11.19.2022
The late 70s were exciting for so many reasons. The biggest reason was the Godzilla toy boom in America. There were very few Godzilla collectibles, which included Ideal Godzilla Game (1963) and the classic Aurora Godzilla model (1964) and Godzilla Go-Cart model (1969).1 About a decade later Godzilla exploded on toy shelves across the country and in our Christmas catalogs. Monogram Godzilla model kits (1977), Wonderland Godzilla Record (1977), HG Toys Godzilla puzzles (1977), Blue Oyster Cult “Godzilla” (1977), Ben Cooper Godzilla Halloween costume (1978), the GAF View-Master “Godzilla’s Rampage” (1978), GLJ’s Godzilla Bendy Figure (1978), Hanna-Barbara Godzilla animated cartoon (1978–81), Godzilla Battles the Tricephalon Monster Play Set (1979), Marvel Godzilla Comic Series (1977–79), Ken Films Super 8mm Toho films.2 Of all the releases the Mattel Toy Co. stood out: Shogun Warriors Godzilla (1978), Godzilla’s Gang (1978), and Rodan (1979). One of my favorites is the Mattel Godzilla Game released in 1978.