Let's start October off right, by taking a look at some classic, vintage monster toys! These awesome figures were made by Palmer Plastics around 1964 (some sources say the date is unknown, while some state 1964 as the year they were made--there are no markings or years on any of them), and they stand about 3 inches tall. These are what some people call "dimestore" toys, but they were also sold in packs of 10, which we will see in a moment. They were available in red, yellow, green, and even a rare blue color, which is the hardest to find. Somehow, all of mine are the red and yellow varieties (red on yellow, kill a fellow), but I'm planning to acquire some examples of the other colors next.
Here is a look at each figure; there are some surprising choices in this set!
Dracula - This one works pretty well, and you know right away who it is. He kind of has a Count Chocula stance!
Cyclops - This one is a curve ball--this is actually Ray Harryhausen's Cyclops from 1958's THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD! I didn't see that coming. Of course, there is rather a scale problem here, but the coolness makes up for it.
Frankenstein('s Monster) - This one works very well, and is a lot of fun. Imagine a world where the first Universal movie was titled FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER, and maybe everyone would be referring to the creature by the correct name, all these years later.
King Kong - Here is one of my very favorites. This is such a well-done figure. Lots of people don't know this, but this figure actually came with a tiny Fay Wray, who was attached by a sprue when you purchased Kong. You can actually put her in his hand! But, as you would imagine, she was very easily lost....and as a result, a complete figure can be several hundred dollars. Still, though, I gotta get me one of those someday:
Werewolf - To me, this is one of the least-effectively-executed sculpts in this line, because it's not super easy to tell what's going on. At first glance it looks like an old-fashioned zombie. It also reminds me of Bela's Ygor with the broken neck in GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN! However, the name given on the multi-pack is "Werewolf," so that is the final answer.
It! The Terror From Beyond Space - On the header card for the 10-pack of figures, this figure is called "It Came From Outer Space," which is the wrong movie (which was 3-D and from 1953). This is actually the alien from IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (which I believe is a Martian?), from 1958, which lots of people cite as the blueprint for ALIEN, etc. Another unusual choice for this line!
Gorgo - YES! Freaking GORGO! Well, let's be fair, this could also be an Ogra figure (his mama)....but the package says Gorgo. Somehow, the title monster from this 1961 British attempt at a kaiju film was included in this great line. This is my favorite figure in this set. I am a gargantuan GORGO fan and even own the original one-sheet poster. (I will also be the first to admit to you that, in the interest of fairness, the movie has too much reliance on military stock footage, which does bog it down...but otherwise it is a damn fine movie, and I will cut a man who says otherwise.) Sorry, I got a little carried away, there...come to think of it, I need to get this figure in green.
Creature From The Black Lagoon - This is another one that is hard to see, at a glance...it almost looks skeletal, but when you zoom in, it dawns on you what's going on (this one would also work better in green).
This is a spectacular set of figures, with loads of personality and charm...and oddly enough, NO Mummy to be seen anywhere! I do wish there could have been a second series. That would've been fun.
Lastly, here is the photo of an unopened 10-pack that goes around (I think it came from Pinterest, but I do not know the origin of this photo, or I would give the appropriate credit--it's not mine):
One thing to point out is that technically, the proper name of these figures should probably be "Unbreakable Movie Monsters"...?
Also, check out the artwork on the header card, showing a groovy Frankenstein's monster leading Gorgo around on a chain!
One last thing that jumps out at me.....is that you could buy 10 of these for 98 cents! What a deal!
