This is the little creep that started it all! Started what? I am not really sure, but it started something.
I first saw this little guy at a flea market in Orlando. My good friend Chris Brennan bought it from this dude for $5. I think we were pretty amazed at how bootleg it was. While obviously a bootleg ET, we liked the fact that they went so far to name it “SPACE FRIEND” I found my mine years later off eBay. I think I paid around $10 with shipping.
That is all it says on the header card. Not “Made in China”, no manufacturer, no Copyright… Just SPACE FRIEND.
So here he is, my little Space Friend. I love you Space Friend.
I can’t remember when I first found out about Hugo The Man of a Thousand Faces, but Hugo was definitely before my time. Produced by Kenner in 1975, Hugo has to be one of the weirdest toys that I own.
Hugo is basically this half doll/half puppet that comes with a lot of weird accessories such as: scars, wigs, appendages, and other growths to turn him into Hugo, Man of a Thousand Faces.
One thing I do know about Hugo is that he’s really difficult to find complete in a box, and if found, he isn’t going to be cheap. I have seen Hugos go over $200 on eBay, but I was lucky enough to score this guy elsewhere.
While in college, I would frequent a particular Orlando Goodwill. It was a huge store that even had a Goodwill discount center next to it. I know, weird right? A discount portion of Goodwill?! Anyway, I found Hugo sitting on this shelf there one day for just 50 cents! I even kept the price tag on it for all of these years as proof. Haha.
I think you are supposed to use spirit gum or something to attach all the scars and such, but I used a bit of sticky tact. Spooky!
I think my favorite part of the box is the examples of Hugo’s many faces. Each one making him look like a creepier serial killer.
Fun Hugo Fact: Hugo was used as a prop on the Pee-Wee Herman show. Which is funny considering that the Hugo’s disuise in the top right corner of the packaging looks a lot like Mickey’s disguise from Pee-Wee’s big adventure. The color of the shirt and everything! Am I right?!
I bought this little bad boy when I was working at this pop-culture store called POPULUXE in Orlando, Florida. I sort of freaked out when my boss Brian had brought it in. Years earlier, I found this little rubber alien toy at a flea market. I had no idea what it was, I just knew it was badass! After seeing the illustration, I knew exactly what I had, a loose Ooze-It! (I can’t find the loose version, I think he might be over at 350 Broadway in the display case)
Patent Pending, eh? I wonder if the Ooze-It Corporation ever go the patent for a little rubber alien dude that when you squeeze him slime comes out of his multiple orifices. I wonder?
Mine is sealed, but boy do I wish I could open this lil creep, fill him up with toxic slime, and watch him ooze!
“Ooze compound sticks to hair, rugs, and fabric” Oops…
Rude Ralph is a oversized madball knock-off from the 80s. Yank Ralph’s eyeball he makes 4 rude noises! I think I have about 3 of these bad boys but I finally found one (MINT IN PACKAGE, MINT IN BOX, NEVER REMOVED FROM BOX, NEW OLD STOCK, and MINT IN MINT BOX). I was so stoked to get this, even though for the most part, the packaging is mad bobo (whats up with font!?), there are some notables!
Look at this sick illustration of this lil creep playing with Rude Ralph! What is that jacket he is wearing? Some sort of hockey team jacket!? Of course he is!
Then on the back you have the ill photo of the RUDE RALPH PROTOTYPE! Even the eyeball is different! If anyone has the prototype or any information on how to find it, I want!$!$!$!$
I’m not Russian. I didn’t know much about this whole Mishka bear cub thing until I met Mike many years ago. I am however, really into vintage taxidermy, and oddly enough, I have a lot of vintage taxidermy bear items.
We actually have a bear head in our 350 store that belonged to my brother and then passed on to me. We also had an actual “bear cub” head in our hallway. In it a fit of rage I slammed the door one day and it fell off the wall and is now in desperate need of repair. Anyone know any good taxidermy repair men?
If you have been to visit me in my office you would have noticed this ashtray on my desk. So YES it is a real bear paw, and YES it is a real ashtray, and YES its creepy, and YES I love it!
I got this bad boy I am guessing almost 10 years ago at the FX Show in Orlando, Florida. I am not sure if this show is still going on (let me google dat!) but it was the highlight every year for me growing up in Florida.
FX show was the largest toy show in Florida and one of the biggest in the country. Wall to wall dealers of vintage toys and comics. This was also before (or just around the time of) ebay so there was a ton of stuff that was marked at top prices.
I saw this little guy sitting on small table with a few other things. I wasn’t going to even ask the guy how much because I knew it was going to be over my budget, but I was like What the Hell (WTH?!). I asked the guy and he said, $20!
Not only was the toy a super rad vinyl wind-up. When you put a key and wind him up he starts to shake around, it also had this amazing original box! I had no idea what it was except for some sort of Spanish Frankenstein.
Years later I am still in shock, amazement and bewilderment that I found this toy. I have never seen one like it since. Due to the magic of IMDB I now know that this show was a TV show in Spain from 1977. OK DAMN!
Of course I do a google search and this comes up on Youtube! I still don’t understand what this show was but it looks like it was some sort of game show!?
Either way this is one of my favorite most oddest toys that I own!
