Christmas Holiday Swag

Hi Woodsy.

I received some cool gifts this Christmas.

A hand crafted glass Orca for my tree came from the Wheaton Arts center near me.

Also got copy of Alien Covenant, A Star Wars calendar and my favorite Sausage and Cheese gift box.

Brian, New Jersey

A Space Fighter's Pet: Tyconus Rochon: What?

I saw this strange beast on Ebay last year.

The Tyconus Rochon!

I see a figure in the small bag but would this toy work for other action figures like Masters of the Universe or even Star Wars?

Anyone know the Tyconus Rochon's story?

How many generations of space kids were there?

Ive begun to realise that there were at least four generations of kids who were immersed in space and space adventure.

The first was that Forties and Fifties US generation who were exposed to Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Steve Canyon and Space Patrol. There were loads of toys associated with them too.

The next, certainly in the UK, were the Fifties Dan Dare and Eagle kids. These guys had a superb comic with its Pilot of the Future and the Mekons. Again the subject matter generated tons of ace space toys.

My own Sixties baby boomer generation went potty for TV21, Thunderbirds, Project SWORD, Major Mat Mason etc and it stretched well into the Seventies with UFO and Space 1999, not to mention the Moon Landing in the summer of 1969.

The last generation of space children, at least to my mind, were the originsl Star Wars kids who saw the movie in 1977 and enjoyed the blizzard of toys it and its two sequels produced. They perhaps had more space toys than any of us.

Obviously there were other major space series, ranges and movies - He Man, Thundercats, ET in the 80's and X Files in the 90's but in my personal opinion they didn't galvanise a whole generation in the way space travel and adventure had done previously.

These are just my own observations and as always I would be interested in what you think on this subject.

The King and IT

I know there's lots of talk about the recent remake of Stephen King's IT but I'm still discovering the latter part of the original ABC TV series from 1990!

I've seen the first half of the series many times but never really got past where the adult Mike gets stabbed by the adult Bowers.

If I've seen the final battle with Pennywise then I've forgotten it.

I attempted to see it last night but sleep got the better of me and I had to hit the sack yet agan circa 12.30am. I shall see if its on You Tube!

I'd also like to read the original novel IT.

From what I've seen so far of the old series its always struck me as one of the better TV serialisations of King's work. I think its just pipped to the top spot by Salem's Lot, which I adore. I can't speak for the Stand as I haven't seen past the first episode. Alas, I found the Storm of the Century a little boring.

In a sad twist I read about concerning IT, the actor who played the grown-up Ben or Haystacks, John Ritter, son of Tex Ritter, died young in real life aged just 54. He was a well-known US actor and lauded comedian and had won many awards. 

Ironically its his friend Stan the boy scout who dies in the series. Played by Richard Masur, his character, the adult Stan, commits suicide after receiving the phone call from Mike to make good on his promise to return to Derry and fight IT again. Incidentally Masur played Clark in John Carpenter's The Thing.

In an even sadder twist in real life, the child actor, Jonathan Brandis, who played main character the young Bill, the rider of the classic bike Silver in the series, killed himself aged just 27. His acting career had been waning. He had starred in 57 episodes of SeaQuest DSV among others.

For me personally I would say that the child actor who has become the most famous since IT is Seth Green, who played the young Richie Tozier. He played the geeky son of Doctor Evil, Scott in the Austin Powers movies and is still the voice of Chris in the hit US animated series Family Guy.

Beyond the IT series I have now read a little about the novel itself and am fascinated by reference to a macroverse, where IT came from. It also has an arch-nemesis, the Turtle! I had no idea that King could be so Lovecraftian!

My online reading has also hinted at another of King's works, The Dark Tower, which it appears has also been filmed.

Do you like IT readers and have you any collectables of IT or any Stephen King novels or filmed adaptations?

How Do You Clean Your Toys?

Do you clean your toys and models for display?

What do you use on plastic?

Gorgo on a Truck in London!

Mentioning missiles on trucks on public roads to Terranova47 today I remembered this startling image from the film Gorgo.

Hailed as the British Godzilla, Gorgo was hauled through the streets of London and is seen here passing the London Pavilion. 

Its on a Dorkins Circus flatbed trailer and was filmed on a quiet Sunday morning circa 1960. Just wait till his Mum Ogra shows up!

Its an amazing image and I wonder what the onlookers thought as a huge monster drove passed them that Sunday morning?

I wonder perhaps if anyone reading this was actually there?

Incidentally one of the film locations was Bulloch Harbour in Ireland, the namesake of our very own co-blogger Bill!

The Radio Shack Space Walker: What's That All About?

In my mind Radio Shack are a strange toy company. On the margins really where remote control is king. 

Saying that, I was surprised to see this vintage Space Walker by Radio Shack on Ebay last year. 

It has a sort of Masters of the Universe look to it on the box art!

The toy itself really does scream MOTU and Thundercats and I assume Radio Shack wanted to cash in on those two hugely successful action figure lines without explicitly saying so. Maybe even Star Wars but it looks too big to have a Kenner figure stood up in the hatch.

Do you agree readers?

Anyone got a Space Walker?

In a moment of cross-dimensional zeal I have just pictured Major Matt Mason stood in it too! How about that?

Paper Trails: Noteworthy Fun!

I was reminded the other day of paper trails.

I used to love doing these when I was kid. I rekindled it when I met my Missus in the late Seventies. It was a lot of fun. Cheap too. All you needed was a pen and paper!

Basically a paper trail is a trail of paper around the house, garden or both. It can even work in a place away from the home like a forest or park. Daylight is my only experience but it could also be done in the dark using torchlight.

The person who has laid the trail hides pieces of paper in various locations. Each one is hinted at in a clue written on the paper in the preceding location. The first clue is read to the person or persons playing.

The player has to then read each clue and find the next location, eventually finding the final one and the prize.

The clues could be as simple or as cryptic as you wanted. Basic statements maybe, rhyming slang or even lengthy riddles.

As the trail layer you had to remember where the notes where in case the game stalled and you had to kick-start it again. It happened.

I used to enjoy paper trails in the house. I'd lay them for anyone who would play: brothers, sisters, Mum, Dad, mates, lodgers and complete strangers. Even Shandy the dog, who just ate the clues!

It was huge fun to watch the trail unfold and the player win the prize, which again could be as simple or as off-kilter as you wanted. Maybe a toblerone bar or as I did with my young Missus a meal out at the local pizzeria!

Did you ever lay a paper trail readers?

PS. I have just thought that an interesting trail might start late on New Years Eve and go into the new Year! A time-travelling trail! Or might it be bad luck to continue the old year into the next? Hmmm.