Gary Larsen thought he had all the answers… and other retrogaming goodies!

Posted on December 24, 2013 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Riddle of the Sphinx

Poor Gary… look at him, a veggie, zonked out. Totalled. This 1983 ad for Atari’s Riddle of the Sphinx tries to convey how hazardous video gaming can be.

USA. The Defenders 1983.

Freedom! No more wires…

The Camerica Freedom Stick needed no cumbersome, tangly old wires, and was happy to interact with a number of different console brands.

USA. Groo 47. 1989.

Bubble Bobble…. a classic!

I spent a good many hours tackling this fun game. Also included on this ad are the titles Operation Wolf, Sky Shark, and Renegade.

USA. Groo 47. 1989.

Video excitement in the palm of your hand…

I love the artwork on this 1989 ad for Double Dragon from Tiger Electronics.

USA. Groo 57. 1989.

Another ad for Double Dragon –

Hawk & Dove N°11. 1990. US.

Parker Brothers… Frogger, Popeye, and Q*bert

Poor Q*bert… in this ad he’s suffered damage to his nose from a removed price sticker – ouch! Shame he doesn’t have his usual little speech bubble above his head with his expletive written inside. Maybe Frogger is the culprit responsible for the price sticker removal… and Popeye is racing off to exact a swift punishment? 🙂

USA. Marvel Alpha Flight. 1984.

UK. 2000 AD. 1983.

UK. Eagle. 1983.

France. Pif Gadget. 1988.

UK. Eagle. 1983.

ASTERIX

Posted on December 22, 2013 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

The Adventures of Astérix is a series of French comics by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The series first appeared in serialised format in the pages of Franco-Belgian comic magazine Pilote in 1959. Astérix books followed soon after in 1961 and continue to be published to date. Below are a number of Astérix adverts featuring a range of products and promotional offers from the 1970s and 80s.

Asterix and his friends. France. Pif Gadget. 1988.

Asterix Panini stickers poster offer. France. Pif Gadget. 1988.

Offer: Six Astérix mini-books from promotional jars of Nutella. 1976. France.

Asterix figuines. France. Pif Gadget. 1984.

Asterix figurines. France. Pif Gadget. 1984.

Asterix Ergo Sprint drink offer. Italy. Topolino. 1979.

Asterix plush toys. Ets De Neuter cataloguepage. 1995. France.

Asterix in Belgium. Hodder & Stoughton. Eagle. 1983. UK.

Asterix and Obelix Kinder Surprise collection.

Spalding… presenting Streetball with Rick Barry and DR. J

Posted on December 21, 2013 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

USA. Marvel Star Wars. 1978.

A.G. Spalding was established in 1876 by Hall of Fame pitcher Albert G. Spalding in Chicago, USA.

This 1978 comic-style ad presents the Spalding Street Ball. It features two great basketball players of their era, Rick Barry and Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving.