Gremlins Cereal (Ralston)

Gremlins Cereal
Ralston
1984

Looks like mini Gizmos. Tastes like Mr. T cereal. Considering the two came out the same year, I don't think that's a coincidence in any way. Ralston literally took the same recipe, smashed it in different molds, and slapped a new label on it. Unique in a way that this allowed for many new branded cereals for the time. Lame, because it was the same cereal.

Gremlins Cereal offered two promotions during its very limited run. The first was a plush Gizmo, which was produced and sponsored in part by Hasbro and offered as a mail away incentive. As such, these plush dolls could also easily be purchased at most retailers which sold toys during the same time period.

The second was a set of eleven stickers. These were randomly inserted into specially marked boxes, one sticker per box. These are the same stickers produced and released by Topps for their 1984 trading card set. Essentially, you didn't need to buy cereal boxes to get them all, as they could easily be obtained from wax packs.

Considering both promotions were readily available via multiple avenues, they're pretty poor incentives. At least in my opinion they are.

The cereal didn't survive all that long in 1984, and was quickly shuffled off of shelves prior to the end of the year to make way for the next branded one to take its place...Probably Mr. T.

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Painted Memories: Don't Let Them Get Wet After Midnight in the Sunlight

Please share your own thoughts, memories and stories in the comment section.

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Gremlins (LJN)

Gremlins
LJN
1984

"Keep him out of the light. He hates bright light, especially sunlight. It'll kill him. And, keep him away from water. Don't get him wet. But, the most important rule, the rule you can never forget...no matter how much he cries, or how much he begs...never, never feed him after midnight."

Those three...nonsensical rules. Okay, fine. Keep it out of light. That could quite possibly work if the owner lived in the dark him or herself. But those other two...Never get him wet, and don't feed him after midnight? Okay, doesn't he ever have to drink? I mean, every living creature on this Earth, to and include plant life needs water to live. Once it takes a drink at the very least it's lips are going to get wet. Does it also never need to eat? Ever since the first day this planet came to be, once it hit midnight on that day it's been after midnight ever since. So, maybe is it a time frame we shouldn't be feeding our Mogwai's? Like maybe between midnight and eight AM? But, then again, what time zone? Hmm...

Gremlins was the third film by Steven Speilberg's studio, Amblin Entertainment. It was released in 1984, and touted as a horror/comedy film. Budgeted at just eleven million dollars, the film became an instant success, bringing in over one hundred million dollars in box office ticket sales.

The film starred the unknown Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer, and the quickly up and coming Phoebe Cates as his girlfriend, Kate Beringer. The film also starred a very young Corey Feldman as Billy's much younger friend, Pete Fountaine, and Howie Mandel who provided the voice for Gizmo.

In conjunction with the film, LJN produced a variety of toys. Much like prior LJN merchandise, there was no set scheme to the series as it incorporated various sizes, and features into each piece - A common practice for the company during the 80's. Items ranged from poseable to bendable, wind-up and more.

Poseable Gizmo (Small)

 

Bendable Stripe (Small)

 

Poseable Gizmo (Large)*Poseable Stripe (Large)

 

 

Stripe and Gizmo Storage Pods

 

Wind-Ups Gizmo*Wind-Ups Stripe

 

Collectible Figures Three Pack with Gizmo, Stripe Mogwai and Stripe Gremlin

Despite it's massive instant popularity, the film wouldn't see a sequel until 1990. Though it was highly anticipated, it was poorly recieved. The film was budgeted at fifty million dollars, and only managed to recoup forty-one million in US box office sales.

As for the toys, they remained popular during the 80's, but these days don't sell to well - Especially if they're not sealed in the package, and even that's hit or miss. The larger poseable figures have sold for upwards of $40.00. The remaining pieces in the series go for a couple bucks (typically for no more than $10.00) here and there, but usually remain unsold.

Join us next time when we take a look at TV's How The West Was Won!

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Gremlins (Neca)

Keep them out of light, especially sunlight - it will kill them. Don't ever get them wet. But the most important thing, the thing you must never forget....no matter how much they cry, no matter how much they beg, never, never feed them after midnight!


I personally never understand why toy companies produce toys that are years beyond their prime. But, don't get me wrong, some of these are great toys they're just too late to catch the majority of people's attention.

In 2003, NECA produced a series of four figures based on the 1980's films Gremlins, and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. The figures ranged from 4 to 6.5 inches each, and came packed with a great assortment of accessories.

The series included;

Gizmo - Measures 4" tall. Articulation: ball jointed neck, shoulders, forearms, swivel waist Accessories: 3-D Glasses and Baby Mogwai Puff Balls.

Stripe - Measures 6.5" tall. Articulation: ball jointed neck and shoulders, elbows, wrists, v-crotch Accessories: saw blade, assortment of candy, bag of popcorn, and rooted hair.

Brain - Measures 6.5" tall. Articulation: ball jointed neck, ball jointed shoulders, elbows, wrists, v-crotch Accessories: removable glasses, text book, and beaker/flask.

Poker Player - Measures 6.5" tall. Articulation: ball jointed neck, ball jointed shoulders, elbows, wrists, v-crotch Accessories: removable visor, single card that pins to ear, hand of cards, pile of popcorn, cookies, and poker chips.

Despite being great sculpts, the figures failed to find success, probably due to the high price tag of each figure (approximately $12 to $15 each), and the unsold units were quickly moved to the clearance isle.

If you hit places like Toys R' Us, you can find some of the figures here and there (in the clearance isles), but for the most part the series has dwindled away. Secondary market dealers attempt to get about $20.00 per figure, but for the most part they don't sell.

The attention to detail is amazing (though I don't know why Gizmo has a neck), and these figures are definitely worth adding to your collection, but finding them at a reasonable price is a challenge in and of itself.

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