Marx plastic monster figures-the universal series

[jeffs60s]

I've seen a lot of discussions about these great old Marx universal plastic figures from the 60's. I'ver referenced them on my website, but here's a new page I just added about my memories of them. http://www.jeffs60s.com/universal-plastic-monsters.php

[Hepcat]

Excellent write-up!

[Hepcat]

Three questions:

Each time these (Universal monster) figures arrived in Newberry's basement, the colors on some of them had changed. I saw many of the color changes, but only the brightest ones seemed to attract me. The blue molded colors seemed a bit dark, though I did love the green versions.

I take it that the ones you call blue are the ones often referred to as teal. So then you definitely remember Universal monster figures that were green in colour. Were these a lime green?

I also had a several plastic dinosaurs.... Around 1962 I had one set in particular that had the detail of models, and were larger. They were made of hard plastic....

Was this plastic harder and more brittle than the plastic out of which the Marx Universal monsters were made? Do you have any kind of clue as to the manufacturer of these dinosaurs?

Many of my wonderful figures and toys were bought at the Newberry's at Eastport Plaza in the toy department downstairs.... I don't recall any monster models being sold at Newberry's during my tenure in the great Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.

In what city was the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighbourhood? Was this a suburban or an older more inner-city neighbourhood?

[jeffs60s]

Yes, I the blue was a flatter color definitely closer to teal. The green, was also a flat color. I'm not sure I could call it lime green or not, it seemed a bit darker than lime. It's very possible that my memories of them aren't as accurate as I think because I am RGB color blind (like many men), and I needed glasses early on. I don't know if I had problems with color then or not, but I try to describe them as closely as I can remember.

The plastic dinosaurs: I can't remember who made them exactly as I was too young, but yes, they were a very hard molded plastic and solid. I don't remember them being britlte, just very hard and durable. The plates on the stegosaurus didn't bend, nor did the horns on the triceratops.

Thanks for asking about the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood. This is a project very close to me, and I'm currently building tribute pages to it on my site. This was a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon that was obliterated by a new freeway construction which is now the insidious I-205. The history of this area has been extremely difficult to track down, but I've made some headway on it.

[Hepcat]

This was a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon that was obliterated by a new freeway construction which is now the insidious I-205. The history of this area has been extremely difficult to track down, but I've made some headway on it.

Ahhhhh, yes, another expressway. They built that expressway in the name of progress, don't you know? The Sunnyside Amusement Park by the lake in the western part of Toronto suffered the same fate in the mid-fifties as it was obliterated to make room for the Gardiner Expressway. Project detractors were accused of standing in the way of "progress". Ever since then a concrete behemoth has stood between the western beach area and the rest of Toronto. But that's progress, right?

[Allhallowsday]

I remember the dinosaurs that were solid "hard plastic" (though candy container collectors call polystyrene "hard plastic" too). 
I remember seeing the Marx figures being sold individually, probably for 25 cents (lots of money 50 years ago).  Did you ever see this bag? 

[jeffs60s]

I haven't seen that bag before, but it's great seeing them again. I also didn't have a creature figure until around 1965.

[RPM]

Yes, I the blue was a flatter color definitely closer to teal. The green, was also a flat color. I'm not sure I could call it lime green or not, it seemed a bit darker than lime. It's very possible that my memories of them aren't as accurate as I think because I am RGB color blind (like many men), and I needed glasses early on. I don't know if I had problems with color then or not, but I try to describe them as closely as I can remember.

Another reference to the 1960s Marx monsters in the color green. Maybe male colorblindness explains it.

[Mike Scott]

Is this not one of the green Marx monsters we're talking about?

[Mord]

These Marx figures were among my favorite childhood toys. I have very vivid memories but can only recall teal & orange ones. They had the price stamped in black ink on the bottom (ten cents). I've always lived on the west coast, so the different color might be a regional thing.

[RPM]

I've read in a few threads about green ones from childhood memories but do not recall seeing a photo of a period one.
Thanks Mike for sharing with us.

[Tommyregan]

][url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/54906434(*at*)N07/13906035040/]
here's my reproductions the wolfman is unmarked and the mummy has universal picture and no date

[Allhallowsday]

Is this not one of the green Marx monsters we're talking about?

How cool is that?  I know the knock-offs, and had the "teal" and orange sets, but the green are kind of legendary.   

[Mike Scott]

Thanks Mike for sharing with us.

That photo is from Jeff's site (see link in first post).

[Wicked Lester]

either it's a 80's Repro ,bad editing or it's the lighting and a not so great memory. Here is a current auction. See the color changes with the lighting

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marx-Universal-Monsters-6-Hunchback-Figure-/251507433445