Inspired by the amazing newspaper toy ads that Phillip over at battlegrip.com regularly unearths, I thought I would do a little digging to locate a TV listing circa my favorite cartoon era. Getting more specific, I wondered if I could find a listing for the debut episode of GI Joe: A Real American Hero AKA the MASS Device mini-series. What do you know, I found it in the Sunday, September 11, 1983 issue of the Milwaukee Journal. So be sure to run home after school, or set your Betamax to record channel 18 at 3:30pm Monday.
By the way, if you’re hoping to catch Bugs Bunny & Friends right before GI Joe, it’s been pre-empted by Charmkins. Now you know!
The Real American Hero series had the distinction of being the first comic book advertised on television. It was also Hasbro's creative way of marketing its relaunched toyline without having to stick to the regulations of the day regarding animation and toys. Have we mentioned here how effective the 80s…
Sadly, the Super Joe packaging did not feature a full color card back. As a result, the packaging looks comparatively cheap compared to Kenner's Star Wars and Hasbro's later GI Joe offerings. Even so, it's great to see many of the team together in one image fighting their foe, Gor.…
That's an impressive feat for a toy line in only its second year. This ad, which I found in a 1965 issue of the Justice League of America comic, touts Joe's sales success as well as his presence as a TV star. I think most folks have seen the vintage…
For some reason in the fall of ’83 I would regularly scan the TV listings for the week that were in the Sunday paper. I don’t recall why. But, I remember seeing a G.I. Joe cartoon coming on the next afternoon. None of my friends believed me. I was at a friend’s house after school, toying around with his HISS Tank waiting for the show to come on. I was vindicated when it did. For some reason, I missed the Thursday episode of both the first two mini series.
And, my kids will never know what a newspaper is nor why anyone would have to wait to see any TV show.
When G.I.JOE aired in my neck of the woods, it was on a show, sponsored by Hanna-Barba. It was good to see ‘Agro’ run non scooby doo shows once in a while. If you guys want to see some non-PC stuff, check out ‘Agro’s cartoon bloopers’ on youtube
Sorry I have to watch Maude instead..
For some reason in the fall of ’83 I would regularly scan the TV listings for the week that were in the Sunday paper. I don’t recall why. But, I remember seeing a G.I. Joe cartoon coming on the next afternoon. None of my friends believed me. I was at a friend’s house after school, toying around with his HISS Tank waiting for the show to come on. I was vindicated when it did. For some reason, I missed the Thursday episode of both the first two mini series.
And, my kids will never know what a newspaper is nor why anyone would have to wait to see any TV show.
”Tune in to the 5-part movie.Watch your favorite Joes vs Cobra.See the mighty 1983 G.I.Joe Sky Striker in action!”
When G.I.JOE aired in my neck of the woods, it was on a show, sponsored by Hanna-Barba. It was good to see ‘Agro’ run non scooby doo shows once in a while. If you guys want to see some non-PC stuff, check out ‘Agro’s cartoon bloopers’ on youtube
I’ve never even seen a Beta in person. All our VCRs were VHS.