Misc – Page 18 – Dale's Toys

Camilla the Chicken

Recommended music: The Muppet Show Episode 318: Gonzo’s Song

Checking in this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re still celebrating 70 years of the Muppets! From the Palisades Toys Muppets line, it’s Camilla!

While chickens and other unnamed background animals had already been a staple of Muppet productions for years, Camilla the Chicken officially made her debut when name-checked during The Muppet Show episode 305 in 1978. Later in the season, it was revealed that Gonzo had declared Camilla as the love of his life, yet would often mistake her for other similar-looking chickens.

While the specific chicken, Camilla, only appeared in eight episodes of the Muppet Show, she soon began appearing the Muppet films and dozens of other Muppet productions over the years.

Camilla was included twice in the Palisades Muppet toy line, first arriving in wave 5, appropriately packed in with a tuxedoed Gonzo. The figure has minimal articulation for her neck and legs, but I’m not sure what else you would want there. Also, Camilla was the only pack-in to receive a “Mega Muppet” release from Palisades, which reuses the same sculpt, but done as a “2-up” or double the original figures size.

#TheMuppets70

Additional music: Mister Chicken – Por ti volaré

From the Archives: Knight of Ni

Recommended video: Monty Python and the Holy Grail – The Knights Who Say “Ni!”

“The Knights Who Say Ni demand a sacrifice!”

Now this #SomethingElseSunday, we’ve got Toy Vault Monty Python and the Holy Grail A Knight of Ni mini bobbler!

This week marks 50 years since the film opened in theaters in the United States. The film is being shown in select movie theaters TODAY as a Fathom Event to commemorate the occasion. It’s also screening again in a couple days; see local listings.

While this guy is a bit underscaled next to the Diamond Select action figure line, he physically fits on the shelf better while still requesting… a shrubbery!

There were just a few more figures made for this scarce line of bobbleheads, but the manufacturer smartly only labeled this character as a knight of Ni and not the Knights Who Say Ecky-ecky-ecky- ecky-pikang-zoom-boing-mumble-mumble.🤪

#MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail
#ToyPhotography
#ActionFigurePhotography

Ultimate Marty McFly ‘Tales From Space’

Recommended music: Eddie Van Halen – “Out The Window” [The actual song played during the scene in the film, NOT Eruption by Van Halen as only Eddie signed off on being included- DM]

On this #WhateverWednesday, we’re jumping ahead (or is it back?) to 1955 with another NECA Back to the Future Ultimate Marty McFly!

In the film, Marty dons a yellow radiation suit while Doc is handling plutonium, which helps to generate 1.21 gigawatts of electricity, which is necessary for the Delorean to travel through time.

“Uh, plutonium, wait a minute, are you tellin’ me that this sucker’s nuclear?”
– Marty

After traveling back to 1955 and finding the teenage version of his father is hesitant to ask the adolescent version of his mother to a high school dance, Marty uses the suit to trick the science fiction-loving (and gullible) George into pursuing Lorraine.

“Silence, Earthling. My name is Darth Vader. I am an extra-terrestrial from the planet Vulcan.” George eats it up, and I’ve always enjoyed the Star Wars connection in the film.

This ‘Tales From Space’ version of Marty looks great and was an outfit I always thought would be cool to have in action figure form. The figure comes with a couple of different head sculpts and mask/hood parts, so you can also display Marty with the mask lid up (I like the “Darth Vader mask” look for today). He also comes armed with a hair dryer and a “brain-melting device,” also known as a Walkman.

We’re just nine 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: Temple of Doom Japanese Movie Program

Recommended music: John Williams – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom [I can’t think of the actual track name this matches up with the most from the original soundtrack – DM😉]

For this #WhateverWednesday from the archives, I was originally going to share something with the Temple of Doom arcade game, but I didn’t get around to shooting it yet. Instead, I’m sharing this Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Japanese movie program.

This was a pretty unique item for the collection, especially since I don’t collect any of the Indiana Jones action figure lines, but I wanted to share something to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the US theatrical release of Temple of Doom. The magazine contains lots of cool behind-the-scenes information and pictures. Also, Google Translate is a big help if you don’t speak the language. 👍

Janice

Recommended music: The Muppet Show Episode 419: Janice “A Little Help from My Friends”

Just in time for dinner, this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re still celebrating 70 years of the Muppets! From the Palisades Toys Muppets line, it’s Janice!

Janice made her debut in the second Muppet Show pilot “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” back in March of 1975. She became a major Muppet player during the five year run of The Muppet Show, not only as a part of the recurring Veterinarian’s Hospital sketch (as Nurse Janice), but mostly as the lead guitar player in The Electric Mayhem house band, appearing in 86 of the 120 episodes.

In later seasons of the show, Janice is seen as a part of the orchestra playing a trombone or trumpet. Besides the guitar, you can also see her playing tambourine from time to time.

Puppeteer Richard Hunt took over for performing Janice during season two, which not only led to the character being left-handed but also was the beginning of Janice’s signature Valley-girl voice and attitude. Her name is likely a nod to singer Janis Joplin, and the design of her face (specifically the oversized mouth) is meant to resemble Mick Jagger.

For the Palisades toy line, Janice finally arrived in wave 5 to complete the Electric Mayhem lineup. The standard version appeared in a pink top, with a brown hat, and came with a white guitar and brown amp. The chase version (seen here) came in a pink top, green hat, brown guitar, and green amp. Both versions also included a tambourine and base, but unlike the Floyd figure, neither had a cord to connect the electric guitar to the included amplifier.

#TheMuppets70

Recommended video: The Muppet Show Episode 510 Rockin’ Robin sketch

From the Archives: The Black Knight

Recommended video: Monty Python and the Holy Grail – The Black Knight

“I move for no man!”

This #SomethingElseSunday, we’ve also got the Factory Entertainment Monty Python and the Holy Grail Black Knight Talking Premium Motion Statue.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Holy Grail screening in Los Angeles. Tomorrow marks 50 years since the film opened to the public in the United States. To commemorate the occasion, the film is being shown in select theaters next week as a Fathom Event. See local listings.

This guy scales well with the Diamond Select figure line. It features magnetic removable arms (mere flesh wounds). It also includes a stand that plays 10 lines of dialogue from the film. Fun, detailed piece! Unfortunately, I don’t think the line went any further than this one character.

“Come back ‘ere and take what’s coming to you… I’ll bite your legs off!”

#MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail
#ToyPhotography
#ActionFigurePhotography

From the Archives: Sir Robin

Recommended video: Monty Python and the Holy Grail – The Tale of Brave Sir Robin

And now for something completely different on this #SomethingElseSunday from the archives, we’ve got the Diamond Select Monty Python and the Holy Grail Sir Robin!

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Holy Grail screening in Los Angeles, with tomorrow marking 50 years since the film opened to the public in the United States. To commemorate the occasion, the film is being shown in select theaters next week as a Fathom Event. See local listings.

This figure accurately captures the likeness of a 1970s Eric Idle and comes with a comically large shield. His “stand” doesn’t work well to hold the figure, but does play several humorous lines from the film with the press of the grail-shaped button.

“When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.”

#MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail
#ToyPhotography
#ActionFigurePhotography