My son started back to school this week --and now in his final year of college already, say what?! --so how about a look at this too kool for skool "Welcome Back, Kotter" classroom playset / vinyl toy case by Mattel from 1976. This one is missing a few things like the globe and homework for the desktops, but still has most of the main accessories like the desk and chairs. More importantly, the case still contains all of the TV show's biggest stars in action figure / doll form: Mr. Gabe Kotter, Arnold Horshack, Vinnie Barbarino, Juan Epstein (not that Epstein-- but please release the goddamn files, already!), and finally, Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington. "Hi there." Condition is not the greatest, and to the person at Mattel who didn't think that adding a Julie Kotter doll (my favorite character on the show!) was important enuff, well, --up your nose with a rubber hose! Yes, in our current age where acceptance of diversity is questioned, and in some cases ridiculously erased by our countries "leaders", it's nice to reflect on a TV show like WBK, because as silly as it was at times, it was still one that welcomed EVERYONE into the room with open arms.
4 comments:
Hi there
What ever happened to that Travolta guy?
Mattel did excellent work here. I never watched the show that much, but if it'll piss off the current "leaders" you are talking about I'll binge watch every episode right now, but those dolls are spot on with maybe the exception of Travolta but that might just be recognizing him as he is now.
I can smell the vinyl of that case from here! Had a number of toys with that cardboard wrapped vinyl and this is a real survivor that stuff usually gets really bent out of shape.
Release the files already- signed Epstein's mother, Juan Epstein's mother!
The set is great, I can't recall seeing it for sale, but after so many decades memories of toys, action figures or dolls from the 1970's is ephemera for my memory.
What a great playset! That second picture is like a cubist collage, or maybe Kotter by way of Pee Wee's Playhouse by way of Terry Gilliam's animated bumpers. It's a very fetching image.
Man, I forgot all about Marcia Strassman. Thanks for reminding me.
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