Amazon.com Widgets
It all started in 1963 when Stan Weston, a toy creator and licensing agent, saw the success of the Barbie doll for girls. He came up with a concept that could be marketed to boys; a Barbie-like line with a military theme. Don Levine, creative director of Hasbro at that time, was pitched the idea and he approved it. Mr. Levine also came up with the name of the line, inspired by the 1945 movie “The Story of G.I. Joe”.
The first ever G.I.Joe line was launched in 1964. They had the same scale as Barbie dolls, 12 inches, and there was originally four figures, one for each branch of the Armed Forces.
During the following years, G.I.Joe saw a few shifts in the war theme by being re-launched as “The adventures of G.I.Joe”, and later on as “Adventure Team” to try to move away from the war theme associated with the Vietnam War. The original line of 12 inches G.I.Joe ended in 1976 in America.
A Real American Hero (1982)
G.I.Joe action figures were successfully re-launched in 1982 when Hasbro produced a smaller scale line of figures to try to compete with the popular Star Wars action figures. The decision to go with a smaller scale also allowed Hasbro to produce a variety of vehicles and play sets to increase the excitement of the line with youngsters.
The smaller scale line was canceled in 1994. A small assortment of figures were released in 1998, exclusive to Toys “R” Us, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 3 3/4 inches line.
The Return of the 3 3/4 inches G.I.Joe
It didn’t take long after the last anniversary line to see the small figures make a comeback on the shelves. In 2000, Hasbro released a selection of figures and vehicles which lasted until 2002 and were sold in pack of 2. In 2002, the line was now called “G.I.Joe vs Cobra” and each collection from 2002 to 2005 was centered around a theme. After the basic edition of “G.I.Joe vs Cobra” there was “Spy Troops”, and then later on the “Valor vs. Venom” theme.
After a brief hiatus in 2005, where Hasbro released another type of G.I.Joe action figures (Sigma 6, an 8-inches action figure), the 3 3/4 figure came back in the form of a direct-to-consumer line, which was available later at retail because of the success with collectors.
25th Anniversary
2007 was the year of the 25th anniversary of the “A Real American Hero” line. To commemorate the event, Hasbro released another collection of newly sculpted small scale figures based on the original designs of many of the most popular characters. The new figures replaced the classic “o-ring” waist with a swivel chest feature and many more increased articulations points.
This new line was a total success, and what was supposed to be only 2 collector set of 5 figures each became a full fledged line which is still running in 2008.
In this series of articles on collectible dolls we’re going to start by reviewing one of the most famous collectible dolls of all time, the Cabbage Patch Kids.
If you’re old, or maybe even not that old, you remember the Cabbage Patch Kids. What you probably don’t know is what happened to these once hot items that have all but disappeared.
The first Cabbage Patch Kids were created by a man by the name of Xavier Roberts. He began making his dolls through his very own Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia in the year 1979. His “sales” pitch was to display the dolls in kind of a hospital like setting and putting up a sign saying that they were “up for adoption”. He made these dolls look like real babies. Needless to say, they were an immediate hit and people couldn’t get enough of them. When Coleco toy company saw what a hit they were, they bought the rights to them from Roberts in 1982. In 1988 when Coleco filed for bankruptcy, Hasbro took over production of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Mattel then took over production in 1994 and then finally in 2004 Play Along Toys and 4kids Entertainment took over making these things.
Your standard Cabbage Patch Kid was about 15 or 16 inches in height. However, as time went by these dolls were made in a variety of styles and sizes. At any one period of time there may have been as many as a dozen different styles and sizes of Cabbage Patch Kids in production. The dolls that Roberts himself made were all cloth with cloth sculptured faces. The dolls that were made by the toy companies had cloth bodies but vinyl heads so that they would stand up to more wear and tear. When Hasbro took over they started making all vinyl dolls but eventually when the dolls were made again in 2004 they went back to the cloth body and vinyl head..
Unfortunately, after the initial craze and the mass marketing that followed, Cabbage Patch Kid popularity really fizzled after the 80s. There were just too many out there and the novelty was gone. Originally it was expected that the value of these dolls would someday reach astronomical proportions. But the oversaturated market and the eventual easy access to these dolls have made them virtually worthless today, though some of the very early dolls can still bring in a nice price on Ebay. Later models, however, won’t bring in much.
Part of the problem was that as the dolls started to gain in popularity the manufacturer of the time tried all kinds of gimmicks with the dolls instead of sticking with the original concept of a simple baby doll dressed in baby clothes that needed to be adopted. The newer dolls were no longer sweet, huggable and adoptable. The dolls that were reintroduced in 2004 went back to the original concept but by that time it was just too late. The Cabbage Patch Kid craze was pretty much dead.
Sports summer camps include sport activities such as swimming, hiking or tennis. Most sports that can be played in summer are included in such camps. Sometimes such camps organize special events suiting to specific set of participants.
Overnight camps are sometimes arranged near a water body where the campers enjoy recreational activities such as swimming, baseball and cookouts. The evenings are spent around a campfire. The highlight of the event is an opportunity to sleep under the stars.
There are beach camps organized that arrange for activities and sports that can be enjoyed at the beachside. Soccer and volleyball are favorite sports played on the beach. Campers enjoy playing with the Frisbee at the vast expanse of sand on the beach. The afternoons are packed with games that are not so strenuous after a tiring morning.
Sports training camps provide guidance on improving sports skills. They are usually categorized on the basis of age and ability. The staff that coaches the campers is usually coaches of a local school or college. Training consists of continuous learning and continuity is the keyword to better training.
Sports camps organized by some of the reputed sports universities invite state level or Olympic sports stars for guest coaching. Professional sportspersons are more effective in helping campers to improve on their sports skills.
Most of the sports camps that organize overnight camps only allow children above 10 years to attend them. They are provided with meals and lodging on sharing basis. In day camps, food has to be bought at an extra cost or can be brought from home.
Some sports camps have an evening sports instruction session whereas others have recreational evenings. Other sports camps focus on exclusive areas, such as water sports in particular.
Sports camps are not only a place to learn sports skills but also a platform for learning interactive skills. It is learning with pleasure that is emphasized by sports summer camps.
With so many hi-tech gifts splurge in the market right now, we actually have a lot of options. Each has its special or unique feature. Below are the Top 10 Christmas Toys and Games for Boys and Girls for Grownups which will give you information on the best deals worth for your money.
1. Apple iPod nano 8 GB Silver (4th Generation). Wow, this is a super gift this Christmas for it has 8GB capacity which can carry 2000 songs, 7000 photos, videos that can run up to 8 hours. It has 2 inches of LCD with LED backlight id blue-white plus 320 by 240 pixels as resolution.
2. Hasbro Electronic Catch Phrase Game – Second Edition. This is a challenging game where one grab, then guess, then pass, so the key here is to think fast, quick, and keep it moving. It is more than 10,000 words to build in. It is in here where the clock counts and buzzes when time runs out.
3. Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange). This hi-tech gadget is very easy to use, a pocket size camera recorder with digital zoom and one touch recording ability. It is also very convenient with USB plugs that can fit directly to the computer for easy share and view. You can even watch videos on TV instantly with just use it with cable.
4. Apple iPod shuffle 2 GB Silver (2nd Generation). This is very convenient gift for it will let you put 500 songs on your lapel, or belt, or sleeves. It’s wearable right outside the box with a silver stylish color.
5. PARTINI. It is considered as an adult party game with a twist. It is actually a mixture of games for the party crowd. It has 6 games like that of “Straight Up,” “Mime Twist,” etc. This game has the following ingredients, part people friends, the 6 games included in PARTINI, 430 cards, 35 coasters, and 2000 laughs out loud.
6. Sony DPF-D70 7-inch Digital Photo Frame. It is photo frame that is 7-inch with 800 by 480 resolutions, 256 MB of memory, with many display modes, 9 slide show designs, plus calendar and clock modes. It can even support a lot of memory card settings.
7. Taboo. It is a game of taboo in every time your teammates gives or reveals the secret word, you earn points. On the other hand you must be mindful and careful because your opponents might be observing and really listening that they make sure that you don’t reveal nor whisper any Taboo words. If they caught you doing such, they’ll buzz the buzzer and they earn the point.
8. LEGO Star Wars Motorized Walking AT-AT. This LEGO has an opening cockpit and laser cannons that rotates, plus handle on top for easy transport. It has motorized walking which really moves, with inclusion of motor and battery. This type of Lego is a very modern type that one can really enjoy its simple technicalities.
9. Zobmondo!! Would You Rather…? Boardgame – Classic Version. This is a mind game where there are 1500 twisted questions to be answered. It is in here where it includes field tested conversion starters. There is the guarantee to promote ridiculous fun. This is a totally different fun filled and edgy type of game.
10. RipStik “G” Grind Caster Board. This is the ultimate gift for adventure seekers for its revolutionary caster board that can act like a snowboard or skateboard. It has an aircraft – grade center out of aluminum tub for grinding in extreme surface. It has spiked pads, kick nose and tail, and deck which is concave in design. Ideal for ages 8 and up with the maximum of 220 pounds for the rider’s weight.
This is the Top 10 Christmas Toys and Games for Boys and Girls for Grownups that will definitely bring joy this holiday. Choose the best gift that will reflect one’s character.
JETFIRE was once famous across the face of CYBERTRON. As a great scientist and explorer, he was the first to journey to the black depths of deep space, and the only one to ever face and defeat the star pirates of the Blot Nebula. It was because of his status as a hero that his sudden disappearance was greeted with worldwide dismay. He was discovered millions of years later, frozen deep within the Arctic glacier on Earth, and rose immediately to the challenge presented by the DECEPTICONS. He is among the mightiest and bravest of the AUTOBOTS, diving into battle without a moments hesitation, the stuttering roar of his particle beam repeaters drowning out all other sounds.Robot-to-vehicle figure has arm blasters that fire two projectiles, a removable helmet, rotating laser cannons and a booster unit that becomes a backpack in robot mode! WARNING: Choking Hazard. Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years.
Relate Items
Classics Jetfire is a masterpiece! This toy is the single most details and accessoried figure from this toyline.
The vehicle mode for this figure is superb, it is highly detailed and looks very similar to the cartoon character (also called SkyFire). The vehicle mode has foldout wheels, opening cockpit and the iconic red jetboosters that are this chaactgers distiguishing mark. The characters guns fit neatly into the wings and the characters removeable helmet fits neatly into the fuselage (still on the robots head) with the antennae from the helmet forming seconday guns.
In Robot mode this toy is much more poseable than the original, infact the poseablility of this toy is amazing and it is proably the most poseable figure from the classics line. The figure wears a removeable helmet, which is a nice accessory, he also has 2 arm mounted missile launchers as well as two hand-held guns that can be combined into one larger gun. His jetboosters convert into two shoulder mounted cannons. This character is practically bristling with weapons. When in robot mode the wings fold up (and look a little butterflyish) but stay completely out of the way of the arms which is nice (and not always guaranteed with transformers toys) and the feet, which are formed from the jet engines exhaust cones, provide a stable footing for the figure allowing you to pose it with a good chance it will stay upright.
All in all this toy is almost TOO GOOD to be a Transformers Classics line toy. In a line of toys notable for their quality this one sets a very high bar.
Highly recommended!
Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 08, 2010 23:07:04
Mix it up! From 4 x 4’s to fire trucks, you’re sure to spy all sorts of vehicles on the highway!
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : Mar 08, 2010 06:03:07
Products by : Toy Rocket
Rating Reviews : 5.0
I love the idea behind this. It’s so seldom that we see anything regarding Ralph McQuarrie’s concept art for the original Star Wars. These figures are a great representation of what might have been. I have to say, I like this version of the Rebel Trooper better than the version that appeared in the movie. The figure itself is highly posable and has great detail. The helmet even comes off. Definitely worth adding to your collection.
Star Wars 2008 packaging with stand, McQuarrie Rebel Trooper.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : Mar 07, 2010 15:47:04
Products by : Hasbro
Model : 68675
Love this new addition to the ponyville village – it has some of the old stuff – like a piece of pizza, and the round pink hat which came with the popcorn maker. There are packs of chips etc, after all this is a cafe – but what is really nice about this set is that it comes with a car (to use for teh drive through) but it helps make the pony’s mobile in Ponyville – it also comes with a pony which has two wigs. This is the thing I like about these new sets, they come wtih ponys whose hair you can change.
There are other sets you can buy to complement this one, a salon you can buy which has several wigs, and a small pocket sized salon for Rainbow dash. The wigs mix and match so you can create new pony identities (lots of fun for the kids)
What annoyed me was it didn’t come with a letter box like the other ponyville houses so you can send mail to it. It would be great if the makers could keep the village consistency. It is a small issue though. Overall a great fun piece for the ponyville village, and like all the ponyville stuff, very hard wearing.
This is the newest addtion to the Ponyville collection from Hasbro. This is the Ice Cream Shake Diner and it comes with a number of accessories plus a small Ponyville Pony Scootaloo. This is for ages 3+ years and it will provies hours of fun. The pony does have hairstyles that can be changed out by snapping on a new one.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : Mar 06, 2010 14:53:06
Model : 86960
I have never seen something like this before for this particular charecter. I’m a die hard fan of StarWars and I would like to call my self a collector. I do have quite a collection, and this will make a great addition. It truely looks better than the pictures. Get it while you can.
Darth Vader was originally sent to prepare the new Death Star for the arrival of his Master, Emperor Palpatine. It was with great pleasure that he delivered Luke Skywalker into the presence of the Emperor. How ironic it is that it was Luke’s conviction that there was still good in him that allowed him to turn his bitterness at the Emperor’s inevitable betrayal into a final, heroic act.
This collectible Darth Vader action figure is an awesome addition to your Star Wars collection. Collectible Darth Vader action figure helps you re-enact a memorable scene from the Star Wars saga. Includes an exclusive 2″ hologram figure! Darth Vader figure measures 3.75″ tall.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : Mar 06, 2010 00:14:06
Products by : Milton Bradley
Model : 41479
Of all the games we own, this is by far the best for my almost 2 year old and 3 1/2 year old children! After the initial matching of animals to haystacks, set-up is minimal each time you play.
Play can range from just placing the farmer on and singing Old McDonald had a Farm or placing an animal on the stand and hearing their sounds(for really young children) to a challenging game of memory for older kids. AND, unlike some of our other toys and games where the song can drive you crazy, this one is EASY to turn off. Just take the pieces off the electronic part, and the noise stops!!
If we need a present we know a child would enjoy, this is always the game we buy! All of our friends have been equally impressed!
Everybody knows the children’s song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”, right? Well, Milton Bradley/Hasbro has incorporated that song into a simple, yet fun, board game for the preschool set.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : Mar 05, 2010 10:03:07
Old MacDonald’s Farm – Marianne Tooley – I am a Nanny for a family with two preschool children. I also have other children who come to play occasionally. This is one of their favorite games. It holds their attention and it makesthem concentrate on the sound matching of the animals. I would like to buy this game for my two grandchildren, but I can’t find it anywhere. Why wouldn’t a five star game be more available?
Hard to find but worth the effort! – Soaps Mom – New JerseyI absolutely love this game! [...] My daughter loves farm animals and this game teaches kids how to match the grown animals with their baby animals just by hearing the sounds they make. The baby animals are hidden underneath plastic haystacks which play the hidden animals sound when placed on the stand next to the adult animals (which also emit an adult sound). When a match is made, it plays Old MacDonald much to my daughter’s delight! I noticed my daughter also remembered which haystack had which baby animal underneath it based on where she put it back on the board. A really cute game and worth trying to find!
Very cute and fun to play! – J. Gebhardt – NYC, NyWe got his game for our 3 1/2 year old daughter for Christmas and she has really enjoyed it. We haven’t really “followed the rules” with this one – we kind of just set it up and she goes through all the haystacks testing them out to find the animal babies. She’s always thrilled when she guesses right, and is just as excited to belt out, “No!” when the animals don’t match. Very cute little memory game.
