Transformers Lunchbox

Transformers Lunchbox

circa 1984

purchased for $4

Before the crap-tacular Michael Bay popcorn action movie, there were the 80s toys and cartoon. Seriously, how much better were the toys than those stupid CG movies? More Than Meets The Eye!

Willow Lunchbox

Willow Lunchbox

circa 1988

purchased for $1

Another classic Warwick Davis film from the 80's.

King Hippo Figurine

King Hippo Figurine

circa 1989

purchased for FREE

One of the best characters in Mike Tyson's Punchout. Just below that waistline is a sweet X bandage over his belly button. Hit that and his shorts fall down. Just look at those knees!

Smurfs Radio

Smurfs Radio

circa 1982

purchased for $4

Man, Smurfette was a babe.

Indy III - Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade Pinback

Indy III - Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade Pinback

circa 1989

purchased for $.50

What makes this cool is that the film was never called "Indy III", or even "Indiana Jones III". My favorite of the Indiana Jones films, and one of my favorite films of all time. I collect anything having to do with Indiana Jones.

Back To The Future II Tumbler

Back To The Future II Tumbler

circa 1989

purchased for $3

One of the greatest sequels of all time gets it's very own tumbler! What is a tumbler, you ask? Well it's a cheap plastic cup with some sort of gelatinous goo sealed in the sides, with sparkles and weird little items mixed in there too. Ok, so I get the clocks, but what does that dude wearing headphones have to do with BTTFII? Not sure, but I'll take it anyways.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles View Master

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles View Master

circa

purchased for $.25

Heroes in a half shell! Turtle Power! Pizza! Ahhhh!

Pee-Wee Herman Action Figure

Pee-Wee Herman Action Figure

circa 1988

purchased for $3

Still one of my favorite characters of the 80's. I have three of the "Talking Pee-Wee" dolls, but I never had any of the little action figures. I found this one still in the original package at an indoor flea market. Great show, great movie, great action figure.

Batman Napkins

Batman Napkins

circa 1989

purchased for $.25

Theme birthday kits were some of the cheapest, thinnest materials you could find anywhere. The party hats had those little white rubber bands held on by the single staple. The cups were so waxy my mom didn't know if she should light them or the candles on the cake. And then we come to the worst, slash best, slash worst again theme birthday party supply of all time: the tablecloth. The tablecloth included in those birthday kits was thinner than the tissue paper that came with "Don't Break The Ice".

When I was a kid, if your birthday party wasn't "themed", it wasn't cool. Whether it be Ninja Turtles, Transformers, or Thundercats, a theme party was essential. And in 1989, Batman was THE party theme of choice. The Batman movie had just come out in theaters, and it was the coolest movie that I was allowed to see up until that point in my life. I had a Batman Theme Party in October of '89, and it may go down as the best birthday party in history.

Van Halen Mirror - from Seaside Heights, NJ 1983

Van Halen Mirror

Boardwalk Prize from Seaside Heights, NJ

circa - Summer of '83

purchased for $1

I feel like the crappy prizes at the boardwalk used to be soooo much better. Personally, I would have opted for the Bon Jovi mirror, but I guess Van Halen could hang with Jon Bon. That lion jumping through the logo is badass. Oh man I can still see the bright pink fringed "Seaside Heights" shirts and cutoff jean shorts.

Invader From Space - Electronic Game

Enoch's Invader From Space

Electronic Game

Circa 1980

Purchased for $10

This game is basically a complete rip-off of Space Invaders. It's like creating a game called "Brothers Whose Names Are Mario". But it is still pretty cool, and super fun. The color screen and game sounds are top-notch...for 1980.

A Nightmare On Elm Street 2 - 3D Poster

A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge

3D Poster

circa 1986

purchased for $1

At 6 years old, this may have been the first horror movie I ever saw. Holy crap. There will never be horror movies like this again, with all these crappy CG special effects nowadays. This poster is apparently pretty rare. It was made for display at video rental stores. The tagline says "THE MAN OF YOUR DREAMS IS BACK". Found it at a flea market for a buck. Just saw one sell on ebay for $90.

Super Mario Bros. Game Watch

Super Mario Bros. Game Watch

Nintendo (circa 1989)

purchased for FREE!

UPDATE: Sold for $41

Don't you just love that super 70's afghan background? yeah, me too. I also love love LOVE Super Mario Bros. and everything with that lovable plumber's face on it. I have an extensive Nintendo game collection, and this is a great addition. I found this in a box of stuff that somebody was throwing out! Can you believe it! Now just imagine the kinds of things that have slipped through the garbage pickers' hands, right into the landfill. Oh, it's enough to make you want to cry.

Pac-Man Glass

Pac-Man Glass (circa 1980)

purchased for $3

Ooooh PAC-MAN! I spent hours of my youth (and not-so-youth) playing this magical maze game. This cup has great artwork and great colors. I have a love for these glasses with 80's characters...just don't make the same mistake I have made by using them! I have lost many a Star Wars and Indiana Jones glass via clumsy roommates.

Speak & Read

Speak & Read

Texas Instruments (circa 1980)

purchased for FREE (curbside)!

SOLD for $25.00

This is from the same family as "Speak & Spell" and "Speak & Math". Do you remember the crazy robot voice of these things? Sometimes he sounds so mad that you got a wrong answer! When I was a kid I always typed in curse words to see if he would say them. Did you know that the "Speak & Read" does not know the word "balls"? WORD ZAP!

Ghostbusters - Ecto Plazm

The REAL Ghostbusters

Ecto Plazm (circa 1986)

purchased for FREE

Just the smell of this goo takes me back to my childhood. I could play with this "non-toxic water soluble gel" for HOURS, squishing it between my fingers, sliming GI Joe, throwing it at my sisters, throwing it at the wall...

Somebody in Bayville, NJ was throwing out a bunch of cool 80's toys, and I grabbed as much as I could (in the dark). When I got home I realized I left a few things there that I wanted. So I drove back the next morning, and it was all gone. There's vultures out there I tell ya! Grab whatever you can grab.

E.T. - Wind-up Toy

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Wind-Up Toy in original package (circa 1982)
purchased for $4

E.T. was the first movie I cried while watching. I found this gem at a town wide garage sale in beachwood, nj. The lady actually had 2 of them. My friend Phil BOTH of them. Jerk. So then I bugged him until he sold one of them to me. "Wind him up and watch him TODDLE and BOBBLE along."

Masters Of The Universe - Party Invitations

Masters Of The Universe

Party Invitations (circa 1983)

purchased for $0.25

I was looking through a huge bin of party invitations and christmas cards. this was the very last package in the box. oh he-man how i love thee. i used to have masters of the universe bed sheets. just wait until i have a he-man party!