1.21 Gigawatts of Opinion - toys_of_our_lives

Rub A Dub Doggie

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 04:25:00 -0700

Rub A Dub Doggies are one of my most fondly remembered toys of the 80s. This was a waterproof plastic dog with terry cloth ears and a little horizontal lever at the back of the collar. The lever could be switched right and left quickly making the dogs (usually sudsy) ears splash all over the place like a real dog.

Kids might not like them today because: Their value as a toy came mostly from Mr Bubble bubble baths, which are mostly a forgotten past time.

Kids today might like it because: The universal appeal of dogs is still in tact and a young child might enjoy this cute plastic pup. Especially if it's flapping soap bubbles all over the bathroom.

My Pet Monster

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 04:00:03 -0700

Finally! The newest Toys Of Our Lives! This week is all about My Pet Monster!

Not only was this blue monster an awesome plush toy with orange break away handcuffs, it also had its own short lived cartoon on ABC in 1987.

When this guy first came out every kid on my block wanted one. The commercial was awesome too. I vaguely remember a kid hiding behind a couch and springing this monster on his sister and saying "GRRRRRR!". Of course she jumps out of her skin. 80s commercials were wonderfully non pc.

Kids today might not like them because: They don't have any contemporary tie ins with a cartoon and they can't compete with Robosapien.

Kids today might like them because: Though they don't offer high tech wizardry they do have break away handcuffs and can make any kid feel like they've got a scary, strong monster pet all their own.

[My Pet Monster on Wikipedia]

Toys of Our Lives

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:35:00 -0700

Inspired by Wil Wheaton's Games of Our Lives over at the AV Club on theonion.com and my earlier Popples post I have decided to do a Toys of Our Lives.

Every Wednesday I will dig up an awesome 80s toy and write about it providing my wonderful readers with photos for reference.

So, what is the very first Toys of Our Lives at 1.21 Gigawatts going to be about?

Boglins
Reviewed by Jeremy January

Boglins were one of the hottest toys in my neighborhood in the late 1980s. Boglins are made of a comfortable rubbery sort of material and fit over your hand like a puppet. Inside were simple switches which would shift the eyes cleverly.

Boglins were purchased in boxes that resembled a crate with bent bars as pictured. There were three "races" of Boglins available: Flurp, Dwork, Vlobb. These were of the full sized variety.

Other sizes and sorts of Boglins were also created but they were not the originals.

Kids today might not like them because: Boglin's don't have any computerized talents or much of a tie in with popular japanese animation.

Kids today might like them because: They feel and look like monsters and come in a cool box to store your Inu Yasha trading card game in.

[Boglins on Wikipedia]

Please leave comments and suggestions for 80s toys you think people may have forgotten.