More Help Needed: POTA boxed figures

[Action Martin]

Oh my memory of the boxes on the mantle is VERY vivid and VERY clear.

While I never saw or even heard of any POTA being in a box, all mine were carded, I have a memory of a friend buying POTA figures at a Child World somewhere in the 1979-1981 timeframe and they were on the beautifully painted Palitoy/Bradgate cards. All indications from all members and a great explanation from apes3978 tell me that can't be true but I do recall seeing him opening them up and me drooling at the cards.

[Action Martin]

Astronaut in a box
Mego Planet of the Apes Astronaut BOXED RARE! - eBay (item 380059762936 end time Sep-29-08 05:28:04 PDT)

[Raydeen1]

Actually this wouldn't surprise me. I saw a full display of Palitoy WGSH at Woolco when I was about 12. Who's to say some Apes didn't make it elsewhere than Great Britain.

While I never saw or even heard of any POTA being in a box, all mine were carded, I have a memory of a friend buying POTA figures at a Child World somewhere in the 1979-1981 timeframe and they were on the beautifully painted Palitoy/Bradgate cards. All indications from all members and a great explanation from apes3978 tell me that can't be true but I do recall seeing him opening them up and me drooling at the cards.

[NewForce]

Astronaut in a box
Mego Planet of the Apes Astronaut BOXED RARE! - eBay (item 380059762936 end time Sep-29-08 05:28:04 PDT)

from what I have gathered, that is likely just an Astronaut box (used for 2nd issue burke and/or AV) combined with a 1st series loose Astronaut figure?

[Raydeen1]

If this is true, why is the regular Astro on the back? I find that incredibly hard to believe.

[NewForce]

If this is true, why is the regular Astro on the back? I find that incredibly hard to believe.

you got me, I am far from an expert on Apes...but, from what the "experts" have told me, only 2nd series Apes came on the Box, and the Astronaut is a first series figure...hence, that is the conclusion I arrived at...have no idea if it is accurate or not ,just repeating what those far more knowledgable than me have stated

[megozilla13]

This is interesting, unfortunately the truth will most likely never be known.

I believe the boxed apes might predate the second carded series if only by a few weeks in a rush to get them in stores for these reasons (remembering, the show had already been cancelled and thus the rush although ape merchandise was still selling well):

1) Urko is the nonhelmetted ape just as he is introduced in the toyfair ape commercial that announces the second series is "coming soon". Although he is not refered to as a general but as "Urko,the vicious soldier ape"
2) They are all type1
3) copyright info corresponds to the 1st cards before any copyright info was corrected
4) just guessing here.... Virdon and Burke figures might have not been ready yet so they weren't photographed for the box. Why box the blue astronaut, he was already available carded?
5) the price stickers found on boxed apes range from macy's to toysrus, to small mom and pop stores showing that they weren't an exclusive or a special request by some large chain.
6) Their scarcity today, the fact that they never seem to be type2 figures, and the fact that the copyright info was never corrected as with the cards points to them being only available for a very short time in the very beginning.



Although I don't believe it, I could sort of buy into the possibility that
the first series might have been available boxed based on Raydeen's insistence that he owned them as a kid. I can't however ever believe that there were entire displays of Palitoy apes in the US around 1980.

mikej

[Raydeen1]

Well,
NewForce doesn't say he saw a full display, just that his friend bought them. I mentioned seeing a full display of Palitoy WGSH at Woolco and said I wouldn't be surprised if some apes made it to the US or Canada.

When I saw the Palitoy WGSH at Woolco, I had no idea what they were, just that I loved the card art and I tortured Mom to get me Batman and Robin as mine were beat and missing parts. lol. Never got them but I loved the picture of Robin on the card and never forgot it. I believe Brain (Palitoy) has memories or documentation of finding Palitoy WGSH in Canada as well.

This is interesting, unfortunately the truth will most likely never be known.

I believe the boxed apes might predate the second carded series if only by a few weeks in a rush to get them in stores for these reasons (remembering, the show had already been cancelled and thus the rush although ape merchandise was still selling well):

1) Urko is the nonhelmetted ape just as he is introduced in the toyfair ape commercial that announces the second series is "coming soon". Although he is not refered to as a general but as "Urko,the vicious soldier ape"
2) They are all type1
3) copyright info corresponds to the 1st cards before any copyright info was corrected
4) just guessing here.... Virdon and Burke figures might have not been ready yet so they weren't photographed for the box. Why box the blue astronaut, he was already available carded?
5) the price stickers found on boxed apes range from macy's to toysrus, to small mom and pop stores showing that they weren't an exclusive or a special request by some large chain.
6) Their scarcity today, the fact that they never seem to be type2 figures, and the fact that the copyright info was never corrected as with the cards points to them being only available for a very short time in the very beginning.



Although I don't believe it, I could sort of buy into the possibility that
the first series might have been available boxed based on Raydeen's insistence that he owned them as a kid. I can't however ever believe that there were entire displays of Palitoy apes in the US around 1980.

mikej

[Action Martin]

The only thing that I recall about my friend buying the Pailitoy POTA figures at Child World was that they were not in the standard action figure aisle, they were up close to the registers pegged alongside Teen Titans, Superman, Spider-Man, Hulk, other Megos, and some odds & ends toys. I think it may have been the closeout section.

[kazombie]

I wanted to add, that I did have a MIB Astronaut (blue jumpsuit, helmet, etc) that was given to me by my grandmother as a Child. So, it does exist. Aside, from actually owning one, I have to wonder why there is such a degree of disbelief of oneactually exisiting? The box is labled Astronaut and there is a picture of the figure on the back of the box. So boys and girls, the Astronaut did exist MIB. I had it and enjoyed it until the mid 80's when I pitched all my toys out, an act for which I still regret.

Chris

[mego73]

I bet all three figures came in Astronaut boxes

[Blue Meanie]

I wanted to add, that I did have a MIB Astronaut (blue jumpsuit, helmet, etc) that was given to me by my grandmother as a Child. So, it does exist. Aside, from actually owning one, I have to wonder why there is such a degree of disbelief of oneactually exisiting? The box is labled Astronaut and there is a picture of the figure on the back of the box. So boys and girls, the Astronaut did exist MIB. I had it and enjoyed it until the mid 80's when I pitched all my toys out, an act for which I still regret.

Chris

Nothing to see here...being that this Boxed Astronaut figure "doesn't exist". Carry On.

[david_b]

With all the suspected 'ebb and flow' of surplus in warehouses back then, I typically don't like the 'OFFICIAL' release argument.

Granted, some Mego rep or sales catalog may have no longer advertised the original Astronaut as being released instead promoting Pete and Alan for the new series, but once the rush is on to fill distributor orders, stuffing the Astronaut boxes with residual blue uniformed Astronauts would be prudent AND a good inventory idea, thinking most stores or consumers wouldn't notice.

Again, it's all business decisions. Anyone familiar with the bottom-line in factories would understand.

[palitoy]

One does wonder if Mego temporarily jumped the gun on the TV line and shipped astronauts in the place of the TV astronauts for a brief time. Urko and Ursus could have been based on Beneath. Just pontificating, I haven't really done the research Mike has.

[david_b]

One does wonder if Mego temporarily jumped the gun on the TV line and shipped astronauts in the place of the TV astronauts for a brief time. Urko and Ursus could have been based on Beneath. Just pontificating, I haven't really done the research Mike has.

That's a VERY GOOD POINT. Simply saying.., not mentioning names here, but some folks just need to get off their soapbox of refusing to believe a simple blue coveralls Astronaut could not have gone out in boxes.. Yes, it may not be the 'official release' per se, but it still happened.

If there's collectors out there who remember buying them that way, or received them as gifts, then that's legitimate for me..

Like, how are you really supposed to argue that..? Unless someone had some vintage Kodiak photo of them receiving one still in it's box, or some photo of them sitting on a store shelf..?

david_b