Roaring Good Fun

It was a well known fact that Spider-Man and Gene Simmons were in a licensing competition that still stands to this day.

1980 Azrak Hamway (AHI) Toy Catalog

As one of the premiere rack toy manufacturers of the 1970s, Azrak Hamway International (most commonly referred to as AHI by collectors) ended the decade with a bang featuring new products featuring their hottest licenses.

Most notably in this book are the Marvel and DC superheroes, Star Trek, KISS and the Universal Monsters.

It is truly a fun catalog loaded with my favourite toys from the era like parachuting superheroes, Mr Spock Bop Bags and ....

Superhero Pipes! You can't make this stuff up.

Visit the 1980 AHI Toy Catalog Here

Azrak Hamway Index on PlaidStallions/AzrakHamway.com

Monster Gallery

Batman Gallery

Star Trek Gallery

Planet of the Apes Gallery

Marvel Comics Gallery

Space:1999 Gallery

Carnival Toys 1979

Carnival was the premier maker of toy musical instruments in the late 1970s. Their main focus was toy guitars and licensing, making sure they slapped the hottest acs of the time on their guitars (even when they primarily known for disco tunes).

So join KISS, the Village People, Hulk and Spider-man (!), the Bee Gees, Shaun Cassidy on a mystical, musical adventure.


1979 Carnival Toys Catalog

Deluxe Kiss Guitar

While I can't say I'm a giant KISS fan these days, I was also in third grade when the merchandise explosion hit and am not made of stone. 

KISS stuff always stops me in my tracks, not unlike my dog when it sees a squirrel. Neither of us need it, wouldn't know what to do with it if we got it but it still gives us pause.

The Remco 7

Spider-Man, Reggie Jackson,three babies, somebody's dad and KISS. It's a super team nobody wanted but everyone got.

Remco  links

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The Top Ten cancelled toys of the 70s/80s

As much as I enjoyed my childhood, it sometimes pains me to think of the stuff we didn't get, for whatever boring grown up decision. Sure, some of these licensed wouldn't have sold and could have forced the companies into risky financial positions but baby Brian wants his toys dammit!
Here are the top ten cancelled toy lines that I personally weep for at every occasion:
Disclaimer: There may be some figure lines not included, this probably intentional as like all of my lists, it's a little biased. I try to be fair.,

10: V LJN planned to make action figures based on the television series V but somehow it stalled and never totally happened.

Why it Hurts It may just be my teenage crush on Jane Badler and her red spandex talking but "V" is just so seriously under-serviced in merchandise, especially when you consider the impact it had.

9) Galoob The Last Starfighter line In the race to find the next Star Wars Starfighter was probably the closest to the concept (well at least when you look at stuff like Krull or Dune), the movie did good but not great at the box office (which is still a mystery to me) so Galoob chose not to go forward with these beautiful items.


Why it Hurts Not only are the figures nice but Galoob wasn't stingy with the character selection, this movie deserved these toys.


Read the whole list here The Top Ten cancelled toys of the 70s/80s

1979 Collegeville means KISS (and some Cylons)

Awww yeah, we wrap up our month of Halloween with our third dip into the "Collegeville barrel" with this grooving catalog from 1979.

'79 saw some great new additions to Collegeville as they scored some major licenses most important at the time would be KISS, the rock band that wore Halloween costumes 24/7. For the space kids, Collegeville had the good guys and bad bots of Battlestar Galactica and for you fantasy nerds, The Lord of the Rings!

Oh my goodness, I need to own this badly. Click on any image to check out all the fun of the 1979 Collegeville Costumes Catalog.

More Costume Catalogs:

Knights In Santa's Service

Here are some very rare examples of KISS merchandising, as everyone knows the band doesn't care much for merchandising as they feel it ruins their artistic integrity.

The kid in the picture never listened to a KISS record in his life, he's a Leo Sayer fan, poser....