Star Trek

I hate to begin another blog entry with a reference to Star Wars, but when you’re talking about merchandise based on Star Trek: The Motion Picture, it is a little difficult to discuss one without mentioning the other. When Star Wars hit back in 1977, retailers and manufacturers alike were caught with their collective pants down. No one in the world anticipated the spending fervor that the...

Way back in 1977, a little movie called Star Wars ruled the world. It seemed everyone had Star Wars fever, seeing the film multiple times and buying up every piece of licensed merchandise that they could get their hands on. T-shirts, board games, action figures, cereal… If it had the Star Wars name on it, folks bought it. George Lucas, the film’s creator, led the charge on this mer...

  As we discussed in last month’s blog entry, Azrak-Hamway Incorporated’s acquisition of Remco Toys in 1974 led to quite an expansive range of bargain Star Trek rack toys. While Azrak-Hamway put out a fairly large amount of product under the AHI brand, the quality of these items unfortunately attested to their low cost. In an effort to expand past these inexpensive releases an...

  Picture this: You are a Trek-crazed child growing up in the 1970's. The show has become a syndication sensation, and your young mind simply cannot get enough of Kirk and Spock's adventures. Whenever the show airs, you can routinely be found just a few feet in front of the television, eyes transfixed on today's adventure. But just as you get ready to plop down and watch "The Trouble with...

  Do you remember when Captain Kirk took to the skies in his Astrocopter, dropping bombs on unsuspecting foes? No? Then perhaps you recall an adventure where Spock donned his garish Astro-Helmet to protect his prized ears whilst warning off encroaching invaders with a wave of his rocket pistol? Still nothing? Well, these scenarios may seem ludicrous to some, but if you were a Trek-loving ...

The Unproduced Palisades Toys Captain Kirk and Gene Roddenberry Action Figure Set  The Star Trek collectible market has changed a lot over the years. During the show’s original run in the late 1960’s and through the release of the classic films in the 1980’s, collectors often didn’t know what merchandise was available until they saw it on store shelves. In the days...