World’s Greatest Toys!

If you’re a die-hard Mego collector, you’ve probably spent nearly as much time pausing your DVD of Richard Pryor’s 1982 epic “The Toy” as much as your favorite… um… salacious DVD. I am talking about, of course, the infamous “Wonder Wheel” scene in the movie, wherein Richard Pryor first meets his new “Master Bates.”

The back-drop for much of this scene, which takes place inside a Chicago (Louisiana) department store’s toy department (Update: Mego Museum member TheAntiqueTiger reports the store was actually “Godcheaux’s, in downtown Baton Rouge”), is a positively jaw-dropping array of 2nd Issue Mego World’s Greatest Super-Heroes cards.

I have attempted to document the entire contents of that marvelous end-cap. Here are two screen captures, courtesy of Mego Museum curator Brian Heiler:

I have included details of each image, broken apart by top and bottom shelves. Here is the top shelf, in black-and-white, and in color:

Here is the bottom shelf, in black-and-white, and in color:

From these images, I have been able to identify a few of the specimens. If you can illuminate more items, using the DVD or any other screen captures, I’d be much obliged! Send your findings to: benjamin@worldsgreatesttoys.com.

UPDATE: Thanks to Dr. Geektarded and his fabulous Blog, GEEKTARDED, we now have these two excellent screen captures (shown at right) to assist in the identification.

With the addition of these new images,
here’s what we have thus far:

TOP SHELF

1st ROW

01) 12″ Spider-Man
02) 12″ Spider-Man
?
?) 12″ Spider-Man
?) 12″ Spider-Man

2nd ROW

01) ©1977 Batman
02) ©1977 Batman
03) ©1977 Batman
04) ©1977 Batman
05) ©? Superman
06) ©? Superman
07) ?
08) ?
09) ?
10) ©1977 Robin
11) ©1977 Robin

3rd ROW

01-15) Spider-Man Web Shooters

BOTTOM SHELF

5th ROW

01) 12″ Spider-Man
02) ©1979 Hulk
03) ©1979 Hulk
04) Spider-Man Web Shooter
05) Spider-Man Web Shooter
06) Spider-Man Web Shooter
07) ?
08) ©1979 Hulk
09) AHI Parachuting Batman
10) AHI Parachuting Batman

4th ROW

01) ©1976 Shazam
02) ©1975 Thor
03) ©1976 Isis
04) ©1976 Isis(?)
05) ©1975a Conan
06) ©1975a Falcon
07) ©1975a Conan
08) ©1975a Falcon
09) ©1975 Thor
10) ©1977 Robin

3rd ROW

01) ©1979 Hulk
02) ©1979 Hulk
03) ©1979 Hulk
04) ©1979 Hulk
05) ©1979 Hulk
06) ©1979 Hulk
07) ©1979 Hulk
08) ©1979 Hulk
09) ©1979 Hulk
10) ©1979 Hulk
11) ©1979 Hulk

2nd ROW

01) ©1976 Shazam
02) ©1976 Shazam
03) ©1977 Batman
04) ©1977 Batman
05) ©1977 Batman
06) ©1977 Batman
07) ©1977 Batman
08) ©1977 Batman
09) ©1977 Batman
10) ©1977 Batman

1st ROW

01) ©1976 Shazam
02) ©1976 Shazam
03) ©1976 Shazam
04) ©1976 Shazam
05) ©1976 Shazam
06) ©1976 Shazam
07) ©1976 Shazam
07) ©1976 Mr. Mxyzptlk
08) ©1976 Mr. Mxyzptlk
09) ©? Superman
10) ©? Superman

Here is the breakdown of toys by character and type:

8″ DC MEGO CARDS
Ten (10) 8″ ©1976 Shazam cards
Two (2) 8″ ©1976 Isis cards
Two (2) 8″ ©1976 Mr. Mxyzptlk cards
twelve (12) 8″ ©1977 Batman cards
Four (4) 8″ Superman cards (year unknown); could be as many as seven (7)
Three (3) 8″ ©1977 Robin cards; could be as many as six (6)

8″ MARVEL MEGO CARDS
Two (2) 8″ ©1975 Thor cards
Two (2) 8″ ©1975a Conan cards
Two (2) 8″ ©1975a Falcon cards
Fourteen (14) 8″ ©1979 Hulk cards

OTHER MEGO TOYS
Approximately six (6) 12″ Spider-Man cards

OTHER TOYS
Eighteen (18) “Fun Stuf” Spider-Man Web Shooter cards
Two (2) “AHI” Parachuting Batman cards

Not a bad score! Now if we could just track down that leftover stock…

Any additions? Let me know!

During the four years that I worked on World’s Greatest Toys, editor Rob Chatlin and I developed a fantastic system for photographing his mind-boggling collection of Mego Super-Heroes toys. Rob has since sold off some of these toys, which he amassed during more than ten years of serious toy hunting.

Fortunately for all of us, Rob made his immaculate collection available for the book. Nearly every weekend, I would drive over to his house on the West side, and we would chow down on some scrumptious Dim Sum. By the way, if you’re ever in L.A., I strongly urge you to seek out “V.I.P. Harbour Seafood” (I believe it’s located in Westwood). The restaurant is almost always packed, but it’s well worth the wait.

After stuffing face, Rob and I would retire to his house to pack up yet another case of rare, vintage Mego goodness. Here’s a snapshot from one of those days.

Just marvel at the top row!

Each week, it was like this for me. I drooled over his Circle Suit Spider-Man figures (there are several!). I stared longingly at his Montgomery Ward-exclusive “Secret Identity” outfits… his Minty-fresh Super-Heroes. His collection of unique and special figures seemed endless. These are memories I will cherish forever.

Cheers to you, Rob. You went above and beyond — countless times — and your efforts are much appreciated.

Benjamin