The Toyman Cometh

 Several years ago I picked up a Matchbox car at a garage sale. I usually don't collect Matchbox (although I do have a few) but I just liked this one. I especially liked the graphics that said "Toyman." Here it is...

Doing a little research, I found out that this car, the Dodge Challenger, has been around since the 70s with many different paint schemes. This particular edition is a little special, though. You see, it was released in the early 90s...in yellow.

Mine, obviously, isn't yellow, so where the heck did it come from? Well, in 1992 Sam's Clubs released a 30 car gift set just for their members. One of the cars included was the white Toyman Challenger. So, it's a limited edition. That's cool. But does that really affect the value? 

I did what I always do when I want to answer that question, I go to Ebay "sold" auctions (current listings don't tell you much). So what have they sold for? Take a look!

Huh, I guess I did ok. I don't remember what I paid, but I know it wouldn't have been over a buck. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than smart!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

My Oldest Die Cast Car...

 ...Is in no way my most interesting and certainly not the most valuable vehicle in my collection. In fact, for years I've simply had it sitting around and I've pretty much ignored it. Finally, I decided to do a little research on it, and I'm glad that I did. Oh, here is the vehicle...

This is a Tootsietoy tanker. As you can see, it has been well played with. It used to be blue. Now, not so much.

And here is the interesting part. The "Tootsietoy," "Chicago," and "U.S.A." molded into the casing in little ovals. This immediately tells you that this is pre-1960. However, a little more digging tells us just how much older...

Well, it turns out that this casting was made in the late 1930s to early 1940s. That's right, it's a pre-war toy! That's about 90 years old! No wonder the paint looks a little "rough." 

Now, you might think that a survivor toy that old would be worth a lot, but you'd be wrong. Tootsietoys have never had a huge collector following, and if there are no collectors, there is no real money. This car, in this condition goes from between five and twenty bucks. That's it. That's all the money.

Still, I'll hang onto it, not because of it's cash value, but because of it's place in history. It's interesting though, how something that I ignored for years actually is pretty interesting.

Umtil next time, keep searching for treasure!

The Next Best Haunting

 In last week's comments, JB pointed out that I don't have the "holy grail" Disney album (which he is lucky enough to own!) Well, the truth is I do have it...sort of. 

Probably the coolest Disney album ever released is The Story and Song From the Haunted Mansion. Why, here it is...

That's a fantastic cover, isn't it? This is my copy, but all is not what it seems. Here, let's get a little perspective...

You see, my version isn't the original 1969 vinyl version, but rather the 40 year anniversary released on CD! Although not nearly as cool as the original, this version has a couple of "extras." First, "Grim Grinning Ghosts" is presented as a complete separate track here. Ans second, when inserted into a computer, you can view Collin Campbell's original illustrations in high def. 

Let's look a bit more...

Here is the back of the CD case...

And when you open it, you see the CD and the booklet with the story!

You have to pull the disc out to see the credits (Ron Howard!,  Thurl Ravenscroft!!, Eleanor Audley!!!, Robie Lester!!!! and the great Pete Renoudet!!!!!) Ok, you might not know Robie or Pete right off since "Karen" isn't actually part of the ride and Pete didn't make the cut as Ghost Host for the actual attraction. Robie actually voiced a lot of Disneyland Records (including Piglett, who's voice you can hear sneak by just a bit when she says, "But I'm scared!" on this album.)

Now, I didn't know it (but y'all probably did) that Pete is actually a pretty big Disneyland (the park) star! Here are his credits (not including movies)

Henry the MC bear and Max the deer in Country Bear Jamboree (Magic Kingdom and variations)

Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea submarine voyage (Walt Disney World)

Abraham Lincoln in The Hall of Presidents (1994–2008)

Narrator for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Disneyland version)

Narrator for The Walt Disney Story

Voices for Tomorrowland Transit Authority (PeopleMover), Adventure Thru Inner Space, Mark Twain Riverboat, Flight to the Moon / Mission to Mars, and others

So losing out to Paul Frees as Ghost Host wasn't exactly a huge blow to his career. 

And here is the booklet...

And now we'll take a quick look at the Campbell gallery. This is the menu page. The candles float around a bit, but don't really do anything. You click on the "paintings" to see the art.

Like this! One of the great renderings of our beloved mansion!

And this! Ah, it looks like home, eh?

I don't have to tell you how interesting the story itself is. Having been written and recorded late in the Mansion's development, it shows how much was still in flux right up until opening day! I think of it as "The Mansion that almost was...but kind of is..." 

So there you have it! If I ever do stumble across a reasonably priced vintage vinyl copy, you can be sure I'll snap it up before you can say, "BOO!" Until then, this serves as a pretty good placeholder!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure....And don't forget your Death Certificate...

Disney Album Palooza!!!

 Hey gang!

I decided to go through all of my albums and see just what other Disney albums I have. Now, I must point out, that I don't really collect Disney albums, but if I go to an estate sale that has one cheap, I might grab it. Apparently, I've done that quite a bit over the years. Plus...I found something that I didn't even know I had! So let's dive right in!

First, from 1959 we have Uncle Remus. Now, I posted this one before, but for completeness, here it is again...

But jump forward to 1970 and we have Songs and Stories of Uncle Remus Brer Rabbit! This is like the small 45 records with a booklet, but larger and more stories!

Speaking of great story albums, how about this 1965 copy of 101 Dalmations? It proudly serves up "The story! The Music! The songs!" What's the difference between the music and the songs? I don't know! 

 

Next, from 1967 we have Songs from The Jungle Book! You don't get a booklet with this one, but the songs are so good, who cares?

Oh, ok...we'll do another song and story album! This one is from 1965 and it features Winnie the Pooh and the Honey (hunny?) Tree!

Then we'll jump to 1974 and look ar Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! I like the graphics on this one quite a bit...

How about some live-action stuff? For that, we move from Disneyland Records to Vista Records. Don't worry, it's still Disney. Here we have The Happiest Millionaire! And it comes with a booklet too! Oh, it's from 1967...

Have you heard of Scandalous John? I hadn't, but I read up on it and I might want to check ir out. It was a comedy/action movie set in the old west. I'm pretty sure there wasn't any real scandal involved, even though this is Vista too (aren't they the racey Disney?) This was from 1971.

Now THIS one I remember! In 1979 Disney released The Black Hole! This companion album and booklet are among my favorite Disney albums! 

Speaking of favorites, how about this blast from Walt Disney World's past? The 1972 album, The Hall of Presidents recalls the attraction during it's first year! And yes, you get a booklet.

Finally, remember how I said that I needed to get another Walt Disney's Merriest Songs due to the finger painted cover? Well, it seems at some point...I did! The album inside isn't quite as nice as the finger paint version, so I may do a switcheroo. I'm pretty sure I didn't get this one to upgrade the other one, I just happened to find two of them! Sometimes things just work out!

So there you have it! All of my accidently collected Disney vinyl! Will I buy more? Probably. Will I keep up with what I have and don't have? Probably not. 

Sue, do you have any of these?

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!