Terrific non-TV Toys: Pretty Changes Barbie by Mattel

Accessorizing is everything, you know, when you're a girl who loves fashion! And the latest episode of the Terrific non-TV Toys web series indulges your love of fashion choices. In 1979, Mattel released the Pretty Changes Barbie, which offered an array of looks in one lovely package. See her and (almost) every one of her pieces and parts, from BRB's childhood collection ...

According to Mattel's website, Pretty Changes Barbie came in two variations, one with a bottle of perfume, below, and yellow nylon jumpsuit, and one that came without the perfume but in a satin jumpsuit, above. It's the one above you'll see in this episode of Terrific non-TV Toys.

Photos from Barbie.Mattel.com and Collector Books.

 

"Dukes of Hazzard" stars have appearances lined up for May and beyond

Thanks to Phyllis, Cooter's Place and our friend Brian for the latest appearances and happenin's for the "Dukes of Hazzard" cast members ...

May 5
Come see Ben “Cooter” Jones playing music from 1 to 3 p.m. and then meeting fans after from 3 to 4 p.m.! (Free concert, free autographs)
Cooter’s in Luray, Virginia
4768 U.S. Highway 211 West
Luray, VA 22835
540-843-2515

May 12
Dukes of Hazzard Fan Get-Together at Cooter’s Place in Luray, VA
Cooter’s Place, Ben and Alma, and DukesCollector invite everyone who loves "The Dukes of Hazzard" to an old-fashioned Fan Get-Together at Cooter’s In The Valley in Luray on May 12. Just like the Old-Time Ridgerunners reunion in the "Dukes" episode “Days of Shine and Roses,” we welcome all fans to meet up, share "Dukes" stories, show off their "Dukes" cars and collectibles, meet fellow fans, and have a good ol’ "Dukes" time. Featuring music by Cooter’s Garage Band, "Dukes of Hazzard" trivia, Lego Master Cody from C3Brix, and Dave’s travelling "Dukes of Hazzard" Museum. Bring your scale model General Lee, your life-size General Lee, your favorite collectible, your favorite "Dukes of Hazzard" fan, your most cherished story, your most cherished autograph ... and the whole family!
Cooter’s in Luray, Virginia
4768 U.S. Highway 211 West
Luray, VA 22835
540-843-2515

John ("Bo Duke") Schneider will be in concert at the Twisted J - Bar, Backyard and Live Music Venue in Stephenville, Texas, on May 12. Get your tickets.

August 10-12
The Big Three of the "Dukes" -- John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach -- will be at the Steel City Con near Pittsburgh on August 10-12. Visit the site to learn more.

December 1-2
After the success of last weekend's Bo's Extravaganza event, Schneider has decided to have another event at John Schneider Studios. This event is called Bo's Christmas "Bozaar" and will be on December 1-2 at John Schneider Studios! Tickets are on sale now and prices will go up later so buy your tickets today! Get more information and tickets.

"Six Feet Under" Blog profiles where our beloved departed "Dukes" stars are laid to rest

Our friend Brian Lombard is at it again, this time turning to Hazzard County in his "Six Feet Under Hollywood" blog. In this morning's post, he shows us where the cast members of "The Dukes of Hazzard" who have gone on to their great reward have been laid to rest. Sorrell Booke, Denver Pyle, Waylon Jennings, Peggy Rea, Christopher Mayer, James Best, Parley Baer ... you know the list if you're a "Dukes" fan. Take a little Hazzard history lesson and a road trip on the Six Feet Under blog ...

 

Terrific TV Toys: Miss Piggy plush doll by Fisher-Price

What an interesting premise for a TV show -- a bunch of puppets running their own TV show. That was "The Muppet Show," an outgrowth of a series everyone grew up with, "Sesame Street." Jim Henson's Muppets aired in the evening, though, capturing also a wide adult audience in its original run from 1976 to 1981. And one of the stars of that show, voiced and operated by Frank Oz, was the unstoppable, French-speaking, lavender-wearing, karate-chopping Miss Piggy.

Fisher-Price Toys released a couple "dress-up" dolls in 1980, one of Kermit the Frog and the one starring in this month's episode of Terrific TV Toys, Miss Piggy. She's all divine diva, as you will see ...

"Dynasty" fan adds to his screen-used clothing collection

We know Elizabeth Taylor never appeared on "Dynasty," but she sure could have. She did guest-star on daytime soap "General Hospital" back in the '80s, after all, in all her '80s-trademark beauty. So perhaps it seems fitting that a certain hard-core "Dynasty" fan, whose collection of gowns from the series we have profiled on this blog before, has branched out in his collecting. His latest acquisition is the lavender gown Ms. Taylor wore in the marketing campaign for her Passion perfume, shown below.

 

We had to ask how he acquired this magnificent piece. "The owner of it reached out to me three years ago through my blog," he says. "Three years later I finally got it! Was a long wait."

 

He also tells BRBTV: "I have a Linda Evans negligee on the horizon, too. Besides the Linda piece, this is my full collection minus sketches and smaller items."

 

 

 

How does he store or display these wonderful treasures? "I keep them in archival acid-free boxes and tissue paper. Put them on a mannequin for taking photos for my blog." He adds, "Not sure what I’m going to do for photographing the Elizabeth gown as she was MUCH shorter and curvier than the standard mannequin I have." 

 

He offers us this glimpse of the gown worn by Diahann Carroll above, along with photos of her in the gown for "Dynasty" / "The Colbys" ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there's this masterpiece ... This author remembers Joan Collins wearing this landmark outfit on the series. Red on red on red on red ... the ultimate in feminine power, right down to the red gloves and purse. Just love this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This collector enjoys his privacy, but he does have a blog that showcases more of his collection:

https://nolanmillercollector.blogspot.com/

 

Do you have any costumes or sketches from "Dynasty"? Share your collection! Email BRBTV at brb@brbtv.com, or this collector at NolanMillerCouture@yahoo.com.

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of the Nolan Miller Collector blog; please do not copy without permission.

 

TGIF: How about some action figure joy???

Here we are -- we made it to Friday. And some weeks, that's a bigger task than others! Especially when you're wrestling with an earth-shattering bug of some kind you caught last week ...

Anyway, Will Rodgers, author of "The Ultimate Super Friends Companion," offers us some action figure fun to lift our spirits and get us in the mood for the weekend. These photos of some figs from his collection were posted in the DC Comics Classic Animation: The Saturday Morning Era Fan Page on Facebook. They are from the recent DC comics blockbuster big-screen outings ...

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Will Rodgers; please do not copy without permission.

 

 

Terrific non-TV Toys: Archie Comics plush dolls by Mattel, Applause, Kelly Toys

If you've been watching the CW's "Riverdale," then you have a fresh, modern take on the characters of Archie Comics. We invite you to explore Archie's roots on the printed page in the March episode of the new "Terrific non-TV Toys" web series.

Inspired by the comics that began in the 1940s, these three plush dolls from three different eras are lively and fun. Take the 1977 Mattel Archie doll, part of a larger series the company released at that time, many of which can be snagged on eBay right now. Then there's the 1987 series by Applause / Presents, big and robust at 18-19" high. We complete the plush doll study with a Betty from the claw games at the mall or grocery store. She's from 2005 or so and also part of a larger set, all adorable in her jeans and shirt.

Terrific TV Toys: Ensign Chekov Transporter figure by Playmates

When "Star Trek" first aired in the late 1960s, Ensign Chekov was the young'un of the crew, reportedly brought in to appeal to a younger demographic for the show. Played by Walter Koenig, he was heavily accented and a bit of a Monkee or Beatle or something like that as he faithfully served his captain.

In 1998, Playmates captured that image of Chekov in one of a series of "Star Trek" action figures with an interesting interactive slant -- each character is on a Transporter pad ready to beam into action, and batteries (included!) light up the stand and their legs. It's a bit clever, if not totally accurate, and fun for any "Trek" fan. It's also the subject of this month's episode of Terrific TV Toys ...

When's the last time you dropped in on the Bat Cave?

And yea, that's "Bat Cave" with two words, because we're actually talking about a town, not the famous hideout of the Caped Crusader. Our roving reporter Jason snapped us these cool photos as he was out and about in North Carolina.

You'd think that was the best thing ever, to live in a town called Bat Cave, but this burg is actually all about the bats, not our hero Batman. Rats.

 

Photos by Jason G.; please don't copy without permission.

 

 

Next up for John Schneider: Detroit Autorama

If you're anywhere near Detroit this weekend, you can catch John ("Bo Duke") Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard" at the annual Autorama event happening at Cobo Hall. That's on Sunday only for him, but the day before, Schneider will be in concert at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, (Saturday, March 3). Get your tickets at
https://www.opry.com/calendar/grand-ole-opry-sat-3-mar.

Beyond that, our ole Bo will also be in concert at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri, on April 25. Get more information at https://us.eventbu.com/marshfield/2018-missouri-cherry-blossom-festival-in-marshfield-mo/6639283. Thanks once again to Phyllis for the heads-up!