Bif Bang Pow:
Reproductions reminiscent of the best-selling action figures of the 1970s and early 1980s, these highly articulated figures will feature body designs by EMCE Toys. Each 8-inch scale figure will include real cloth clothing and plastic accessories where appropriate.
Over 40 licensed action figures are planned for 2010. The first are targeted for an early summer arrival and Comic-Con International: San Diego 2010, with others to follow later in the year. Included are much-demanded characters from:
The Venture Bros.™ (Cartoon Network)
Dexter™ (Showtime Networks)
Lost™ (ABC Disney)
The Big Lebowski™ (NBC Universal)
The Twilight Zone™ (CBS)
Flash Gordon™ (King Features)
From the Ripley’s News Room:
Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits and Archives for Ripley’s has collected 30 authentic vampire killing kits, 26 of which are currently on display in eight Ripley’s museums. Apparently the kits are extremely rare; Meyer says Ripley’s are the only kits on public display and the remaining few reside in private collections.
The kits were acquired by people in preparation of possibly meeting a vampire during their international travels to Eastern Europe and their usage dates back to the mid-1800s. Most were created in the Boston area and were available by mail order. They contain a variety of items designed to bring a vampire to its knees. Most contain a wooden stake, Bible, crucifix, pistol with lead bullets, gunpowder, garlic and glass vials that held various concoctions.
Johnny West's Best of the West
So yesterday my Dad and I traveled to Glendale, West Virginia to go to the Marx Toy Museum. While appearing to be a small store front, the inside of the museum is fairly large, very clean and the displays are very well done. We got to meet Francis Turner, the owner, who had stopped by on his day off but took the time to introduce himself and walk us around the museum pointing out some of his more unique items. Francis was friendly, knowledgeable and has genuine love of his collection. Learning the history of Louis Marx was fascinating and I never realized what a large part he played in the history of American toys.
What was very cool was both my Dad and I seeing toys that we grew up with in one large collection. The Johnny West collection was great and I saw some toys that I had almost forgotten I had, including Sir Stuart, the silver knight from the Noble Knight collection.
The Silver Knight
There were several theme rooms to visit including a life-size Western Town Street front, Transportation & Service Station area, Train Display, Prototype Room, and Vintage 1950’s Refreshment Area.
If you have any interest at all in old Marx toys, I highly recommend a visit to this amazing museum.
Before becoming a true 70′s juggernaut with lines like “Star Wars” and the “Six Million Dollar Man”, Kenner was more experimental with their action figure branding, often creating fun generic lines such as Steve Scou and Duke The Dog. Duke truly was an original concept, never had a toy line such as this been tailor made for a character who couldn’t speak! Duke lasted a couple of years actually and would see TV star “Run Joe Run” added to the line as well.
