A Vintage Star Wars Inflatable Lightsaber or Expensive Flashlight ?

WAAAAYYYY back in the day, Kenner's Star Wars line of toys was an all encompassing imagination bonanza. The first line of figures and toys came through in 1978 and what kid didn't want a LIGHTSABER !!!

 

Kenner's offerings that year gave us this:

 

The Star Wars Inflatable Lightsaber !!

You can take a bath with Darth Vader but it wil be a bit uncomfortable ....

In the early 80's, the Lucas/Star Wars merchandising machine was in FULL force. Omni Cosmetics was licensed to produce Bubble Bath and Shampoo in containers featuring the likenesses of the Star Wars characters. Of course, Darth Vader was one of the characters produced ....

 

The bottle is really detailed for a bubble bath bottle that was meant to be thrown away. The head is sculpted to a really close likeness of the Lord of the Sith. The problem is, he looks like he is freezing and has to pee !! Now, I know that his built in waste collection system takes care of that, but ....

 

Look at the way Vader had his cape pulled tight with his arms over his stomach. His legs are locked together. He looks like a woman at a rainy bus stop !

 

"Losers ahead"

Remember BTAS ??

 

 

Well, I can't complain too much. Its a bubble bath/shampoo bottle for God's sake. My little collection of bottles (Thanks Goodwill) looks nice on a shelf and I keep heat up for the Old Sith Lord.

 

I just turn Princess Leia around, Click Here to see why !!

 

Got something to add ? All are welcome to leave a comment !!

Grand Admiral Thrawn from the Star Wars Expanded Universe series or Mitth'raw'nuruodo, if you please

Mitth'raw'nuruodo .... or Thrawn from Timothy Zahn's Star Wars; "Thrawn Trilogy" series of books is such an awesome character. When they made a figure, I had to get one. Who could resist the Grand Admiral and his Ysalamir for a display on any collector's wall ?

If, for some unknown reason, you have not read Timothy Zahn's books, get them, read them .... NOW !!! They do not disappoint. These books are one of the biggest reasons for the resurgence of Star Wars in the 90's. Thawn was a pivotal figure in the books and one of the greatest EU characters in the Star Wars universe !

The Homliest Princess Leia Bubble Bath in the Galaxy !!

In the early 80's, the Lucas/Star Wars merchandising machine was in FULL force. Omni Cosmetics was licensed to produce Bubble Bath and Shampoo in containers featuring the likenesses of the Star Wars characters. Of course, Princess Leia was one of the characters produced but ....

GOOD GOD SHE LOOKS AWFUL !!!!

 

Look at this bottle. There is NO resemblance to Carrie Fisher at all. Neck down, good sculpt. That head ... yeeeesh !!

Her best look .......

 

I guess you can't expect much from a product like this but WOW that's bad. Imagine having THAT at the end of the tub staring at you. A little blue pill couldn't even get that goin ......

Lidded Star Wars Stein by Ceramarte is Absolutely Beautiful !!

This stein, made by Ceramarte in 1998, based on the Artwork of Drew Struzan, is one of my favorites ! It looks great mixed in with my stein collection and these pictures just do not do it justice. Here is a look at a great stein !

 

 

The front graphic is based on the awesome artwork of Mr. Struzan. Beautifully displayed in the middle of the front of the stein, it captures attention immediately ! The art and scenes on the side of the stein hearken to Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

 

 

The side relief of Vader is spectacular. The detail on the suit and the 3D design is wonderful. It really jumps out at you and can't help but to be awed by how well every detail of Vader's suit is captured. The lightsaber hilt handle is a wonderful touch. Of course, amazingly detailed and exceptionally sturdy to hoist a few !

 

 

The opposite side with Skywalker ready for combat does not disappoint. Detail and quality galore ! The most impressive part ? The Face. They have captured Mark Hamill's profile well. It really looks like him ! Quite a feat considering it is ceramic ! The lightsaber hilt, nice !

This stein is beautiful. I wish I had a better camera to capture the detail that went into this piece of art. The picture do not do it justice. It sits along side my other steins but stands out, a diamond in a collection of gems !


EDIT:

Cause the Goodwill Geek asked for more steins; here are links to stein posts I have previously written:

Batman Stein


POTF Anakin Skywalker : old man in a robe

Anakin Skywalker. Darth Vader before, or after the suit. Now I understand he was a mail away, then part of the mythical POTF line but......

 

Seriously, its like someones Dad in a robe....

 

Cool, "weeeee" action......

 

Wheres a hug for Grandpa.....

 

 

On the right, awesomeness. On the left, his robe wearing butler.

 

"Back in the Old Republic.."

 

 

Vader strikes a menacing pose. Anakin looks like he needs a diaper change.

 

I know I'm beating this guy up a bit but C'MON...... a ghost with no accessories. Woo hoo. He doesn't even look like a ghost. He doesn't even exist anymore ! They couldn't have made a Moff Tarkin figure.....nope they made this. Wedge.....naw, make a figure representing a ghost that appears on screen for 5 seconds.

 

Kenner could have made a Lando in Han's clothes figure....... Now that would have been cool !!

The Christmas Tree is not complete without the Star Wars and Star Trek Hallmark Ornaments ...

The tree goes up on Thanksgiving weekend and it is not complete without the Hallmark Keepsake Christmas ornaments.

 

First up is the Darth Vader Light and Voice from 1997. This is the best ! Its the first ornament my wife and I bought after being married (we buy one new one every year with a theme for that year). This one is great as whenever it turns on it "talks".... I love every time we turn on the tree and hear:

 

"The force is with you young Skywalker...but you are not a Jedi yet."

 

Of course the Star Wars theme continued and in 2005 we bought another Vader ornament. The Darth Vader from the Empire Strikes Back - "I am Your Father" ornament. You gotta press the button for the "voice" action but it looks damn cool on the tree. Press him and you hear:

  

"Luke, I am your father."

"Join me. Together we can rule the galaxy as father and son."

 

 

Next is one I had from my own collection. I am a huge fan of STTNG and back when it was on I was way into it. When this one came out I HAD to have it ! The STTNG USS Enterprise with lights. Plug this one into a light on the tree and the Warp Cells light up and the light blinks on the top. This looks so frikin cool on the tree and I always manage to put it front and center.

 

Gotta dig the "Stardated 1993" :)

 

 

I do all the heavy lifting putting up the tree and the Wife does the decorating. I always manage to get to these ornaments first and command the best spots for em. What Geek wouldn't "figure" out a way to get some Sci Fi bling on the tree. I'm still working on the Death Star revolving around the Star at the top of the tree but, that will take a while....

Disney buys Lucasfilm for 4 billion dollars and we will get Star Wars Episode 7 and 8 and 9 and ect.....

SOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo..............................

 

If Ashton Kutcher is gonna play Han Solo, who will Johnny Depp play?

 

Here is a link to some "news" < mtv.com/news >

 

I am gaging my reaction by what they have planned for the franchise, but I'm not optimistic.

 

...............I shudder to think what they will do with Indiana Jones.........................

 

Yes, Disney owns those rights too.

 

Here's some pictures.

Vintage Burger King Star Wars Premium Glasses

Back in the day, if you went to Burger King when one of the Original Star Wars movies were premiering, you could snag one of the many collectible glasses that were offered at the time.

 

My family had a pile of these but, as what usually happens, many of them broke over the course of  years of kids knocking them over, washing them and treating them like they are just glasses instead of pieces of art!

 

I only have these two left but they are fine examples of the kind of premium you could get back then.

 

 

George Lucas fesses up! Patrick Stewart gets knighted! and a lamp I may have to BUY!!

I KNEW George Lucas might do MORE damage to Star Wars!!

Cha'DIch to the Queen!!

This some awesome work!!

Check out more at www.diceydecor.com

Star Wars Return of the Jedi ROTJ Presto Magix... Rub One OFF!!

This is a flash back to the simple times of youth! PRESTO MAGIX!! I had about  million of these and loved to get doubles and triples so I could set up the scenes in different ways......ahhhhhh youth!! Anyway if you are unfamiliar with these you got a diorama scene and some transfers that you could rub with a pencil onto the scene and set it up for whatever action you wanted. There were so many sets available for different lines and such but Star Wars was my main attraction. I got these three MIP with the display box which brought back some memories!! They've been sitting displayed but I might have to do an update later because I am itching to rub one off with these beauties. I have some others that I'll be posting over time but this is the first batch.

Uhh huh huh, Hey Bevis, he said rub one off...
Hehehehehehehehe, yeah! Heheheehehheehe....

R2 D2 in his many forms outside of Star Wars !!

Here is a funny look at R2 D2 in his many forms outside of the Star Wars universe!!

R2 D2 Keg!!

R2 D2 Trash Can !!

R2 D2 Bird House??

 Is that Blaster?? No its R2 D2 as a boom box !!

R2 D2 guitar!?!?!

This is very creative!!

Ummmmm......

R2 D2 Mailbox!! Send your snail mail in style !!!

An R2 D2 dragster?? What the R2 D2 flamethrower was too much !??!!

Heres an addition from http://shezcrafti.com/ .... R2 D2 as a phone!!

Dex over at aeiouwhy.blogspot.com gave this one up!!

Follow this link for the info on this: mit.edu

MIT students causing hijinks!!