Where No Toys Have Gone Before - Star Trek The 1970s Toy Boom

Where No Toys Have Gone Before - Star Trek Early Star Trek Toys (1967-1969)

The 1970s Toy Boom

A Personal Touch: Inheriting the Stars

You know, one of my favorite blog posts I ever wrote was called "Where No Toys Have Gone Before - Star Trek," and it's all about the fascinating world of vintage Star Trek toys.

It really dives into how Star Trek, which first hit our screens on September 8, 1966, changed science fiction forever. With Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy leading the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the show explored new worlds and promoted values like justice and peace in the 23rd century.

Gene Roddenberry, the show's creator, originally pitched it as a "Wagon Train to the Stars." But he had a deeper vision: to use science fiction to explore real-world issues like the Vietnam War and civil rights, cleverly getting past network censors. It's wild to think that this show, now a huge franchise with multiple spin-offs and movies, almost didn't make it! The first pilot, "The Cage," was deemed "too cerebral," and they even had issues with Spock looking "too satanic."

When Star Trek first aired, ratings were low, and NBC almost canceled it after the first season. It was only thanks to passionate fans and even Lucille Ball, whose Desilu Productions made the show, that it got two more seasons. Once it hit syndication in 1969, it became a massive cult phenomenon, leading to conventions and a flood of merchandise.

It's interesting to note that while the show started in 1966, most of the initial toys and memorabilia didn't come out until 1967 or later.

One of the earliest items was the Ideal Toy Company's Star Trek board game from 1967. It had cool illustrations of Kirk, Spock, and Uhura, and the goal was to navigate your spaceship from Earth to different planets and back.

Aluminum Metal Toys (AMT), famous for their car model kits, got the exclusive rights to make Star Trek plastic model kits. They released a U.S.S. Enterprise model kit in 1967, which even had battery-operated lights in its original version! Later, they added a Klingon Battle Cruiser and a Spock figure.

Remco also jumped into the Star Trek toy scene in 1967 with items like their "Tracer Gun" (a ray gun that shot plastic discs) and a "Tracer Scope" gun. Though some of these early guns were a bit generic, their packaging often featured fantastic graphics that collectors now highly seek. Remco later released a much-loved plastic Utility Belt Set, complete with a Phaser, Communicator, and Tricorder.

Other notable items from 1967 included a set of 72 Leaf trading cards with black and white photos, and a Mr. Spock children's Halloween costume by Ben Cooper. These are super rare now! Gold Key also started publishing a series of 61 Star Trek comic books in 1967, and the first Star Trek novel, Mission to Horatius, came out in 1968.

The 1970s brought a huge wave of Star Trek merchandise, largely thanks to Mego Corporation and Azrak-Hamway International, Inc. (AHI). Mego became a giant in the toy industry with their 8-inch action figures. Their Star Trek line, released in 1974, is considered one of their best. It included Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and a Klingon, with Lt. Uhura added later. These figures had detailed head sculpts, cloth costumes, and accessories like tricorders and phasers.

Mego also produced impressive playsets like the U.S.S. Enterprise bridge playset, which even had a "Transporter" function to make figures "disappear." While not perfectly screen-accurate, kids loved it, and it could fold up into a carry case. They also made a "Mission to Gamma VI" playset featuring an ancient temple and alien monsters. Mego's "Aliens" line of figures, including characters like the Gorn and Romulan, are incredibly hard to find today and can fetch hundreds of dollars.

When Star Trek: The Motion Picture came out in 1979, Mego released figures in smaller 3 ¾-inch and 12-inch scales, following the trend set by Star Wars toys.

AHI, known for their "rack toys," also released several popular, quirky Star Trek items, like a parachuting Mr. Spock figure and a U.S.S. Enterprise with a helicopter blade that could be launched into the sky. These items were often cheaper in quality and are now very rare to find in good condition.

Other memorable 70s collectibles include Book and Record sets from Peter Pan/Power Records, View-Master reels from GAF, Dr. Pepper drinking glasses, and various puzzles and activity books.

These toys brought countless hours of joy to kids back then. With new Star Trek movies and shows still coming out, it's great to see new generations of "Trekkers" and "Trekkies" get to experience the magic, and hopefully, enjoy their toys as much as we did (and still do!).

It's amazing to hear about the history of Satar Trek toys, and it's even more special when it's personal. For me, that history came alive because my parents were huge fans and collected all the original merchandise. When I was born, they passed that entire collection down to me. So, I truly was a Star Trek baby boomer, surrounded by the Enterprise, phasers, and tricorders from day one. It wasn't just a TV show or a line of toys; it was a part of my upbringing, a tangible connection to the optimism and adventure of the 23rd century that my parents cherished. Playing with those original pieces wasn't just fun; it was like stepping into their fandom, and now, it's a piece of my own story.

Yours for now, Captain Hedges