*Had* more, at least during the Reagan Era. Not so much anymore.
Posted on 02/06/2014 6:46:28 AM PST by Phillyred
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) - G.I. Joe is turning 50.
The birthday of what's called the world's first action figure is being celebrated this month by collectors and the toy maker that introduced it just before the nation plunged into the quagmire that would become the Vietnam War - a storm it seems to have weathered pretty well.
Since Hasbro brought it to the world's attention at the annual toy fair in New York City in early 1964, G.I. Joe has undergone many changes, some the result of shifts in public sentiment for military-themed toys, others dictated by the marketplace.
Still, whether it's the original "movable fighting man" decked out in the uniforms of the four branches of the U.S. military, or today's scaled-down products, G.I. Joe remains a popular brand.
"Joe stood for everything that was meant to be good: fighting evil, doing what's right for people," said Alan Hassenfeld, the 65-year-old former CEO for Pawtucket, R.I.-based Hasbro Inc., whose father, Merrill, oversaw G.I. Joe's development in 1963....
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
It’s a shame that a toy has more patriotism in it than all liberals and Dems combined.
Wasn’t GI Joe inspired by Mitchell Paige?
Oddly the collecting bug didnt hit me until after the Army - I now have more than 100 vintage (64-76) Joes, and a ridiculous amount of uniforms, accessories and gear. Through the collector community I have made some aweome life-long friends.
Modern kid play patterns and video game dependence mean the GI Joe thing could not really happen again - even my nephew's beloved 3 3/4 Joes have largely faded away now. Too bad. Joe, Marx playsets, other toy soldiers - those were teh building blocks of my childhood dreams.
“GI Joe, GI Joe, Fighting Man from head to toe”
Does he come with a knee brace?
*Had* more, at least during the Reagan Era. Not so much anymore.
I was already a teenager when it came out. Guys my age were unmercifully with younger kids who bought A DOLL(My generation had those tiny plastic army guys). . In retrospect of course it was a good thing cept for the thumbnail being where the thumb print should be.
Sorry little brother. Didn’t mean to spoil your fun.
I remember that jingle. Imagine those words in a commercial today. Even the Armed Forces commercials show the military delivering aid, not killing people and breaking things. Which is their mission.
lol No knee brace but he does come with a kung fu grip.
My Dad was walking the picket line the first Christmas after GI Joe was introduced. We didn’t have any money to buy “boy dolls”. So, I got a piece of wood and carved my own “Private Pine”. I didn’t know how to sew, so his uniform was just some green paint. Oh, the adventures we had. The other boys would be playing with their GI Joes when Private Pine would come streaking through the air in his invisible jet dropping bombs that sent their action figures flying. Away we would fly with six or seven guys chasing us vowing to give me a bloody nose. But Private Pine was smart and never attacked too far from his back door. Private Pine took some leave and spent it with Cindy’s Barbie doll. A few months later, Private Pine had to take some more leave and get married to Cindy’s Barbie doll. Soon, they had a baby named Little Log. Alas, Private Pine was mistaken for kindling on a camping trip and the joys of my youth literally went up in smoke. I think of Private Pine and my youth on these cold Winter days. Sometimes, I’ll pick up a block of wood and pull out my old jackknife to see if I can carve a new Private Pine. Then, I cut myself and swear and throw the wood into the fire in the fireplace and play with my Transformers.
Yeah, I’m sure Joe had to attend sensitivity training. he cant say yo joe anymore either, just Heeeeeeeyyyyyyyy joe
Great open but horrid plot. The 80s cartoon was still good most of the time despite the oversight by the censors. I would have preferred some kind anime killing of characters.
I have a Tuskegee Airman GI Joe, and an Israeli commando.
...Oh, and I have a GI Joe Vietnam vet at The Wall.
And my dad thought he was just a doll . . . .
An Israeli commando. That must be a rare one. Didn’t know they made Jewish GI Joes. I wonder if it comes circumcised.
To say the least. 
When I saw my first GI JOE doll I felt it was just a way for the toy makers to get boys to play with dolls.
I did think of buying one as they did have movable joints, to use in art work, but didn’t.
Hoy vay! Looks the Rabbi got a little carried away on that one. : )
No wonder the Apostle Paul told us to beware of the concision.
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