3rd June 2008

Mego Price Stickers: Lionel!

posted in Daily Mego Adoration, Joker, Lionel, Price Stickers, World's Greatest Toys |

Originally a manufacturer of electric trains, Lionel Corporation became a holding company in 1969, specializing in toy stores. By the early 1980s, Lionel operated some 150 stores, under the names Toy City, Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town.

After multiple Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings, Lionel attempted to merge with bankrupt Child World in 1992, but was unable to secure financing. Lionel stores went out of business in 1993.

In other words, Lionel was a big-time player (reportedly the second largest toy retailer) during Mego’s heyday. They must have been pretty big, as they were one of the few retailers that offered Mego’s Fist-Fighting Power Fist line of action figures, including this Fist-Fighting Joker:

Price Sticker

The sticker reads:

  • SKU 147439
  • LIONEL 097
  • $1.91

I have to think if I’d seen one of these in a store in 1975 or 1976 (for $1.91 no less!), I’d have been all over it. I know my mom would have hooked me up for that price.

Sheesh.

I honestly don’t remember ever seeing the Fist-Fighters in any store.

Post your comments below. I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Benjamin

Exclamation Want to learn more about Mego and the World’s Greatest Super-Heroes?
Pick up a copy of Mego 8″ Super-Heroes: World’s Greatest Toys from Amazon.com today! All sales support the author and help finance the blog. How cool is that?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under Daily Mego Adoration, Joker, Lionel, Price Stickers, World's Greatest Toys. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There are currently 7 responses to “Mego Price Stickers: Lionel!”

Why not let us know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone elses, so come on... let us know what you think.

  1. 1 On June 3rd, 2008, wee67 said:

    I LIVED for trips to Kiddie City when I was a kid. It is the only place I can remember seeing shelves of Megos. I can remember longingly looking at a boxed Conan back in the day.

  2. 2 On June 3rd, 2008, Benjamin said:

    That’s awesome, Bill! I don’t recall a Kiddie City in my hometown, but we did have Kiddie Land, which I loved. In fact, I have a vivid memory of seeing a boxed Green Goblin back in the day (no other Megos, though). Strange we have similar memories of two of the ‘Kiddie’ stores.

  3. 3 On June 3rd, 2008, dcsting said:

    WOW! $1.91 for a Fist Fighter. You could pick up the entire set of 4 for under $10.00. Like Ben, I don’t ever recall seeing the FF’s in stores. I recall the commercials and seeing them in catalogues but not in stores. I unfortuantely did not have any of the above named Lionel stores near or around me.

  4. 4 On June 3rd, 2008, Benjamin said:

    Don, you remember seeing commercials for the FFs as a kid?! That’s so cool. I don’t recall any awareness of the FFs as a kid. Once I learned of them, however, they became a top priority as a collector. It took a couple years to get them all MIB, but they sure look pretty lined up next to each other! Sadly, I don’t have them anymore. Sigh.

    And you’re right, to think one could EVER buy all four for under $10… just mind-boggling.

  5. 5 On June 3rd, 2008, wee67 said:

    Even more mind-boggling to think you COULDN’T buy them because they were they “so” expensive. At least that’s what I was told when I asked my mom :(

  6. 6 On June 3rd, 2008, Benjamin said:

    Hahahe. No kidding, Bill? Man, that is harsh. Although they may have been way more expensive at your local store. Let’s give your ma the benefit of the doubt and assume that she considered your happiness worth more than $1.91!

    Heh!

  7. 7 On June 4th, 2008, dcsting said:

    I think I remember seeing the comercials. Maybe not. I DO remember wanting to buy them and my parents saying “No, you already have a Batman, Robin, Joker and Riddler”

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.