Rocketships & Accessories

Rocketships & Accessories

The shop I will never forgive

8.13.18

Many years ago, there was a place where I never wanted to leave. I journeyed there almost every weekend. It was where Godzilla was at home and Ultraman was nearby. It was where I got my very first Japanese Godzilla figures, the Bandai MechaGodzilla 1974 and Godzilla figures, and so much more would follow. This place was the toy shop of my dreams, Rocketships & Accessories, located at 623 South Fourth Street in my hometown of Philadelphia. Recently, I was taken back there in a video time machine. Fellow Godzilla fan and collector, John Stanowski of KaijuAddicts.com posted this amazing video of the old Philadelphia tv show Evening Magazine on local channel 3. The hosts were announcing the release of Godzilla (1984) and paid a visit to Rocketships & Accessories. It was like I entered the store again for the first time! Check out the clip!

John also provided me another short segment just about Rocketships & Accessories. I remember the owner and his colleague. They knew me by name because so often I came. I wanted to own the Bandai Jumbo 30th Anniversary Godzilla figure on shelf for $135. But I could never save enough money. The Godzilla suit was also featured in the store and went for about $800 (if I remember correctly). It was so sad to see the store close.

Here are some of the great collectibles I purchased there. These are some of my most cherished things. I wore the groves out of my favorite Godzilla album.

book

ゴジラ怪獣全集

book

ゴジラグラフィテイ
東宝特撮映画の世界

book

GRAPH BOOK GODZILLA
グラフブックゴジラ

book

ゴジラ 小学館入門百科シリーズ

book

Movie コミックス ゴジラシリーズ
ゴジラ・エビラ・モスラ
南海の大決闘

book

Movie コミックス ゴジラ (1984)
南海の大決闘

怪獣ジオラマ大図鑑

collectible

ゴジラ主題歌大全集 LP

figure

Bandai Godzilla 1964

figure

Bandai MechaGodzilla 1974

I’ll never forget Rocketships & Accessories. Thank you John for sharing the videos! Now I can relive my memories over and over again. (Videos are the property of John Stanowski and are used here with his permission.)