One more trip to the local Charity Shop and I found yet another Disney collectible. Sometimes there is nothing, and at other times it’s just an embarrassment of riches! Lately, I’ve been hitting it big.
So to speak. This Mickey Mouse figurine is just over 4″ tall but is actually big on character, and just happens to be ready for his close up:
“And… ACTION!”
Mickey has had just about as many occupations as Barbie, and that’s saying something! Here he moves away from the front of the camera to behind it for his directorial debut.
“Ah, Gee… What direction am I directing in? Ha Ha!”
Some directors are notorious for abusing actors but I think Mickey would qualify as an Actor’s Director. His smile and energy would be contagious which would bring the best out of cast and crew alike!
“And… CUT!
Okay, let’s print that! This is another wonderful product from Japan. They did such a nice job with their ceramic figurines. And at only $9.95 US you just couldn’t go wrong!
If it’s going to be a strange piece of merchandise it will probably come from one of Disney’s Eastern Theme Parks! A case in point is the subject of this post which comes to us all the way from Hong Kong Disneyland.
I saw this on a local buy and sell site and didn’t quite know what to make of it. It’s obviously Mickey Mouse. But it’s a gingerbread man. But it’s also a plush doll. BUT it’s also also a portable speaker! Just what is it trying to be?
Cute. Creepy. Irresistible!
This may fall into the ‘It’s so ugly it’s cute!’ category. It certainly wouldn’t be for everyone. But I like it for that very reason! Having an unusual piece in my collection is always a win.
Function in the Form
The images above show the speaker in the tummy, the zipper pouch that contains the connectivity cord, as well as the cord itself. Because this was sold some years ago, it has a standard male stereo connector. But if you’re using an newer iPhone, you’ll need to get an adapter.
I have the necessary adapter and so attached the Gingerbread Mickey Speaker to my iPhone and cranked up the hits. Sort of. The speaker quality is not good and can’t handle too much volume. Think of playing your favorite music at about a level of 4 out of 10. Add some minor distortion and you have an idea of the sound this speaker generates.
Can’t Mistake that Shape
A Hidden Mickey is just the large head circle with the two ear circles making the iconic mouse shape. But the shape of this plush is also very recognizable with the body added, even from the back.
Branding is everything in the souvenir business and so this plush has the Hong Kong Disneyland logo embroidered on the back:
Branding
The tags give you the rest of the information you, the consumer, would need:
Tags
If you have any plush in your home then cleaning is something you’re used to. You may toss them in the dryer for a refreshing tumble or even machine wash certain ones. But being as this plush is filled with electronics, it is damp cloth wash ONLY!
It was fun to hear Disney tunes coming from a Gingerbread Mickey! A child would get a kick out of walking around with a ‘singing’ plush. If it was Bluetooth enabled, it would be more convenient, but you can’t have everything.
The United States has Roadside Attractions pretty much on every street corner. At least, that’s the way it seems. And we all love those kitschy tourist traps! But it’s especially engaging when the proprietors mix in DIY and art installments along with the spectacle.
Primitive Designs is a wonderful destination in Canada for oversized sculptures and smaller lawn ornaments alike. So without further ado, let’s have a look:
2762 County Road 28, Port Hope, ON
Owners Ron Dacey and Rhonda Cook have created an eclectic business filled with a wide variety of things to look at and purchase. Let’s start off with the Heavy Hitters:
No Parking!GhidorahTransformers
Yes, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are standing in front of a three-story building! These metal giants are made from recycled automobile parts and feature incredible detailing.
Decorative Signs and Plaques
Huge isn’t your thing? How about a hand-crafted sign for your deck or patio?
Always look up!Area 51Celebrities?
When you enter the main buildings, you will be captivated by all the things to see at eye level. But be sure to look up! The rafters are just as packed with wonders to behold. And no, I didn’t take the little green guy to my leader. He didn’t ask.
Wooden Sailing ShipLawn Décor
The sheer scope of the crafts in this shop are staggering! They are brought in from all around the world which gives the place a truly universal appeal.
I can’t begin to show you all of the stock contained in this location. It truly is a must-see destination!
In front of every large sculpture you can find pails for donations. These donations are to sponsor the Photo Op locations and help offset the costs of running the business, as there is no admission to enter the grounds.
Kingly Photo Op
This Roadside Attraction and retail outlet is located just one minute off of Highway 401 at Exit 464. Well worth the detour if you’re commuting between Toronto and Ottawa.
You’ve read what I have to say about them, here is what they have to say:
“We are happy to welcome you to Primitive Designs! Ron, Rhonda, and Maximus have traveled the globe personally curating exotic and unusual antiques and handcrafted items from around the world. We are a family run business importing from Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand, and many other places. In our 8000 square foot gallery, you will find a market type atmosphere filled with treasures both for your family, your home, and your garden. The Primitive Designs family prides itself on filling our retail business with products that are free from child labour, bought at a fair market value, and produced by family-run businesses, many of which we have been working and friends with for over 40 years.”
I have far too many plush figures. And I say this after having sold or donated several dozen. But every once in a while a new-to-me plush comes along that I can’t resist. Usually it’s a version of Goofy, my favorite Disney character.
So without further ado, here is the guy to whom the world owes a living:
Sittin’ Goofy (cause he ain’t pretty!)
This doll has a hard vinyl head, hands, and feet but with a plush body.
I can’t find too much about the Mouseketoys line of merchandise. This vinyl doll was the first time I’d ever seen one! I bought it for that and the fact that I love Goofy. I’m figuring this doll is from the 80s but I do know that Mouseketoys were still manufacturing up to the Millennium. Please let me know if you’ve seen newer examples!
The price of $16.95 US would also place the date of sale to the 80s or 90s with most plush being sold for upwards of $30.00 today.
This toy would likely have been sold at the domestic Disney Theme Parks as the label clearly states that it was made for them.
These boots were made for branding
I love that the sculpt includes ‘holes’ in the toes of the shoes. The little curls or swirls are meant to represent wear that would have come from years of use by one who couldn’t afford new shoes. Goofy was originally a bit of a vagrant in the likes of The Tramp, Charlie Chaplin.
Whether you plan to drown your sorrows or pick your teeth, you’ll need a receptacle to hold the necessary device to achieve your goal. So either this Shot Glass or Toothpick Holder should do the trick!
I’ll leave it to you to decide which one you need:
Fill’er Up!
Once again, a Charity Shop has yielded up an unexpected find. I live in a rather small rural-type town in Ontario, Canada. So one doesn’t expect to walk into a second hand store and see something that was purchased in China! Made in China, yes. Purchased there and brought back to Canada and donated to charity? No, not so much.
Struttin’ Her Stuff!
As a Disney collector, I love to flesh out my collection with items from other parts of the world, off-shore items like this one. I won’t likely ever visit China myself, so having something from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a treat!
Note the price sticker in the center picture above. HK$68.00 was the original selling price. Now that sounds ridiculously high until you realize that it is in Renminbi, the currency of China. So it is actually about $13.00 CAN or $10.50 US. I paid just $3.99 CAN used.
Bottoms Up!
Sold in China but made in Thailand? Being as so many of our North American products are made in China, I always wondered where their stuff was made! Now I know.
Have you decided how you would use this unique receptacle yet?
To read a Fact Sheet about Hong Kong Disneyland, be sure to click the link to open a previous post of mine from 2015. You’ll also find a Fun Fact about the Park!
Time to stick out our tongues and get ready for some licking fun as we delve into yet another set of wonderful Disney-themed collector stamps. However, these ones may taste bad, as they were produced in 1983!
Bhutan is a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas. It is bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east and west.
PrehistoricTimes
Stone tools, weapons, elephants, and remnants of large stone structures found in Bhutan provide evidence that Bhutan was inhabited as early as 2000 BC, although there are no existing records from that time. Except for this image of Mickey Mouse drawing on a cave wall!
RenaissancePeriod
The printing press was invented in 1439, but not much of note was happening in Bhutan at that time, so what Goofy found to print about is up for speculation.
Industrial Revolution
1865 saw the widespread use of the electric telegraph machine in the United States primarily for railway communication. During the 1870s, power struggles between the rival valleys of Paro and Tongsa led to civil war in Bhutan. Could these enemies have used the telegraph to send messages and rally troops for conflict?
Turn of the Century
Alexander Graham Bell is credited with the invention of the modern telephone in 1874. But the version we see on this stamp is more from the 1930s or 1940s. These years were relatively stable for Bhutan so likely they were using the telephone to gossip and swap recipes like the rest of us!
Mid-Century Modern
1948 saw the proliferation of the 33 rpm format for vinyl records, but it wasn’t really until the 1950s and 1960s that the LP record ruled the music world. Both the governmental structure and the official language of Bhutan were modified during these years. So I guess everyone had to learn to sing in a different language!
New Age
Radio was invented in the late 19th Century but is still a popular way of dispensing music and entertainment today. And what is Bhutan up to today? Bhutan has shown it wants to secure a future for our planet by enforcing a plastic ban rule from 1 April 2019. Plastic bags have been replaced by alternative bags made of jute and other biodegradable material from that time forward.
Bhutan is also well known for mountain adventure trekking and hiking. So if you want to visit this interesting country, take your outdoor stuff!
Although I can’t find much information about the World Communications Year sponsored by the United Nations, it appears that many countries, perhaps every country who were members in 1983, released commemorative stamp collections. Bhutan became of member of the United Nations in 1971.
To find out all of the pertinent information about Bhutan as a tourist destination, check out the Tourism Council of Bhutan website.
When does merchandise become collectible? I struggle a bit on this site to determine whether I should label something as just a piece of merchandise or as a true collectible. Anything you buy (merchandise) can become more if you acquire more than one (thus, becoming a collectible, or part of a collection). I tend to label the line of die cast vehicles from the Pixar CARS franchise as both.
This is because the first wave of cars released were basically collectibles but as Disney began to milk the movies for money, I feel they became closer to merchandise, just more things to buy. Does that make sense?
Either way, I keep buying them! But only models that appeal to me as something unique or unusual. Like these two characters from Cars 3:
Complete Packaging
Honestly, I don’t remember these guys, but I like the vintage vibe they give off. I’m possibly in the minority when I say that Pixar should have stopped with the first Cars movies. But they were dragged down into Sequel Heck by Disney and so we got Spy Cars and Next Gen Cars.
Ready to Race
Coming and Going
Arrived!
Leroy Heming is a former Piston Cup racer. He competed in the 1950s of the Piston Cup Racing Series bearing the number 300. He raced against Doc Hudson but never managed to beat him. The car is based after a 1955 Chrysler 300.
Every Which Way
Leaving
Junior “Midnight” Moon is a supporting character in Cars 3. The Character is listed as a “bona fide legend of the early Piston Cup circuit and contemporary of the late Doc Hudson and Lightning McQueen’s mentor”. The car is based on a 1939 Ford. Junior Moon is based on and voiced by Junior Johnson, who is an actual former moonshiner and NASCAR icon who is nicknamed “the Last American Hero”.
I do appreciate the level of detail that is put into these characters. Most of the vehicles created are rather generic, but every once in a while a true original comes along.
Back of the Packaging
The Hit and Run characters tempted me (lower right) but I resisted and saved some of my money. I have way too many Cars in my collection already. Just ask my wife. But I have a feeling I will weaken and add these two beat up guys to the fleet at some point. Don’t tell my wife.
Do you have a favorite character among the Cars franchise?
You just never know what a trip to the local charity shop will provide in the way of interesting collectibles! Sometimes I find wonderful treasures and other times I come away with a pair of shorts… or nothing. But the hunt is always exciting!
My last trip yielded several Disney-related items, including as this pair of wall hangings:
Faces Front
Obviously intended as a set, these matching Mickey and Minnie heads, or faces, make a great display. And they’re so happy!
Minnie has always been drawn simply as a copy of Mickey but with eye lashes and a bow. So we can assume that the sculpt for these pieces would have been identical at first. Before being finalized, a bow would have been added for Minnie. Lastly, Mickey would have eye brows added and Minnie would get eye lashes during the final paint process.
Back of Mickey and Inside Copyright
Both characters look the same from the back with a hollowed out ‘head’ and a hole for a nail so that they can be hung on the wall. The image, above right, shows the copyright as ‘Disney’ and ‘Japan’ for the manufacturing country.
Hanging Around with the Gang
I’m not sure if this will be the final display place for these wall hangings. I was thinking of putting them over our headboard, with Mickey on my side and Minnie on my wife’s side. We’ll see.
I paid just $6.99 CAN for each. Again, you have to love charity shops!
“If I was an elefunk, I’d be a fireman, ’cause then I could squirt fires out with my nose.”
And there’s more where that piece of logic came from! Yes, it’s page after page of hilarious viewpoints of our youngest citizens. Art Linkletter never knew what they were going to say on his House Party program, but he knew it would be funny! And so, this book is funny.
Dust Jacket and Actual Cover
Yes, a quip, slip, or a shocker could make any adult’s face turn red! But when you read some of the outrageous stories and family secrets these young children shared on live television, you can only imagine the regret the parents felt about agreeing to participate!
Before we go on, I’d just like to point out the dust jacket and the actual cover of the book. Do you do this too? The first thing I do when I buy a hard cover book with a dust jacket is remove it to see if the cover underneath is the same or different. In this case, we have a whimsical drawing of a child with big boots to fill. You know it was drawn by the great Charles M. Schulz, but more on that later.
Front and Back Flap
The front and back flaps give a synopsis of why the book was written along with a little bit of history on the man responsible for all the hilarity.
Now next is what made me buy this book. Not only was it written by Art Linkletter, who hosted the opening of Disneyland, but it also contains an introduction by Walt Disney himself! Add the illustrations by Schultz and you have a literary treasure.
Introduction by Walt Disney
Below are three examples of the contents of the book:
Sample of ContentsLook Familiar?
I think that’s good old Charlie Brown without his signature shirt. I’m sure of it, for who else catches a baseball with his head? Thumbnails abound in this volume and are worth the read for them alone.
So far, we have seen quite a bit of celebrity power and endorsement. But wait, there’s so much more. Check out what the following stars had to say about the book:
Back of Dust Jacket
If you want a couple more Disney tie-ins: Bob Cummings co-hosted the opening day televised broadcast of Disneyland along with Linkletter. And later, in 1971, Bob Hope would be on hand to host the opening of Walt Disney World in Florida. So I would say this is an interesting, albeit unusual, collectible for any Disney fan!
But aside from that, I would give this book 5 out of 5 Stars. It’s fun. It harkens back to a simpler time. It’ll make you laugh! And who doesn’t need more laughter in their lives?
For just under $12.00 US you can get a 2005 reprint of this book on Amazon. Here is what that site has to say about the rerelease:
“Almost 50 years since its first printing, this famous collection of children’s wisdom and witticisms is now back in print in a facsimile edition to entertain a whole new generation. KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS! includes the best of the unconsciously funny, everyday thoughts and reactions kids shared with kid-at-heart Art Linkletter on his long-running radio and television series House Party .Gems include tips for conjuring up a sibling: “Give Mommy a lot of real sweet food so she’ll get fat -that’s how you get a baby “;and hysterical observations: “Our pussycat has got some kittens and I didn’t even know she was married. “Illustrated with cartoons by Charles Schulz (yes, that Charles Schulz) and with a new introduction by Bill Cosby, KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS! will prove as popular with the readers of today as it was when it first was published five decades ago.”
Bill Cosby, eh? Might have been better to stick with the introduction by Walt Disney, knowing what we know now.
“Holy Miniaturization, Batman!” Has the Joker shrunk the Bat TV? Or has some other nefarious villain, like a Network Executive, changed the programming format? Will our tiny heroes be able to overcome this huge problem? Tune in right now to find out!
Okay, citizens of Gotham! It’s time to take up your positions in front of the television for another adventure featuring the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder! But first, grab your magnifying glass, you’re going to need it!
Front of Packaging
Walmart is now selling a fun line of merchandise called Tiny TV Classics. You can click the link to check out the manufacturing company’s website to see the full line available. Or check out the link to my other post about the Back to the Future version. Adam West / Batman will appreciate your efforts!
Sides of Packaging
Burt Ward / Robin the Boy Wonder spews some of his best “Holy Whatever’s” on the tiny two inch (or so) screen as six different clips from the original 60s program are shown in full colour and with sound! You will even here Caesar Romero / The Joker laugh. You can’t miss that, now can you?
Top and Bottom of Packaging
Basic Fun! is the company responsible for these wonderful miniature gadgets. What they can’t do with this new fangled technology nowadays, eh what? Why in my day, we had to walk ten miles, uphill both ways and back and sideways, just to see a blind man and his dog put on a puppet show! Believe it, citizen!
But if you’re finding it hard to believe that something so small could possibly pack in so much nostalgic fun, then watch the video below. If you don’t, it’ll be a CAT-astrophy!
Sorry, it’s another dreaded Vertical Video!
Tune in next week to the same BAT BLOG at the same BAT TIME for another… oh wait. There aren’t any more. Forget it. Just read on…
Back of Packaging
We only got three seasons of this campy crime fighting duo from the DC Comics Universe, but what a trio of seasons they were! Unfortunately, this little TV doesn’t have an episode featuring BATGIRL. Zounds! Did the Riddler prognosticate a propounded conundrum to curtail the feisty crime fighting vixens’ appearance so perplexing that it bamboozled the Bombastic Duo themselves? I hope not! I don’t want to have to type that again.
Maybe just go to Walmart and pick up one of these things for yourself. It can be yours for just $29.97 CAN. “Holy Commerce, Batman! What a bargain!”
Disleelandia 