Found on eBay: Big Jim!

Going to make this particular installment a rather limited-text one... aside from this intro! As many of you know, Big Jim was Mattel's attempt to tap into the market being served by Hasbro's GI Joe as well as Mego's Action Jackson and other 8" figures. Big Jim was an atheletic figure who had all kinds of accessories (sold separately) that ranged from sports uniforms to camping gear to vehicles and more! Towards the end of Big Jim's run at Mattel (at least in the USA), Big Jim was transmogrified into a kind of super-hero, leading Big Jim's P.A.C.K., and joined by some allies (including Dr. Steel, previously introduced as a bad guy!). In Europe, however, Big Jim seems to have transformed into a super secret agent and more! I'll try to identify which of these items I think were US items and which were Europe or other overseas items (and if any of you have corrections to my assumptions, feel free to say so!).


Europe


USA


Europe


Europe, but may have been a USA release too.


Actually, this one as well as the one above may have been a USA release using the same packaging for Europe, with a sticker proclaiming the German directions included.


All Europe... aside from the Kirby-derived or -inspired artwork on the P.A.C.K. toys, I think the European kids had way better Big Jim stuff than the USA kids did!


Europe, but I'm guessing it's a repackaging of an older USA set.


USA - Warpath was one of the P.A.C.K.!

Next on "Found on eBay" - Bullwinkle stuff!

Jon

Movie of the Week: "The Ghost of Frankenstein"!

And time for another installment of the Movie of the Week! This week, we're continuing the Frankenstein saga (at least, the Universal one) with "Ghost of Frankenstein," in which Bela Lugosi returns as Ygor, and Lon Chaney Jr. plays the Monster.



As you can see from the poster above, we have a new Frankenstein to deal with, this one the second son of Henry/Victor!



You'd think that I'd remember the plot more of this movie, given that I do have it on DVD, but I'm pretty much drawing a blank... the Monster is revived by Ygor (having been buried in sulphur)...



...there is a trial of the Monster when it's captured... I believe that latest Frankenstein gets the villagers to release the Monster into his custody...


(Trailer for "Ghost of Frankenstein")



...with the promise that putting a new brain in the Monster's head will rid him of his antisocial tendencies...



...Ygor, however, has his own plans for the Monster, intending to have HIS brain transplanted into the Monster's powerful body!




(Japanese pressbook)

And he does, indeed, manage to get his brain placed in the Monster, but not with the results he expects!




(American pressbook)

Indeed, we discover that Ygor's having a different blood type than the Monster (something that either Victor/Henry didn't have to worry about when assembling, or nobody writing the movies ever thought about before), and after a few minutes of happiness, Ygor/The Monster is struck blind, and goes out of control!

















Both Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi would return for the next installment, "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man," but this time, it would be Chaney playing the Wolf Man, while Lugosi (who, as you'll recall, originally turned down the role of the Monster in the first movie) played the Monster!

But before we get to that, next week's "Movie of the Week" will feature "The Wolf Man," so we can catch up with Lawrence Talbot!

Jon

Found on eBay: Bewitched Collectibles!

Here's a short "Found on eBay" post focusing on Bewitched collectibles!



First up is this Ben Cooper costume of Samantha Stevens from Bewitched! This is obviously from the era where the "costume" portion basically had a picture of the character you supposedly dressed up as!



It's purely a guess, but I'm thinking Dell Comics' creative people put together this Bewitched activity book!

Here's a few photos of the lovely Elizabeth Montgomery... some as Samantha, others from elsewhere!





Yes, this photo is not a Sam pic... but I'm guessing none of you will mind!





Jon

Slideshow: Comics They Never Made!

Just for the heck of it... here's a slideshow of all the "Comics They Never Made" covers I've created, not all of which ended up being used in a "Cover Stories" column when I was writing that!


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Jon

Give-A-Show Fridays: The Checklist Update WITH Photos!

Decided to "upgrade" the checklist this week, with the addition of photos! Next time, I'm hoping to fill in the sets I don't have any photos of!

Notes: When Give-A-Show was first produced, the slides were printed on plastic and mounted on cardboard frames. These frames had a single color of ink printed on them with the character, story name, copyright date, and two pictures of the character. Through the 1960s, this was the format, and so I've taken to using the color and year to distinguish each release from the other.

1960 Red Slides
1-Popeye-Popeye To The Rescue
2-Three Stooges-Moon Man Moe
3-Yogi Bear-All At Sea
4-Woody Woodpecker-Go, Go, Goat!
5-Huckleberry Hound-Jinks' Surprise
6-Quick Draw McGraw-Two Heads are Better Than One
7-Oswald-Bug Game Hunter
8-Buffalo Bill-Sknis the Thieves
9-Wild Bill Hickock-Deadly Ambush
10-Kit Carson-Indian Attack
11-Maverick-Take a Gamble
12-Wyatt Earp-Gunman's Choice
13-Annie Oakley-Shoot-Out
14-Classics-Hansel & Gretel
15-Classics-Pinocchio
16-Classics-Cinderella

1961 Blue Slides

1-Huckleberry Hound-The One That Got Away
2-Popeye-A Day at the Seashore
3-Woody Woodpecker-Geronimo!
4-Three Stooges-Go To the Dogs
5-Rocky and Bullwinkle-A Ball for Boris
6-Lassie-Urgent Message
7-Mighty Mouse-Canaveral Capers
8-Classics-Peter Pan Foils Captain Hook
9-Casper the Friendly Ghost-He Who Laughs Last…
10-Heckle and Jeckle-Rough Stuff
11-Andy Panda-Balooney Business
12-Baby Huey-Wreckless Driver
13-Kenner Kids-The Haunted Mine
14-Roy Rogers-Trigger Has a Close Call
15-Captain Kangaroo-Bunny's Crazy Crop
16-Bozo-Bozo Booms a Bum
17-Classics-The Wizard of Oz
18-Classics-Robin Hood Meets Little John
19-Classics-Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn
20-Classics-William Tell
21-N/A-Stowaway in Space
22-Aesop's Fable-The Lion and the Mouse
23-N/A-Deadly Boomerang
24-N/A-Union Drummer Boy
25-Classics-Treasure Island
26-Popeye-Big Top Bullseye
27-Woody Woodpecker-Whew!
28-Three Stooges-Where There's Smoke… There's Fire?
30-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Bully for Bullwinkle
31-Roy Rogers-Headache for the Horse Thieves
32-Bozo-Joy Ride for Jumbo

1961 Green Slides
1-Huckleberry Hound-Huck's Magic Show
2-Yogi Bear-Flying High
3-Quick Draw McGraw-The Cannoneer
4-Pixie & Dixie-Painting the Town
5-Ruff & Reddy-Ruff Gets Rough
6-Snooper & Blabber-The Bear Facts
7-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Rings the Bell
8-Flintstones-A New Twist
9-Snagglepuss-Soars to New Heights
10-Flintstones-Fred Bowls a Boomerang
11-Aggie Doggie-Daddy Builds a Beauty
12-Huckleberry Hound-Huck Uses His Head
13-Yogi Bear-Unfunny Honey
14-Quick Draw McGraw-Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…
15-Ruff & Reddy-Whale of a Time
16-Flintstones-Double Trouble

1962 Green Slides

1-Huckleberry Hound-Huck's Magic Show
2-Yogi Bear -Flying High
3-Quick Draw McGraw-The Cannoneer
4-Pixie and Dixie-Painting the Town
5-Ruff & Reddy-Ruff Gets Rough
6-Snooper and Blabber-The Bear Facts
7-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Rings the Bell
8-Flintstones-A New Twist
9-Snagglepuss-Soars to New Heights
10-Flintstones-Fred Bowls a Boomerang
11-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Builds a Beauty
12-Huckleberry Hound-Huck Uses His Head
13-Yogi Bear-Unfunny Honey
14-Quick Draw McGraw-Mirror, Mirror on theWall…
15-Ruff & Reddy-Whale of a Time
16-Flintstones-Double Trouble

1962 Red Slides

1-Popeye and Olive Oyl-Victory at Sea
2-Three Stooges-Monster Monkey Business
3-Kenner Kids-Dive into Danger
4-Rocky and Bullwinkle-The Astronut
5-Woody Woodpecker-Jetty Propulsion
6-Roy Rogers-Mark of the Big Cat
7-Kenner Kids-Everglades Adventure
8-Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear-Poor Picnic Pickin's
9-Mr. Magoo-Magoo Gets a Checkup
10-Classics-Aladdin's Lamp
11-Dick Tracy-Case of the Missing Masterpiece
12-Mr. Ed-A Hitchin' Ed's Plans
13-Fury-Adventure With an Outlaw Stallion
14-Deputy Dawg-Bait From Outer Space
15-Mighty Mouse-A Whale of a Job
16-Classics-The Boy Who Cried Wolf

1962 Silver Slides

I'm assuming that's what this one slide comes from… it seems to be the "Holy Grail" of Give-A-Show sets, only two have come up on eBay since I started collecting, and I got terribly outbid both times!
2-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Misguided Moosile

1963 Green Slides

1-The Flintstones-All'sWell That Ends Well
2-Huckleberry Hound-Smile, You're on TV!
3-Yogi Bear-Woodsman, Spare That Tree!
4-Jetsons-Rosie Gets Repaired
5-Quick Draw McGraw-Fastest Guitar in the West
6-Hokey Wolf-An Actor's Life
7-Touche Turtle-Blast Off For Balloon
8-Wally Gator-Wally Saves His Skin
9-Lippy Lion-The Dragon's Shadow
10-Auggie Doggie-Daddy Tries His Wings
11-Flintstones-Fred Thinks Big
12-Huckleberry Hound-The Right Caliber
13-Yogi Bear-His Kind of Hat
14-Jetsons-Elroy's Secret Weapon
15-Quick Draw McGraw-Gold Fever
16-The Flintstones-A Record Catch

1963 Blue Sludes
1-The Flintstones and Pebbles-Fred Takes a Flyer
2-Popeye-Undersea Surprise
3-Mighty Mouse-Two Can Play At That Game
4-Rocky and Bullwinekle-To Catch a Moose
5-Alvin and the Chipmunks-Picnic Surprise
6-Roy Rogers-Trip Trap
7-Dennis the Menace-Where's Cowboy Bob?
8-Lassie-Stampede
9-Mr. Ed-Now Who's Talking?
10-Dick Tracy-The Robot Wrecker
11-Three Stooges-Billboard Butchers
12-Captain Kangaroo-Who Stopped the Clock?
13-Mr. Magoo-Class Reunion
14-Casper the Friendly Ghost-The Braggin' Dragon
15-Superman-Journey Into the Past
16-Whirlybirds-Air Fishing
17-Bozo the Clown-Chimp Chaser
18-The Gooney Bird-Gorilla Tamer
19-The Kenner Kids-Rambunctious Rhino
20-Alvin and the Chipmunks-Alvin's Big Catch
21-Dennis the Menace-A Trip to the Museum
22-Lassie-Lassie Gets a Reward
23-Captain Kangaroo-No Feathers for Bunny
24-Bozo the Clown-It Looks Like a Real Lion
A1-Kaleido-Film
A2-Kaleido-Film
A3-Kaleido-Film
A4-Kaleido-Film

Somewhere around here, Kenner also released some boxes of five slide sets per box. I only have a few photos of those, and can't reliably determine what was included in them, although it appears they may have duplicated slides available in the regular boxed sets.


Just because a character was pictured on the box, it doesn't seem to mean there's a frame of slides with that character on it!

1964 Red Slides

1-Popeye-Popeye Booms Back
2-Dick Tracy-A Real Pepper-Upper
3-Mr. Magoo-Out of Step
4-Alvin and the Chipmunks-Fractured Football
5-Clyde Crashcup-3-Speed Omission
6-Casper the Friendly Ghost-Panic Stop
7-Barney Google & Snuffy Smith-Board Stiff
8-Bozo the clown-High Dive
9-Fury-Firey Rescue
10-Mr. Ed-No Pool Like a New Pool
11-Mighty Mouse-Punch for Lunch
12-Three Stooges-Tanks, but No Tanks
13-Captain Kangaroo-Growing Pains
14-Lassie-Timmy's Bad Break
15-Dennis the Menace-Come On In
16-Huckleberry Hound & Yogi Bear-Wash-Up for Supper

1965 Red Slides
1-Flintstones-A Sneeze to Please
2-Yogi Bear-Rocket Riding Ranger
3-Huckleberry Hound-Barrel Peril
4-Magilla Gorilla-Hare Raising Robber
5-Peter Potamus-Brainless Buccaneer
6-Jetsons-Supersonic Sissy
7-Jonny Quest-Warehouse Rescue
8-Quick Draw McGraw-Clobbers a Robber
9-Yogi Bear-A Punch for a Lunch
10-Huckleberry Hound-BarnStorming
11-Flintstones and Hoppy-Mammoth Dilemma
12-Quick Draw McGraw-Out of the Frying Pan
13-Magilla Gorilla-Sled Snack
14-Peter Potamus-Watta Melon
15-Flintstones and Hoppy-Kitchen Concert
16-Yogi Bear-Yogi's Buzz Bomb

1966 Blue Slides
1-Superman-Race Against Danger
2-Three Stooges-Aqua-Nuts
3-Popeye-One Track Mind
4-Mighty Mouse-Good Noose
5-Lassie-Lassie the Game Warden
6-Secret Squirrel-Shrink in the Drink
7-Mr. Magoo-Abused Car Lot
8-Fury-Fireman Fury
9-Alvin and the Chipmunks-Moon Munks
10-Captain Kangaroo-Acrobunny
11-Roy Rogers-Nellybelle to the Rescue
12-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Alley Antics
13-Bozo-Shoe In
14-Casper the Friendly Ghost-A Frosty Friend
15-Heckle and Jeckle-Double Play
16-Stingray-Stingray's Secret Weapon

1967 Blue Slides

1-Frankenstein Jr-Frankie, Jr Saves a Satellite
2-Yogi Bear-Crunches a Lunch
3-Huckleberry Hound-Hot Puck Huck
4-Flintstones-The Purloined Sirloin
5-Magilla Gorilla-Drive-In Ape Wash
6-Secret Squirrel-Smells a Rat
7-Atom Ant-Supermarket Showdown
8-Quick Draw McGraw-Female Felon
9-Space Ghost-Puny Pirates
10-Dino Boy-Whale of a Tail
11-The Impossibles-The Formless Foe
12-Space Kidettes-Frozen Assets
13-Precious Pupp-The Fortuitus Flue
14-Maw & Paw Rugg-All Tire(d) Out
15-Hokey Wolf-Art Thief Grief
16-???

1968 Red Slides

1-Superman-Asphault Ambush
2-Lone Ranger-Tunnel of Terror
3-Three Stoogets-Firehouse Frenzy
4-Captain Kangaroo-Mower Mayhem
5-Off to See the Wizard-Enchanted River
6-Lassie-Anchor Man
7-Casper-Postal Poltergeist
8-Spider-Man-The Frustrated Phantom
9-Fantastic Four-Vicious Vine
10-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Slingshot Sleuth
11-Gentle Been-Midnight Fright
12-Bozo the Clown-Salty Solution
13-Popeye-Deep Sea Dilemma
14-Thor-Melt the Monster
15-King Kong-Erroneous Eruption
16-Aquaman-All Clammed Up

1969 Gold Slides

2-Yogi Bear-Unplanned Vacation
5-Moby Dick-Now That's Using Your Tail

1970 Blue Slides

1-Archie-Dead End
2-Dudley Do-Right-Bear Facts
3-Bugs Bunny-Stare Case
4-Captain Kangaroo-The Retriever
5-Tom & Jerry-Build a Better Cat-Trap
6-Casper-Nothing to Crow About
7-Mr. Magoo-Camera Bug
8-George of the Jungle-Bungleberry Picker
9-Sabrina, The Teen-Age Witch-Sand-Witch for Lunch
10-Apollo 11 Moonflight-First Man on the Moon
11-Superman-Tower of Power
12-Rocky and Bullwinkle-Hard Luck
13-Lassie-Perilous Precipice
14-Bozo the Clown-Dumbell
15-Popeye-Up a Tree
16-Flintstones-Oil That Glitters Is Not Gold

Sometime after 1970, Kenner decided to change how their Give-A-Show slides were labeled. There were still colors to designate the different series (you'll see this in the 1972 sets below), but a longer number system was in place… for example, 006-441-01 was the first side in one set, but other sets that same year also started with 006. I'm not sure what the "006" stood for, because it was also used for 1974 releases! The frame also has the corners beveled, which I presume made them easier to insert in the projectors.

1972 006 Slides (green)
441-01 – Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch – Working for Peanuts Part 1
441-02 – Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch – Working for Peanuts Part 2
442-01 – Harlem Globetrotters – Winging It Part 1
442-02 – Harlem Globetrotters – Winging It Part 2
443-01 – Sabrina – Bitter Lesson Part 1
443-02 – Sabrina – Bitter Lesson Part 2
444-01 – Scooby Doo – Going Ape Part 1
444-02 – Scooby Doo – Going Ape Part 2
445-01 – Bugs Bunny – Out of a Rut Part 1
445-01 – Bugs Bunny – Out of a Rut Part 2
446 – Funky Phantom – Chickenman
447 – Archie – Oil… Boil… Toil!
448 – Josie & the Pussycats – Sound Thinking
449 – Deputy Dawg – A Real Catch
450 – Lassie – Screeching Halt
451 – Captain Kangaroo – The Hat Trick

I believe there was a set released in 1972 featuring Josie & The Pussycats whose numbering would fit in between these two sets.

And this is probably the set!

1972 006 Slides (purple) – Scooby Doo Set #574 (?)
470-01 – Scooby Doo – Hazardous Hideout Part 1
470-02 – Scooby Doo – Hazardous Hideout Part 2
471-01 – Josie & the Pussycats – Moonrock Part 1
471-02 – Josie & the Pussycats – Moonrock Part 2
472-01 – Sabrina – Magic Marker Part 1
472-02 – Sabrina – Magic Marker Part 2
473-01 – Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan – Two Scents Worth Part 1
473-02 – Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan – Two Scents Worth Part 2
474 – Harlem Globetrotters – Dandy Dunker
475 – Roman Holidays – Wash Out
476 – The Houndcats – One Track Mind
477 – Sealab 2020 – Nothing to Sneeze At
478 – Archie – Upstart Golfcart
479 – Bugs Bunny – Sappy Sailor
480 – Funky Phantom – Heavy Hero
481 – Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids – Smash Hit

1973 — Six Million Dollar Man Set #35109

Note: This may have been the first set produced without cardboard frames! It's also possible this set may have been originally released in 1973 with standard cardboard frames, and then released again when the cardboard frames were on their way out, and that's the copy I have.
850-002-01 – Suspense in San Francisco
850-002-02 – Timber Tosser
850-002-03 – Deep Blue Dynamite
850-002-04 – Rapids Transit
850-002-05 – Captive Cablecar
850-002-06 – Everglades Emergency
850-002-07 – Camper Calamity
850-002-08 - Marooned
850-002-09 – Carrier Crisis
850-002-10 – Bionic Basketball
850-002-11 – Rhino Rodeo
850-002-12 – Hazardous Highway
850-002-13 – Steve Foils a Flood
850-002-14 – Race to the Bridge
850-002-15 – Airport Acrobat
850-002-16 – Drawbridge Dilemma


(The Bionic Woman Give-A-Show set I have yet to acquire!)

1974 006 Slides (blue)
91-01-Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids-Tomato Catch-Up Part 1
91-02-Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids-Tomato Catch-Up Part 2
92-01-Scooby Doo-Seize and Freeze Part 1
92-02-Scooby Doo-Seize and Freeze Part 2
93-01-Josie and the Pussycats-Candy Landing Part 1
93-02-Josie and the Pussycats-Candy Landing Part 2
94-01-Speed Buggy-Speed Trap Part 1 (mislabeled as "Speed Buggs")
94-02-Speed Buggy-Speed Trap Part 2 (mislabeled as "Speed Buggs")
95-01-Charlotte's Web-Some Pig Part 1
95-02-Charlotte's Web-Some Pig Part 2
96-00-Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch-Hat Whack
97-00-Star Trek-Space Cowboy
98-00-Archie-Ladder Splatter
99-00-Goober and the Ghost Chasers-Giving up the Ghost
01-00-Robin Hood-Hood-Winked
60-00-Bugs Bunny-Wabbitt to the Wescue

1974 612 Slides (red)
602-01-Valley of the Dinosaurs-Escape from Danger Part 1
602-02-Valley of the Dinosarus-Escape from Danger Part 2
603-01-Speed Buggy-Fire Drill Part 1
603-02-Speed Buggy-Fire Drill Part 2
604-01-Scooby Doo-Jungle Bungle Part 1
604-02-Scooby Doo-Jungle Bungle Part 2
605-01-Hong Kong Phooey-Sooper Scooper Part 1
605-02-Hong Kong Phooey-Sooper Scooper Part 2
606-00-Korg 70,000 B.C.-Peril on the Mountain
607-00-Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch-Tunnel Funnel
608-00-Addams Family-Creepy Campers
609-00-Bugs Bunny-Airborne Elmer
610-00-Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids-Rebuilt Racer
611-01-Star Trek-Project Iceberg Part 1
611-02-Star Trek-Project Iceberg Part 2
612-00-The U.S. of Archie-Boston Tea Party

1976 868 Slides (purple)
606-02-Land of the Lost-Grumpy's Rescue Part 2
606-01-Land of the Lost-Grumpy's Rescue Part 1
608-02-Shazam-Cliff Hanger Part 2
607-00-Far Out Space Nuts-Lunch Launch
608-01-Shazam-Cliff Hanger Part 1
609-00-Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids-Hole in One
610-02-Scooby-Doo-Mystery Train Part 2
610-01-Scooby-Doo-Mystery Train Part 1 (missing0
611-00-Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm-Scary Staircase
612-00-Josie and the Pussycats-A Feather in Her Cap
613-00-Great Grape Ape-Snow Foolin
614-00-??-
615-00-Hong Kong Phooey-Clothesline Catapult
616-00-Speed Buggy-Sky High Scramble
617-00-???-
618-00-??-
619-00-Bugs Bunny-Fishing Frenzy
620-00-Harlem Globetrotters-Super Stuff


(a 1976 set I don't seem to have yet)

Notes: Either in 1977 or 1978, Kenner changed the slides again – perhaps completely! As noted with the Six Million Dollar Man set (and perhaps it was only for sets that had all a single character or license on them, starting in 1973 – I don't have the Bionic Woman set, but I'd guess the same thing was going on there). Gone were the cardboard frames; instead, the entire slide strip was a single piece of plastic with solid black print for frames. I'm beginning to suspect that this was a contributing factor to fewer 1970s slides being available for collectors today!

1978 Slides
Black-1-16-Star Wars-Scene 1-16

Kenner also did at least an Empire Strikes Back Give-A-Show set…

And from "Return of the Jedi," an Ewoks one:


There are a few other sets I know of, but don't have yet and don't know when they came out. Here's one of them:


Also, just to be complete, in the United Kingdom and Australia, Chad Valley had the license to produce Give-A-Show Projectors. Some of their sets were mostly the same as the US ones, but they also had some sets that were entirely original to them!




Why, oh, why, did Kenner not produce this set in the USA?


Yes, Chad Valley did a full set of Stingray, while the US collectors had a single frame of slides!







Jon