Running seamlessly alongside the 1960's Space and Monster crazes, like a shady man in a trench coat, was spy mania. Films and shows like James Bond, the Avengers, In Like Flint, The Odessa File, Man in a Suitcase and Man from Uncle enthralled adults and Kids alike and we all became briefcase-carrying spies and spooks.
Over the Autumn I'll take a look at the spy craze in toys. Contributions welcomed but only in invisible ink . This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.
I loved the spy stuff. Such a part of the Sixties! Don't forget there was a Girl from U.N.C.L.E. too, and also Honey West. OK, not technically a spy, but the doll had some cool secret gadgets! (pity I don't have any of them, sigh).
ReplyDeleteLoved the spy stuff too Toad....and I remember quite well that my sister had a crush on Napolean Solo, she loved his chin apparently! lol
ReplyDeleteI never got the "Secret Sam" kit I wanted (not sure why as I got most other things I did) but I remember getting a couple of other "spy sets" of sorts, with guns, telescopic sights, silencers and "walkie talkies" and "paperwork" like fake passports and stuff.
I seem to remember one hand pistol that had sliding panels on the hand grip that when slid aside revealed extra ammo and a gadget or two.
Happy days!
When I was a kid, I wasn't too into the spy stuff, but after I became a teenager, spy stuff suddenly was awesome. Go figure, maybe it had to do with girls... The various police or fire playsets for kids today---and as seen in catalogs back then---seem much less interesting that do the spysets.
ReplyDeleteWonderful topic!
Gordon Long
Theres a Matt Helm spy spoof 'The Ambushers' with Dean Martin in that has an antigravity flying saucer in which is cool!
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