Before YouTube and streaming. Before Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS. Before taping shows off TV with a VCR. Kids were at the mercy of whatever happened to be on TV at the time. Or playing in a theater, assuming parents would take them. Feel like watching cartoons? Better not sleep in on Saturday morning. Feel like … Continue reading Kenner’s Easy Show Movie Projector (1966) and Star Wars Movie Viewer (1978)
Darth Vader's first on-screen appearance is in a corridor in spaceship Tantive IV in STAR WARS (1977). The famous ship hallway is also featured in REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005) and ROGUE ONE (2016). And finally, after all this time, it has achieved toy-status thanks to Hasbro's "Vintage Collection" line. Oh, yes. Let's take a … Continue reading Tantive IV Playset (2021)
The Nevarro Cantina, as seen in THE MANDALORIAN, began showing up in stores last month, and comes with a lot of great props, including bar stools, bottles, and cups. It was released by Hasbro in their STAR WARS "The Vintage Collection" line. The box has outstanding pictures of set-ups with figures from THE MANDALORIAN. And … Continue reading 2022 Nevarro Cantina Playset
In the mid 90s, an all-new line of STAR WARS toys reached dizzying heights of popularity. And yet, just a few years earlier, the franchise was all but dead. 1986 thru 1994. Nine consecutive years without the release of any new STAR WARS 3.75-inch figures. Except for one. According to Stephen Sansweet's excellent guidebook, Vlix … Continue reading Star Wars 3.75-Inch Figures Part 4 (1995-1996)
1983 Early in '83, Kenner updated the backer cards for all their STAR WARS figures with the RETURN OF THE JEDI logo and an offer to receive a free Nien Nunb figure from the upcoming film, still months away. Around this time, a slip was placed in STAR WARS vehicle and playset toys, hyping the … Continue reading Star Wars 3.75-Inch Figures Part 3 (1983-1985)
By 1979, Kenner had conquered the toy world with their hot new STAR WARS line, but this was only the beginning. 1980 As 1980 began, anticipation was in full swing for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK which would be released in May. The cardbacks were updated with the EMPIRE logo and an offer to receive a … Continue reading Star Wars 3.75-Inch Figures Part 2 (1980-1982)
Kenner revolutionized the toy industry with the introduction of their 3.75-inch STAR WARS "mini-figures." Before then, most action figures were much larger. With STAR WARS having so many spaceships, vehicles, and locations, Kenner saw the potential of making toy versions of these vehicles and locations that would be compatible with action figures. It wasn't practical … Continue reading Star Wars 3.75-Inch Figures Part 1 (1977-1979)
Let's take a look at the four TIE Fighters released by Kenner during their original STAR WARS run: TIE FIGHTER (1978) The good old original! Featured a light-up laser you could activate at the touch of a button, and pop-off wings to make the ship appear to be blown up during play time. A TIE … Continue reading Vintage TIE Fighters
Okay. This is my favorite Hasbro offering from last year. Based on the Disneyland ride, it comes with figures of Chewie and Hondo, along with several porgs. As you see on the box art, it also comes with two radar dishes, so you can switch between the original trilogy look and the way it is … Continue reading 2020 Smuggler’s Run Millennium Falcon by Hasbro
Let's take a look at Hasbro's Carbon-Freezing Chamber set. The release coincided with the 40 year anniversary of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Here's the box art. Very nice! In the above picture it's seen that if you purchase two of these sets you can make the whole chamber floor. The set received criticism for having … Continue reading 2020 Carbon-Freezing Chamber Playset
