Dad's Dish Retro Review

2014-10-14T21:06:00.001-06:00

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Little Van Goes by TOMY Toys

2012-06-30T22:24:00.004-06:00

I had the honor of writing an article for the website "Artifact Collectors" this week. It revolved around one of my favorite toys as a kid called "Little Van Goes". The toy was released in 1978 during the height of the van customization craze that was sweeping the U.S. It was a toy which allowed you to design your own custom van creations on paper, and you could then further customize your van by means of coloring.

The link to my article is located here. Check it out if you can!

Dad's Retro phrase of the week..

2012-02-26T13:05:00.002-07:00

"Use it up.. Wear it out.. Make it do.. or do without"

An old adage that was a favorite of folks from the depression era. They went through such tough times, most were thrifty, industrious, and incredibly handy. I always thought that if things went south in the U.S. like they did during the depression, folks my Grandparents age would definitely be able to handle it a lot better than the younger folks would.

I can see a definite change in consumerism from when I was a kid to now. My mom used to sew patches on my jeans during the summer, or convert pants that I had outgrown into shorts. I wouldn't get new shoes until the beginning of the new school year. My old man used to re-purpose old product tins and jars for use around the house and garage, and my mom would never let any food go to waste.. even if it meant eating meals made with squash for 5 days in a row.

Now people throw items out that while broken, are still totally repairable. Some folks simply throw away perfectly useable items just because they are a little worn. It's become all too easy to run to the local Wal-Mart and buy more cheap plastic crap, or imported junk. The cheaply made products have considerably less of a life span than products of years past. While I opt to "Use it up, wear it out, and make it work".. you can only get so much life out of an inferior product.

That's why I love buying vintage whenever possible. I own items ranging from thermoses to electric razors that are twenty to forty years old. What's more, these items outperform their modern day counterparts, and will still function properly for decades to come. I recommend doing this if you possibly can. The quality and craftsmanship of older products will no doubt impress you. You may also feel a sense of self worth knowing that your efforts in re-purposing and recycling, can help to keep landfills from filling up with as much garbage and "cheap plastic crap".

The fact that you can get quality products for dirt cheap at thrift stores, flea markets, etc., is icing on the cake!

Thrift store curio and oddities

2012-02-03T13:05:00.001-07:00

I didn't find much that made its way home with me this week during my retro treasure hunts, but there was plenty of items that caught my eye..

Urban Cowboy (on VideoDisc)

Avacado planter (I think)

Candy jar (reminded me of my Grandma)

I dunno.. a candle castle?

Pirate themed bowling pin coin bank

Hey.. whatever it takes to get kids to save money!

You want respect? Just wear a GINORMOUS badge!

Vintage tin recipe box

I did buy this for 49¢ and plan on using it

Dad's retro phrase of the week..

2012-01-30T19:06:00.001-07:00

"Crap or get off the pot"

Meaning.. hurry up! A saying that I don't often hear too much these days (at least from folks under the age of forty).

Dad's Retro Phrase of the week..

2012-01-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

"Good riddance to bad rubbish"

A saying with European origin from what I understand. My Grandfather used this phrase on occasion, and I use it quite often.

Dad's retro phrase of the week

2012-01-09T20:24:00.001-07:00

"Judas Priest!"

As a kid, I remember folks my parents age uttering this saying as an alternative to taking the Lord's name in vain. Wonder how many strange looks I'll garner from uttering this retro phrase throughout the week?

Dad's retro phrase of the week

2011-12-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

-Benjamin Franklin

Good old Ben sure knew what he was talking about, because when I get plenty of sleep.. I feel like a new man! I've got the "early to rise" part down pat, as I wake up between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. on most days. My "early to bed" habits however are horrid. The older I get, the more I feel the adverse effects from lack of sleep. (yet another example of how I'm slowly but surely turning into my father)

Dad's retro phrase of the week

2011-12-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

"Almost.. only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

This phrase has always been a self motivator for me..

albeit a bit cynical.

Retro sayings to use when you really dig something..

2010-11-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Tired of using the same old sayings to express your fondness or excitement about things you adore? Here's a few retro sayings you can use in lieu of current boring standbys such as, "I really like.." or "I really love.."

The Bee's Knees
example: I stumbled upon a retro web site called Dads Dish, and by golly.. it's the Bee's Knees!

The Cats pajamas
example: Have you seen the new Chevy Camaro? It's truly the Cats pajamas!

The Cats Meow
example: That new restaurant we went to last night was really the Cat's Meow!

Over the moon
example: I'm over the moon about those new fudge covered OREO's!

The Most
example: I met a girl named Mary Lou, and let me tell you.. that girl is the most!

Try using these around your folks, grandparents, and the elderly, and see what kind of reactions you get. I know there's more great ones out there, so if there are any cool and unique sayings you like to use, please share! I'm always looking for new retro phrases and saying to work into my vernacular.

GoRetroGirl's Favorite Childhood Toys

2010-09-06T21:38:00.000-06:00

Hi there, Dads Dish readers! This is Pam from Go Retro. As you may already know, Darrin and I are collaborating to do some cross posting on each others blogs and as a start I suggested discussing some of our favorite toys from our childhood. And then I realized...

...that coming up with a favorite toy list proved much harder than I originally thought. I was a lucky kid; I had SO many favorites, so how I could possibly widdle it down? So to prevent this list from becoming 50 items long, I’m choosing five of my most memorable. One interesting personal observation: it wasn’t until the 80s that a lot of my requested items for Christmas and my birthday required batteries – the “technology” of the time was definitely spawning hand held electronic games and educational devices. I may have to save some of those for a possible part 2 to this post, but here’s some of the ones I spent the most spare time with during the 70s.

Inch Worm
Hasbro’s ride-on Inch Worm (pictured above) was awesome! I must confess if an adult version were available today, I’d be the first to hop on and take it for a spin. The Inch Worm was a ride-on toy that would ratchet forward much like a real inch worn when you hopped up and down on it. Since I was a tall kid, I was pretty disappointed when the day arrived where I realized I was too big to ride it anymore. Even though Radio Flyer now manufactures it, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the 70s version.

Fisher Price Little People Sets
Fisher Price’s cheerful Little People play sets ruled – I had the farm, and a Sesame Street set done Little People style, but my favorite was the castle because it included a drawbridge that actually creaked open and shut, a dragon, horses and knights, a princess, and all kinds of trap doors and compartments. Just the ticket when you're an imaginative 4 year-old. By the way, I see Fisher Price updated the design and pieces with a new look - me no like! The original vintage model is much more charming.

Sears Kombi Kitchen Set
Years ago my father and I watched a Mad TV skit where a father goes loony trying to put together an impossible-to-assemble rocking horse on Christmas Eve for his daughter. I found out that evening that the Kombi Kitchen set was my father's rocking horse. Keep in mind that this was a man who was extremely proficient at fixing or making anything with his hands; at the time he passed away he was in the process of building a one-passenger airplane in the basement, so this kitchen set had to be one horrid piece of work to put together. Fortunately for the both of us, I loved this thing – a child sized stove, fridge, and sink (complete with a window view.) My favorite accessories were the tiny pots and pans, rubber food, and fake cans and boxes of well-known food and cleaning brands. When I think about it, Sears probably had to pay to get permission to use the logos and looks on the mini packaging. I also had a tot-sized shopping cart. Now how come grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning is never as much fun as when you were a kid?

Easy-Bake Oven
Of course! Every girl I know had an Easy Bake oven. Mine was a Holly Hobby model and therefore, was sort of old fashioned styled, with a Little House On the Prairie look to it. I don’t know why the Easy Bake oven appeals to so many kids except 1. The cakes are tiny and therefore, super cute, and 2. All you had to add to the mix was water. I seem to remember, however, not bothering to buy more mix once I ran out of the pouches that came with the oven. By then I must have graduated to making real cakes with my mother.

Cardboard Playhouse
I seem to remember this was a mail order product affiliated with a food brand (like Campbell’s soup) and I loved this thing. It was a cardboard cottage that you put together and had a door and a window. It was easy to assemble and take apart so that I could also use it outside. I ate snacks in it, took naps in it, and our two Siamese cats would often join me for a visit.

Remote-controlled R2D2
The tomboy in me had a few Star Wars toys, including the three story space station, which I loved, but I consider this particular item a very special item…I’ve never even met a guy who can say he owned one. It is a remote control R2D2 that beeps and moves. It was available for Christmas the same year Star Wars was released, and it was the impossible toy to get your hands on that season. My parents called around and managed to find a store that had one left…in the storage area…they held it for them. I still have this little guy, because I wonder if he may be a collector’s item. I still have the box and packaging, instructions, and remote control unit, and I removed the batteries years ago so that they wouldn’t leak and corrode. One of these days I plan on putting in fresh batteries to see if he still works.

Ah, OK, so I ended up listing six. How could I leave anything out? This is just begging for a Part 2 list at some point.

Want to share your most memorable toys growing up? Please do! And, oh, don't forget to check out Darrin's faves lists over at Go Retro!

The McDonald's Mega Mac

2010-02-28T14:39:00.001-07:00

My good friend "Doc" Moore e-mailed me recently during his vacation in Japan. Knowing of my fast food fanaticism, he wrote to inform me about a new hamburger that McDonald's was promoting overseas called "The MEGA MAC." This hamburger was just like the regular Big Mac, but with four beef patties instead of two! He told me he planned on trying one, and promised me details and pictures of his adventure as soon as he got back to the states. I quickly checked the McDonald's web-site to see if there was any chance that the promotion would be heading to the U.S. The web-site had no information on the MEGA MAC, so all I could do was send their customer service department an e-mail, and wait for a response.

A couple of days later, Doc e-mailed me and confirmed that he had in fact dined on the massive "Mega Mac", and sent me details and pictures for all to see..

Good Old "Doc" outside a Mickey D's in Japan.

As you can see.. he can hardly wait to make his lower G.I. tract and arteries earn their pay! Many people wonder why anyone would try eating one of these monsters. For people like me and Doc, it's probably for the same reason a mountain climber desires to a conquer a new peak... because it's there!

Doc and the Behemoth MEGA MAC!

Here's Doc with the Monster he soon after devoured.
So how was it? Here's his blow by blow account..

"I managed to make it to McDonalds and had myself a Mega Mac, I just had to try it. I felt like my cholesterol went up ten points for eating it though. I got a few pictures and got a short video of me holding it. It was not much of a burger. The patties were small, I assume it has about the same amount of meat as a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese (which is my McDonalds weakness other than the Mc Rib). It looked impressive though. It was so damn greasy, that when I smashed it together to make it a little easier to eat, grease shot out of all sides and instantly soaked through the buns, it was kind of disturbing. Once I started to eat it (after the grease explosion) I squished it together, and there was not much more to take pics of. It was a mess and fell apart. The burger was no better than a normal Big Mac and to be honest, I never eat Big Macs. I always go for the Quarter Pounder with cheese or "McRib" myself! I am sure I will have a stomach ache later from eating all of that grease."

He came.. he ate.. he conquered! Thank you Doc Moore, for pushing that pile of saturated fat through your cardiovascular system... all for the sake of our curious minds. We salute you!

Why We'll most likely never see the MEGA MAC in the U.S...

The same day that Doc sent me the information on the Mega Mac, I also received a response from McDonald's customer response center. I had originally asked them if there were any plans on bringing The MEGA MAC to the states, and their response was as follows..

Hello Darrin:
Thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's with your questions about the Mega Mac Sandwich served in Japan.

Before we open restaurants in other parts of the world, we study the culture to determine local customer preferences. In most cases, we serve not only our standard menu items, but occasionally we try to offer items which reflect that country's culture. Because customers tastes, customs and dietary preferences vary from country to country, you will find menu items tailored for a specific countries customers, that may not be offered elsewhere.

We operate our restaurants on the philosophy that "the customer is the reason for our business." Ultimately, it's our customers who decide what products we offer.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's. We hope to serve you again soon under the Golden Arches.
Latonya
McDonald's Customer Response Center

Choosing to read between the lines, I took this response to mean "No".

I guess I can't blame them for not bringing this sandwich to the U.S. McDonald's is already under a microscope and has been picked on a lot over the last few years by advocate groups and greedy lawyers. They've been blamed for having a huge part in grossly contributing to America's obesity epidemic, as well as our nation's increase in diabetes.

BUT... don't pee on my neck and tell me that it's raining. I don't believe for one minute that McDonald's did research, and found that Japanese customs reflect that an artery pounding Monster Burger such as this one, is a good fit with the Japanese culture. Rather.. it seems like Mickey D's is trying to push a bit of our Western culture on them. Getting them used to the "Bigger is Better" mentality, and having it permeate their culture could only mean more dollars for McDonald's in the future. Do I truly believe that this is part of some "master plan" by McDonald's? I don't know. The whole deal just kind of seems weird to me.

Various McDonalds promotions feature healthy good looking people sometimes participating in vigorous physical activities. These ads and promotions look like an advertisment for a health food store rather than a fast food restaurant. Please.. quit trying to act like something you're not! Mickey D's has tried really hard to change their image over the last few years, and maybe it's worked for them. I'm sure it's at least helped them to keep a lower profile and get people off of their back, but this American isn't buying it. The new leather couches, the fancy architecture, and the wireless internet aren't blinding me. McDonalds is what it is, a fast food restaurant, and I'll never view them as anything otherwise.

7 Days of toys Day 6 AND 7...

2009-12-12T10:25:00.011-07:00

Sorry about skipping a day in my 7 days of toys series, but my trusty and faithful companion "Toshi" has sadly passed. Toshi was my super fast, super reliable 5 year old Toshiba Laptop. She was with me back when I first embarked upon blogging, and it makes me sad when I think of the thousands of hours I spent writing and creating with her.

So begins my hunt for a new laptop that can measure up to the power, speed, and reliability of Toshi. I will have limited access to a computer for this next week, so I'm posting my final two days worth of toys on one single post.

I might write a few shorter posts via my cell phone this week if any thoughts or ideas are fighting to make their way out of my head. Now.. on to the toys!

Barney Rubble ..

This is one of those toys in my collection that I'm kind of fuzzy about. All I know about it, is that it's a licensed Hanna Barbera figure, and that I believe I got it in the late 1970's or early 80's. I might have gotten it out of a bubble gum machine, or possibly from a kids meal.

The Burger King

This is a Burger King eraser/pencil topper from 1970's. These are from the days when a real live person actually acted, and appeared in commercials as "The Burger King". No kids.. there was no creepy lifeless dummy with the frozen expression that they use in the commercials today.

Do any of you old folks like me need your memory jogged? Check out the vintage commercial below..

And another.. pre-dating the live action King.

Aw heck... since I won't be blogging very much this week, here's a bonus toy from my collection. My old Duncan Yo-yo!

Yo-yo's are the second oldest toy in the world right after dolls. They were originally created as a weapon which interestingly enough, my friends and I sometimes utilized them for (don't tell my mom). My how times have changed when kids don't even know how to use a yo-yo properly. I'd go as far to say that some kids couldn't even tell you what a yo-yo is!

My very first yo-yo was an Orange and white Duncan Butterfly that my old man bought me. I wore that one out and broke it beyond repair, and I replaced it with this red one with gold lettering. I went through endless yo-yo strings, and could do some pretty fancy tricks like walking the dog, going around the world, and skinning the cat. Check out a commercial from Duncan yo-yo's glory days..

I can honestly say that I haven't seen any children (other than my own) playing with a yo-yo for at least two decades. When I was a kid, every one I knew had yo-yo's. They were a great toy you could carry around in your pocket, and it gave you something to do anywhere you were other than church and in the car. They were also great for building a child's hand and eye coordination. I wonder.. are yo-yo's even readily available for purchase these days?

7 Days of toys.. Day 5. The Pillsbury Doughboy

2009-12-10T18:40:00.001-07:00

Remember how many great advertising characters there used to be on television? The Dow scrubbing Bubbles, Twinkie the Kid, The Frito Bandito, Sugar Bear, and Tony the Tiger, all helped to sell billions of dollars worth of products for their respective companies.

While some advertising characters are still alive and well.. many are mere shells of what they used to be in their glory days. One character who has stood the test of time however is the Pillsbury Doughboy. Here's a vinyl Doughboy doll and key-chain from my toy collection..

Did you know that in the mid 1970's there was an entire Doughboy family? The Doughboy.. who is really named Poppin' Fresh, had a wife named Poppie Fresh, a child named Baby Bun Bun, grandparents named Grandmommer, and Grandpopper, and a puppy named Flapjack!! All characters were available in toy form, and if you're looking to form your own Poppin' fresh family, you can occasionally find them for sale on ebay.

7 Days of toys.. Day 4. Electronic Touchdown

2009-12-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

Back in the day, Sears and Montgomery Wards were both veritable smorgasbords for kids toys. My mom visited both stores often, and bought my brother and I this Electronic Touchdown game back in 1978. This was a liscensed game made by Coleco, exclusively available for purchase at Sears. Coleco's version of the game was called "Electronic Quarterback". It looked identical except for the sticker color which was green or blue, and of course a Coleco logo in place of the Sears logo.

No fancy graphics on these old LED games, that's for sure! Your players were little red dashes, and the football was a dot, not very much bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. The game was actually cutting edge back in 1978, because you had two blockers you could control to protect your quarterback until he had a clear throw. You could also play one or two player games which my brother and I did quite often.

I remember playing this game literally for hours on end, and it felt as if I was always begging my mom to buy me more 9 volt batteries. The bright red LED display was perfect for allowing me to play the game under my covers at night when I was supposed to be sleeping. However.. the loud fan fare that played when you scored a touchdown actually gave me away, and got me in trouble on more than one occasion on school nights!!

My how things have changed! I wonder how many minutes a kid of the 21st century could play this game before being totally bored senseless?

7 Days of toys.. Day 3. McDonald's toys

2009-12-08T21:55:00.001-07:00

These are McWrist wallets (secret compartment watches) from 1977. There were several colors of these made, featuring different McDonald Land characters on the faces of the watches. The two watches shown below both feature Ronald McDonald. You can click on the images to see larger pictures.

The first one of these watches I ever got was personally handed to me in a goodie bag by Ronald McDonald himself at a McDonald's grand opening in Pomona California! It was a yellow Hamburgler watch, which unfortunately broke long ago. I wore that watch everywhere, and often used it to carry a dollars worth of quarters. My friends and I would also use them to carry secret spy messages, notes, etc.

Side note: Did I mention that this was a Pre-Happy Meal toy? Lots of goodies like rings, hand puppets, etc. were given out years before happy meals were even offered!

7 Days of toys.. Day 2. The Bendy Cowboy

2009-12-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you much about this guy except that he's a 30 something year old bendy figure, and that my mom bought it for me during a road trip at a Stuckey's roadside convenience store. He stands about 4 and 1/2 inches tall and other than the words "HONG KONG" has no distinguishable copyright or toy company markings.

I also had an Indian bendy figure that my mom bought me along with the cowboy. His weapons in hand were a bow and arrow, and he had a cool looking headdress. I believe he broke and was thrown out many moons ago. The bendy cowboy and Indian provided me with endless hours of play, and I even remember incorporating them into adventures with my Star Wars action figures. Ah memories!