Post by figurecollector on Jan 3, 2012 18:18:40 GMT -6
I am not sure if the op meant "wwe" action figures or not in the title. I would suppose dolls (particularly Barbie), Army men and G I Joe 12" figures would fit the category of action figures also.
Post by 3 3/4"collector on Jan 4, 2012 11:57:36 GMT -6
not fully certain what you are asking, but i believe that the actual term action figure was coined for the g.i.joe line. so technically it is the first action figure, though there are certainly things before it that could arguably be considered action figures.
I've seen old western cast iron figures made in the 30's 40's that the arms move and can raise its revolver arm like it was going to shoot. They looked to be about 10 inches tall. Probably not the first though.
@ 3 3/4" collector and Anna, i think you're both right on the GI Joe's. They came out in 1964, Captain Action came out in 1967. I think those were the first 2 lines people referred to as "action figures" (some other early ones that could be considered was Matt Mason in 1967 and Johnny Hero in 1965). First 3 3/4" was Micronauts, correct?
Last Edit: Jan 4, 2012 16:07:14 GMT -6 by else3573
not fully certain what you are asking, but i believe that the actual term action figure was coined for the g.i.joe line. so technically it is the first action figure, though there are certainly things before it that could arguably be considered action figures.
I do not think this is correct. We may consider GI Joe from 1964 the first action figure, but they did not coin the term. They used the term Action Hero. One note is on a shipping invoice in 1967 on a GI Joe shipment, on the invoice used it said "action figure". The term "action figure" was at a later date where a company marketed them as action figures. I have been trying to track down who coined the phrase for years, but it is hard to say.
But Yes, most people do consider GI Joe the first Action Figure released in 1964. This is because Hasbro did not want them listed as Dolls since they were marketed to Boys. And wanted them listed has Action Heroes which then are now know as Action Figures.
Last Edit: Jan 4, 2012 19:48:00 GMT -6 by shuptrine
The 1st 3 3/4" Clambo said were the FP adventure people.
Go Clambo! Rocklord you are correct the first 3 3/4" figure were Fisher Prices' Adventure people. That is because Micronauts did come out a year earlier in Japan, but Japan in on the Metric system. Micronauts hit the USA a year after Adventure people and are closer to 4" anyway.
Last Edit: Jan 4, 2012 19:45:15 GMT -6 by shuptrine
As per the question, my 17th edition Toys and Prices is next to me so I checked to see what they said. In the Action Figure section, they wrote:
"The production of action figures in the United States can be traced back to the nascent origins of Hasbro's G.I. Joe, "Americas Movable Fighting Man", in early 1954. Hoping to build on the overwhelming success of Mattel's Barbie doll(Launched in 1959), Hasbro was approached by a designer who concocted an idea of crafting a foot tall, fully articulated, military themed toy soldier to American boys. Hasbro loved the idea, and developed what would be called the G.I. Joe line, and thus the 11-1/2" toy was born. G.I. Joe was a huge hit for Hasbro, who labeled the toy an "action figure" in oirder to differentiate and dissociate it from Barbie and other female fashion dolls on the market, knowing full well that boys would not play with dolls. Due to the success of the G.I. Joe line, other companies entered into the action figure market. Realizing that poseable male action figures tapped into a heretofore-unknown aspect of a young boys imagination. A.C. Gilbert, Marx and Ideal also forayed into the field. As a result, boys were treated to new action figures based on James Bond, Secret Agent *AC Gilbert, 1965), DC Comics and Marvel Comics super hero costumes for Captain Action (Ideal, 1966-68) and Western heroes and knights in Marx's Best of the West (1965-75) and Noble Knights (1968) lines, respectively"
It also lists Mego's Comic Action Heroes (1975-1978) as being one of the first 3 3/4" lines. Not sure how accurate any of this is, just throwing it out there.
Last Edit: Jan 6, 2012 16:04:56 GMT -6 by else3573
@ 3 3/4" collector and Anna, i think you're both right on the GI Joe's. They came out in 1964, Captain Action came out in 1967. I think those were the first 2 lines people referred to as "action figures" (some other early ones that could be considered was Matt Mason in 1967 and Johnny Hero in 1965). First 3 3/4" was Micronauts, correct?
Don't forget Hensin Cyborg in your list.
I still maintain that G.I. Joe is no more an action figure than Barbie is though. Count one, and you should count the other. And, if you count Barbie, than you have to count Bild Lilly in 1950.
Right, but "action figure" didn't sound right for a girls toy. Doll did. *But yeah, I forgot about Hensin Cyborg. I don't know if there's any definitive answer, just throwing suggestions out and articles I've read.
Last Edit: Jan 7, 2012 17:26:22 GMT -6 by else3573
How bout GI Joe with the Kung Fu grip, which had an actual ACTION feature? Granted, that was from 74', but part of the line. But basically, what the one article I quoted says they're no difference other than changing the name because boys didn't want to play with "dolls".
Last Edit: Jan 7, 2012 17:29:57 GMT -6 by else3573
The actual term was created and put into use by Hasbro to avoid import taxes. Allen Hassenfeld, chairman at Hasbro who worked with his dad in the company as early as a teenager, has told the story many times. The issue the company was having was high import taxes from China over dolls. By changing the terminology from doll to action figure, they skirted the higher level taxes at the time and saved the company a lot of money. It was a happy bi-product that they used it as a hook for boys to pick up the toys as well. But that wasn't the original impetus for the change.
@3 3/4" collector, did they make 2 lines of those Legends of the West (Excel Toy Company) or is my book wrong? cause it lists 7 (Buffalo Bill Cody, Cochise, Davy Crockett, Deadwood Dick, Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickock and Wyatt Earp) all at 9"...I know nothing about the line, so I wanted to see if the book was TOTALLY wrong or if they made them in 2 sizes?
As an information piece, there WERE quite a few dollhouse figures in 3 3/4" scale from the 50s-60s from several lines that were similar in poseability, but I think we're pretty much referring to the actual application of the terminology here - which seems to mean Hasbro.
seriously i would think the first action figure as we know it would be probably popeye or mickey mouse in the 40s. but jointed figures have been found in the ruins of ancient egypt.lol
That's dope!! Of course, then what's keeping the hand carved puppets of the middle ages they used in puppet shows as being action figures? They were jointed as well..
@3 3/4" collector, did they make 2 lines of those Legends of the West (Excel Toy Company) or is my book wrong? cause it lists 7 (Buffalo Bill Cody, Cochise, Davy Crockett, Deadwood Dick, Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickock and Wyatt Earp) all at 9"...I know nothing about the line, so I wanted to see if the book was TOTALLY wrong or if they made them in 2 sizes?
\ there was a 9" line as well. the ones i have seen some are maked excel on the back and some are marked empire, and theres a third company ive seen marked on some too but dont recall the name.