Cheap Plastic Pleasure

[Wee67]

No this isn't a porn thread. I was just in Miami and had a chance to visit their Seaquarium. Inside the park, I came upon a machine of which I had only a vague, vague childhood memory. One that I thought I might even have made up.

The memory was from a vist to the Busch Gardens in Tampa. The Africa-themed park used to be called "The Dark Continent," but changed for what I guess are reasons of sensitivity. What I remembered was a machine that would make, right in front of you, a blow-mold toy. I think I got a chimp back in the day.

Well, it wasn't a dream and Florida is keeping fun alive. This time I got a beluga whale, mainly because its goofy smile and bright red color looked most like a kid's toy. I also realized why these machines might have gone the way of the lawn dart. The thing comes out so freakin' hot, you can't even pick it up for a few seconds. I can just see some kid grabbing the hot plastic and getting more than just a fond memory from the park. Anybody else remember these?

It was 2 bucks well-spent.

[palitoy]

Dang, you found a mold-a-matic?

I spent an entire week trying to find one of those in Florida to show my son. I got a dinosaur out of one at a rest stop back in the mid seventies, I can still remember it being warm.

[wyatterb]

Brookfield Zoo still has these. The family and I picked up 4 different animals as we made our way through the zoo a few weeks ago (dolphin, giraffe, lion, & polar bear) There were several others, but that's what the kids wanted.

[ABMAC]

The Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa has one in its lobby.

[megoscott]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&maxrecordsreturned=300&frpp=50&from=R10&satitle=mold-a-rama&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=94110&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

Mold-A-Rama, actually. Love em! I have an Abraham Lincoln form Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry that I'd love to replace....

[ramsey37]

I got an alligator Mold-A-Rama figure on a trip to Orlando in 1976. Some of the older pieces are highly sought after. I believe Universal Studios offered a Frankenstein figure years back that's desired by monster collectors.
George

[ABMAC]

http://www.moldaramaville.com/

[toys2cool]

LOL! well living in Miami myself ,yes I know the Seaquarium one and of course there's the Metro Zoo which has almost every single type of animal including my 2 favorite ones,the green gator and the 3 monkeys (1 covering his ears,the other his eyes and the last his mouth) I'll make sure to pick you one up nest time I go

[Wee67]

Man, I would LOVE one of those monkeys!!! If I knew, I'd have hit the zoo.

I never saw these in the Philly area. I just figured they dropped because of the burn potential. I realize they may be run of the mill for some, but there was a real nostlgic flash for me. Ant, that website was too much fun-

[toys2cool]

Man, I would LOVE one of those monkeys!!! If I knew, I'd have hit the zoo.

I never saw these in the Philly area. I just figured they dropped because of the burn potential. I realize they may be run of the mill for some, but there was a real nostlgic flash for me. Ant, that website was too much fun-

hey hey there ya go,that's the one

haven't been there in a couple of years,I think I'll go this weekend.You want me to get one for you if I go?

[Wee67]

Don't make any special effort, but if you happen to be there...

[Customslab]

last time i was at the memphis zoo 4 years ago or so they still had one

[Grendel]

Sweet, sweet Mold-a-rama...

I still remember fondly going to the mall and watching these made as a kid. Like my toys, fortunate enough to still have my Mold-a-ramas from childhood.

Went to Chicago two months ago and visited the machines at Lincoln Park Zoo and Museum of Science and Industry. First time I'd seen a machine in over twenty years. Five fresh Mold-a-ramas for me!

We have just moved so our life is still in boxes - here are pics of my collection from a few years ago (with bonus Super Joe, Micronauts, etc lurking) --











And here are a couple of good sites with info:

http://www.billyseven.net/mar/moldarama.html

http://mcdermot3.home.mindspring.com/Moldarama/

[toys2cool]

that's a sweet collection man,would've never thought you guys were into this

[Hulk]

That is some old school, pull the memory out from the cobwebs of my brain type stuff. Just when you thought you'd remembered everything you had as a kid, you realize you forgot more than you could ever remember.