In my opinion, the
Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter from Mattel was
the coolest sci-fi movie/TV tie-in toy of the 1970's... but the legendary 18"
Alien action figure from Kenner is a close second - and I'm sure that many other Star Kids would rank it at #1.
And I might too, if I'd actually owned one. I do remember seeing one in the store in '79 and being both fascinated and frightened by it. I hadn't seen the movie - only coverage of it in
Starlog and
Fantastic Films - but I did ask my folks to buy it for me. Unfortunately once my mom glimmed the price tag and got a good look at the sheer grotesqueness of the figure, there was no way she was going to pick it up for me. Instead, I'm pretty sure I got a
Moonraker space shuttle model kit... and, you know, I was pretty happy with that.
Still, over the years, I've kept my eye out for one of these treasures, but alas, I've never found one I could afford. I have, on occasion, had an opportunity to inspect other people's Aliens, though, and I'm rather astounded by the level of detail that Kenner managed; I'm sure that's part of the reason for the larger-than-usual scale. I'm also amazed that Kenner got away with marketing a toy like this to kids, not only because it's so scary, but because it was derived from an R-rated horror film.
Ahhh... the Seventies.
My parents bought this for me for Christmas of 79, and honestly I don't think I've ever received a cooler gift. By the way, that kid on the box looks like Jack Black to me for some reason...
ReplyDeletemy best friend back then had this toy and I used to covet it something fierce - he also had ALL the Star Wars figures and extras - good stuff
ReplyDeleteMy recollection (I was only 14 at the time) was that Kenner *didn't* get away with it for long. I seem to recall some sort of backlash precisely because it was a toy based on a R-rated film, and they were never restocked (and didn't sell that well in any case). I held onto mine for years, complete and mint without box. Sold it for a ridiculous amount of money during the eBay boom. Kind of wish I hadn't.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing this in stores when I was a kid and wondering, even then, what Kenner was thinking in making a toy based on a movie no child would likely have seen.
ReplyDeleteIn fact Kenner did not get away with it. Part of the reason they are so rare today is that they did not stay on the shelves long due to the parental outcry about them making a toy based on such a violent rated R movie.
ReplyDeleteIt caused the small scale figures to be canceled all together.
you can find some photos of the prototypes here:
http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/forum/go/to.cgi/http://www.alienscollection.com/unproduced.html
I had both the Space: 1999 Eagle and the Alien doll. I got some serious mileage out of that Eagle, and I still have the Alien doll in good condition in my folks' attic, but the plastic "skull cover" disappeared a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Good times.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a Japanese version made by Tsukuda in '84-'85, aparently the exact same mold Kenner used with a little more articulation in the knees. It has yet to arrive from Japan, but I'll be sure to pose with it wearing my green turtleneck!
ReplyDeleteAnyone own those Kenner Alien Movie Viewers? I always wanted one of those.
Hey Chris, how about an article about those Photo Novels that were the rage for about a year or two in the 70's? I remember having the Bakshi LOTR, Buck Rogers, The Hulk, Grease and Alien...
HouseofDuck - Thanks fr the link, I had no idea that a 3 3/4 line was planned, these prototype pics are awesome!
ReplyDeleteCncerning the Photo Novels - Found this article via Wikipedia (of course) anyone else remember these? I think we may have even ordered them from the Scholastic Book Club!
http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/2005/11/retro-toy-flashback-16-photonovels.html
Also for those who want the Alien at a fraction of the Kenner asking price (I lucked out and got min for a mere 500 Y, with the box via Yahoo Japan Auctions) here is some more info:
http://xenomorph.org/item_page.php3?ID=50
I guess I was wrong about the knees :)
If memory serves, the Alien's brains glowed in the dark. How cool was that?
ReplyDeleteI remember wanting one.....don't know if i ever actually saw one on the shelves though!
ReplyDeleteI will cast my vote for best toy of the 70's however for the Mattel Space 1999 Eagle. It was an amazing piece of work.
Hey Chris....just curious, can your site host polls where all of us following your blog could participate? I'd be curious, if your were to ask which 70's themed toy was are favorite, could a running tally or percentage type graph system keep track of the results? Just thought something like that could be fun. Favorite episodes, best ships, theme songs, etc.....
Dusty
I had a chance of buying this baby when it first came out and I'm still kicking myself all these years later for not taking the plunge. My memory recalls the packaging showing how Mac would grip GI Joe's head before taking a bite. Or maybe that was just in my fevered imagination.
ReplyDeleteFor a long time mine stood on my nightstand with a battered and bloodied G.I.Joe as it's victim. Wish I'd taken pictures....
ReplyDeleteI also got one of these for Christmas in 1979 as a little tike. It was #1 on my wish list. Later that night I had a restless nights sleep due to my new ALIEN figure and my agitated mom took it back to JC Pennys the next day. A decision I knew I would regret. I did manage to get the ALIEN figure again though from a collectables dealer near mint in box in 1990, but by then it cost me a good $250 bucks. In my opinion this was one of the all time coolest toys ever made.
ReplyDeletei just bbought bone at a thrift store...what son!!
ReplyDeleteBoth my brother and I got one in early 1980, as it did not make it from the X-mas list to under the tree. So with my Christmas cash loot in-hand--I had my Father drive me all over Auburn, Kent and finally Renton, where at a Pay'n Save in the Renton Highlands I discovered him. He was tucked away on the bottom shelf and merchandised sideways! I nearly shit bricks as I scooped him up (I recall it being the only one on the shelf)! I did not even blink at the $20 asking price. What good memories I have of that treasure hunt for the illusive Kenner ALIEN! My older brother really liked the figure as well--so he found that he was able to order his from a Montgomery Ward Catalog store in Snoqualmie! SCORE #2! I still have mine, complete and with the box and included poster/manual.
ReplyDeleteGastonia, NC Christmas - Eastridge Mall at BELKS
ReplyDeleteAs a kid, myself and my family were walking into the toy department to let us pick out toys . Just as we walked into the department, low and behold a giant display of at least 50 of these toys stacked up. I had not seen the movie at this point but I was fascinated right away and this was the toy I wanted and got. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!! I guess I was ten in 1979 and I absolutely loved this figure and played with it every day for a long time. We moved about a year later and my ALIEN got left behind. I guess some other kid got it or it either freaked out some adult. My parents had no problem with this toy or the movie. I hate the idea that some parents think you are going to be damaged for life if you are exposed to some violence or a horror movie. My parents explained Hollywood movies to me and I knew from a young age that its all make believe . I,m a retired adult now that could not be more non-violent and mentally stable. I saw the movie a couple of years later at 12 years old I guess, and it is now one of my top ten favorite Sci-fi films of all time. No offense to the parents with kids that are sensitive.
I was 11 yrs old in Summer '79.I talked my older cousin into taking me to see Alien.Although it scared the crap out of me, I also got this strange vibe that this movie was special, one that would transcend generations.As an adult, I've embraced every aspect of this movie.I often picture my workplace,a fairly high tech metal shop,as the bridge of the Nostromo.I recently bought a "Nostromo" insignia patch and put it on my work coveralls.Surprisingly, most of my co-workers immediately got the point of the in- joke,and Alien is now a common subject during slow work days.As for the toy, it's currently leering at me from a shelf above my computer as I type,standing between Raideen and Godzilla, all Christmas presents I recieved some 30 years ago.
ReplyDelete37 years later, mine still sits in mint condition on a shelf in a place of honor.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know what the original 1979 U.S. retail price for this ALIEN figure was? I can't find it anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI believe it was in the $40.'s, which at the time was a pretty expensive toy. It was that that caused low sales and low production. All of that and it being ugly and so scary led stores to slash prices by over half just to get them out of the store- all making toy more highly valued and an expensive 'collectible'.
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