#popculture84: Mighty Orbots: The Other Transforming Robots

The life and premature death of this Saturday-morning animated series about robots who also were more than met the eye.

by Rich Watson 

To a Generation X kid growing up in the eighties, cartoons about transforming robots were the coolest thing since light sabers. They usually were made in Japan, and we were learning that Japanese animation looked way better and had more action than what we were used to seeing.

In a year, 1984, in which transforming robots were hot, ABC released one series less remembered today than the others, called Mighty Orbots.

Five Types of Hess Toy Trucks

For almost sixty years, the Hess Corporation has created top-quality toys of their vehicles.

by Rich Watson 

It doesn’t seem likely that toy vehicles used to promote an oil company would be a thing, but it is—and has been for sixty years. 

I should know: I loved Hess toy trucks as a kid. Every time we passed a Hess gas station, it seemed, I’d beg my parents to buy me a toy truck. I remember seeing the TV commercials, the photos in Sears catalogs, and something about these toys made me want them.

Knowing they’re still around today almost makes me want one again!

CONTINUE

Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs and Other Building Toys

Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs have come a long way from their beginnings as simple building toys.

by Rich Watson 

Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs were among my favorite toys as a kid. I studied visual art for years, but I didn’t aspire to be an engineer or an architect. I just enjoyed the thrill of building things with my toys.

They’re still made. They rank among the oldest American-made toys on the market.

CONTINUE