Horror Monsters Grab Bag

[horrorhunter]

My understanding is that the MPC Pop-Top Horrors were issued first and MPC then shrunk down the sculpts with very slight modifications and released the Weird Monsters to exploit other market niches.

I'm not really sure which came first. My Pop-Top 2-packs are marked 1964, and the Haunted Hulk sail is marked 1963 (new Haunted Hulks included 2 Weird Monsters). But those dates may be misleading since these items came out so close to the same time. It's possible Haunted Hulks were initially released without any Weirds, or maybe the HHs weren't actually distributed to stores until 1964. I'm pretty sure mine was bought in '64, at least wielding my kid-memory (which we know can play tricks).

It's been so long we may never find out the detailed facts regarding this monster minutia.

      

[Hepcat]

Best Plastics Corporation produced 14 different dinosaurs and 2 cavemen as well as the 5 monster figures most collectors call "Palmer flats". These were sold in 5 cent Horror Monsters Grab Bags in the 1960s (probably '64-'68) in various dime stores, food stores, and quick marts. Below is an old pic of some of my Best Plastics collection:



The 2 green dinos, red truck, and "Sourlets" candy on the left came in the Horror Monsters Grab Bag in the center. To the right are 7 more Best dinos I've accumulated from eBay purchases. The bottom row contains the 5 "Palmer flats" monsters and both Best Cavemen. The pink Creature and Wolfman were purchased in a pink set of 7 from a Toy Shop ad in the '90s from M&J Variety as I recall. The 3 red monsters and 2 cavemen I have left from childhood.

According to Dinosauriana by Joe Demarco the Horror Monsters Grab Bags contained 2 Best dinos, an additional toy (sometimes a Best "Palmer flat" monster), and candy. Some collectors seem to remember the Grab Bags containing 2 monsters with a bonus toy and candy. Maybe the Grab Bags contained both combinations, I can't remember for sure. Also, the Grab Bags were sold open to allow the customer to inspect the contents. Trust ran much higher in those days.

Best monsters and cavemen turn up nowadays in blue and pink much more commonly than the other colors. I believe there was a warehouse find of these colors in the '90s which would explain the Toy Shop ads and cheap prices in the '90s. Best dinosaurs on the other hand are pretty scarce and are avidly sought after by certain collectors (like me). These were the cheapest of the cheap back in the day and kids mangled and tossed them while keeping the nicer looking Marx and MPC figures. The nostalgia factor is very high with these little figures which, coupled with the scarcity, drives demand (and price). I hope to someday complete the set of 14 Best Plastics dinos. Gonna be tough.. but fun.

My current Best Plastics Corp. collection:



Still missing the Smilodon, but since the Best dino figures are so hard to find I thought I would go ahead and post what I have.

Here's a good shot of one of the Horror Monsters Grab Bags lacking the colour yellow!



Whether the above bag constitutes a factory defect or Best Plastics just got cheap later in the production run I can't say.

[Dr.Terror]

I got a bag ages  ago that contained the 2 green and the small fangs.    Same candy..
 

[horrorhunter]

Btw, I finally picked up a Best Plastics Smilodon Flat so that completes my collection (5 monsters, 2 cavemen, 14 prehistoric animals).

[Mike Scott]

I finally picked up a Best Plastics Smilodon Flat so that completes my collection

Oh no ya don't! You gotta get 'em in every color they were made in! 

[horrorhunter]

Oh no ya don't! You gotta get 'em in every color they were made in! 

I doubt if I live that long unless I get some supernatural help. 

[Mike Scott]

I doubt if I live that long unless I get some supernatural help. 

After that you won't be much interested in anything but blood.

[horrorhunter]

After that you won't be much interested in anything but blood.

Blood and Yutte! 

[Mike Scott]

Blood and Yutte! 

Yu bett!

[horrorhunter]

Found something on eBay that has a bit to do with Horror Monsters Grab Bags. This listing for a lot of candy containers has a pic of what's left of a label reading "Best Plastics" who made the grab bags.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/297689144166





I'm kicking myself for not bidding on this lot. It sold for just $30 + $9.95 + tax. Just one of the pitchforks with the original candy should sell for more than that. Just another example of how cheap eBay auctions with low minimum bids are selling for. I've spent too much this Halloween Season, but I would have paid more than that for it anyway.

[AndyFish]

What little kid wouldn't have been thrilled to have gotten one of those grab bags! 

Big kid too.