Hi Woodsy,
You are doing a good job entertaining us all at this strange time.
In case it is of use, here are a few things I culled from the internet, over time, on Buck Rogers.
Most of us probably remember Buck form the rather campy 1970s TV series, but he started in the 1920s, and I believe as a cartoon character he predated Flash Gordon. There is an excellent website based on the collection of the late Roland Anderson, which includes some of the early adventures:
I have included a compilation of what were aptly described as "nifty space ships" from this site. Buck Rogers Comic Strips
Perhaps this was the first large-scale merchandising for a space character.
There were toys, board games (including a compendium of three, with lovely art) and comic books, as well as a cut-out puppet theatre, with two great backdrops- on the one of the city included here I have superimposed one of the cut-out figures.
Alas, all out of my price range!
All the best,
Andy B.
UK
This is a glorious collection of TRUE retro space ships and such. Very much influenced by (and an influence on) Pulp SF magazine art (Frank R Paul and others). I guess I am still stuck in that time - I don't know why space vehicles cannot be whimsical and colorful, and still be able to fly to the moon in two hours! A great collection to share!
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty darn cool arent they Zigg!
DeleteBeautiful, especially the Tootsietoy die-cast spaceships set. The reason there is an airship in the set is that in the 1920s, when the stories first appeared, airships were still in use for long range air travel, and according to the stories they were still in common use in the 25th Century. Tootsietoy just put their existing model of the U.S.N. (not U.S.S.) Los Angeles in with the Buck Rogers spaceships to show this. The two wheels on top of the hull allowed the model to 'fly' along a length of string. This was a feature seen on a number of toy aeroplanes during this period.
ReplyDeleteFascinating Paul. I love the string whee;s on top. They must have looked so cool those moving toys. These are seriously old collectables.
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