Famed Toy Collector Reveals How He Survived on a Deserted Island

We once again take a break from our 31 Days to a Better Toy Collection Challenge to complete this weeks homework assignment from The League of Extraordinary Bloggers.

This weeks assignment:

You are stranded for 10 years on a deserted island. You can take with you the following:
One food item (in a never-ending supply), one movie, one game, and one pop culture character.

Look! Vintage 41 Piece ESB Action Figures for sale on the Last Day of the World

Here's a look at another awesome set of Kenner Star Wars action figures for sale. The set includes 41 mint and carded vintage Empire Strikes Back figures. I've been seeing collectors sell their collections left and right for some serious cash lately. Maybe I should sell my toy collection as well. Yeah, right. Who am I kidding?

Imperial Troops Have Entered The Base: Vintage Kenner Rebel Command Center Adventure Set 1981

I had a hunch during the 1981 Christmas Season that Sears would once again have an exclusive Star Wars toy and my hunch was right. Like the Cantina Adventure Set released in 1978 and again in 1979 and the Cloud City Playset released in 1980, Kenner once again produced an exclusive playset including yet to be released action figures for Sears during the Christmas Season. This year the scarce Rebel Command Center Adventure Set was the toy of choice.

Not to be outdone, I once again pursued getting this Echo Base Playset as an early Christmas present. My Dad ordered one for me via Sears 1981 Christmas Wishbook, as the department store did not yet have them in stock. If memory serves we happened to be at Sears one night before the catalog order had come in and they just had stocked the shelves with the playset I was so anxiously awaiting its arrival. I talked my Dad into just buying one right then and there and cancel the catalog order.

The Rebel Command Center Adventure Set included a plastic base recycled from the Ice Planet Hoth Adventure Set that also was originally recycled from the Land of the Jawas Playset. Like this playsets predecessors, this playset came with a cardboard backdrop. This time representing the Rebel's Echo Base on Hoth.

You can see details like Han and Leia running towards the Millennium Falcon during their escape from the ice planet, Snowspeeders, X-Wing Fighters, a Rebel Soldier on a Tauntaun, and a cool ice cave with a laser rifle, backpack and map inside.

Most importantly the set came with 3 Star Wars action figures not yet available anywhere else. The previous Christmas exclusives had come with four figures, but this time around was minus one. However, the playset was of a little bit better quality since it had plastic base complete with an ice cave and action levers that would simulate battle. The three figures this go around were AT-AT Commander, R2-D2 (with sensorscope), and Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear).
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Unlike the Canadian Cloud City Playset, that came with different figures than the U.S. version, the Canadian Rebel Command Center had figures that were named differently. The Canadian playset version came with the AT-AT Commander and called it General Veers, which is the actual name of the character and the only time any kind of AT-AT Commander is shown this uniform.

Once again I was the envy of all my Star Wars collecting friends to have figures that no one else was able to get. Well, they could have gone to Sears just like me and it was no secret where I bought them. So, why no one else jumped on the band wagon I'll never know.

During my parents famed garage Spring cleaning, the backdrop for this playset ended up in the trash and was rescued by me. However, the box was not as lucky. I recently picked up the box pictured here complete with instructions off eBay for $7.13 and the playset once again has its rightful home.

About the author: John Sholtz is an avid toy collector and the interim editor of the Batcave Toy Room due to the abrupt death of Bruce Wayne. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter at, Facebook, Google+ and Linkedin.

Vintage Star Wars Action Figure Display Arena 1981-1982 by Kenner

The Star Wars Action Figure Display Arena came with four L shaped cream colored figure stands and four two-sided color picture cards attached in pairs, which gave you eight different backdrops in all. Also included were assembly instructions and toy catalog from Kenner's Empire Strikes Back line.

The Display Arena was offered on Empire Strikes Back 45 back cards for ten proof of purchase seals from the back of the backer cards and $2.00.

Since I was a box hoarder and kept not only my boxes from playsets and such, I also kept the backer cards from the figures. Thus giving me an endless supply of proof of purchase seals. Whenever a free mail in offer came around, I was always ready to go and didn't have to buy five or more new figures to get the exclusive toy or actions figures Kenner would offer. With this offer however, I had neglected to notice that this one was not for free, but actually would cost two bucks. I had mistakenly sent only the proof seals, but shortly after sent the money to follow, but this had caused a lot of back and forth of seals and checks. I must say though, Kenner's customer service was outstanding and eventually everything came together. Thanks to Kenner, I am able to share this toy (if I may be so bold as to call it that)with you today.

The Star Wars Action Figure Display Arena mailer was the Empire Strikes Back follow up to the Star Wars logo Display Stand. This display arena provider kids with ESB backdrops for displaying their figures. Sorry, gang. The original offer expired July 31, 1982. So you'll have to find this one on eBay.

You can see a video how the arena came packaged HERE.

Vintage Slave I from Kenner 1981-1983

He's all yours bounty hunter. Actually, this sweet ride, the Slave I, is technically all mine, but who's going to argue with the galaxies most fearsome bounty hunter. Kenner released Boba Fett's ship as part of the second wave of toys from their Empire Strikes Back line. The second wave of toys from the fifth movie (or second, depending on your point of view) of the Star Wars films in my opinion was the best. Not only because of this ship, but it also included the awesome AT-AT in that wave as well.

Slave I did not have any electronic features such as lights or sounds like other vehicles in the toy line, but it did have some cool features here and there.

It had a prisoner detention unit or as Boba Fett said in the movie "Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold."

A rear loading ramp to board the ship. Watch your head (If you're a Fett or a clone that is).

No lights or electronic sounds for the cannons, but they do make a clicking sound.

Wings are gravity operated. So, they move as the ship does and can be trigger lock to be held in the position you want them to be in while in flight.

Best of all, Slave I came with a carbonite frozen Han Solo. This was my absolute favorite part of the toy (there I go with freezing fetish again). My dream collectible next to a 1966 replica Batmobile is the frozen Han Solo replica, but since it's $5,000 so this minature version will do for now.

All and in all, Kenner did a great job at the time of re-creating Boba Fett's ship and holds some great memories from my childhood.

Target Exclusive Empire Strikes Back Special Action Figure Set on Clearance

He shops he scores an Empire Strikes Back Action Figure Set with nine figures. Actually, my non-geek but super cool wife scores. It is great to have a spouse who isn't a geek or a collector, but knows what I like and the condition items should be in.

While my wife was out making her weekly Target run she noticed the Empire Strikes Back Action Figure Set in the clearance section and immediately called me. I had known that the set was an exclusive for the bulls eye branded store last year, but really didn't want to spend $50 for it, which really isn't a bad deal since it comes with 9 action figures. But for $25 it is for sure well worth. They were on sale for 50% off. Sweet.

However, my wife immediately noticed that the packages weren't in the best shape. Even for half off she knew how particular I would be about the packaging so she texted me and sent me pics. Based on the pics she sent, I declined the ever so sweet thought of my wife picking up this piece for her geek husband.

The next day however, we went to another Target and what do you know. They had them on clearance there too. However, this other store had them in the 30% off section. Not as cool as 50%. I decided to inspect the packages anyway and found the same creased package problem the other action figure sets had at the other store. Save one. A sister planet...Cmdr Adama original BSG(sorry to much sci-fi dialogue in me head). The thing is, this one was in very good condition. Not only that, it was the only one marked down half off. The collecting gods had shined down on me.

This set is packaged in vintage style and contains 3 packs with the same characters contained in the original release. The figures are packaged as follows:

1. Hoth Rebels: Han Solo (Hoth Outfit), Rebel Soldier, and FX-7
2. Bespin Alliance: Bespin Guard, Lando Calrissian, and Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues)
3. Imperial Set: 4-LOM (named Zuckuss in the original), AT-AT driver, and TIE-Fighter pilot 

There were six other packs of three figures each in the vintage line. It would have been cool if Hasbro had done them all, but that might be a bit much. Anyway I am way happy on my find.

If only I could have found the Target exclusive vintage TIE Fighter and Rebel Armored Snowspeeder on clearance too.

"Premake" of The Empire Strikes Back (1950)

What if the Star Wars movies were made in the forties and fifties? With the upcoming 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back coming up it's a perfect time to take look at this fan made trailer of what Empire's trailer would like if it was made in 1950.



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Carrie Fisher Sings in the Star Wars Holiday Special

We've looked at the limited singing careers of TVs Dynamic Duo, Adam West and Burt Ward, and I took a look around to see what else I could find.

Here's a listen of Carrie Fisher giving it a shot in the Star Wars Holiday Special. I remember wanting to watch this special when I was kid. I really don't remember much about except Chewbacca family and Stormtoopers trashing Chewie's place.

This scene of Princess Leia signing the tree of life song. I don't remember this scene at all and you probably don't want to remember after you watch. I thought this was cool as a kid, but even George Lucas is embarrassed by this TV special, and never would allow it to be released again.

George really didn't have much to do with the special since he was busy with the Empire Strikes Back.

A couple of things to think about besides Leia's solo when watching this:

1. What's up with Harrison Ford's and Mark Hamill's makeup?

2. Is Chewie have some kind of drug induced trip at the end of this clip?

I really need to go back this entire special. At least for nostalgic reasons.



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The Star Wars and Empire in 2 Minutes

Here's some very fast paced fan made videos based on the first two Star Wars movies.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope



Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back



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