Keen-eyed Jim Lewis spotted this bit of Century 21 toys obscura on Ebay UK a few years back, the Amazing Huff 'n' Puff Hill Climbing Engine!
A new one on me and continuing evidence that Century 21/ JR21 spread there wings beyond the futuristic toys of Gerry Anderson's TV shows and comics.
Huff 'n' Puff is not to be confused with the 1960's US TV puppet show, HR Puf n stuf starring Britains young star, Jack Wild ( yes, the Artful Dodger no less).
Not sure if it was ever shown in the UK - I never saw it. Finding it very difficult to spell for some reason, I could find only one toy on the whole of Ebay US, namely a flute and none on the UK site. So I assume it didn't spawn many toys.
Whilst watching my favourite film of all time recently, Enter the Dragon, starring the late great Bruce Lee, I came across this doppelganger of the above, this time on Ebay US and made by NASTA, 1971.
Its battery operated, made in Hong Kong and in a large box is measuring 15 x 8 inches. I've come across NASTA before I think - possibly a plastic lorry. I'll have to look it up.
Anyone have either of these chuffin' choo choos?
Its battery operated, made in Hong Kong and in a large box is measuring 15 x 8 inches. I've come across NASTA before I think - possibly a plastic lorry. I'll have to look it up.
Anyone have either of these chuffin' choo choos?
H.R. Pufnstuf was a 1969 US TV series about a boy named Jimmy (Jack Wild) and his magic talking flute Freddy. An evil witch named Witchiepoo wanted Freddy, and tried to abduct him. Jimmy and Freddy escape, and end up on Living Island. Everything is alive, houses, trees, clocks, etc. The Mayor is a dragon named H.R. Pufnstuf (one word in the opening titles), who helps Jimmy. There was also a 1970 film. All the characters, except for Jimmy and Whichiepoo are giant puppets with people inside them, rather like the larger Muppets. Believe me, if you had ever seen this show you would remember it - I certainly do. Similar shows were Lidsville about living hats, and The Banana Splits.
ReplyDeleteThere was also a song by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary called Puff the Magic Dragon, which was also the nickname of the AC-47 gunship used in the Vietnam War - a C-47 or DC-3 Dakota with three 7.62mm Miniguns firing out the side windows on the port side, used against ground targets.