Toy OTD: Colgate Soaky Toys: The Chipmunks - Alvin, Simon, Theodore (1964)

I'd like to hope that most viewers of the latest Alvin & The Chipmunks movie know that it's based on a series of hit novelty records (and a popular animated cartoon) from the sixties. Being a successful pop culture property, the Chipmunks naturally spawned a slew of merchandise and product endorsements.

A popular item at the time was a "Soaky" - a bath soap bottle shaped like a cartoon character. The idea was that children could play with the bottle while bathing, and keep it well after the soap was all used up. It's a simple but effective idea... the brand itself is long gone, but the concept has lasted forty years past the original toy! Naturally, Alvin and the gang were perfect candidates for "Soaky" immortality.



A big part of the "Soaky Secret" is that they're very cheap to make - some plastic, a couple of paint passes, and a touch of cardboard for packaging. Still, there was some thought (and taste) put into designing them.

The sculpts - taking into consideration that all of them needed to conform to the same basic bottle - are quite good. The head pieces (which cover the actual screw-on bottle cap) are pretty appealing interpretations of the very 2-D designs. Like many of the other Soakys, extra props are sometimes added in when the source character is too short to fit the bottle shape. Here, you can see the sculptor(s) added a stack of books for Alvin and a small pedestal for Theodore to help preserve the idea that the Chipmunks are different heights. The props themselves seem a little arbitrary, but they get points for preserving the designs. In light of this, it's a little odd that letters were added to Simon and Theodore's sweaters, since they're not on the source artwork. At least it's duplicating an existing motif rather than adding something that isn't part of any of their costumes - and it unifies the group, too.

As these bottles are intended for tub play (not to mention cost factors), the paint work is pretty minimal - just two passes per character. The manufacturers and designers wisely used the bottle plastic to add a third color to their palette. Casting the head in a different color of plastic sometimes added a fourth, as you can see with Alvin. While there are some less than intuitive paint choices - Simon's glasses and face detail could have been black like Alvin's, and Theodore's sweater is left white rather than painting it a more accurate blue - overall the colors are sharp and appealing.

(It also appears that the paint and plastic colors varied depending on what the manufacturers had on hand - check out John K.'s variants here. Alvin even had a bottle-cap-style cap at one point!)

Since Soakys have to stand upright by definition, there aren't any balance issues here. Because they're containers first and toys second, articulation is a moot point too. Think of them as being closer to a rubber squeak toy than an action figure.

Soaky packaging is also pretty minimal - a simple cardboard box covering the base. This took care of branding without having to add much to the toy itself. Interestingly, the designers didn't brand the characters themselves, as is done so often today. The boxes could also be changed easily, depending on what function/decoration they might need to do, as in the case of this Santa Claus Soaky. It's got a built-in gift tag!

Soakys were very popular and made in huge quantities. As with many other collectibles, some characters are rarer (and more expensive to buy) than others. Fortunately, the Chipmunk gang isn't particularly rare. Alvin can range anywhere from $6.99 to $34.99 + shipping. Simon costs anywhere between $20 and $36 + shipping. Theodore's range hovers right around $24 - $25 + shipping. Feel free to be picky, as there's plenty of them for sale out there. Happy hunting!

Chipmunk Fun Facts: Did you know that Alvin, Simon and Theodore were named after Liberty Records (their first label) executives? Did you also know that they started out as puppets on the Ed Sullivan Show? I didn't!

Toy OTD: Enesco Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Figurine: "Jingle, Jingle, Jingle, You Will Hear My Sleigh Bells Ring" (2000)

Since it's Christmas today, I thought I'd write about one of Enesco's adorable Rankin-Bass figurines. Of course, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the most famous (and arguably the most popular) of the R-B specials, so there's been plenty of Rudolph merchandise available over the last ten years or so!

Here's another great piece from the line, depicting young Rudolph playing with a halter of sleigh bells as Santa watches. It's a really wonderful sculpt - there's a nice sense of texture, from the felt-like quality to Rudolph's coat, to the fluffy look of Santa's beard, to the grainy snow that makes up the base. The poses can't get too dynamic without becoming very fragile, but there's an effort made here to keep the characters alive. Nothing feels stiff or mechanical, despite the fact the source figures are stop-motion puppets. Heads are slightly tilted, knees are bent, arms are raised to different heights. It captures the feeling of the scene really well without being too literal (actually, this moment took place in the reindeer family's cave).

The paint work is also very good, duplicating the original colors accurately. While the paint apps aren't all that tight, they're executed well enough to keep from feeling sloppy. I could probably do without the glitter mixed into the snow base, but it's only a minor detraction.

Articulation is a non-issue here, since we're talking about a resin figurine, and the 'snow' base strengthens the overall piece while eliminating any balance issues. It's also great that there's no titling or branding on a visible part of the base - all of that is printed on the underside, completely out of view. Nice!

The biggest minus about this line is the packaging. It's a nice concept for the box design - an old-fashioned television set - but the execution is not very strong at all. The artwork is poor, the layout feels uninspired and unfocused, and there's no way to see the figure without opening the package. Many items in this line were available primarily through mail order, so to a degree this makes sense. Still, I think the box designs could've been a bit stronger - after all, it's the first thing you see after opening the shipping box. Plus, collectors often keep the packaging to preserve the piece's value, so it's smart to make it as attractive as possible!

Even though this line has been out for ten years, it's still not difficult or expensive to get some of the pieces. You can get this figurine right now at ecrater.com for $45 + shipping. Happy Holidays!

'And That's The Way It Is'

Walter Cronkite, the iconic face and voice of television news for generations, died yesterday from complications of dementia. He was 92.

Like many people my age for whom television was no longer a novelty but a fixture, 'Uncle Walter' was a news anchor in the truest sense of the word - he simply was the evening news. He was called 'The most trusted man in America', and that was certainly true for me.

The office of president was called into question when I was nine years old, but in my eyes Walter Cronkite's integrity and professionalism were ironclad throughout his entire life. For him, a breach of etiquette meant a break in his voice when he announced that President Kennedy had been shot.

He has been called one of the first celebrity anchormen, and while he certainly was one of (if not the) most recognizable and beloved figures on television, it was clear that there was years of news reporting behind his objective presence.

His oft-mimicked delivery was as iconic as those of Walter Winchell or Edward R. Murrow. His reassuring presence was a sincere comfort in troubled times, and when he retired in 1981, television was never quite the same for me. I'm grateful that I was able to experience some old-school news anchoring - and reporting - at its best.

"... And that's the way it is... July eighteenth, two thousand nine."

So long, Uncle Walter. You'll be missed.

Photo: ©CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images. Painfully cropped by me.
For the NY Times obituary, click here.
For the LA Times obituary, click here.

Toy OTD: Knickerbocker Hanna-Barbera Plush: Yogi Bear (1959)

Most of the time, I'm a fanatic about how similar a toy looks to its original source - the more "on-model", the better! Sometimes, though, "off-model" toys have a certain charm. There's few toys more oddly appealing than Hanna-Barbera merchandise from the late fifties and early sixties.

It's amazing that stuffed Yogi here still looks cute in spite of the fact that the entire head was molded in the muzzle color, making Yogi look as if he'd been shaved. In fact, there's not much fuzziness to be had anywhere - only the paws look fairly cuddly. While Yogi's usually brown, it's fairly safe to say that this toy wasn't, even if you account for fading. As crazy as this doll may look when you set it next to the cartoon character, this is nothing compared to other old H&B toys!

This toy is pretty sun-bleached, and who knows how much fur has worn off in the last fifty years. I'm pretty sure that it's complete, but just because it has all of the clothing that's featured in the drawing doesn't mean that something isn't missing! Toys from this period will be colored in crazy ways or sport clothing, accessories - even fur! - that they never had in the cartoons.

There is something really great about this toy, though, and that's simplicity. The shapes and colors of the plush may be way off, but overall the design's not much more complicated than the original artwork. There's four paint passes on the head - that's it. Grab the closest modern toy within reach, and unless it came from a party store, there's probably a lot more than four paint passes. There's just four fabric colors/types on the body, too.

I really like the use of vinyl heads atop plush bodies. That's pretty rare these days, as it probably doesn't pass muster under modern safety standards. Still, you get the design crispness of vinyl combined with the cuddliness of a plush, which I think is pretty cool.

I know that some Knickerbocker toys were packed in boxes, but I'm not sure if this particular item was - I think some may have simply been sold with a tag. The package designs weren't dazzling, if I remember right... mostly some red/blue text graphics on cardboard-colored boxes, similar to the old Fisher-Price containers from the same period. The tags weren't all that exciting either, but they had a boldness and simplicity to them.

This toy is old enough that you'll need to look at toy shows or on eBay to find one. I think I paid about $65 for mine, so you might have to pay more if you find something in even better shape. Still, a lot of people are cashing out their collections these days, so you may be able to find a deal. There's a great-looking 26" version on eBay right now, in fact! Here's another one starting at $6.00. There's several more for sale, but many are missing the tie, so be careful. Look sharp and happy bidding!

PS - Now that I've pored over some eBay photos, I'm a lot less certain that my Yogi plush was originally yellow.

Photo by Jeff Pidgeon.
Yogi title card art courtesy of Warner Brothers and this blog.

Toy OTD: Ideal Magilla Gorilla Plush ('60s)

You don't see this construction approach used often anymore, but I like it: a vinyl head or face attached to a plush body. You can play to the strengths of both materials, each to its advantage: the precision of vinyl to get a more on-model face, and the cuddliness of a plush. I'm assuming it's too hard to anchor down a vinyl head to meet today's safety standards - or maybe it's simply a lot more expensive.

For a plush, there's a lot of detail: the tie, pants, suspenders, differently-colored shoes, 'shoelaces', even the little bars on the suspenders! The colors may not be spot-on, but they're close enough to evoke the character properly. The head sculpt is appealing, and the paint work is pretty tight, considering the era that the toys was made. Of course, the 'airbrushed' highlights in the mouth and ears are particularly nice!

If you buy plushes, you're probably going to have balance issues, and sure enough this toy can't stand or sit on its own. It's a shame that the design couldn't commit to one or the other, but the looks is so fun and colorful (not to mention accurate) that it helps to make up for it.

If you want to get a Magilla of your own, you can buy one at gasolinealleyantiques.com for $95.00 + shipping. Have fun!

Batman: The Movie Coming To Blu-Ray July 1st!

HOLY HIGH DEFINITION, BATMAN!

BATMAN: THE MOVIE -- SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY DISC

The 1966 Caped-Crusading Classic Starring Adam West Dashes Onto Blu-Ray Disc July 1 From Fox Home Entertainment!

Dynamic Disc Features New, Exclusive High Definition Extras, Plus A BD Industry First, Nelson Riddle’s Cool Jazz Score Presented As An Isolated Music Track In Lossless Audio!

CENTURY CITY, Calif. – Citizens of Gotham City shall fear not when the heroic Caped Crusader and his crime-fighting chum, Boy Wonder, stop dastardly villains from de-hydrating the planet in the original full-length bat-film, BATMAN: THE MOVIE SPECIAL EDITION, arriving on high definition Blu-Ray Disc for the first time July 1st from Fox Home Entertainment. Starring Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin), this 1966 spin-off of the popular “Batman” television series features all four of the hero’s most diabolical and cunning adversaries: the clown prince of crime, The Joker (Cesar Romero); the count of criminal conundrums, The Riddler (Frank Gorshin); the pompous waddling master of fowl play, The Penguin (Burgess Meredith); and the fiendish feline, The Catwoman (Lee Meriwether). Directed by Leslie H. Martinson (PT 109, Rescue from Gilligan’s Island), who later won a Golden Gryphon for his efforts, the colorful and over-the-top film featured a groovy and swank score by Academy Award® winner* Nelson Riddle.

Brimming with brand new and exclusive high definition bat-features, the Blu-ray Disc includes “Batman: A Dynamic Legacy,” a tribute to the caped crusader and look at Gotham’s evil villains in “Gotham City’s Most Wanted”; a 360 degree navigational tour of the Batmobile; and an isolated score in 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio (Lossless), an industry first for Blu-Ray Disc that allows viewers to listen to the score only. The Special Edition also includes interviews and commentary by actors West, Ward, and screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr., featurettes, trivia track, galleries and trailers.

The BATMAN: THE MOVIE SPECIAL EDITION Blu-Ray Disc will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S. / $49.98 Canada. Prebook is June 4th.

DVD Special Features:
The Batman: The Movie Special Edition Blu-Ray Disc is presented in widescreen with English 5.1 DTS HD Lossless Audio, English and French Mono and includes English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

• Commentary by actors Adam West and Burt Ward
• Commentary by screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr.
• Isolated Score Track 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio (Lossless)
• All-new high-definition featurettes:
o Batman: A Dynamic Legacy
o Caped Crusaders: A Heroes Tribute
o Gotham City’s Most Wanted
• 2001 35th Anniversary Piece Featuring Interviews with Adam West and Burt Ward
• The Batmobile Revealed with George Barris
• The Batmobile Interactive Tour – A 360 Degree Navigational Tour
• BATMAN on Location: Mapping the Movie
• Holy Pop-Up Trivia Track, Batman!
• Original Teaser and Theatrical Trailers
• Galleries:
o From the Vaults of Adam West
o Interactive Pressbook
o Posters
o Production Stills
o Behind the Scenes
o Premiere

Synopsis
The four greatest super-criminals of The United Underworld - The Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler and The Penguin – combine forces to dispose of Batman and Robin as they launch their fantastic plot to control the entire world. Can the dynamic duo stop The United Underworld before it’s too late?

A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

# # #

BATMAN: THE MOVIE -- SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY DISC
Street Date: July 1, 2008
Pre-book Date: June 4, 2008
DVD Price: $39.98 U.S. / $49.98 Canada
Catalog #: 2252370
Total Running Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Closed Captioned: Yes

Check out this Batman featurette, "Surviving the Set", "Theater of the Absurd", and "Becoming Robin", all on YouTube!

Cool View-Master Scans

Bob Logan has figured out how to scan old View-Master reels, and he's generously put many of my favorite images on his blog. Take a look!

I love these old 3-D set-ups - they're so charming! I hope someone at McFarlane Toys uses them as reference for their Hanna-Barbera figure line. Here's hoping...

Toy OTD: Applause Jetsons Doll: Elroy (1990)

This is an older toy that I've had since my days at Tiny Toons (we're talking early nineties). Warner Brothers TV Animation was in the Imperial Bank building, right next to the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Naturally, we'd pop down there at lunchtime to shop and play video games. One of the neastest stores in the mall was part of a chain called Cartoon Junction.

Animated features and television shows were getting better again after a big dry period in the late sixties through to the mid-eighties. They also started to make money, and a new generation of cartoon geeks were growing up and began earning disposable income. The means to manufacture toys had improved drastically since the last peak in the late fifties/early sixties. The success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? inspired many studios to re-examine their classic licenses. The time was right for a new wave of animation-based merchandise, so chains like The Disney Store and Cartoon Junction began to emerge.

Anyway, this is one of the toys I bought at Cartoon Junction when merchandising began to pick up. Applause released a line of vinyl/plush Jetsons toys, and though the line was pretty uneven in terms of quality, I snapped up George and Elroy!

It's an appealing combination of materials, the vinyl allowing for a far more accurate facial sculpt. The plush body makes it a bit cuddlier, plus it gives the feeling of a cloth costume, since the extremities are vinyl, too. In the minus column, it's not all that posable, plus it doesn't balance very well. The plush collar is very thick, so it might have been better to cast it with the vinyl head, and then segue to the cloth body. Otherwise, it's a cute, affordable toy.

This figure isn't in big demand, so it shouldn't cost you a lot of money to buy. There's an auction for one on eBay right now starting at $9.95 + shipping, complete with its original tags. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Product Enterprise Ltd.'s 7" Die-Cast Stingray

I only wish I could afford more of Product Enterprise's great Gerry Anderson collectibles, because they're so beautifully made! It's clear to see that a lot of love has gone into making these die-cast replicas look just like their televised counterparts. They're a good scale for fine detail, and the paint jobs are gorgeous! There's just no downside to these beauties - aside from their high-ish prices, but well worth it if you can spare the cash!

You can still buy a Stingray right from the Product Enterprise website if you're a US customer - it's now £9.99 + £6.00 shipping, or about thirty US dollars.

Post-Christmas Cheesecake, Monsters

If you're so inclined, check out Poletti's Flickr set called The Galactically Hot Women Of Star Trek TOS. Not surprisingly, there's lots of bizarre, dated hair and makeup on display!

In vivid contrast, Wired has posted a list of Trek's ten cheesiest monsters. Give your, uh, brains a chance to shift gears, then enjoy!