Misc – Page 17 – Dale's Toys

From the Archives: Lucasfilm Fan Club Issue #3

Recommended music: James Horner – The Nelwyns

We’re changing it up today and still celebrating the Magic of Willow with this Lucasfilm Fan Club issue #3!

This magazine was released in the spring of 1988, just prior to the film’s theatrical release. The 14-page newsletter featured a couple-page-long interview with Madmartigan actor Val Kilmer, and offered a good printed preview of the film.

The issue also contained an order form to get your own Willow Advanced movie poster and other Willow merchandise before it hit store shelves.

The Willow film turns 37 years old next week. I figure there’ll be a new Willow item from my collection to share here for the rest of the month. Happy 37 years to the Magic of Willow!

From the Archives: Willow film Novel

Recommended music: James Horner – Elora Danan

Also, on this #WhateverWednesday from the archives, let’s celebrate the Magic of Willow with this Willow film novel!

Canadian writer Wayland Drew was first hired to pen a movie novelization with 1978’s Corvette Summer. A decade later, he was chosen to write the Willow novelization based on the 7th edition of the screenplay to Willow, which was refined many times over from George Lucas’s original story ideas.

The novel is great as it contains many additional scenes that did not make it to the big screen (though some were shot and deleted). My book club edition was also supposed to contain a “Fabulous 8 page color insert”, but according to the teddy bear stamp inside the back cover declaring “This book belongs to CJ”, a previous owner must have removed the color insert 30 years before I picked up this copy. C’mon CJ! 😄

The Willow film turns 37 years old next week. I figure there’ll be a new Willow item to share here for the rest of the month. Happy 37 years to the Magic of Willow!

Ultimate Doc Brown ‘1955’

Recommended music: Back to the Future (Original Score – Alan Silvestri) – 1.21 Jigowatts

We’re still in 1955 this #WhateverWednesday, and today we’re taking a look at another NECA Back to the Future Doc Brown!

In the film, this younger version of Doc is already conducting experiments like his “brain wave analyzer” on his dog Copernicus, and has yet to lose his large home during the pursuit of time travel before having an accident and meeting the time-traveling Marty.

This ‘1955’ version of Doc still features an excellent likeness of Christopher Lloyd and gives you two head options between his shocked face and another facial expression that is more generic following a head injury.

The figure also comes with some great accessories, including a blueprint of his 1950s home, a sketch of the flux capacitor, gloved or bare hands, goggles, a letter from Marty, and a pipe wrench (I cannot remember him using one in the film, but I assume it was to attach a trailer or work on the Delorean).

We’re just seven weeks away from the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future! I figure it’s worth jumping in the Delorean to revisit some great toys from the film.

Also, I don’t have any NECA BTTF figures I’m willing to part with, but I will have a Marty McFly cosplay vest for sale this weekend, as I’ll be an exhibitor at the Retromania Collectibles Show May 17th & 18th in Aurora! So stop by table 79 (or one of the other hundred tables) for some fun stuff!

#BTTF40
#BackToTheFuture40

From the Archives: Ghostbusters Japanese Movie Program

Recommended music: Atarashii Gakko! – Ghostbusters: Frozen Summer

On this #SomethingElseSunday from the archives, let’s go with this Ghostbusters Japanese movie program.

I wanted to share something to commemorate another 40th anniversary. Released just weeks after Temple of Doom, and arriving in theaters the exact same day as Gremlins in 1984.

Lots of cool “making of” info in here, and again with Google Translate being a big help if you don’t speak the language. Busting makes me feel good!

From the Archives: “Ready To Believe You” Ray Stantz

Recommended music: Philter – Strange Noises

On this #SomethingElseSunday from the archives, we’re ready with the Mattel “Matty Collector” Ray Stantz!

“Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night?” – Ray

This “Ready To Believe You” version of Ray has a slightly upgraded likeness of Dan Aykroyd compared to the first Ray figure in the line, and it was also nice to see the character get a figure not in a jumpsuit.

“If the answer is ‘yes,’ then don’t wait another minute. Pick up the phone and call the professionals…”

#Ghostbusters
#actionfigurephotography

Ultimate Biff Tannen

Recommended music: Earth Theory – Ode to Biff Tannen

Staying up late this #WhateverWednesday, we’re still in 1955 with the NECA Back to the Future Ultimate Biff Tannen!

In the film, Marty (as “Calvin Klein”) trips up Biff at the diner, which sends the young hot head into a frenzy.

This 1955 version of Biff really captures the look of a young Tom Wilson and really captures his common outfit that he later wears to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. He comes with two heads (this scowling face doesn’t capture the likeness as well as the neutral face) and an extra set of hands (open and fists pictured here). He also includes some accessories from Back to the Future Part II. These include a tiny Grays Sports Almanac, a flyer for the dance, a bill for his car, and a safe to keep it all in. The safe also holds onto Biff’s precious Oh LàLà magazine, but unfortunately, it is sculpted inside and can’t be easily taken to the dance.

We’re just eight weeks away from the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future! I figure it’s worth jumping in the DeLorean to revisit some great toys from the film.

#BTTF40
#BackToTheFuture40

From the Archives: Gremlins Japanese Movie Program

Recommended music: Jerry Goldsmith – The Gremlin Rag

On this #WhateverWednesday from the archives, let’s go with this Gremlins Japanese movie program.

Another interesting item for the collection, especially since I don’t collect any of the wonderful NECA Gremlins figure, but I wanted to share something to commemorate another 40th anniversary. Released just weeks after Temple of Doom, and arriving in theaters the exact same day as Ghostbusters in 1984.

In addition to the “making of” info and pictures in here, this one has a cool pop-up style movie poster of Gizmo in a box. Fun stuff.