1974: We all went Ape

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At first glance, the Mego Planet of the Apes*offering appears modest, five action figures and a selection of accessories and playsets mostly recycled items from the Action Jackson line. Considering that Mego got the license late 1973, it’s impressive how much they put together so quickly. Regardless, the Apes line was a massive hit for Mego and proved that their licensing lightning had struck twice, the company sold over 16 million dollars worth of Ape merchandise that Christmas. * Check out the newly revised Mego Planet of the Apes Catalog at the Mego Museum

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[Brown Bear]

Man, that new home page is wicked!

[MIB41]

You know I have read all sorts of conflicting articles about whether this line was as successful (over the long run) as Mego had hoped it would be. And because of lackluster sales, this played a prominent role in why they passed on the next sci-fi offering, Star Wars. It seems to make sense.

[palitoy]

You know I have read all sorts of conflicting articles about whether this line was as successful (over the long run) as Mego had hoped it would be. And because of lackluster sales, this played a prominent role in why they passed on the next sci-fi offering, Star Wars. It seems to make sense.

That doesn't jive with what I've been told at all and "the next sci fi offering" was "Logan's Run", "Ark 2" and "Flash Gordon" all of which Mego scooped up without thought.

Every eye witness I've spoken too has mentioned that Apes was a huge hit for the company, no disappointment has ever been relayed.

[MIB41]

Great! Thanks Brian. I always loved the line, but even I can remember a time when there were scores of Ape merchandise marketed down in the 70's. Of course that was the late 70's so they had probably already had their run, like the superheroes.

[ScottA]

One of my favorite Mego lines, even though I only had 3 Ape figures as a kid (Astronaut, Zaius and Solider Ape).

[MIB41]

My favorite will always be Ursus, or Urko, since I was such a fan of the TV show. I got mine at the hospital after my tonsils were taken out. Out with the bad, in with the good! Still have that same figure to this very day. That and the model kit of the same character were my favorites in the series. Plus, I don't know if anyone was aware. But the model head of Ursus and the Mego head are identical. I wonder how they got away with that?

[drmego]

MEGO didn't pass on Star Wars

According to Marty - who would know better than anyone - MEGO didn't
pass on Star Wars. At Megocon 2004 he said that no one in the office
was authorized to sign the contract with Lucas' reps and, instead of
waiting to sign, they made a deal with Kenner who had offices in the
same building - 200 Fifth Ave.

You know I have read all sorts of conflicting articles about whether this line was as successful (over the long run) as Mego had hoped it would be. And because of lackluster sales, this played a prominent role in why they passed on the next sci-fi offering, Star Wars. It seems to make sense.

[alex]

According to Marty - who would know better than anyone - MEGO didn't
pass on Star Wars. At Megocon 2004 he said that no one in the office
was authorized to sign the contract with Lucas' reps and, instead of
waiting to sign, they made a deal with Kenner who had offices in the
same building - 200 Fifth Ave.

One of my favourite lines, and great little story, if only they didnt have the offices in the same building, who knows.....

[Godzilla]

Apes were my first love. So many great memories of playing with those toys in the 70s.

[MIB41]

According to Marty - who would know better than anyone - MEGO didn't
pass on Star Wars. At Megocon 2004 he said that no one in the office
was authorized to sign the contract with Lucas' reps and, instead of
waiting to sign, they made a deal with Kenner who had offices in the
same building - 200 Fifth Ave.

I'm a big believer the truth lies somewhere in between. After all, who wants to admit they lost the deal of a lifetime (and ultimately the company in the process) because they passed on this license? Plus he's still in the business. I think it's a lot easier to just say, "No one was home." I'm sure Mego had someone in the office who could have called those who were "authorized". C'mon! Honestly no one could possibly have known what this thing was going to do back then. And if anyone in that office felt there was something to it, they would have called Marty when Lucas and co. said they were going elsewhere.

[HardyGirl]

I wasn't into the Apes back in the day, but my dad would watch the TV series sometimes. I would see the commercials after school and think, "Oh yeah from that show dad likes."

[Bionic Joe]

Everyone was APE happy back in 74 MEGO released the first wave of figures MARVEL COMICS put out a magazine and a comicbook you had t-shirts trash cans there was the model kits coloring book jigsaw puzzles i bet there was a board game to boot and the following year was the second wave of figures the tv series and TOPPS put out trading cards

[warlock664]

WGSH was always my favorite line, but POTA was a close second! I remember for Christmas 1974 I received Cornelius, Zira, 2 Dr Zaius (one was from my favorite uncle), and 3 soldier apes (maroon, dark blue/black, and blue). Later, I got an Urko (helmeted). I know for a fact that in my area, Apes was a big seller, as many of my friends also got Mego POTA toys that year.
The same uncle who bought me the Zaius as well as a soldier ape also built me a fortress playset! Going off catalog pics, he built a 2-story wooden fortress with wooden ladders, a jail with real metal bars, "stone wall" sections to enclose it, and the reflector signal. I thought it was one of the coolest toys I ever received, and he definitely put a lot of time into making it. I still have it somewhere, along with my original Mego apes.

[HardyGirl]

WE NEED TO SEE PICTURES!!!

Please?

WGSH was always my favorite line, but POTA was a close second! I remember for Christmas 1974 I received Cornelius, Zira, 2 Dr Zaius (one was from my favorite uncle), and 3 soldier apes (maroon, dark blue/black, and blue). Later, I got an Urko (helmeted). I know for a fact that in my area, Apes was a big seller, as many of my friends also got Mego POTA toys that year.
The same uncle who bought me the Zaius as well as a soldier ape also built me a fortress playset! Going off catalog pics, he built a 2-story wooden fortress with wooden ladders, a jail with real metal bars, "stone wall" sections to enclose it, and the reflector signal. I thought it was one of the coolest toys I ever received, and he definitely put a lot of time into making it. I still have it somewhere, along with my original Mego apes.