"March MAD-ness" - Toy Box Break

I've been planning to dig into my toy trunks for a couple of weeks now, thanks to "Friend-of-This-Blog" KW's posting of his recent re-acquisition of his childhood "Johnny West" action figures (see here for that keen stuff). I haven't quite dug in that deep as yet, but with my current posts about the cartoonists of the original "Mad" comic book, I was also reminded of these..."Nutty Mads".


Turns out they have nothing to do with "Mad" the publication, I found some info about these toys I've carried around with me since childhood on Wikipedia here.

I have 4 of the figures copyright 1963, that were probably my brother Mike's at one time, but possession being 9/10's of the law and all, he's just sh*t out of luck now. I remember spending hours staring at the detail in these deceptively simple "monochromatic injection mold" statuettes and marveling at them. Every vein in their blood-shot eyes standing out and the full character of these Big Daddy Roth inspired figures coming through. I'm sure some of you remember them, sorry the detail doesn't photograph near as great as the figures themselves, but still a neat trip down memory lane for some of us.

Here's "All Heart Hogan", the policeman. The perp caught in his clutches is merely identified as "Bad Guy".

"Bull Pen Boo Boo". I love the tongue hanging out of his mouth and the bend in his upraised foot showing the effort and concentration going into this pitch.

"Smokey Sam" the fireman...

And the most impressive to look at, mainly because the blue plastic shows better than the red and green, "Waldo the Weight Lifter"...that there is a face only a mother could love.

I'm going to be digging into my toy box more in the next few weeks. I hope you'll see some cool stuff you either remember or completly forgot.

Hang in there KW. Johnny West is a comin'!

Talk to you soon.