Boxed Apes Question

[DCSTING]

I have a boxed Verdon....Box comes with the Astronaut on the back...is the theory still out there that all three (Verdon, Burke + the Astronaut) came in this same box...just curious
Don

[megoapesnut]

I have heard many theories. One of the theories is that Verdon and Burke never came in that box, that it was just the Astronaut. In fact, I think the Galleries here state that as well. I do not personally believe that theory, but there you have it.

[cjefferys]

Isn't the current theory that Verdon and Burke were the ones that came in the box, as it seems only 2nd series figures came that way?

Of course, with the boxes not being sealed, there will always be debate and conjecture, as any kind of box/figure switching could have happened at any point. I could throw a Soldier Ape in an Urko box, say I bought it that way back in the 70's. Hard to prove 100% that I didn't.

[megoapesnut]

I have heard all kinds of theories. Like you said, who knows. I now own a boxed Astronaut, Burke and Verdon. All were purchased from reputable sellers so I believe them to be authentic. But, as you pointed out, the boxes weren't sealed so anything could have happened in 35 years

[Tom L]

I am not a Planet of the Apes expert, but I looked at this when I purchased my first window boxed Apes about a year ago. I had fun guessing at this, but here is what I guessed at and e-mailed someone back then. Now this is not fact and could be totally wrong or completely documented in the galleries or somewhere already. It was fun thinking about this, but maybe Mike J can correct any mistakes or holes in this. If this is too long, please feel free to bail.

Here is what I was thinking from a novice's perspective looking at these with little Ape knowledge. Below are the part numbers for the initial release of the first wave figures:

50900/1 Cornelius
50900/2 Zaius
50900/3 Solider Ape
50900/4 Zira
50900/5 Astronaut

For the first wave Apes, Cornelius and Zauis were the first two characters in the sequence. Maybe shortly after these were released on cards, window boxes were being developed. Why window boxes came after cards, I have no idea. When the window boxes were being developed, I am guessing that the timing was right before the second wave was introduced. I would guess that the initial design work on the window boxes was based on only the first wave characters. Based on this and the first wave number sequence above, the characters to be sold in window boxes would have been as follows:

50900/1 Cornelius
50900/2 Zaius
50900/3 Solider Ape
50900/4 Zira
50900/5 Astronaut

After these numbers were assigned, the new characters in the second wave were identified. This is where they had to make some changes. In the second wave, Cornelius became Galen. I will guess that Zaius and Zira were scrapped as they were not the best sellers and replaced in favor of the new second wave characters, and/or they were limited to the number of figures they could introduce in window boxes. Solider Ape was popular so he remained in the window box assortment. Burke and Verdon were not included in their own boxes for some reason, but I am guessing because maybe these two were late additions to the second wave assortment. Window boxes for Galen, Ursus and Urko were already in development. If Burke and Verdon were late additions to the second wave, there was not enough time to assign new part numbers and create unique window box packaging or them. Burke and Verdon are the last two characters in number order sequence of the second wave characters. Even though Mego still wanted to offer these last two additions to the second wave in window boxes, there was no time to create window boxes for them. The Astronaut window box was already designed, so Mego maybe decided to save time and not delay assortments and simply packaged both Burke and Verdon in the Astronaut window box 50900/5 to get them out there. Since the Astronaut box was already designed, they also packaged Astronaut figures in this box. Based on these guesses, they arrived at the list below for window boxes.

50900/1 Cornelius (not released in favor of Galen)50900/2 Zauis (not released in window box)
50900/3 Solider Ape
50900/4 Zira (not released in window box)50900/5 Astronaut (also used for Burke and Verdon)
50900/5 Astronaut (Astronaut, Burke, and Verdon all came in this box)
50900/6 Galen
50900/7 Ursus
50900/8 Urko
50900/9 Peter Burke (released in Astronaut box)
50900/0 Alan Verdon (released in Astronaut box)

This list is what was eventually produced and sold in window boxes.

Tom L.

[cjefferys]

Was the Soldier Ape available in a window box? I don't remember ever seeing a pic of one (but my memory isn't what it used to be ) At any rate, thanks for the insight and info, Tom.

It's always been so curious to me why Mego started with cards but then temporarily switched to window boxes for POTA. I don't think anything like this happened with any other Mego line. Very odd.

[Tom L]

Was the Soldier Ape available in a window box? I don't remember ever seeing a pic of one (but my memory isn't what it used to be ) At any rate, thanks for the insight and info, Tom.

It's always been so curious to me why Mego started with cards but then temporarily switched to window boxes for POTA. I don't think anything like this happened with any other Mego line. Very odd.

See. I just proved my "novice"ness regarding the Apes.

[megoapesnut]

Mike J is the guy to ask. He will know.

Paging Mike J.... Paging Mike J.... please pick up the house phone....

[PeterRR]

From my knowledge I heard the window boxed apes were a Montgomery ward exclusive. I have four out of the five they made. The Vernon and Burke were labeled astronaut on box with picture of astronaut on back. Both boxes were the same. I have never seen or heard of any of the first series besides the astronaut in window boxes . the only window box soldier ape I seen was the Japanese apes . All I need is a Urko

[megozilla13]

I've heard the theory that they were Wards exclusives but the fact that so many have surfaced with price stickers from many stores including toys r us disproves this. My Ursus box has a pink sticker that just says "Toys" and the price. It seems like its from a small mom and pop shop.

My theory is.... the boxed apes were the very first of the second series released, and were released in boxes for the purpose of rushing them to market.

I believe this for these reasons:


Galen used the Cornelius head, Ursus and Urko used heads from the Addar model kits. Virdon and Burke heads had to be sculpted and approved and thus took longer. They might have not been ready for photography so they decided just to make it a generic astronaut box. Also the artwork on the cards might have not been ready.

Them being first would also explain why they are always on t1 bodies.

The most compelling evidence, I believe, is this.....
Ursus is the helmeted ape in the boxes but he is Urko on the first issue cards. The POTA TV Show was greenlighted in the summer of 74 and first aired in September. They only had about 6 weeks to film the first few episodes.
Originally Ursus was supposed to be the antagonist in the show but the name was later changed to Urko. If Mego was designing and planning the figures around the same time that the show was being produced, it would make sense they would make the helmeted ape "Ursus" and later corrected it for the first issue cards, and later changed it again.

I believe its possible astronauts were the first figures released in astronaut boxes just for the reason that so many have surfaced. But I do believe it was always Mego's intention that Virdon and Burke would be in the astronaut box, and they quickly replaced the astronaut as soon as they were ready, which was seems to have been very quickly. And as soon as the art for the card was finished and the names straightened out ( although they spelled Virdon incorrectly) the boxes were discontinued. Throughout the last 10+ years, I've seen more virdon and burkes in astronaut boxes, than I've seen astronauts in astronaut boxes.


So I'm sticking to this theory until something better comes along.


mikej

[megoapesnut]

That works for me

[vulcan2074]

I'm loving this thread. Very interesting information.
Sammy

[megoapesnut]

The stickers on my boxed apes are all from Korvettes except one which is from Toy Guys

[DCSTING]

I have two and they both have Toy's R' Us stickers....for what it's worth

[MIB41]

Now this is the best read on a collectible subject that I have digested in some time. Incredible insight by so many! I collected a number of the apes, but I don't have a strong recollection of any of them being in boxes. Of course that doesn't I mean I didn't walk past them 100 times when I was a kid. I just always got mine carded.