These horror monsters are icons now. Frankenstein is a legend all by himself. Add the Wolfman, Dracula, the Mummy, and my favorite the Creature from the Black Lagoon and it's a epic line-up that even today won't be beat. Boris Karloff ICON. These movies were a big part of my childhood. Watching with my Mom on Saturday night at the frights TV shows. Awesome memories.
The reason these decades-old characters could still be marketed to kids in 1981 is that there were many independent TV stations at the time, and they subsisted on airing whatever content they could get cheap, which included a lot of very old films. Thus the old Universal monster movies were still getting regular TV airings in 1981 (our local station in Washington DC for example ran a marathon of these films every Halloween), and therefore kids were very familiar with them. Also black and white televisions were still around in considerable numbers in 1981, so the black and white look of the films was not so jarring. Today however no kids would be exposed to the original films unless they are Turner Classic Movie junkies or their parents force them to watch. And good luck with the latter when there is recently so much spooky content specifically aimed at kids (Goosebumps, Frankenweenie, Monster House, Paranorman, etc.). A shame perhaps but there you go.
@@stevejohnson9305 That's great to hear. But I do think the percentage of kids becoming fans of classic B&W horror films today is surely much lower than it was 40 or even 30 years ago. Just too much newer content competing for their attention.
@@Desslar That's certainly true. I just don't think it's down to there being some inherent barrier. If you sit a kid down in front of a classic, 9 out of 10 they'll love it. You have to get em when they're young and open to things though. If you try to do it by 9-10 going into their teens, they won't be as open to accepting or even play-time imaginings.
Yes I still have my creature from the black lagoon minus one foot. I remember a local TV station broadcasting it in 3D, you got your red blue glasses at 7-11.
Greg Boyington I was just telling my son about that! All the kids in my NJ neighborhood had the glasses ahead of time- we were so psyched to watch it. I thought it was a Burger King tie-in but 7-11 sounds more probable.
@@mr.danfam could have been regional or our memories are faulty. I'm not sure it was a long time ago. But I remember the fish swimming in my folk's living room as I watched as a kid, amazing!
Great rundown as always. Keep up the good work. Weird, short-lived little toy lines like this and Dragon Riders of the Styx always hold a funky charm for me. Thanks for bringing back those memories.
OMG. Amazing to see these again! I got Drac, Frank, and the Mummy around 1982ish, so I would have been about three years old. Sturdy little guys, they were still in my box of GI Joe odds and ends when I donated them in the 90s, and still in quite good shape. Loved them so much, although Drac's cape did not survive. :) Never knew about the other three, would have adored them back then! Thanks for sharing this.
I like the blister design, simple yet effective... actually looks like modern package design (for non toys anyways). You killed Mickey, I love u Armless Vader!
Fantastic episode! The small look behind "curtain" on how you make your episodes was a great bonus. A big thanks on keeping the episode "PG" so that my 10 year old daughter could enjoy it with me. 👍🏽
Awesome video, so cool to hear the perspective of someone who grew uo with these. I love the NECA is giving us another comprehensive Universal Monsters line, with variants in black and white and even Remco colors and packaging
It is amazing that these things were still on the shelves as late as 1986. I recall seeing them in Toys R Us back in 86 and really wanting Frankenstein. I was planning on collecting these but haven't gotten around to it and I'm not sure if I am going to at this point. At the very least I should own Franky..........thanks for the video and showing some Remco love.
watching some of the older episodes brings back childhood memories. When you talk about these being compatible, I remember getting the Wolfman specifically because I read that the teenage werewolf mask was used as an alien in the cantina, so it was kind of completing the set.
My only memory of this line would be from about 79-80 based on where I lived at the time. By 81 I'd moved to a big city. "Time" messes with my childhood memories.
I had Phantom, Wolfman, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Creature is one of the worst toys to accidentally step on in the dark with bare feet! Let the expletives fly! Another cool video RB!
Had the larger Remco figures that glowed in the dark. I had Frankenstein and the larger monsterizer, that I still have...except I only have the base... but the light bulb still works after 30 years.
Still have my complete set of non-glowing figures and the playset. My love of monsters was so great as a kid that the human Star Wars figure would play second fiddle to the Universal Monsters. Princess Leia was the target of Dracula's perpetual attempts to claim her as his bride, and it was up to Luke, Han, Lando, and Obi-Wan (acting as Van Helsing) to save her. Good times...
Cool. Thanks again for the Doctor Who figures video, thanks to that I just purchased the sweet as hell Companions gift set with my much needed Donna Noble and THE AMY POND IN POLICE UNIFORM that I regretted buying in 2012. Got the companions set for under 60.00 and the amy for under 20.00
Ok...I want to see more of that sitcom! - I had all 6, and all of mine glowed in the dark. One of my Frankenstein's melted pretty badly under a lamp at my friend's house. I'll have to make my own video on it.
I had the glow in the dark version of the Creature From the Black Lagoon as a kid. It was the only one of the line I could ever find. It eventually made it's way to my fish tank as a decoration. Fit in nicely.
Boy, BV sure can get things done when he's motivated enough. ;) This video is an oldie-but-a-goodie now, kind of like the monsters themselves. Thanks, Retroblasting!
retroblasting - do fisher price adventure people. i think they were the original 3 3/4 figures. the series lasted for about 10 yrs (mid 70s - mid 80s). had everything a kid needed for a town including boats (really floated!), planes, vans, rescue ambulance, trucks, motorcycles, camping sets, safari, etc plus over 50 characters!!! .....AND YET NOBODY EVER TALKS ABOUT THEM
Oh man brings back memories of winter '82...me and my 2 cousins did this insane crossover of Universal monsters, Star Wars, Clash of Titans, with special appearances by Buck Rogers, Micronauts, Battlestar Galactica, & the Dukes of Hazzard's Bo. Man that was a crazy Saturday afternoon!😂
Another great video. Frankmon & Drac was fantastic! When I was a kid, the only figure I had in the series was the Creature From The Black Lagoon. I had him with my Star Wars and G.I. Joe figures.
Love this video! And thanks for reminding me how sad I am that I can't find my Monsterizer from my youth. Another toy lost to my parents black hole of garage.
Awesome, yet again! :) Man, every time I see a new #RetroBlasting episode up, I literally get the SAME feeling as when I see that my favorite TV show is on...oh, and that was GREAT "Halloween horror" stuff seeing #BrokenVader take out the mouse, though I think most of us backed Vader on that one, lol. X) Cool memories for the #RemcoMonster stuff (especially the minis...and those cardbacks I remember were so beautifully rendered, for a monster, ha). Also brought back some sweet memories with the #AWA wrestlers (had a couple) and the #KarateKid toys (had a handful of those, and completely forgot what the cardbacks looked like)! I was definitely a Karate Kid fan back in the day, and it'd be nice to see an episode on the figures at some point perhaps (their cool points AND definite limitations), as well as that cartoon series that I really liked as a kid but then raised an eyebrow at when I rewatched it on Netflix a while back, haha...some things really seem to "change" a bit! ;) Anyways, LOVED today's episode...as always, thanks SO MUCH for the AMAZING channel! XD #BlastOn
Johnny Hates Jazz! Listening to the album the other day, guilty but brilliant pleasure that guys! You Guys are fast becoming 'WikiToys' for me! To be fair Wilma has always hypnotized me with the least of effort............really enjoyed. Cheers, Fuzz.
I still have the Mini Monster play case. Not in great condition, but still serviceable. I never was able to find the Mummy. :( And as always, fantastic review! p.s. I am green with envy on the excellent condition of your play case. Grrr....
This showed up in the recommendations, thought it was a new episode. The head on that "Human Werewolf" from the Mego Mad Monsters line looked awfully similar to the mask worn by the owner of The Overlook Hotel in the miniseries version of "The Shining". In the Kubric film he's relegated to the man in the dog costume. Broken Vader has great taste in music, btw. ...dat ded mouse, doe
I didn't know anything about this toyline - this was very informative. I kinda feel like picking them up, but I'm sure that would be expensive! My fave Universal monsters were always the Wolfman and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. And now, for another strangely relevant Johnny Hates Jazz song... "Turn Back the Clock" Another day is ended and I still can't sleep Remembering my yesterdays, I begin to weep If I could have it over live my life again I wouldn't change a single day I wish that I could turn back the clock Bring the wheels of time to a stop Back to the days when life was so much better Lying here in silence picture in my hand Of a boy I still resemble but I no longer understand And as the tears run freely, how I realise They were the best years of my life I wish that I could turn back the clock Bring the wheels of time to a stop Back to the days when life was much better You might say it's just a case of giving up, no But without these memories Where is the love, so where is the love If I could have it over, live my life again I wouldn't change a single day I wish that I could turn back the clock Bring the wheels of time to a stop Back to the days when life was so much better Why can't I turn back the clock Bring the wheels of time to a stop Back to the days oh, no, no I remember when life was so good I'd go back if I could Oh, oh I wouldn't change a single day Don't let the memories slip away I wouldn't change a single day Don't let the memories slip away, hey
These horror monsters are icons now. Frankenstein is a legend all by himself. Add the Wolfman, Dracula, the Mummy, and my favorite the Creature from the Black Lagoon and it's a epic line-up that even today won't be beat. Boris Karloff ICON. These movies were a big part of my childhood. Watching with my Mom on Saturday night at the frights TV shows. Awesome memories.
"No one owns Darth Vader...."
My master begs to differ
The reason these decades-old characters could still be marketed to kids in 1981 is that there were many independent TV stations at the time, and they subsisted on airing whatever content they could get cheap, which included a lot of very old films. Thus the old Universal monster movies were still getting regular TV airings in 1981 (our local station in Washington DC for example ran a marathon of these films every Halloween), and therefore kids were very familiar with them. Also black and white televisions were still around in considerable numbers in 1981, so the black and white look of the films was not so jarring.
Today however no kids would be exposed to the original films unless they are Turner Classic Movie junkies or their parents force them to watch. And good luck with the latter when there is recently so much spooky content specifically aimed at kids (Goosebumps, Frankenweenie, Monster House, Paranorman, etc.). A shame perhaps but there you go.
I was born in 2004 and I love these movies
I don't know what you're talking about with the latter half. My child loves classic horror films. She eats em up.
@@stevejohnson9305 That's great to hear. But I do think the percentage of kids becoming fans of classic B&W horror films today is surely much lower than it was 40 or even 30 years ago. Just too much newer content competing for their attention.
@@Desslar That's certainly true. I just don't think it's down to there being some inherent barrier. If you sit a kid down in front of a classic, 9 out of 10 they'll love it. You have to get em when they're young and open to things though. If you try to do it by 9-10 going into their teens, they won't be as open to accepting or even play-time imaginings.
@@stevejohnson9305 Good point. Maybe all kindergartens should screen Nosferatu.
Ah yes, 1981, such a good year.
1981 was a great year for movies.
Wow, that got dark.
+SEO Toy Review Halloween and all that...
It's a good kind of dark though.
“Nobody OWNS Darth Vader”
@@JeffreyPiatt Yeah. I'll say! Just wait till The Invisible Man and I get done with him!
little dark ending, but not a single one of us wasn't secretly hoping for it. lol. love you guys, thanks!
Broken Vader went dark....I like it!
RetroBlasting should be an actual TV show on ABC or something.
You guys should review Kenner's Jurassic Park and Lost World toylines. I know they're from the 1990's, but I think it will make a good video.
Oh god that ending I love these Vader Episodes
Thanks guys.
Great video as always.
Yes I still have my creature from the black lagoon minus one foot. I remember a local TV station broadcasting it in 3D, you got your red blue glasses at 7-11.
Greg Boyington I was just telling my son about that! All the kids in my NJ neighborhood had the glasses ahead of time- we were so psyched to watch it. I thought it was a Burger King tie-in but 7-11 sounds more probable.
@@mr.danfam could have been regional or our memories are faulty. I'm not sure it was a long time ago. But I remember the fish swimming in my folk's living room as I watched as a kid, amazing!
"hay yall its daisy" lol.. classic 70's-80's tv trope. love it.
Great rundown as always. Keep up the good work. Weird, short-lived little toy lines like this and Dragon Riders of the Styx always hold a funky charm for me. Thanks for bringing back those memories.
OMG. Amazing to see these again! I got Drac, Frank, and the Mummy around 1982ish, so I would have been about three years old. Sturdy little guys, they were still in my box of GI Joe odds and ends when I donated them in the 90s, and still in quite good shape. Loved them so much, although Drac's cape did not survive. :) Never knew about the other three, would have adored them back then! Thanks for sharing this.
I like the blister design, simple yet effective... actually looks like modern package design (for non toys anyways). You killed Mickey, I love u Armless Vader!
Love the Darth Vader Part!
I knew it! Mickey Mouse was evil!
Some of the best action figures ever. Beautiful little works of art, each of them.
Fantastic episode! The small look behind "curtain" on how you make your episodes was a great bonus. A big thanks on keeping the episode "PG" so that my 10 year old daughter could enjoy it with me. 👍🏽
Love when Michael grabs the book and cowers!
I totally forgot about these. I had a couple when i was a kid. Now I have to try and buy a few.
Awesome video, so cool to hear the perspective of someone who grew uo with these. I love the NECA is giving us another comprehensive Universal Monsters line, with variants in black and white and even Remco colors and packaging
It is amazing that these things were still on the shelves as late as 1986. I recall seeing them in Toys R Us back in 86 and really wanting Frankenstein. I was planning on collecting these but haven't gotten around to it and I'm not sure if I am going to at this point. At the very least I should own Franky..........thanks for the video and showing some Remco love.
+1980Triumph Sure thing!
They are not cheap to purchase on Ebay. I still have the ones from when i was small and they held up well.
The werewolf with a blaster now that's bad ass right there.
Wow! The last minute was INTENSE!!
watching some of the older episodes brings back childhood memories. When you talk about these being compatible, I remember getting the Wolfman specifically because I read that the teenage werewolf mask was used as an alien in the cantina, so it was kind of completing the set.
I had, or may still have these Remco Mini-Monsters..The Creature from the black lagoon was by far my favorite.
Mickey clinging to life was hilarious!!!! Why he go out like that😂😂😂
You'd be amazed how many people at the time got really angry at me about this video for that final scene.
I loved this set! I had all the figures and playhouse and an additional glowing creature character. So awesome to see this video!
I owned some and LOVED them!
I remember having Dracula and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The creature is long gone but I still have Dracula. Those old capes tore easily.
love these toys. they were better than any toy ever
I love it! I still have my figs, but the Monsterizer and clubhouse are long lost.
Oh my God, Micky....
Excellent video guys.
My only memory of this line would be from about 79-80 based on where I lived at the time. By 81 I'd moved to a big city. "Time" messes with my childhood memories.
I had Phantom, Wolfman, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Creature is one of the worst toys to accidentally step on in the dark with bare feet! Let the expletives fly! Another cool video RB!
love the comedy sketches in your videos XD
All Hail Broken Vader for snuffing the mouse! ;)
Hey Mouse Say Cheese! LOL
very cool, love these
good memories! I had that larger scale Dracula too, which I loved as a child
Had the larger Remco figures that glowed in the dark. I had Frankenstein and the larger monsterizer, that I still have...except I only have the base... but the light bulb still works after 30 years.
I had all these plus the larger 8 inch versions Remco put out. The Creature from the Black Lagoon was my favorite.
Loved these and the 8 inch versions
Still have my complete set of non-glowing figures and the playset. My love of monsters was so great as a kid that the human Star Wars figure would play second fiddle to the Universal Monsters. Princess Leia was the target of Dracula's perpetual attempts to claim her as his bride, and it was up to Luke, Han, Lando, and Obi-Wan (acting as Van Helsing) to save her. Good times...
Chewbacca filled in as a substitute werewolf since I never got the wolf man figure.
Cool. Thanks again for the Doctor Who figures video, thanks to that I just purchased the sweet as hell Companions gift set with my much needed Donna Noble and THE AMY POND IN POLICE UNIFORM that I regretted buying in 2012. Got the companions set for under 60.00 and the amy for under 20.00
I remember seeing these in the Sears Christmas catalogue. I wanted them so bad, but never got them. :-(
Excellent Video! I still have my glow in the dark versions. The case unfortunately was lost to antiquity.
Awesome video guys. Cool ending.
"It's ALIVE!!" Everytime we play with our "larger than life" mini-monsters. Stay safe everyone!
Ok...I want to see more of that sitcom! - I had all 6, and all of mine glowed in the dark. One of my Frankenstein's melted pretty badly under a lamp at my friend's house. I'll have to make my own video on it.
I had the glow in the dark version of the Creature From the Black Lagoon as a kid. It was the only one of the line I could ever find. It eventually made it's way to my fish tank as a decoration. Fit in nicely.
Boy, BV sure can get things done when he's motivated enough. ;) This video is an oldie-but-a-goodie now, kind of like the monsters themselves. Thanks, Retroblasting!
retroblasting - do fisher price adventure people. i think they were the original 3 3/4 figures. the series lasted for about 10 yrs (mid 70s - mid 80s). had everything a kid needed for a town including boats (really floated!), planes, vans, rescue ambulance, trucks, motorcycles, camping sets, safari, etc plus over 50 characters!!! .....AND YET NOBODY EVER TALKS ABOUT THEM
Oh man brings back memories of winter '82...me and my 2 cousins did this insane crossover of Universal monsters, Star Wars, Clash of Titans, with special appearances by Buck Rogers, Micronauts, Battlestar Galactica, & the Dukes of Hazzard's Bo. Man that was a crazy Saturday afternoon!😂
Sounds fun
I saw an ad for these, but never saw them in stores.
WOW!!!!!!! Now I want these too! XD
The mini monsters are awesome. They're really well made
Remco was a great company. So much win from them. My girl collects their Heidi dolls.
I thought the part where Mickey says he owns Star Wars was scarier than when Darth Vader suffocated him. Damn I still get the chills..
Another great and funny video thank you!!!!
The Mickey Bit Killed me. I love it. Great Video, Happy Halloween Guys!
+awaasproductions Happy Halloween!
Great video great info on playset
Long live Remco!
¡Fantastic episode! the DV part is the best!
Another great video. Frankmon & Drac was fantastic! When I was a kid, the only figure I had in the series was the Creature From The Black Lagoon. I had him with my Star Wars and G.I. Joe figures.
Hmmm B.V. vs the House of Mouse As I once heard " Sometimes you don't need good to fight evil, you need another evil to fight evil." LOL
Lol, Vader just smothered Mickey to death. That little rat bitch.
Amazing! This was so funny, but yet so informative! Happy Halloween to my favorite channel!
+Eric Wessells THANKS ERIC!
We often pitted Drac and The Gillman against Perseus, Luke Skywalker, and Mr. T. That's a blockbuster movie.
Love this video! And thanks for reminding me how sad I am that I can't find my Monsterizer from my youth. Another toy lost to my parents black hole of garage.
Always like watching this episode!
Lol Remco figures! I didn’t know you reviewed them long ago! But Remco made lot of other figures. Still great take me back
happy Halloween retroblasting awesome review
Great vid RetroBlasting!!!
You HAVE to bring back Corporate Mickey, he's a perfect nemesis for BV!
Awesome, yet again! :) Man, every time I see a new #RetroBlasting episode up, I literally get the SAME feeling as when I see that my favorite TV show is on...oh, and that was GREAT "Halloween horror" stuff seeing #BrokenVader take out the mouse, though I think most of us backed Vader on that one, lol. X) Cool memories for the #RemcoMonster stuff (especially the minis...and those cardbacks I remember were so beautifully rendered, for a monster, ha). Also brought back some sweet memories with the #AWA wrestlers (had a couple) and the #KarateKid toys (had a handful of those, and completely forgot what the cardbacks looked like)! I was definitely a Karate Kid fan back in the day, and it'd be nice to see an episode on the figures at some point perhaps (their cool points AND definite limitations), as well as that cartoon series that I really liked as a kid but then raised an eyebrow at when I rewatched it on Netflix a while back, haha...some things really seem to "change" a bit! ;) Anyways, LOVED today's episode...as always, thanks SO MUCH for the AMAZING channel! XD #BlastOn
+Skyguy Pat You're very welcome, Skyguy! Thanks for being here!
Johnny Hates Jazz! Listening to the album the other day, guilty but brilliant pleasure that guys! You Guys are fast becoming 'WikiToys' for me! To be fair Wilma has always hypnotized me with the least of effort............really enjoyed. Cheers, Fuzz.
I still have the Mini Monster play case. Not in great condition, but still serviceable. I never was able to find the Mummy. :(
And as always, fantastic review!
p.s.
I am green with envy on the excellent condition of your play case. Grrr....
That was thoroughly entertaining...better than the junk on TV nowadays. Great job guys...keep those videos coming. Cheers!
Amazing video! just shared, Happy Halloween ! :)
+Saverio Scialfa (Galaxychild81) Thanks so much Saverio!
oh wow I remember those! !! had Dracula
Vader is even more frightening with his arms off. You don't know where he will strike next.
So spooky!
Sp00k
Loved the NBC sitcom bit. Little dark at the end though. Keep up the awsome work.
+Donald Lawson It's Halloween...
Good point :)
I loved this line intensely.
Awesome! Loved the Remco monsters!
Fang-tastic! I have mini-Dracula
These were your best videos
I never knew these existed, and i hit MANY fles markets/toy shows/comic cons.
Never had any of these (as they were way before my time) but I always thought they were neat.
Love the Micky and Vader act
Nice review!
That was great!
After seeing the trailers for The Force Awakens, I wish Broken Vader would have done that to JJ Abrams.
I remember Burger King briefly reviving this toy line in their kids meals, glow in the dark skin and all.
This showed up in the recommendations, thought it was a new episode. The head on that "Human Werewolf" from the Mego Mad Monsters line looked awfully similar to the mask worn by the owner of The Overlook Hotel in the miniseries version of "The Shining". In the Kubric film he's relegated to the man in the dog costume.
Broken Vader has great taste in music, btw. ...dat ded mouse, doe
Hey Mike I'm kinda surprised you didnt tell BV to get the Mouse in the beginning! LOL
Amazing episode! The effort is much appreciated.
+hobojonas Thanks hobo!
I didn't know anything about this toyline - this was very informative. I kinda feel like picking them up, but I'm sure that would be expensive! My fave Universal monsters were always the Wolfman and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
And now, for another strangely relevant Johnny Hates Jazz song...
"Turn Back the Clock"
Another day is ended and I still can't sleep
Remembering my yesterdays, I begin to weep
If I could have it over live my life again
I wouldn't change a single day
I wish that I could turn back the clock
Bring the wheels of time to a stop
Back to the days when life was so much better
Lying here in silence picture in my hand
Of a boy I still resemble but I no longer understand
And as the tears run freely, how I realise
They were the best years of my life
I wish that I could turn back the clock
Bring the wheels of time to a stop
Back to the days when life was much better
You might say it's just a case of giving up, no
But without these memories
Where is the love, so where is the love
If I could have it over, live my life again
I wouldn't change a single day
I wish that I could turn back the clock
Bring the wheels of time to a stop
Back to the days when life was so much better
Why can't I turn back the clock
Bring the wheels of time to a stop
Back to the days oh, no, no
I remember when life was so good
I'd go back if I could
Oh, oh I wouldn't change a single day
Don't let the memories slip away I wouldn't change a single day
Don't let the memories slip away, hey
Wow I had the Monsterizer...wish I knew where it was today.
Brilliant!