The new S-Type (Solid Body) 8 inch scale, Mego style body from ZICA / Castaway Toys is something indeed to behold! This first part of the review focus’ on the swapping the new body with a Figure’s Toy Company “DC World’s Greatest Heroes” Robin the Boy Wonder.
Please use the links below to get your own toys that you’ve just seen in the video… Do me a huge favor and let them know you learned about them here at Jim’s Toy Box. I do appreciate it!
Today’s Day in History segment features a fellow who never had a shot to get on a Wheaties box despite being a top performer in his sport. On this day in 1951, Dick Button won the U.S. figure skating title for the sixth time. Six time champion and not even one pair of licensed Nike’s. The travesty!
Also on this date in 1927 The Federal Radio Commission (we know and love it these days as the FCC) was created when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill. This act is just one example of why he was so uncool as a president that he didn’t even get a bobble head like our pals Clinton, Carter and EVEN Truman! Coolidge was tool.
But the bigger thing that happened on this day was in 1964 when “Meet the Beatles” album went Gold. Merchandise flowed through the streets forever more capturing the images of the Fab Four. Even today as you can see from the list of items I found at Entertainment Earth.
Beatles Travel Mug
The Beatles Signatures Retro Style Metal Lunch Box
Another interesting little factoid I learned while researching this piece was that the Beatles first appeared on American Television before the more famous Ed Sullivan appearance. The appearance came on the Jack Paar show in 1964… it was a filmed appearance but still a first, especially if you would have asked Jack Paar who still seemed a bit peeved that Ed Sullivan got all the credit.
Review coming soon but in the meantime dig this awesome action pose impossible to do before! Be sure to order your S-Type bodies NOW while they are still at the introductory (read: crazy low) price of $7! A more in depth review is on the way as well!
Now, Go, Play! – Jim 02/02/2014
P.S. You can get a great deal on the FTC Robin by clicking HERE. Do me a favor and tell him Jim sent you!
On this date in both 1979 and 1999, two US Presidents got involved with women that helped define their legacy. But only one of them care to talk about it with their respective wife.
It was on this day that Patty Hearst was released from prison after having her sentence commuted by President Jimmy Carter. If you are not familiar with the case, you should do some digging (I’m not going to do all your homework for you junior, then you wouldn’t learn anything). To peak you non 70’s kids interest I’ll tease you with this trailer….
20 Years later President Carter championed very hard for then President Bill Clinton to grant Patty a full pardon (To which he did two years later just as he was leaving office.) He might of gotten to it sooner but unfortunately for Bill on this date in 1999, a young intern he had taken under his wing (pun completely intended) decided it was time to come clean to Senators about their “relationship”, cigar fetishes and her nasty ass laundry habits. Of course old Slick Willie took it in stride… for a little while…
So he flip flopped. Life happens. He was impeached and the world didn’t come to an end. Patty and Jimmy ended up getting what they wanted, Bill has went on to a fantastic career as the husband of a famous politician and Monica moved on as well (oar at least is trying to). I still think she should have gotten that sponsor ship deal from Crest.
Commemorate this moment in time with these Presidential bobble heads and share this wonderful story of love, compassion, perjury and the reason Matt Drudge has a “news” career. That wacky and wild 20th Century. Now, Go Play! – Jim 2/01/2014
For those of you who are following the Toy Box on Facebook (or are on my own personal page) I’m pretty sure I drove you nuts all day yesterday with my never ending posting and reposting about my pal Vinny and the new episode of Toy Hunter that he was going to be on. I apologize for being a pest. However I don’t apologize for being excited for a friend to the point of being a spammer.
You may have asked and are still wondering; “Sweet lord, Jim why damage your pseudo-reputation in the blog-o-sphere? You got a stake in the show?” The simple answer is: “No”. I have absolutely no connections to either the Toy Hunter show or the Travel Channel. But what I do have is a cyber friendship with Mego Museum member Vinny0026 or as the rest of the less cool world knows him as Vincent Carnabuci.
“But you said he was your ‘pal’ ?!? So you mean to tell me you bugged me to death over a guy you don’ even really know? “. Sorta. I did and I do AND I’ll keep on doing it. Why? Lots of reasons, here’s 3:
1. I have learned over the years that real friendships do develop over the internet. Especially in particular in niche circles such as the forum over at the Mego Museum.
2. When you have a friend ‘do good’ don’t you want to join in the celebration? Of course you do. This is the “good news” type of story that people say they want to see on their evening news casts. Since “they” don’t tell those stories enough, I will and you should.
3. Vinny is a great guy with an impressive collection and some really neat custom pieces and he was getting to share and showcase them with a national television audience. Tell me you wouldn’t do the same for your car collector club, sewing circle or high school reunion pics.
Plus for those of you who did join me and all the other Mego fans and friends of Vinny, wasn’t it cool to see Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC fame loose his mind over the toys? Being a fan of Run DMC I enjoyed that a lot. He “gets it.” Take just a moment and reconnect with your childhood toys and you may just find that innocent, untainted version of you. In turn you’ll smile a lot more and stress out a little less.
What I appreciated even more was learning about D’s camp for foster kids. I always thought of him as a genuinely nice guy and now having learned about Camp Felix and the Felix Organization I really love this fellow.
The kicker here is that without Vinny’s toy collection being featured on the show and D wanting to show today’s kids (and adults) the magic of these “old toys”, odds are I never would have heard or learned about the Felix Organization and all the good they do. And you dear reader probably wouldn’t have either. Plus you wouldn’t have seen the incredible collection that my pal Vinny has amassed over the years.
See? The hubbub was totally worth all of that and more.
Almost showtime… break your regular viewing habits and kick it over to the Travel Channel at 8PM Central and check out Toy Hunter where tonight Jordan, along with Darryl McDaniels aka DMC of Run DMC pay a visit to a great guy and pal of mine Vincent Carnabuci. Seriously, come play! http://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2014/01/29/toy-hunter/5017385/
Swing back by here tomorrow for some post show recaps and discussions! Jim 01/29/14
This is just too cool not to share. The maker of the little buddies version of me has most certainly improved her circle of friends 😉 Recently Dawn O’Connell created a little buddy of Stan Lee ( yes, THAT Stan Lee) and was afforded the opportunity to present it to him at the Portland Comic Con.
Take a look at more of the pics at the Little Buddies Action Figure Page on Facebook and then give in to your urge and order one for yourself and your favorite Best Buddy today!
OK, so the title might be a little misleading to fans of the 80’s horror anthology television show but quiet frankly the pun just happened on its own. I don’t know, it’s as if there was some unseen hand gliding past my face telling me “These ARE the statues your looking for.” Either way, these are too cute and while they have zero grounding in Star Wars cannon, they are funny visuals (lighten up fanboy, they’re adorable ).
While both are super cute, the Daddy and Daughter one kills me (to those who know me, the reasons are pretty obvious as this representation really hits close to home.) Sure Vader may have wiped out all the baby Jedi but come on man, he was mad. Like REALLY mad and junk.
You can pre order them now at Entertainment Earth and get free shipping on them when they become available in June.
Rather it’s “Daddy’s Little Princess” or “The Little Guy Is Trying SO Hard”, these two drip with the phrase; “May the force be with you, you cute little marketing juggernaut.”
Talk about a great toy for an 80’s kid! Ronald Reagan as a mummy. The irony of course is looking back and seeing how so many considered the president well past his prime long before he was even elected the first time in 1980. And despite your politics Ronald Reagan was a perfect snapshot representation of the greatest time to be a kid in the early 80’s. Capitalism was in full swing. Cartoons with toy tie ins where all over the place and over all, it was just a lot of fun!
Mr. Reagan is just a shade taller than our other Re-Mego friends.
The figure from Heroes in Action is also quite an impressive piece of work. While if you stand one of there figures next to a standard Mego figure from the 70’s or one of the new figures they are a little bit taller. But not enough to throw it into the awkward 9 inch category. Something about that extra inch just throws those types of toys off for me. Anyway, the figure is solid from tip to top. While not held together in the traditional rubber band fashion of a Mego or Re-Mego, it’s body design fits right in with the style.
The head sculpt is terrific. The talk was that Heroes in Action would be releasing a normal version of each of their presidents but as of this writing that hasn’t come to light or even been mentioned that I’ve seen. Perhaps the market for old dude action figures isn’t all that great but I for one would love to have a normal version of Reagan, Clinton, Kennedy, Nixon and even Bush the First (well I wouldn’t go out of my way for that one, I’d still pick one up on the cheap. Not for politics mind you but because he was a pretty boring character). They have released a regular version of President Obama but good luck in tracking one of those down.Seriously though, this toy is fun, clever and made really well.
The silk screened mummy wrappings are fantastic. The age worn and tattered suit is such a wonderful touch to this tongue and cheek parody figure.
The only down side to this figure for me is that now my collector OCD is kicking in hardcore but the $24.99 MSRP is keeping the other figures just out of reach. But that’s only temporary. Also to note the next wave which have been shown but not released are even more brilliant and fun. Teddy as a Yeti? Oh yeah, sign me up!
Well I better get back to the day job so I can make the bucks to round out this collection. So until next time kids, remember to show that patriotism can have a sense of humor stock up on all of these presidential monsters TODAY! Now, Go, Play! – Jim 02/18/13
This shot is one more for the road for my world traveling Mego pal, nayrbgo. Click on the pic to see where all in the world Mego’s indeed do go! Tell him Jim sent ya!
As many of you may recall, towards the end of the year last year I went all in on raising funds for my film / documentary “Now, Go Play!”. In doing so I sold of the majority of my own personal collection to raise funds for HD camera and other equipment needs. While the film is on a temporary hiatus (more on that later) the love that has been generated from it continues to grow.
You see as part of the big sell off of 2012 I parted ways with one of my favorite pieces Brick Mantooth. He was taken into the home of a very swell fellow by the name of Jason Shackleford (jshack to my fellow MegoMuseum peeps). I could go on and on about Jason and more of his other more than generous contributions to the project but for the sake of your time and attention let me just say he’s an amazing giver. Note the Executive Producer Credit on all of the new Toy Box videos. Moving on…
This past Saturday I walked to the mailbox a bit late in the day not expecting to see anything short of perhaps another regular monthly bill. Image my surprise when I opened the door and saw a cardboard box from none other that Jason. I smiled. Once I got inside the smile grew even larger when I peeled back the tape and the layers of air packing to see none other than my dear old pal Brick Mantooth. He was back. The smile began to hurt it was so big.
So here I am, a 39 year old man as overjoyed as an 8 year old on Christmas morning staring at this long lost friend who was now smiling back at me in all his 70’s catalogue model charm, oozing with cheesy charisma. Of course I had to snap a picture. It was a monumental occasion. Truly worthy of a Kodak moment and a facebook posting.
You see, the time that has passed since the original inception of “Now, Go Play!” has been one of the most life altering times of my life. First up, it was the first time I exposed myself and my passions to the world in such an open and needy manner. Follow that with my first opportunity to experience faith and generosity to what at the time appeared to be a cold and uncaring world. People that I had never met or had only known through cyber relationships were actually showing support both moral and financial to me and my cause. Humbling and encouraging all at the same time. Those feelings served as a springboard into an adventure into personal and professional growth that I have never before known. Real confidence. Determination to break out of my rut and belief that life as I knew it was all that there was. Indeed the air had shifted and the change was coming. Again more on that a little later but for now let me again focus back on my now returned pal, Brick.
This charismatic hunk of plastic will forever represent to me the love and belief that comes from others when they are given the opportunity to share, care and support a fellow true believer as Stan Lee would say. This fantastic piece of plastic now goes from being a toy with mucho heart (click here for the full scoop) to being a symbol of inspiration and determination to follow ones dreams and trust that the world is indeed on your side and not fighting against you. I’m sure that Brick’s creators Brian Heiler and Scott Adams had no idea that their creation could transcend to such a highly regarded position, but I’m here to tell you he has. Thanks guys (and to all the others who made Brick possible) and to all of my supporters of “Now, Go Play!” Ben Peterson, Aaron Ber, Douglas Tooley, Dawn O’Connell, Russ Dould my lovely wife Alicia, Kathy Tarochione, and of course all my peeps at the MegoMuseum (forgive me if I left your name out, it was far from intentional just freeflowing thought at the keyboard at the moment). I love and appreciate you all.
The future is looking very, very bright for me, mine and the film. I could go on and on but instead I just want to enjoy this moment of reflection and love that all of these folks have brought to me. And rest assured that at the end of the day I will work diligently to not let you down. Just like Brick, I aim to spread the joy and fun that comes from imagination, passion and the spirit of fun for all of the rest of my days on this planet. Thanks for reading my ramble. Now, Go Play! – Jim 01/28/13
You can get a Brick too… Click HERE… and also check out some other cool swag at Plaid Stallions including Brian’s new book that is a fantastic collection of incredibly crappy toys by clicking HERE and see what al the guff is abotu by watching the videos below…
You may have asked and are still wondering; “Sweet lord, Jim why damage your pseudo-reputation in the blog-o-sphere? You got a stake in the show?” The simple answer is: “No”. I have absolutely no connections to either the 
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