The Martian Chronicles Toys by Larami

[RSS]

In the late seventies, Charles Fries productions (the same people who brought you the TV version of Spider-Man) undertook an ambitious project, bringing Ray Bradbury's acclaimed book of short stories "The Martian Chronicles" to Television as a 6 hour event.



The names involved were a Science Fiction fans dream, Richard Matheson wrote the screenplay and it was directed by Michael Anderson, director of Logan's Run. The cast included genre veterans such as Darren McGavin, Roddy McDowell, Nicholas Hammond (TV's Spider-Man), Barry Morse, Bernie Casey, Jon Finch, Michael Anderson Jr (Doc from Logan's Run) and the series was tied together by the character Col. John Wilder, played by Rock Hudson.


The mini series premiered 30 years ago this January (yikes!) and was met with mixed reviews, the harshest critic being Ray Bradbury himself but personally, despite it's slowness in points, I think overall it's a terrific attempt and I love it's style.

Still, I find it weird that Rack Toy Manufacturer Larami decided that this was the property to go forward and make some action figures with. To my knowledge the company hadn't delved there before. Despite the fact that Star Wars figures were all the rage, Larami chose to go the Mego route and produce three 8" figures all based on the Martian designs. Going so far as to rip off the an outfit from the Mego Star Trek aliens line, these little touchs give the line a mid seventies feel.

The Martian figures have no names but all are based on mask designs the Martians wore in the series, the figure above isn't really a Martian at all. In the first installment, Col. Jeff Spender "goes native" on his landing party killing them off while wearing this Martian battle mask. So really what we have here is an action figure of Bernie Casey.



This is the second, let's call him the "Pink Martian" this mask appeared in the second episode and only briefly as Darren McGavin's character shoots him!

Click Here to see more of the Larami Martian Chronicles line



Visit the Larami Rack Toys Gallery for More

For more Fashion Mockery and 70's toy love visit us at Plaid Stallions.com


More...

[highquality]

Great additions to the site. I'm glad someone is covering these types of toys for this generation. Lou touched on them, but it's nice to see them fleshed out.

I like the green background for the photography.

OK now the jab. The heads look like chewed bubble gum.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I remember first seeing these in Tomart's big A-Z action figure guide.

I never saw the mini-series but it sounds interesting. Nicholas Hammond huh?

Chris

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that Larami used the blow-molded bodies as "placeholders" assuming that kids would pop the heads off and put them onto Mego bodies. Anyone know if that is a tall tale or not? Is there a Mego-like neck plug?

[palitoy]

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that Larami used the blow-molded bodies as "placeholders" assuming that kids would pop the heads off and put them onto Mego bodies. Anyone know if that is a tall tale or not? Is there a Mego-like neck plug?

It's not a tall take, John Bonavita used to publish a magazine called "Collect Em All" and in one issue was an interview with a former Larami sales rep.

In that piece the sales rep mentioned that the whole intent of the figures was to pop the heads off and put them on Mego dolls.

Judging from mine, they could be done but they're also super fragile, so I doubt I ever do it. Too bad as these crap bodies can't even stand properly.

[cjefferys]

I never saw the mini series, but I've always been intrigued by these toys. I'm not much of a carded collector, how often do nice loose examples pop up?

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I'd love a set of these.... but I think I'd like a repro set in resin, 'cos I think I'd like to add some detail to 'em.

Don C.

[BendyZaius]

I've got all three of these guys loose in my collection and I love them. Got them at a toy show about 10 years ago for 10 bucks a piece, guy had no idea what they were. They have a nice safe spot on the shelf right between my AHI monsters and my Tomland Monsters of Legend (to keep Creetch and the Yeti from fighting). I remember the mini series was quite good, although I was nine at the time. I wonder how it will hold up. Amazon here I come.

[Jason73]

I loved the mini-series as a kid. I never knew these toys were made.

[kennermike]

Im not gonna lie I had 2 of them about a year ago MOC .sold them cause I needed the cash very stupid of me .so seeing this thread hurts

[megoapesnut]

I loved the mini-series. One of my favorites, despite the slow parts. I just watched it a few months ago, got the DVD from Amazon.

[megoapesnut]

I never saw the mini series, but I've always been intrigued by these toys. I'm not much of a carded collector, how often do nice loose examples pop up?

Two of them carded sold for $199 each on ebay a month or so ago.

[kennermike]

Two of them carded sold for $199 each on ebay a month or so ago.

those were mine

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I'd like to see the mini-series.

[megoapesnut]

those were mine

I should have snagged them. I was spending too much money at the time and the fact that they were cheaply made and not by Mego, turned me off initially. Now I wish I had grabbed them. Although, not having the third figure would drive me nuts until I acquired it. IF I was ever able to. So, it's probably better that I didn't get them.