1974: Mego got the heck out of Dodge

[RSS]

Mego Dodge City Play Set 1974 saw the introduction of what we like to call at the Museum “The Legends” period, meaning public domain characters from history or literature that Mego smartly put under the “World’s Greatest Super ______” umbrella. The first to launch were possibly the most successful, the kooky Mad Monsters and the well done American West series. Despite the energy surrounding the company and it’s new lines, one casuality was had after toyfair 1974 and that was the neat “Dodge City” play set that Mego mocked up utilizing the same base as the Planet of the Apes Village/Batman Batcave. It’s likely that the item didn’t meet buyer support (resulting in no wishbook space)* because it wasn’t slotted as a “TV Item”. *

Be sure to check out all the gun slinging, teeth gnashing fun at the Mego Museum Catalog Archive.

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[MIB41]

That was a neat idea. I imagine the lack of demand for the figures, created the demise of this play set. Would have been fun.

[ScottA]

I think this would be a major collectible today had it been produced.

[palitoy]

I wish it had surfaced in the '74 showroom finds but the photos seem to reveal that it's made of cardboard, so it probably didn't survive long....

[Mikey]

Was Dodge City a generic name ?

I thought it was owned by Gunsmoke (at least for toys)

[palitoy]

Dodge City is a real place.

[Mikey]

Dodge City is a real place.

I'm embarrassed to admit this but I did not know that

[palitoy]

You should be more embarrassed that a Canadian had the answer.

[Mikey]

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[Wee67]

This would definitely have been a must-have today/probably wouldn't-have-cared in the 70's item.

As a kid, I loved most things Mego but I was unaware that this line even existed until the Museum. I've always wondered if my lack of interest in Western-themed toys in general led me to ignore these figures in the store.

It looks like it really would have been a classic Mego use of the Batcave/POTA village design. I assume interest would have been severely low given it probably would have been easy to bring to production.

[palitoy]

Playsets were made or broken by catalogs, most every playset offered in the 70s is in some (but not all) major department store catalog.

[David Lee]

You should be more embarrassed that a Canadian had the answer.

Oh it's real... and spectacular! (ok not really)...
http://www.dodgecity.org/

[alex]

I think this is a great line , it certainly got recyled a few times, and the design on these are really neat. Big shame this never got produced.

[rchatlin]

I wonder how many kids used Gabriel's Lone Ranger Carson City playset with Mego's American West figures.

BTW, Carson City is a real place as well


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[ScottA]

I wonder how many kids used Gabriel's Lone Ranger Carson City playset with Mego's American West figures.

I was wondering that as well Rob. And did LR's playset inspire what Mego tried to do.