Show off your Weekly Finds.

[horrorhunter]

Illoman, rekindling those happy times is what it's all about! The toys/comics/mags...stuff, just makes the journey back that much easier. It is similar to using a focus as a component of a magic spell for mental time travel. Only, instead of using newt eyes and purple flirps we use Marx monsters and Famous Monsters mags. Keep goin' back, Brother. It's a great "place"(time) to visit.

     Michael

[Gasport]

GREAT story, there Mike!! It's one thing to scour flea markets, yard sales or ebay for those missing links from your childhood and another altogether to stumble across your actual childhood toys believed to be lost forever. Enjoy that Monkee Mobile and Archie Bunker button. [you meathead!]

[charp13]

Mike - I love to hear your beautiful words about the things we all hold so dear to our hearts   And I have also enjoyed all the photos and mementos you've found, every time you put on that pith helmet and go on a toy safari! I have envied your finds and have been delighted by your family photos. My family was nomadic and strange, so I never got to find any memories except for the pictures and books that I stashed. But anyway....I hope your well runs again with toys& pics!!

[marsattacks666]

Even though this thread is supposed to be about vintage monster toys, allow me to tell you about *my* weekly find. Actually several over the course of the last year or so. My dad has slowly been cleaning out his condo, and since my mom's passing has made great strides. Every time I go over to help him, I find another treasure. Usually this consists of an old photograph of a family member that I'd not seen before, or some post card or letter that was written by a grandparent that I never knew. Those kinds of things are priceless to me.

Then there's the "stuff" I remember seeing as a kid, like the Archie Bunker campaign button, or a Snoopy ruler. An old fashioned model of a car that is actually a radio. The name plate from his office desk. Old business cards with his name on them, or a lighter imprinted with his name and the company logo. Once I found a 45 rpm record with the latest Allstate jingle on it (from 1963!!!) that he never opened!!! He has no use for these things that my mom saved, so I gladly made them part of my collection.

Then as luck would have it I would stumble upon something really special: something I owned as a child and thought was long gone. I've found Batman cake figures from 1966, Banana Splits birthday plates, unused from 1969, etc. Today was just such a case. When I was a kid we bought Hot Wheels, Matchboxes, and Corgi cars. Of the Corgi's I had the Batmobile, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the Monkeemobile. For whatever reason I still have the first two. I just figured the Monkees car was long gone. For some unexplained reason, today I go into my dad's bedroom and there's my Monkees' car sitting on his night stand!! Why?!? I kept the others, how did this one get separated? The decals were gone but otherwise it was in pretty decent shape.

The crux of the matter is this: the well has almost run dry. We've been through almost every square inch of his condo, basically just seeing what he wants to keep and what he wants to pitch as he enters this stage of his life. He and mom never had a lot of money when we kids were growing up, but they made childhood so special for us that that's why I am like I am today. I still yearn for those times of happiness, and carefree-ness. I'm sure I'm not alone here. I know realistically I can never turn the clock back, but man i sure love to revisit those days in my mind. And to have the actual items from that time helps me time travel more easily.

Sorry for the long ramble, but feeling rather melancholy tonight, and just wanted to share.

Thanks.

Archie Bunker, button: priceless.

[Scatter]

Even though this thread is supposed to be about vintage monster toys, allow me to tell you about *my* weekly find. Actually several over the course of the last year or so. My dad has slowly been cleaning out his condo, and since my mom's passing has made great strides. Every time I go over to help him, I find another treasure. Usually this consists of an old photograph of a family member that I'd not seen before, or some post card or letter that was written by a grandparent that I never knew. Those kinds of things are priceless to me.

Then there's the "stuff" I remember seeing as a kid, like the Archie Bunker campaign button, or a Snoopy ruler. An old fashioned model of a car that is actually a radio. The name plate from his office desk. Old business cards with his name on them, or a lighter imprinted with his name and the company logo. Once I found a 45 rpm record with the latest Allstate jingle on it (from 1963!!!) that he never opened!!! He has no use for these things that my mom saved, so I gladly made them part of my collection.

Then as luck would have it I would stumble upon something really special: something I owned as a child and thought was long gone. I've found Batman cake figures from 1966, Banana Splits birthday plates, unused from 1969, etc. Today was just such a case. When I was a kid we bought Hot Wheels, Matchboxes, and Corgi cars. Of the Corgi's I had the Batmobile, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the Monkeemobile. For whatever reason I still have the first two. I just figured the Monkees car was long gone. For some unexplained reason, today I go into my dad's bedroom and there's my Monkees' car sitting on his night stand!! Why?!? I kept the others, how did this one get separated? The decals were gone but otherwise it was in pretty decent shape.

The crux of the matter is this: the well has almost run dry. We've been through almost every square inch of his condo, basically just seeing what he wants to keep and what he wants to pitch as he enters this stage of his life. He and mom never had a lot of money when we kids were growing up, but they made childhood so special for us that that's why I am like I am today. I still yearn for those times of happiness, and carefree-ness. I'm sure I'm not alone here. I know realistically I can never turn the clock back, but man i sure love to revisit those days in my mind. And to have the actual items from that time helps me time travel more easily.

Sorry for the long ramble, but feeling rather melancholy tonight, and just wanted to share.

Thanks.

Awesome story Mike!! All the better because you appreciate these things.

[Hepcat]

Illoman, rekindling those happy times is what it's all about! The toys/comics/mags...stuff, just makes the journey back that much easier. It is similar to using a focus as a component of a magic spell for mental time travel. Only, instead of using newt eyes and purple flirps we use Marx monsters and Famous Monsters mags.

I agree!

[ToyMemories]

Strangely came across one of the Munsters A&W Root Beer Ford promotional pedal cars yesterday (I believe the date on it is 1999, but I think the promotion was early 2000's), and couldn't pass it up as it was in pretty nice shape.  At about $20., it called out to me!   
(regretfully because it is kind of big, it probably can't stay here permanently... ah I wish I had more room.)

[Dr Wolfenstein]

Great story Illoman.Came across this record last week for $5.

Gab
   Front
 
  And the back.
 

[dlhenderson]

That's one helluva score, Monsterphile! A few years ago my older brother (who was influential in introducing me to horror/sci-fi) died very suddenly. I flew out to Spokane to attend his memorial service. I hinted to his wife that I wouldn't mind "curating" his collection of DVDs. I knew they would simply languish in her possession. Unfortunately she didn't get the hint and I didn't feel like pressing the point. So they languished. She's since moved and I've lost touch. Knowing her, she probably tossed them, or sold 'em for a song. Just damn. He would have wanted me to have them.    Such is life. On a lighter note, I just scored Criterion's Godzilla. It looks great. The scratched are much clearer now.  But seriously, it looks really good.

[Monster Bob]

Finally, a chapter in my collection, closed yesterday...*whew*. Enjoy.

[lappys22]

Nice! Were did you find him?

[Hepcat]

I hinted to his wife that I wouldn't mind "curating" his collection of DVDs. I knew they would simply languish in her possession. Unfortunately she didn't get the hint and I didn't feel like pressing the point. So they languished. She's since moved and I've lost touch. Knowing her, she probably tossed them, or sold 'em for a song. Just damn. He would have wanted me to have them. 

A pity indeed.

[Hepcat]

Finally, a chapter in my collection, closed yesterday...*whew*. Enjoy.

You're therefore implying that you now have the set? Could we see the other ones then?

[Monsters For Sale]

A pity indeed.

Maybe she sold them to Monsterphile.

[Monster Bob]

You're therefore implying that you now have the set? Could we see the other ones then?

Yes. I am about to begin a couple of photography sessions and when I'm done, I will.

Lappys22- the Phantom set came out of a friend's collection, and I am so glad to have it...these 6 sets are amongst my fave monster toys ever.