Imperial Grizzlies come out of hibernation

[raycastile]

The Imperial Toy Company made an official, licensed rubber bear as a tie-in for the 1976 movie GRIZZLY. Imperial took an existing mold for a polar bear jiggler, cast it in brown rubber, and released it as the movie bear.



The polar bear is obviously in the middle. The Grizzly on the right is my childhood toy.

I've been searching for a tagged Imperial Grizzly for as long as I've been collecting. That tag became one of those hazy childhood memories that makes you wonder whether you really saw it, or just imagined it. I've talked to some people who doubted it existed. Why would a toy company in 1976 market a rubber bear based on a low-budget, R-rated horror movie? Surely I had dreamt it.

Finally, this Christmas the Grizzly bears decided to emerge from hibernation. I found not one, but three tagged Imperial Grizzly bears.





And I didn't have to pay a fortune for them. I paid less than $50 for the trio, about $15 each.

I wish I'd had one of these when Brian wrote his Rack Toys book. It would have been a nice addition. Now I have to intensify my search for a carded Chemtoy Jaws shark.

[mahseer]

Very, very cool. I'm super jealous.

[Earth 2 Chris]

That's awesome Ray. Congrats on find that grail (and peace of mind to boot!).

Chris

[palitoy]

That's so cool, congrats Ray!

I also wish this could have been in the book but I'd see something every month that I can say that about.

[Earth 2 Chris]

That's why we need a sequel!

Chris

[Vintage Alien]

Nice Snag Raymond

Your the man

[Godzilla]

As a huge fan of cheeseball movies, this is a fantastic find!

[cjefferys]

Fantastic, I didn't know they made licensed toys from that film. Congrats on the find!

[ScottA]

That's pretty neat.

[raycastile]

Thanks everyone!

[Splitty]

That's SO awesome, I had no idea they made anything for that movie (very bizarre that they DID).

I remember seeing it on TV, and it scared the bejeejees crap out of me, because I visited my Grandma in the mountains alot (and then moved there shortly after). Re-watching it as adult was pretty boring though, after all the gruesome bloody things I've seen since.

I get such a kick out of the fact they made toy-like things out of terrifying 70's properties that no kid should see. Between this, Chemtoy Jaws (I have!), and the Alligator game, I feel all collectory warm and fuzzy inside.

[raycastile]

Is your Chemtoy Jaws carded? Rrrrr! I want one. I have loose Chemtoy Jaws sharks, both the grey and white versions, but no carded one.

I've got an Alligator game, but the box is rough. I'm looking to upgrade.

Let's not forget the Incredible Melting Man makeup kit by Imagineering and the IMM Halloween costume by Collegeville. Then there's the Alien toys from Kenner and HG Toys, and the Ben Cooper Alien costume.

There was a jiggler of the Chlorophyl Monster from Mad Doctor of Blood Island. It was a promotional item distributed through theaters when the film was released. That's another grail for me. I have strange grails.

[cjefferys]

I've already had a boxed Alligator game and HG Toys Alien stuff on my radar (eventually, no hurry), now I need to add a tagged Imperial Grizzly to that "someday" list.

[Red Hulk]

Those are great glad you found them.

[Splitty]

There was a jiggler of the Chlorophyl Monster from Mad Doctor of Blood Island. It was a promotional item distributed through theaters when the film was released. That's another grail for me. I have strange grails.

Oh man, I just looked that up. That is AWESOME! What a fantastic jiggler! Perfect item.

Nah, my Chemtoy Jaws is loose. Until recently, I'd never even seen an image of one on a card!
Mine is actually from childhood (showing some wear), from a young age way back in the 70's. My mom knew what a little freak I was even back then, and instead of money under my pillow from the tooth fairy, one day there was a Chemtoy Jaws!! What joy. Man, that was seriously one of the best days ever.