A month or so back, I was poking around a toy show, and as usual, I didn’t find much that interested me. (That kind of thing happens when your tastes become more and more obscure I guess… dang it)
In sad situations like that, I eventually get to the point where I’m thinking, “I paid to get into the show… I’m leaving with SOMETHING.” This actually forces me to backtrack and look over every square inch of these dealer’s tables. And that is when you’ll find some little thing you’ve previously overlooked (and be you’ll be forced into more awkward toy conversations).
And what I initially overlooked is this little gem.
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What the hell is it?
I dunno.
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He’s 5.5″ tall with no markings whatsoever. The dealer I bought it from didn’t know a thing about it. He assumed it was from an old G.I.Joe toyline, but I’m fairly certain it’s not. I was actually hoping it was some strange Star Wars bootleg, because it looks like a wookiee choking on a jawbreaker or eating a ping-pong ball or something.
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The distressed, yellow paint job, agonized facial expression and ball in the creature’s mouth – sure, he looks weird, but in my heart I knew this figure had a simple, sane origin. It’s probably from some vintage safari-themed toyline.
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Well, with a little bit of digging (AKA asking some buddies on a toy discussion board), I discovered that this is actually a yeti figure from a vintage Evel Knievel playset by Ideal Toy Company – “Escape from Skull Canyon.”
Evel Knievel playset photos courtesy of ToyNerd.com.
Evel Knievel playset photos courtesy of ToyNerd.com.
Apparently one of Evel’s death-defying stunts was driving through a canyon occupied by an angry Yeti who drops boulders on him.
This guy reminds me a lot of the green monkey I featured here a couple years ago.
They’re both equally weathered, and the yeti looks just as angry. (Do these emotions stem from years of the toy’s having been neglected?)
So, now that we now know what this toy is, I’m still left with some unanswered questions. Why is my yeti figure yellow? And…
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Why the hell does he have a ball in his mouth?
@WeirdoToys me. But I was afraid if I told you, you’d want to know how I knew. Nothing good could come of that tweet exchange.
@mhisey26 Yeah, you’re right. I’m better off not knowing.
RT @WeirdoToys: Who knew wookiees were ball suckers? http://www.weirdotoys.com/2011/01/11/woo…
RT @WeirdoToys: Who knew wookiees were ball suckers? http://www.weirdotoys.com/2011/01/11/woo…
@WeirdoToys That’s so crazy! I got two of those last week. One had a ball, one didn’t. I’m guessing maybe it’s extra plastic?
@geeky_vixen Wow. Interesting. What color were yours?
@WeirdoToys Under a layer of grunge they are white plastic (not painted). I snapped some snow pics with them that I’ll upload this evening.
@WeirdoToys I put a link to the pic of my Yeti on the comment thread on your blog post. (It’s awaiting moderation, but it’s there.)
I assume the ball isn’t original. It doesn’t appear to be in the photos of the set.
Yeah, I noticed that too. Way to ruin my fun 😉
It seems like I’m not the only one. There are more out there with balls-in-mouth.
That Escape From Skull Canyon set is awesome. Thanks for giving me yet another thing to hunt for!
Cool find!
After seeing the whole playset, I wonder if it had a cartoon or commercial that went with it that may show the crazy yeti spitting rocks at Knievel, hence the one in his mouth?
As promised here’s a pic of my yeti: one with ball, one sans ball.
http://geekyvixen.tumblr.com/post/2705105013/yeti-i-love-these-guys-theyre-so-weird-but
great post… the ball mystery is fascinating.
Maybe it was a precursor for Mr. Bucket, who we all know had lots of fun with balls popping out of his mouth.
I love this playset! Can we talk about how, even though you cracked the case, we STILL don’t know why Evel’s hanging out with a Yeti?!
That is badass. The Evel Knievel playsets were awesome and bringing the Yeti into the situation only made it better.
Cool! And Evel Knievel, too – awesome!! LMc
Oh man, I love knockoffs. The more messed up and crappy, the better I love it.
I have to say, though, that I have what is possibly the most brilliant faux-chewbacca that has ever existed.
Have you ever come across him before? he’s mego-sized. Can you believe the seller at the flea market actually tried to talk me out of buying him for $1 because he was a “cheap piece of crap”?
The post’s title is too funny! 😀
Perfect share.
I have an all white one w/ a ball in his mouth. Incredible figure!