Kenner Six Million Dollar Man And Bionic Woman Store Stock Photos

Kennercollector Plaidstallions Store Stock Photo

Plaidstallions.com never fails to amaze with the old store stock photos they turn up.  The latest two updates feature some amazing vintage Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman store images.

In these two photos, you can see the SMDM display, the SMDM shelf talker, and Bionic Woman shelf talker we posted about previously.

Kennercollector Plaidstallions Store Stock Photo

Check out the most recent Plaidstallions update number 15 here, and number 16 here.  You can also see their entire list of vintage toy store pictures here.

Love the Bionic Woman Mission Purse and SMDM Bionic Grip display headers in the image below. Drool…

Kennercollector Plaidstallions Store Stock Photo

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Littleplasticmen Magazine Issue 3 Now Available

KennerCollector.com Littleplasticmen Magazine Issue 3

If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, the littleplasticmen toy magazine is knocking it out of the park!  They’re back with issue #3 and it just keeps on getting better and better.  The magazine is a great way to keep up with everything that’s happening in the action figure collecting hobby.  It’s also nice to get that feeling of flipping through an old school magazine that you just can’t get from a website.

This issue takes a look at the recent carded Star Wars Droids Kleb Zellock auction, some current market prices for Kenner’s Gargoyles toy line, and the recent flurry of action figure related Kickstarter  projects!  While not Kenner related, there is also a great article about the Palisades unproduced Sesame Street toy line.

Check it out here!

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Interview with Super7’s Brian Flynn at CRAVE ONLINE

Kenner Collector Crave Online Super7 Store

If you are a fan of the exciting things Super7 has been doing for Kenner fans, check out the interview with Super7’s main man Brian Flynn over on CRAVE ONLINE.  Some good insight into how the company got started in licensed collectibles and where they are going with their ReAction retro toy line.

Also don’t forget, if you want to order your Alien Egg Chamber ReAction Playset, you only have until 5pm today!  Here’s a direct link to the item at the Super7 store.

Kenner Super7 Alien 2014 Black Box Egg Playset

Title image property of CRAVE ONLINE.

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Kenner Toys in the 1978 Service Merchandise Catalog

Service Merchandise

Everyone has memories of walking into their local store and walking out with a brand new toy.  We all also shared the feeling of joy when getting a brand new catalog in the mail and feverishly turning the pages to get to the toys section.  As someone who grew up in Indiana, there is one store and catalog that holds a special place in my heart, Service Merchandise.

kenner-collector-service-merchandise-catalog-logo

Service Merchandise was a catalog showroom store.  It was very different from the normal “self serve” stores most people are used to today.  All the products would be on display to look at, hold, and sometimes even play with!  When walking in the store, you would pick up a small clipboard  and begin shopping.   Upon choosing what you wanted to purchase, you would fill out the order form and whatever you ordered would then be retrieved and given to you when you checked out.  You could also order over the phone and by mail to have it delivered to you.

This experience makes up a lot of my childhood memories.  I remember walking in and being in charge of the clipboard while browsing around with my family.  It was the greatest feeling in the world!  When we were ready to go, I would be greeted by the sound of a new toy being pushed down the conveyor belt by an employee until it reached my hands.

I remember seeing Kenner toys for the first time in a catalog very similar to this one.  Those pages were the ones that were always frayed, torn, and written all over.  This 1978 Service Merchandise catalog features many classic Kenner toys like Spirograph, Stretch Armstrong, Girder and Panel Building Sets, The Six Million Dollar Man, Tree Tots, Sit and Spin, Give-A-Show, Easy-Bake Oven, Baby Won’t Let Go, Baby Heartbeat, Baby Alive, and much more.   Seeing all of these Kenner toys within the pages of this wonderful book reminds me just how much I looked forward to getting the catalog as a kid!

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Super7 2014 SDCC Exclusive: Alien Egg Chamber ReAction Playset

2014 SDCC Super7 Exclusive Alien ReAction Egg Chamber Playset

Super7 keeps their retro Kenner love going with an exclusive Alien Egg Chamber playset for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.  Just look  at that box design and the image of the kids playing with the figures.  That’s about as good as it gets.  Bravo Super7!  Here is the official release from their Facebook page:

Super7 x Funko: Alien Egg Chamber ReAction Playset

Limited run of 250/numbered

Look kids! Now you can relive the excitement of the Nostromo Crew’s journey into the Derelict Alien Spaceship! Venture with Kane deep into the mysterious Egg Chamber ReAction Playset and pose your sturdy ReAction Figures on the detailed, egg-covered base. Inspired by the playsets of the 1970’s and packaged in an era appropriate photo box, the playset provides the perfect backdrop for all of your ReAction Adventures. The playset comes complete with classically styled action base made from durable hand-cast resin and corrugated cardboard, full-color Alien Egg Silo backdrop that slides into the base for display. 

ReAction Figures sold separately. Limit to 1 per person for the entirety of the show. $100 ea.

At 250 pieces, this one is going to go quick!  Hopefully they will come out with a slight variation on the box as a more widespread release.  I’d love to see more of these end up in Kenner collections!

Update 7/14/2004:

Kenner Super7 Alien 2014 Black Box Egg Playset

Super7 has heard collectors demand for this playset loud and clear!  They have announced a non-SDCC exclusive black box version of the Egg Chamber ReAction Playset.  Collectors will be able to place a pre-order for the playset during SDCC on site, and at their website super7store.com.  Super7 will only be taking pre-orders from Wednesday July 23rd at 6pm through Sunday July 27th at 5pm, so don’t miss it!

The full announcement:

In response to the unexpected outpouring of enthusiasm and support for the Alien Egg Chamber Playset, we are thrilled to offer this limited pre-order for the black box edition of the playset for fans of Alien and ReAction Figures everywhere. This version features the black packaging and a charcoal base with printed cardboard inserts with custom artwork. As this was originally a labor of love project for us here at Super7, we had no idea it would touch the hearts of as many fans as it has. Thank you so much for your support of Super7 and this crazy playset of ours, we hope you enjoy it as much as we do, and that we can continue to make special and unique items like this in the future for you.

The Alien Egg Chamber Playset will be available for pre-order during all days of on site at SDCC and online at our websitewww.super7store.com. The pre-order will coincide with the show, and will only be available for pre-order from Wednesday July 23rd at 6pm through Sunday July 27th at 5pm. All playsets will be limited to the number of orders received and made to order. Playset bases will be made from hand cast resin unless enough orders are received to manufacture the bases in injection molded plastic. Delivery date for resin bases will be 3-4 months, and injection bases will be 6-7 months (hopefully faster) $100 each + $15 shipping (this is a really big box and base), available for pre-order from Wednesday July 21st at 6pm through Sunday July 27th at 5pm, quantities will be made to order.

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Kenner Strawberry Shortcake Plastic Shelf Talker Display

Kenner Strawberry Shortcake Plastic Flat Shelf Talker

Here is a shelf talker for Kenner’s Strawberry Shortcake toy line.  The display is die-cut from thin plastic and features colorful printed graphics on a flat surface.

In a retail environment, the shelf talker would be attached to a shelf using double-sided adhesive squares on the back.  The shelf talker display would be used to advertise the toy line to kids and adults as they walked down the toy aisle.

Kenner Strawberry Shortcake Plastic Flat Shelf Talker

This shelf talker measures 23 5/8″ long x 2 1/2″ tall.  The center of the display features the words The World of Strawberry Shortcake, and also has a small Kenner logo.  Each end of the display has circular Strawberry Shortcake logos that say Welcome to the World of Strawberry Shortcake.

The right side of  the lip has the following copyright information:  TM. Trademark of American Greetings Corporation.  © American Greetings Corporation 1980, 1981, 1982.  © CPG Products Corp. 1982 by its div. Kenner Products, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

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Kenner Unproduced Video Game Console Original Art

Kenner Unproduced Video Game Console Original Art 1981

Here is the original concept art for an unproduced Kenner video game console.  The art is a mixture of pen and marker on white paper, and is mounted to a presentation board.  It measures 24″ wide x 19″ high.

Kenner Unproduced Video Game Console Original Art 1981

The art is dated 1981 and gives us an interesting look into a market Kenner may have wanted to dip their toe in.  The home video game industry was going full force in 1981 with consoles like the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and Colecovision all battling for their share of the market.  With video games all the rage at the arcades and at home, Kenner certainly would have at least entertained the idea of getting into the lucrative home video game action.  This concept art obtained from the Kenner Morgue shows that a Kenner console was at least considered.

We now know that a Kenner home video game system never became a reality, and history shows that Kenner may have dodged a bullet by not going forward with the idea.  The home video game market experienced a massive crash in 1983 that didn’t begin to recover until 1985 when the Nintendo NES started gaining popularity in the United States.

Kenner Unproduced Video Game Console Original Art 1981

The above close-up shows that controller storage and a carrying handle were features considered for the console.

As always, if you worked on this unproduced video game console or have any information about it, we would love to hear from you!

 

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Kenner Play-Doh Fun Center Plastic Shelf Talker Display

Kenner Play-Doh Shelf Talker

This is a shelf talker for Kenner’s Play-Doh line.  The display is die-cut from thin plastic and features colorful printed graphics.

In a retail environment, the shelf talker would be attached to a shelf using double-sided adhesive squares on the back.  The shelf talker display would be used to advertise the toy line to kids and adults as they walked down the toy aisle.

Kenner Play-Doh Shelf Talker

This shelf talker measures 23 5/8″ long x 2 3/4″ tall, and says Play-Doh Fun Center.  It has the Play-Doh logo on each end, and the Kenner logo to the right of the word “Center.”  The right side of  the lip has the following copyright information:  CPG Products Corp. 1982, a subsidiary of General Mills, Inc. by its Division Kenner Products, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

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Kenner Steve Scout Unproduced Union and Confederate Uniform Concept Art

Kenner Steve Scout Concept Board Union Soldier Uniform

Here is a nice set of Kenner concept boards for unproduced Steve Scout Union and Confederate uniforms and accessory sets.  The concept boards feature a mix of original artwork done in ink and marker, and also have several logo elements pasted on.

The art appears to be demonstrating how the final packaging would look with the uniform and accessories visible through a clear plastic window.  The boards measure 16″ tall x 14″ wide.

Kenner Steve Scout Concept Board Confederate Soldier Uniform

The Steve Scout toy line was manufactured by Kenner from 1974-1975, and was approved by the Boy Scouts of America.  The line originally featured Steve Scout and his friend Bob Scout in 1974.  The younger Craig Cub Scout and Dave Cub Scout were added in 1975.  The Steve Scout line also featured various outdoor themed accessories and adventure sets.

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Littleplasticmen Magazine Issue 2 Is Now Available

Littleplasticmen Magazine Issue 2

The second issue of littleplasticmen magazine is out and you’re really going to want to check it out.  Blake Wright and the team have done it yet again with another fantastic issue.  The magazine features some great industry insider interviews, a re-cap of new toys shown at this year’s Toy Fair, and much more.

For the Kenner fans, this issue gives us an interview with Craig Owen of Zica, the company making the Kenner-esque style Six Million Dollar Man figures.  There is also a great article called When Bad Movies Happen to Good Toys… that showcases two of my favorite underappreciated Kenner toy lines, Waterworld and Robin Hood.  Also check out Butch and Sundance the Early Years figures making an appearance in The VIG, and Dragonheart getting some love in the RE-PLAY’D section!

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