G.I. Joe voted top toy of the century

upi ^ | Sept. 13, 2012

[Cliff Dweller]

Nah, they cost a pretty penny then (1964-1968) would hate to pay today’s prices.

I recall a few years ago they were re-introduced as collectibles somewhere around $75 or so each... obviously not for throwing around in the dirt.

[jtal]

I too had a spacecraft, but it was sold during the Apollo era, though it could still only fit one astronaut Joe.

“Life-like hair”, but pre-kung-fu-grip.

It came with a (square flexible plastic!) recording of the lunar landing one could play on a record player.

Far and away my favorite toy from that era (five years old).

God only knows how Joe has been re-branded in our present PC milieu.

[jboot]

OMG the Mercury Capsule!! I recall seeing that toy at McCrory's back in the day. I wanted it in the worst possible way, but alas it cost $19.50, a king's ransom in those days: nineteen dollars more than I had to my name and at least ten dollars over my "wheedle out of grandma with my best sad puppy look" limit. So it stayed ont he shelf.

They reissued it in the late '90s. FAO Schwartz had a couple hidden behind the plushies. I discovered that I still wanted it, but at $199.95 it was in my "if I'm going to spend that much on something it had better shoot real bullets" zone, and I deferred again. I guess I'll never own that darned thing.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Prole]

Vintage GI Joe figures from the 1960s fetch quiet a high price on Ebay these days. However, there is something to consider. From about 1994-2007, Hasbro re-released many classic and favorite GI Joe figures from the 1960s using the same vintage designs, uniforms and equipment.

Yes, they are not worth anything since they are reproductions, but if one wants to recapture childhood, they are highly recommended.

They are part of Hasbro's "GI Joe Timeless Collection," and cover all branches of the military. US Navy Combat Diver, USAF Scramble Pilot, NASA Astronaut, US Infantry Soldier, US Green Beret, US Marine, etc...

Here are a few images:

[jboot]

LOL, square plasic records. I recall having a collection of those, mostly from National Geographic. My favorites came out of Starlog magazine: "Real Sci-Fi Sounds" and such. That one vanished. I guess I launched one too many "Photon Torpedo Attacks" while dad was on the phone.

I wonder how many people today even realize that they used to put records in magazines?

[Prole]

I own that one, actually, and it’s awesome. FAO put them on clearance at one point!!!

[Uncle Chip]

I can’t believe it beat out Silly Putty.

[Cliff Dweller]

I got the capsule from Santa for Christmas.. It was 1965 and it came with a recording of John Glenn’s radio comms from Mercury -7 launch etc.

By 1970 it was gone (Goodwill as the recipient I imagine)

Same thing happened to my old Gas (Cox fuel) string controlled airplanes....

[afraidfortherepublic]

I don’t think that all of those versions were available when we started our collection (1964), but in addition to regular soldiers, I know that we had a Medic. We definitely would have had a Sailor, if one had been available. They were beautiful toys — well made, durable.

[jboot]

Darn, I missed that. I only got in FAO once before they closed. I got a load of the prices and said “h*ll no.”

[Prole]

I honestly think the reason why many children today are so stupid is because they don't have anything to stimulate their imaginations.

Actual toys (robots, spaceships, GI Joe) are capable of doing that, but many kids is this generation view toys as archaic as they prefer digital things like I-pads and video games.

As today's children become more and more surrounded by digital screens, they will become even more unimaginative and uncreative with each passing day.

[jboot]

Ah, I so wish I had remembered to ask Santa. But the attention span was short in those days.

Some of my best toys went to Goodwill. Frequently before I was done with them. But I blew my Cox car up. I put something other than the standard fuel in it (perhaps Ronsonol? Those years are getting hard to remember.) It did not work well. ;-)

[JoeProBono]

[Cliff Dweller]

Those are the ones I recall seeing available - Amazing. Would be worth the memories alone, don’t need vintage for vintage’s sake.

As I look at Amazon, the prices for these are creeping skyward as well.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I remember buying one of my grandsons an “historic” GI Joe (full sized) of a Revolutionary War soldier in the late 1990s. I think it was supposed to be George Washington.

[mknj]

Did you shoot your eye out??

[afraidfortherepublic]

[Little Ray]

I can’t argue with that. GI Joes and their accessories were just too cool!