"Stretch Monster is really a sweet monster...unless he is angry.
Stretch Armstrong makes him very, VERY ANGRY!!"
That is what is says on his instruction sheet. But I bet the thousands of kids that pulled him, smashed him and tied him up in knots ****ed him off quite a bit as well! They are also part of the reason he has become an endangered species. Therefore, Stretch Monster has become a very, VERY ANGRY monster indeed!
In 1976, Kenner released a toy called Stretch Armstrong. Stretch was a huge hit with kids. You could stretch him all you wanted, and he would return back to his original shape. AMAZING! I imagine kids enjoyed beating other kids with them too. These suckers were heavy! Stretch Armstrong was such a big hit, that Kenner decided to release other Stretch figures. By far the coolest, was Stretch Armstrong's arch enemy, Stretch Monster, released in 1978. Kenner also released a Stretch Octopus, and Stretch X-Ray, who was a red alien.
Unfortunately, not many of these Stretch toys still exist. If you pulled on them too hard, they would break. If you punctured them, they would leak the syrup contained inside, and the hole would gradually get bigger. Believe me, I know, I went through my fair share as a kid. Stretch Armstrong even came with little Bandaids in case he got an owie. The Stretch figures that avoided the torment of little brats, aren't in much better shape. Over time, they tend to harden, and deteriorate. So to find one in nice condition, is a very hard thing to do (though not impossible), and will cost you a pretty penny.
I recently added a Stretch Monster to my collection. This is an item I have been after for 20 years. I was surprised to find that not only was he still intact, soft, and stretchable (though I would never ever stretch him), but he also still had all the paperwork that came with him.
I decided to create this page to archive him. There is very little information, and very few pictures of him here on the web, and I thought I would share him with all of you! I hope you enjoy your visit, and hope you leave with all of your limbs intact. Remember, Stretch Monster is very, VERY ANGRY!!! GRRRR!!!