BOSTON AREA TOY COLLECTORS CLUB
Toy Reviews
"TOY TIMESTM"
Toy Reviews
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Click on the name below to read the review:
Captain Action Returns
Mega Block Spiderman
Madame Alexander Pan Am Doll
Lego Star Wars Rancor pit
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Please go to our Tonner Doll review Page Here
Review: Madame Alexander Pan Am Stewardess Doll
By Beverly Lanzilla
By Beverly Lanzilla
I had previously spoken to Mr. Steven Traut of the Alexander Doll Co. regarding the same Pan AM doll I had on order (which is limited to 150 dolls worldwide) for my own personal collection. As I was already going to submit an article to “Clipped Wings” (an organization for active and retired flight attendants of United Airlines). I flew for United Airlines for over 25 years and retired to enjoy the hard earned benefits I had worked for, especially international travel.
I first laid eyes on the Pan Am doll when I was reading through the Md. Alexander Doll Co. 2012 catalog, and I had to add her ( 16” Pan Am Stewardess) to my airline collection.
These young ladies lucky enough to be chosen, trained and based domestically and internationally , had always left me in awe while I was traveling as a young lady. These young women were in the vanguard of feminism without even knowing it. I was a service brat (Army) and my father chose Pan American airlines for the safety and professional cabin crews to fly our family when he was reassigned to another part of the US or internationally. Pan Am stewardesses were the “Mile-high” ladies. So sophisticated , adventurous and glamorous. Their jobs were the international jet sets most potent symbols and true “sky goddesses” of the air during the 50’s and 60’s. Their lives and exploits were used especially to entice travelers , and during their tenure international travel increased by 25% every year! Md. Alexander Co. Stewardess doll helps tell the story of the “lipstick feminists” in their design of the 16” doll.
In my review of the prototype Pan Am stewardess doll, I have given her a name most flight attendants today will know and recognize. Her name is Mary Mainliner. This name brings a smile and laugh to most present day flight attendants. So close your eyes and journey back with me to a smart, single and beautiful Pan Am. Stewardess during the 50’s and 60’s. Some young ladies were nurses, conversant in different foreign languages and customs from around the globe. Tall, slender (weight checks) blonde, brunette or redhead, representing their airline with the ease and elegance of a model or movie star.
In this, Md. Alexander has captured the regal age of being a stewardess. Glamour, subtle sexiness was reflected in the uniform and fashions of the period. Md. Alexander’s “Mary Mainliner” is out fitted in pale Pan Am blue color for the uniform ensemble. In addition , the uniform includes a complete set of the famous white gloves (some of us at other airlines remember the dreaded gloves) that were always to be worn in public view. Since the white gloves soiled easily, stewardesses usually had to carry 10 to 20 pairs, depending on one’s flight destinations and how long one would be away from their home domiciles. A Chanel type blue pill box hat in pale blue was also part of the uniform to always be worn in public view and to be worn at a tilt to show off the gold-tone Pan Am wings and world globe emblem sewn into the hat. The uniform also consisted of a white blouse, blue single breasted black button jacket, a blue skirt hemmed below the knee, flesh toned nylon stockings and black medium high (always shined) pumps to complete the uniform. And of course gold emblem world styled wings to be worn near the collar as well as the famous Pan Am Pale blue issued f;ight bag (with matching suitcase). The possession of a Pan Am crew bag was a fashion statement implying exotic foreign travel by it’s owner.
Few people were aware of the stewardesses were to have a “girdle check” before each flight , regardless or not if you needed to wear one . Very strict weight rules were enforced to ensure the uniform always looked correct.
As I removed “Mary Mainliner” from her box , extra details pf her hairstyle (always very conservative), hand painted eyes and applied eyelashes. The Pan Am doll is approximately 16” tall and is limited worldwide to 150 dolls. The stewardess doll has 17 points of articulation and features a quick change of shoes from high heels to flats worn in flight. Also included is a specially designed doll stand for “Mary Mainliner”, I can find no fault with this very beautiful doll and Md. Alexander should be proud of this creation.
So journey back to the golden age of flight with this Md. Alexander limited edition doll and add “Mary Mainliner” to your doll collection! A window box cover is also included to protect your doll and future investment!
Also included in this 2012 collection is a 10” Pan Am stewardess limited to 200 dolls world wide. The 10” doll is #65145 and the 16” doll is #65140. Please find out pricing, shipping, etc. by going to:h
Review: Mega Blocks The Amazing Spiderman
by:Andrew Bucca
by:Andrew Bucca
Packaging:
The overall packaging of the sets were very well made. The photos on the front of the boxes described the sets in such a way that grabs your attention. The packaging has bright colors and fun designs that will attract consumers. The boxes were also closed well. Each set is fairly priced ranging from $6.99- $19.99 and comparable in price to the competition.
Photo Courtesy of Andrew Bucca Photo courtesy of Andrew Bucca
Group shot of the product Up close of the car and the box, the graphics are good
Assembly:
Photo Courtesy of Andrew Bucca Photo courtesy of Andrew Bucca
Group shot of the product Up close of the car and the box, the graphics are good
Assembly:
During the assembly I found the directions to be a little confusing. Each step had 3-4 parts. I found myself going back from time to time to check my building. For easier assembly, I recommend having 1-2 parts. The sets themselves are very well built and don’t break apart easily. While they do stay together, some parts were hard to connect. For example, some pieces kept sliding to one side of another piece. Another plus is that the figures were pre-made and in a separate bag.
Final Product:
Final Product:
The sets are very cool and can be used for many hours. I do like the spider-man figure that comes in both sets. The lizard figure also makes them look to scale being bigger than spider-man. As a downside, the figure in "Lizard’s Racer" wasn’t actually a figure at all, it was just a head which was disappointing.
The sets also had some innovative ideas like the flexible web on spider-man’s car or the way the arms connect on the small shuttle which makes the set attractive.
The sets also had some innovative ideas like the flexible web on spider-man’s car or the way the arms connect on the small shuttle which makes the set attractive.
Review:CAPTAIN ACTION RETURNS
By Beverly Lanzilla
By Beverly Lanzilla
Left to right Old Captain action and the new version Photo by Dave Campbell
CAPTAIN ACTION was originally launched in 1966 by the then powerful, Ideal Toy Corporation of Brooklyn, New York, a firm already well entrenched in the competitive doll industry. The idea was simple but largely unproven. Why not create a basic line male doll (action figure territory blazed by the Hassenfeld Brothers (HASBRO) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1964 with their G.I. JOE) with many costumes to choose from, such as BARBIE, launched in 1959 by MATTEL Inc. IDEAL could trace its history to 1906 well before today’s HASBRO (1923), and even more so before MATTEL. So it took this leap in 1966 and added to toy history.
CAPTAIN ACTION would introduce you into the daring world of espionage and intrigue where the likes of a Dr. Evil were lurking about. Not to stop there, the 1960’s were clearly less cumbersome with licensing as CAPTAIN ACTION would become “disguised” as BATMAN, The Phantom, Flash Gordon, Captain America, Spider-Man, The Green Hornet, and more. The face masks, outfits, and cool accessories were all state-of-the-art for the 1960’s
CAPTAIN ACTION ‘s toy life was a short few years as is still too often the case in the fiercely competitive toy world. He was far from forgotten and thanks to out longtime friend and strong BATCC supporter, Tom Lowe, now heading ROUND 2 LLC.; he made sure CAPTAIN ACTION came back to life in 1998 under his then Playing Mantis company. Tom kept to the original look of Captain Action and produced some of the original licenses.
Fast forward to today and the new CAPTAIN ACTION Enterprises LLC, owned by Joseph J Ahearn and Ed Catto have taken their passion, with the full support and collaboration of Tom Lowe, to new heights. At present in addition to the new reach of the CAPTAIN ACTION license, they have also entered into an agreement with MARVEL. Much is on the drawing boards license-wise including the future launch of LADY ACTION to finally add a female action figure. The first wave of the new line includes a new Captain Action with his very colorful, high-tech crime-fighting equipment and a super-poseable body, that prepare him to battle the most menacing villains. I was especially impressed with all the new equipment Captain Action can use to become a master of disguise, a super spy out to save the world that doesn’t know it needs to be rescued.
There are 2 kinds of CAPTAIN ACTION that are now in store. The standard versions have just the most basic elements for each of the uniforms, while the deluxe version (sent to us for review,) have more play, display options. Besides the basic Captain Action, there are two costume sets, Captain America and Spider-man. The deluxe versions of Captain Action come with additional accessories including an extra set of hands, various secret documents, his weapons, walkie talkie, maps and a vintage style photo box styled with the 1968 Ideal toy packaging.
New Costumes for the for the new Captain action Photo By Dave Campbell
The Spider-man Deluxe uniform comes with additional accessories such as the Peter Parker mask, web cartridge belt and web shooters as well as two sets of gloved hands. I also liked the small camera that was included with the Spider-man figure. Also of note, the deluxe set has a label on the outside of the package that includes Part 1 of the Hawkeye figure. This package has the Avengers Assemble Build-a-Costume of the Hawkeye character.
The Captain America Deluxe set comes with a Steve Rodgers alter ego mask, his classic round shield and his triangular shield used in his first appearances, cartridge belt and two sets of gloved hands. Ed Catto and Joe Ahearn have done a wonderful tribute reinventing Captain America as a four-color soldier in the fight against terrorism - albeit one facing serious moral quandaries - which only goes to show his longevity as a symbol of America itself. Captain America deluxe includes Part 2 of the Hawkeye costume. In the coming months, Round 2 will release a second wave of character sets including the mighty Thor uniform for Captain Action ant the return of Captain Action’s arch foe, Dr Evil (along with other heroes and villains.)
(Please note that both ROUND 2 LLC. and CAPTAIN ACTION Enterprises LLC. Have been chosen to exhibit and attend the BATCC’s 12 Annual National Collectible Toy Event on Friday September 21, 2012.)
