment by the early 60s with clowns, spacemen, cowboys, Indians and princesses. As time went on, TV-related costumes became available. Among the generic gypsies, vampires and pirates soon came Mickey Mouse, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Bullwinkle and countless other cartoon characters. Virtually every popular Saturday morning TV character from the late '50s has been commemorated in mask and smock -- from Josie and the Pussycats and H.R. Pufnstuff to Pee Wee Herman and Ed Grimley.

When it came for the human counterparts, the costumes were almost always based on a TV character like Samantha Stevens (instead of Elizabeth Montgomery) or Mr. Spock (and not Leonard Nimoy) though in the case of a few pop stars like David Cassidy and Donny Osmond, their Halloween costumes bore their names as well as likenesses.

Most costumes came in either little pantsuits for boys or little dresses for girls. This presented an interesting dilemma when making Halloween costumes of The Monkees. Since they appealed to both boys and girls, a decision was made to make gender-specific variations. It's hard to imagine now, but until the mid-'70s girls were expected to wear dresses in schools. Collectors are often surprised to discover there are gender-confused outfits of each of the four Monkees that came with mini-dresses and the male face of the singing TV stars.

In the '80s and early '90s, video games like Donkey Kong got the trick-or-treat treatment. The most absurd and possibly worst commercially manufactured costume of any kind may have been the Asteroids costume, which features mask resembling a crater-filled rock. Priceless. The shark from Jaws takes a close second for me, as far as licensed images go.

From Alf to Star Wars, The Munsters to the Dukes of Hazzard, virtually every television show that appealed to younger viewers had costumes made of them. A quick trip to eBay or your local thrift store may reveal your favorite has been commemorated in costume form.

Photo credit (top photo): Christopher Robins/Getty Images

Message Edited by Lisa_Sutton on 10-29-2008 01:00 AM

TV’s Animated Empire: The Simpsons

Lisa_Sutton — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:12:00 GMT

The Simpsons also gave birth to a billon dollar merchandising industry with no signs of slowing down.

Think of Me When You Eat… and Shampoo… and Polish Your Shoes

Lisa_Sutton — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:51:23 GMT

Celebrities endorsing their own product line pretty much started with Jimmy Dean Sausage. Jimmy Dean has been so successful in his food company that it's pretty much forgotten that he started out as a country singer and occasional guest host of The Tonight Show. While ground-up meat isn't terribly exciting, it is a whole lot of fun collecting the packaging for the myriad celebrity-endorsed products that have popped up since the singing sausage king paved the way.