wormnation
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Post by wormnation on Oct 7, 2018 9:28:30 GMT -5
I have been trying to find the first line of wrestling figures that were ever made. In a weird way, I think the first figure was actually from Rocky 3. The Lewco Thunderlips is dated 1983. Were there any other figures made before that? I don't really know how to search it.
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ozz
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Post by ozz on Oct 7, 2018 10:00:03 GMT -5
Check this out
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Oct 7, 2018 10:08:25 GMT -5
The first would be a handpuppet of Gorgeous George in the '50s.
Actual figures: - late '60s; a Japanese line by Bullmark for JWA. Known figures: Shohei Baba (Giant Baba), Sakaguchi Seiji, Yoshimura Michiaki, Rikidözan (foreigner; korean), Mr. X (not sure if it was Dick Beyer), Antonio Inoki (regarded a foreigner back then).
- first foreigners (mainly Americans) in a Japanese line: 1981 Popy figures licensed by booking agent Don O'neil: Abdullah the Butcher, Andre the Giant, Bob Backlund, Dory Funk, Jr., Hulk Hogan, Antonio Inoki, Mil Mascaras, Stan Hansen, Harley Race and Terry Funk.
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wormnation
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Post by wormnation on Oct 7, 2018 10:23:37 GMT -5
That's pretty awesome! Thanks!
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wormnation
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Post by wormnation on Oct 7, 2018 10:35:48 GMT -5
The first would be a handpuppet of Gorgeous George in the '50s. Actual figures: - late '60s; a Japanese line by Bullmark for JWA. Known figures: Shohei Baba (Giant Baba), Sakaguchi Seiji, Yoshimura Michiaki, Rikidözan (foreigner; korean), Mr. X (not sure if it was Dick Beyer), Antonio Inoki (regarded a foreigner back then). - first foreigners (mainly Americans) in a Japanese line: 1981 Popy figures licensed by booking agent Don O'neil: Abdullah the Butcher, Andre the Giant, Bob Backlund, Dory Funk, Jr., Hulk Hogan, Antonio Inoki, Mil Mascaras, Stan Hansen, Harley Race and Terry Funk. So those would all be the first foreign line, even though Americans were on them. Ljn was the first American line I take it.
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Oct 7, 2018 10:44:41 GMT -5
The first would be a handpuppet of Gorgeous George in the '50s. Actual figures: - late '60s; a Japanese line by Bullmark for JWA. Known figures: Shohei Baba (Giant Baba), Sakaguchi Seiji, Yoshimura Michiaki, Rikidözan (foreigner; korean), Mr. X (not sure if it was Dick Beyer), Antonio Inoki (regarded a foreigner back then). - first foreigners (mainly Americans) in a Japanese line: 1981 Popy figures licensed by booking agent Don O'neil: Abdullah the Butcher, Andre the Giant, Bob Backlund, Dory Funk, Jr., Hulk Hogan, Antonio Inoki, Mil Mascaras, Stan Hansen, Harley Race and Terry Funk. So those would all be the first foreign line, even though Americans were on them. Ljn was the first American line I take it. I guess so: LJN 1984, Remco 1985.
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romafan87
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Post by romafan87 on Oct 7, 2018 16:41:40 GMT -5
So those would all be the first foreign line, even though Americans were on them. Ljn was the first American line I take it. I guess so: LJN 1984, Remco 1985. I have always heard AWA beat WWF to market. The WWF magazines that show the figures for the first time were early to mid 85 at Toy Fair. Even with a lead to get photos and print, it would have been likely just after WM1 that they were released at the absolute earliest.
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Oct 8, 2018 2:40:20 GMT -5
I guess so: LJN 1984, Remco 1985. I have always heard AWA beat WWF to market. The WWF magazines that show the figures for the first time were early to mid 85 at Toy Fair. Even with a lead to get photos and print, it would have been likely just after WM1 that they were released at the absolute earliest. Was a bit confused about that myself: I also heard both got released in '85, with Remco beating LJN. Then again LJN series 1 reads 1984...
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Post by DZ: WF Legacy on Oct 8, 2018 3:14:16 GMT -5
That's pretty awesome! Thanks! Glad you liked it - I made that video From what I recall about my research for that video, there's the Gorgeous George doll, there's the late 60s JWA Japanese figures, and of course the Japanese Popy figures. The JWA figures are the first articulated figures known that I could find.
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Boon
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Post by Boon on Oct 8, 2018 7:34:48 GMT -5
That's pretty awesome! Thanks! Glad you liked it - I made that video From what I recall about my research for that video, there's the Gorgeous George doll, there's the late 60s JWA Japanese figures, and of course the Japanese Popy figures. The JWA figures are the first articulated figures known that I could find. I commented on one of your YT videos the other day, asking when are we getting some new videos???
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cwf84
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Post by cwf84 on Oct 8, 2018 12:26:00 GMT -5
It’s hard to believe with how popular wrestling was in Mexico, that stars like El Santo, Blue Demon, and others that had crossover appeal with movies, didn’t end up with some kind of toy in the 60s or 70s.
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Oct 8, 2018 12:42:12 GMT -5
It’s hard to believe with how popular wrestling was in Mexico, that stars like El Santo, Blue Demon, and others that had crossover appeal with movies, didn’t end up with some kind of toy in the 60s or 70s. Well, most Mexican figures are bootlegs/unofficial so it's hard to find a date. It's quite possible some El Santo figure existed in the '70s.
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Post by DZ: WF Legacy on Oct 8, 2018 15:41:38 GMT -5
Glad you liked it - I made that video From what I recall about my research for that video, there's the Gorgeous George doll, there's the late 60s JWA Japanese figures, and of course the Japanese Popy figures. The JWA figures are the first articulated figures known that I could find. I comment on one of your YT videos the other day, asking when are we getting some new videos??? Sorry to keep you waiting. Had some things I had to get through, but I'm working on it again. Hoping to relaunch in 2 months.
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Boon
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Post by Boon on Oct 8, 2018 18:19:04 GMT -5
I comment on one of your YT videos the other day, asking when are we getting some new videos??? Sorry to keep you waiting. Had some things I had to get through, but I'm working on it again. Hoping to relaunch in 2 months. Look forward to them, p.s I am subscribed to you on YT.
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Post by snowjorden on Oct 9, 2018 1:16:51 GMT -5
Watched the video earlier today on my TV. Very awesome, very professional. Seriously, good work.
I was so sad when it cut off at Hasbro though. I want to see a Hasbro/Galoob, OSFTM/Bendem & Jakks continuation video now.
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wormnation
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Post by wormnation on Oct 9, 2018 12:28:14 GMT -5
So if LJNs are the first American wrestling figures, this Lewco Thunderlips figure can technically be considered the first wrestling figure. Kind of. Sort of. Maybe.
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Oct 9, 2018 13:26:25 GMT -5
So if LJNs are the first American wrestling figures, this Lewco Thunderlips figure can technically be considered the first wrestling figure. Kind of. Sort of. Maybe. AFAIK Thunderlips was by Appleworks, but yes: Hogan's first U.S. figure(c)1985 (however the figure itself reads (c)1983 United Artists Corp.)
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wormnation
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Post by wormnation on Oct 9, 2018 14:11:43 GMT -5
So if LJNs are the first American wrestling figures, this Lewco Thunderlips figure can technically be considered the first wrestling figure. Kind of. Sort of. Maybe. AFAIK Thunderlips was by Appleworks, but yes: Hogan's first U.S. figure(c)1985 (however the figure itself reads (c)1983 United Artists Corp.) We are both wrong. It was Phoenix Toys. But it says released in 1983 and thunderlips was a wrestler so it is technically a figure of a wrestler. But I get it.
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Oct 9, 2018 15:29:49 GMT -5
AFAIK Thunderlips was by Appleworks, but yes: Hogan's first U.S. figure(c)1985 (however the figure itself reads (c)1983 United Artists Corp.) We are both wrong. It was Phoenix Toys. But it says released in 1983 and thunderlips was a wrestler so it is technically a figure of a wrestler. But I get it. Phoenix Toys were the Rocky figures, Thunderlips was a seperate release. Attachment Deleted
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wormnation
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Joined on: Sept 8, 2018 9:15:31 GMT -5
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Post by wormnation on Oct 9, 2018 17:06:04 GMT -5
We are both wrong. It was Phoenix Toys. But it says released in 1983 and thunderlips was a wrestler so it is technically a figure of a wrestler. But I get it. Phoenix Toys were the Rocky figures, Thunderlips was a seperate release. L.I.B.... my bad. Didn't realize it was separate.
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