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In Pictures: Action Man convention at Palitoy factory | In Pictures: Action Man convention at Palitoy factory |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Fans of Action Man have gathered at the spiritual home of the popular toy to celebrate his 50th birthday. | Fans of Action Man have gathered at the spiritual home of the popular toy to celebrate his 50th birthday. |
The figure, based on the American toy GI Joe, was first hit shelves in 1966 and quickly became a must-have. | The figure, based on the American toy GI Joe, was first hit shelves in 1966 and quickly became a must-have. |
Palitoy, based in Coalville, Leicestershire made its own British version with beards, gripping hands and "lifelike hair". | Palitoy, based in Coalville, Leicestershire made its own British version with beards, gripping hands and "lifelike hair". |
Fans and collectors met on the "sacred ground" of the former factory, now a conference centre, for AMCom16. | Fans and collectors met on the "sacred ground" of the former factory, now a conference centre, for AMCom16. |
The action figure - never called a doll for fear of alienating boys - was hugely popular in the 1960s and 70s but then lost out to Star Wars. | The action figure - never called a doll for fear of alienating boys - was hugely popular in the 1960s and 70s but then lost out to Star Wars. |
Meanwhile, Palitoy shifted manufacturing of all its products abroad and by the mid 1980s had ceased trading. | Meanwhile, Palitoy shifted manufacturing of all its products abroad and by the mid 1980s had ceased trading. |
Bob Brechin was the firm's chief designer and modelled Action Man's famous grip on his own hand. | Bob Brechin was the firm's chief designer and modelled Action Man's famous grip on his own hand. |
He said: "[Collectors] don't grow up do they?... They are reliving their childhood really. It's great that they do because it keeps it alive." | He said: "[Collectors] don't grow up do they?... They are reliving their childhood really. It's great that they do because it keeps it alive." |
Organiser Alan Dawson said it was a nostalgic event and many people had brought their children to show what their own childhood was like. | |
"The genius was calling it Action Man because it opened up the door for non military - the football player, the Olympic athlete, the rock climber, the Arctic explorer. Parents who didn't approve of war toys would still let their children play with them. | "The genius was calling it Action Man because it opened up the door for non military - the football player, the Olympic athlete, the rock climber, the Arctic explorer. Parents who didn't approve of war toys would still let their children play with them. |
"It's become part of the DNA of that generation, those generations between 1966 and 1984." | "It's become part of the DNA of that generation, those generations between 1966 and 1984." |
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