Freddy (LJN / Entertech)

Freddy
LJN / Entertech
1988 

Good ol' LJN. You can always count on them for some obscure, long forgotten gem of the 80's. Take for example their Freddy line from 1988. Because the company was synonymous with inconsistency, there wasn't any real focus for what they released. One second they were releasing a "figure", the next a squirt toy and the next a squish ball. You'll find all of those here.

First up is the Freddy Figure. No, you won't find any points of articulation here. That's because this toy was actually a bendable. The tagline on the package even states, "Bend him, twist him, you can't destroy him."

 Freddy Figure

Next up is the Freddy Squish 'Em. It's kind of the same concept as the figure, but a little smaller in size. "Squash, Squish, Flatten and Floor 'Em!" A Freddy stress ball if you will.

 Freddy Squish'Em

The final two pieces released in the line were under LJN's Entertech Brand. Yes, the company behind all of those awesome water guns from the 80's which looked and, with a little imagination, sounded like a real gun. Because it was under this banner, it's no surprise that the last two items were also water themed.

You have the Freddy Spitballs, which is a two pack of heads - Freddy and a victim. Fill them with water, and with a good squeeze, squirt away!

 Freddy Spitballs

Last released was the Freddy Fright Squirter. While it's the same concept, fill it with water, then squirt to your heart's content, this one actually fit on top of your hand. You know, making it look like you had a severed Freddy head in your hand. Um...Cool?

 Freddy Fright Squirter

In general, Freddy Krueger based toys were not popular in the 80's, well, with parents anyway. As such, not too many kids actually got their hands on these things, and their overall shelf life was relatively short. Too bad Matchbox didn't get the memo when they proceeded in 1989 with their own Freddy based products. Oops...

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.

A Nightmare On Elm Street and MAXx FX Now Showing (Matchbox)

A Nightmare On Elm Street
Matchbox
1989

Ah, the classic hack and slash horror icons of the 80's. Michal Myers, Jason Vorhees, Chucky - The list goes on and on - And of course includes the infamous Freddy Krueger.

Today we're going to take a look at two separate A Nightmare on Elm Street series from Matchbox. The first is their classic Talking Freddy Krueger doll.

On today's markets, a Freddy Krueger doll would do (and has done) fantastic in terms of sales. However, in 1989 nutty groups were everywhere ready to protest the slightest thing. Matchbox found themselves in such a predicament, and after numerous complaints from the American Family Association the doll was yanked from shelve.

Unfortunately when it's the 1980's, and you create a doll based on a character that was born of a raped nun, and burned by a community for molesting children, people oddly enough have a problem with this for some reason. Despite this, many folks must have gotten their hands on them some way or another as there have been numerous dolls available both open and sealed on numerous secondary markets.

The doll measured eighteen inches high, and featured Freddy in his iconic red and green sweater - And of course the hat. On his right hand was his razor glove. In short, there was no mistaking this doll for who he was supposed to be.

On the back of the doll was a pull string, which activated it's talking feature. Freddy would say one of six phrases - Albeit some were very out of character;

"Hi, I'm Freddy."
"Let's be friends."
"Wa-Ha ha ha ha!"
"Pleasant dreams!"
"Welcome to Elm Street."
"Watch out, Freddy's back!"

Pretty hit or miss in terms of what you would expect to hear from Freddy's mouth.

MAXx FX Now Showing
Matchbox
1989

Freddy was incorporated into the MAXx FX line in 1989, and actually released prior to the talking Freddy doll. It consequently suffered the same complaints as the aforementioned one.

An entire series was planned under the banner which would have included Dracula, Frankenstein, and the awesome looking Alien from the movie of the same name. Sadly only Freddy made it to store shelves - Briefly of course.

While we'd love to say more on these particular dolls, truth be told, we really can't say it better than it comes straight from the horses mouth, Mel Brinkrant. For a fuller history on these dolls, we highly recommend that you visit his site.

Join us next time when we take a look at Edward Scissorhands!

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.