HAKE'S HALLOWEEN: 13 ITEMS FROM AUCTION #213

Originally this post was going to be for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers. I didn't realize during my blogging absence that the club had disbanded. For the past few Hake's auctions, club members were posting virtual auction shopping sprees and it was one of my favorite assignments from the club. So in honor of LOEB, here we go for one last time.

Halloween might be around the corner but whenever I get the latest Hake's Auction catalog, it feels like Christmas! Their newest auction #213 is ready for bidders and it closes out on November 11-13. This appropriately numbered auction has lots of treats for the Halloween/monster collector and since we're approaching the end of the Halloween countdown let's take a look at thirteen items.

1. Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin Candy Container/Bank

Glass candy containers are always fun but this neat little Jack-O wins the cakewalk of cool! For something from the 1920s, it's amazing that it still has most of its original paint. 

2. Famous Funnies #13 Original 1945 Comic Book Cover Art by Stephen Douglas to Al Williamson

I love looking at original comic art and it's always great to see pieces from the golden age. This Famous Funnies cover features a fun Halloween theme by artist Stephen Douglas. With Famous Funnies, Douglas was one the first editors in comics and was a mentor to many great comic artists. This cover was a gift from Douglas to the great Al Williamson.

3. Frankenstein Original Art 

Karloff's likeness as Frankenstein's monster is portrayed in this fantastic painting. Even though the painting was created by amateur artist James Vesey, it's still a special piece. Besides the excellent rendering, it was created in 1936, just five years after the original release. Talk about an early example of Fan Art!

4. The Addams Family Haunted House Boxed Aurora Model Kit

Go ahead and just stare at this wonderful box art! Aurora had some amazing artists designing their boxes. So what happened to the Addams Family? Did they simply move away or did something nefarious happen to them? Anyway, Aurora evicted them and the house became haunted. 

5. 1970s Aurora Retailer's Catalogs Lot of Four

Here's another way to look at some fantastic Aurora artwork and that's by flipping through the retailer's catalogs. One lucky winning bidder will have access to the awesome textless box art. This lot features catalogs from 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1975.

    
6. Aurora Assembled Monster Model Kit Lot

There's just something neat about seeing a collection of built-up monster models. I'm sure if I was born a decade earlier these monsters would have been proudly displayed on my bookshelf as a kid. 

7. Halloween Witch & Cat Plastic Toy Pair

Back when I worked at an antique shop, these little Rosbro Halloween toys never stayed in the store for very long. They always sold and for good money. My favorite has always been the witch on a rocket!

8. Lindberg "Lindy Loonys" Satan's Crate Original Model Kit Box Lid Art

This original art is crazy man, crazy! 1960s kids were lucky to have so many wild model designs to choose from. I think a rock band should buy this and repurpose it into their next album cover.

9. Monster Beach Hat with Built-In Sun Visor     

This Monster Beach Hat almost leaves me speechless! Sure, there are items in Hake's latest auction that eclipses this for quality and value, but this piece is simply awe inspiring. (Be sure to click on the link to see the other monsters that wrap around the hat.)   

10. Monster from the Outer Limits Boxed Ben Cooper Halloween Costume

 I hope the kid that wore this Outer Limits monster costume got a bunch of candy and also a few screams from grossed out 1960s moms!

11. Remco Universal City Studio's Carded Monster Action Figure Set

 Such a classy line of action figures and a set that's gaining in value each year. Also, the Wolfman worked perfect, back in the day, as an extra figure for the Star Wars Creature Cantina playset!

12. Frankenstein Oil Painting By Numbers Boxed Hasbro Set

Wow! There were Universal Monsters paint-by-numbers sets?! I love paint-by-numbers and I didn't realize that Hasbro offered them back in the 1960s. Hake's has three boxed sets in individual auctions. Besides Frankenstein, there's Wolf Man and Dracula. These sure beat the boring old farm and pony set you always see in flea markets! 

13. King Kong Jig Saw Puzzle With Original Envelope

 Now this is nice to see! About twenty years ago, I saw one of these at a comic book show and ever since I've always admired this amazing piece. Truly, this is the 8th Wonder of the Collecting World!

It was difficult only showing thirteen when Hake's has a ton of other neato cool items up for auction, but you'll just have to investigate auction #213 for yourself.

Happy Hake's Halloween!

(By the way, this post is not sponsored by Hake's in anyway. I just enjoy looking at all the amazing items up for auction. Just saying.)

HAKE'S AMERICANA & COLLECTIBLES AUCTION #210

The new Hake's Americana & Collectibles auction catalog is out and ready for bidders! Auction #210 is jam packed with goodies galore and there's something for every collector. To celebrate this latest auction, Hake's is handing out a $100 credit to a member of the League of Extraordinary Bloggers. Have a blog? Want in on the Hake's action? Then simply join the League (click here to find out how) and go on a Hake's virtual shopping spree! This is my second time out of the three virtual shopping sprees offered by Hake's for the League. (Click here for my first Hake's auction post.) Now let's go shopping!

My list of neato cool items from Hake's Auction #210 -

1. "Marx Big Loo Giant Moon Robot" Boxed Toy       

Even though this toy pre-dates me, I doubt there was a better toy ever created than Big Loo. Just look at that face! I'm sure the lucky kid who received this robot pal never played with another toy afterwards. Why would he? Big Loo had everything! He could talk, pick up things, had flashing eyes, shoot out balls, rockets and water blasts, included a whistle, a compass and a chart for morse code! The one in Hake's auction, is one of the best examples I've ever seen. Nearly complete with the original box. Be sure to visit the Big Loo auction page to see all the fine photos.

2. Curt Swan "Action Comics" #309 Comic Cover Original Art   

I love viewing original comic book art and this example is a beaut! This original cover art from Action Comics #309 by Curt Swan and Sheldon Moldoff features most of Superman's regular cast of characters. Also, it has some accidental historical significance relating to the JFK assassination. (Visit the auction page to learn more.) I could easily see this framed and displayed in my comic book reading room!  

3. "Buck Rogers 25th Century Interplanetary Space Fleet" Ship Set & Framed Model Sheet

Wow! Can you imagine owning your very own fleet of Buck Rogers spaceships? I hope whoever ends up with this amazing set, makes their own little black and white Buck Rogers movies with the models. 

Besides the set of ships, this auction has the model sheet framed and ready for display.

4. The Spider Pulp Magazine 1934 Premium Ring for Canadian Distribution, Near Mint

I'm a fan of pulp heroes and premium rings, so this auction grabbed my attention. One of the coolest characters that ever fought crime wearing a Fedora hat was The Spider. Hake's is selling this crime fighter's ring and this rare specimen is in near mint condition.

5. "Chief Robotman Boxed Battery-Operated Robot Toy

Since there's an excellent selection of robots in this auction I could have easily only included bots in my list. After Big Loo, this is probably my favorite of the bunch. From the classic robot style of the toy to the awesome artwork on the box. "Everyone bow down to the all powerful Chief Robotman!" Zzzz....ZAP!

6. "DC - National Comics" 1950s Comic Book Rack

Now here's a piece of furniture that would look great in any comic book nerd's home! Just think of the key comic book issues that were purchased off this rack back in the day. Besides being a nice comic book rack, it comes from the collection of the great Chip Kidd and can be seen in his book Collecting Batman.

7. Magician "Milo Brandon the Man from Mars" Poster Design Original Art 

I'm not familiar with the magician Milo Brandon, but apparently he had a far out space themed show back in the 1950s with cool looking posters. I really like the artwork to this poster design.

8. "Marx Rock'em Sock'em Robots" Boxed Toy

My parents would probably agree that this was the loudest toy on planet Earth! This is the boxed version that my brother and I ended up with one Christmas morning. We played the heck out of our Rock'em Sock'em Robots until the toy almost fell apart. I think my dad sent the remains to the local auction. So this one is a nostalgic pick for me.

9. "Alien" Boxed Movie Viewer

Another nostalgic pick for me is this Alien Movie Viewer. It was the only way that I got to watch Alien back when I was a kid. There was no way my mom was going to let me go to a rated R movie back when I was nine years old. Winding this Alien Movie Viewer in the toy store was my only ticket to watch the some space-horror forbidden fruit! I'm sure my glee showed on my face just like the kid pictured on the box.


 10. MAXx FX Monster Prototype Action Figures

MAXx FX Freddy Krueger Prototype 

Prototype action figures are amazing, especially when its of a figure that never made it onto toy shelves. That's the case with all but one of the MAXx FX prototypes offered by Hake's. This line from 1989 was way ahead of its time, but unfortunately suffered from outraged parents and a nervous toy company. Only one lone figure was produced and that was Freddy Krueger. Now someone has the opportunity to add one or more of these prototypes to their collection. Cool & Collected had the scoop with a preview of the prototypes back in September.       

MAXx FX Creature from the Black Lagoon Prototype

MAXx FX Alien Prototype and Mummy Prototype 

 MAXx FX Werewolf Prototype and Caveman Prototype

When visiting the Hake's Americana & Collectibles site, be sure to sign up for a free catalog. The catalogs are a great keepsake by themselves!

Shopping sprees from other League members -  

AEIOU...ans Sometime Why is shopping for skeleton calendars, Freaks, Haunted Mansion, Vincent Price and Star Wars!

Achievements in Gaming is shopping for Vampirella, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Creature Features, Spy vs. Spy and King Kong! 

A COLLECTION OF BLUE

This if for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers photo assignment – I'm Feeling Blue. Just like the red assignment, I grouped a bunch of blue stuff from my collections for one snapshot.

The list of blue in the photo -
Brady Bunch Paper Dolls
Captain Video Board Game
Charlie Tuna Vinyl Figure
Cap'n Crunch Vinyl Bank
Ponch "CHiPs" Carded Mego Figure
Micronauts Time Traveler Mego Figure
Sealtest Mr. Cool Hand puppet
Plastic Easter Egg Chick
Star Trek Spock Mego Figure
Psycho Cereamics Kreiss Ceramic Figure
Star Trek Mission to Gama VI Alien Figure
Flash Gordon Dr. Zarkov Mattel Figure
Star Wars Blue Snaggletooth Kenner Figure
Boo Berry Vinyl Figure
Boo Berry Cereal Premium Statue
The Tick Bandai Figure
Plastic Water Gun
Monster Vitamins Box
Freakies Snorkledorf Cereal Premium Figure
Tron Flynn Tomy Figure
Super Powers Darkseid Kenner Figure
Captain Video Cereal Premium Figure
Tron Blue Light Cycle Neca Toy
Screaming Yellow Zonkers Space Creature
Hot Wheels Lowdown Redline Car 
Set of Blue Diener Space Creatures
Disneyland Hotel Key Fob

Check out these other LOEB members who have a case of the blues -
Erik Johnson Illustrator has the illustrated blues
Stunt Zombie has the miscellaneous blues
Nerd Rage has the nerdy blues
Monster Cafe has the nostalgia blues

THE SADDEST STAR WARS KNOCKOFF TOY EVER PRODUCED

Lately, I've been missing out on a lot of fun assignments from the League of Extraordinary Bloggers. Today I finally found some time to jump on this week's assignment, Toy Knockoffs and Bootlegs! I have a Star Wars knockoff toy based after C-3PO and he's cringe worthy enough to be included.    

This sad looking droid ripoff simply named Robot was made by Etone International out of Jersey City, New Jersey in 1978. I've nicknamed him C-P3O in honor of all the adults back in the day who were never able to say See-Threepio correctly. (Why was that so difficult? 70s kids never had that problem!)

Poor C-P3O sure is one sad looking and pathetic stuffed toy. I don't collect Star Wars knockoffs, but I must have felt sorry for this misfit toy. I rescued him many years ago from a dirt mall. He was stuck under a mountain of moldy stuffed animals and broken toys. I think I paid two dollars for him. 

Even though he's a distant cousin to ol' golden rod from Star Wars, his demeanor reminds me of Marvin the Paranoid Android from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Just look at that long sad face. Is he depressed because he's not a real Star Wars character? Was he not loved by a child? Was he a carnival prize that was never won? Maybe he's down in the dumps simply because he's so cheaply sewn together? Whatever the reason for his mopes he probably should not be sporting this button on his chest.

I wonder how many times he has thought about pressing the destruct button? I'm worried that one of these days when I look on the shelf that he's displayed on, I'm going to see C-P3O turned inside-out with moldy fluff everywhere. "Hey pal, just say no to the button! Just say NO!!!"

Well...there you go. The saddest Star Wars knockoff toy ever produced. Maybe one of you Neato Readers can cheer him up in the comments section below. It's not his fault he was made into a Star Wars knockoff toy.

Don't let C-P3O get you down because there's a lot more knockoff fun. Click on the links below to see other posts from League members.

Cool & Collected knocks off Superman
Hake's Americana & Collectibles knocks off Spider-Man and Batman
The Nerd Nook knocks off Super Powers
Rediscover the 80s knocks off G.I. Joe Street Hawk
Goodwill Hunting 4 Geeks knocks off a Space Defender

 

IF I HAD A HOME ARCADE

The League of Extraordinary Bloggers asked members an age-old question. This question has been discussed by video arcade enthusiasts for decades. If you could have a home arcade, what games would you stock your ultimate arcade with? 

I grew up in a touristy town and fortunately for me it was full of video arcade and pinball machines. Besides the many arcades in town, machines could also be found in convenience stores, fast food restaurants, hotels and resorts. Video games were everywhere and I took advantage of playing whenever I could. Well...as long as I had a pocket full or quarters. 

If I owned a home arcade then these ten video games and one pinball machine would be my first choices.    

Space War - For a year or two this was my favorite game. My brother and I waged many great Space Wars with this machine. He was always the Starship Enterprise style of ship and I was the Asteroids style ship. One of the greatest two player games ever made! Click here to watch a version of this game.

Gorf - If you have limited space, then Gorf is the game to own. You get your Space Invaders and Galaxian fix along with a couple of other games all in one. Long live Gorf! Click here to watch the game.

Berzerk - I got hooked on Berzerk one Saturday after the game ate my quarter. The arcade attendant made it more than right and gave me a ton of free credits on this machine. The talking game kept on mocking me as I kept on playing for free. I became a fan forever after that day! Click here to watch the game.

Wizard of Wor - This two player game was another favorite that my brother and I played a lot. We played it every time we made a trip to the Kwik Shop. Usually we worked together trying to kill the werewolves and eventually the dreaded wizard. Once in awhile, just for fun we would zap one another. (Apparently I have a fondness for talking games!) Click here to watch the game.

Tron - My favorite arcade game of all time and the only game on this list that's not a fantasy as this one sits in my house! I blogged about this game here and to see the game in action click here.

Discs of Tron - Playing this machine makes you feel like you've been zapped onto the game grid. Sure the game play is a lot fun, but the cabinet design is a thing of beauty! Click here to watch this game in action. 

Ms. Pac-Man - A staple of all arcades and a must have if you're dreaming of a home arcade. Make sure you set the game to fast! Click here to watch the game.

Tempest - For whatever reason, Tempest seemed to be hard to find in our local arcades and for awhile the local movie theater was the only place you could play it. Tempest is a favorite of the first lady of Neato Coolville. Click here to watch the game.

Donkey Kong Junior - Aw yeah! I had better success with DKjr than I did with his pop's game. After Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong Junior is one of the all time greatest sequel games. Click here to watch the game.

Star Wars - I remember standing in line at an Aladadin's Castle arcade for almost an hour just waiting for a chance to sit in the cockpit version to play one game. So for my fantasy arcade I'm taking the cockpit version! Click here to watch the game.

Flash Gordon Pinball - Flash Gordon is one of my favorite movies and to have the pinball machine that's based after it would be the ultimate. Back in the day, I only found this machine in one arcade and for a couple summers and I played the heck out of it! Go Flash go! Click here to watch this machine in action! 

This list could go on forever because if I'm simply fantasizing, then I would have a home arcade with a 100+ games. A few of my other favorite games I could easily add - Outlaw, Space Invaders, Asteroids Deluxe, Pac-Man, Galaxian, Rally-X, Thief, Star Castle, Spy Hunter, Gauntlet, Roadblasters, Trojan, Yie Ar Kung-Fu, Out Run, Roadblasters...um...okay, I better stop.

The Flyer images come from the great website The Arcade Flyer Archive!

Be sure to visit some of the other League's fantasy arcades!

Branded Arcade

Cavalcade Arcade

Calvin's Arcade

Pop Arcade  

Rediscover Arcade

AEIOU Arcade