9 replies to this topic

[amor de cosmos]

The first thing I thought of when I saw the headline was Cherry Bomb:

Long before you played Angry Birds on your smartphone or battled Xbox gamers online from your bedroom, you had to load your pockets with quarters and leave the musty comforts of your basement to play a video game.

Back in something we refer to as ‘the day’, gaming wasn’t a thing and the social world where we existed unfolded at a downtown arcade.

Downtown Victoria is a few attractions less these day with the B.C. Wax Museum and Undersea Gardens closing. But that’s something Candice and Biagio Woodward, owners of Cherry Bomb Toys, want to change.

The Woodwards want to build a vintage arcade and giant toy museum in their current location at 1410 Broad St.

The couple’s love of toys – which they have shared since their second date – inspired their vision to create a vintage arcade showcasing pinball and table top games. The attraction will include a themed-restaurant and a toy museum featuring displays, interactive exhibits and collections of action figures, trains and models.

“Arcades are making a huge resurgence,” said Biago Woodward. “Families are taking notice.”

The Woodwards opened their toy and collectibles store 10 years ago and also organize the Ultimate Toy and Hobby Fair, a bi-annual event for toy enthusiasts and comic collectors.

They tried the traditional methods to help fund their dream but are now turning to the new world of crowd-funding. They are asking for $5,750,000 on Indiegogo.

The goal amount is as giant as their future giant toy museum, but the couple has a reason. They want the museum to be by donation. “Lets keep the family fun affordable,” said Woodward.

http://www.vicnews.c.../286007481.html

[AllseeingEye]

The first thing I thought of when I saw the headline was Cherry Bomb:

http://www.vicnews.c.../286007481.html

Great idea, I hope this comes to fruition. Attend any hobby, collectible or toy fair and you'll realize there is a lot of money involved in this industry.

 

Although admittedly the first thing I thought of was the first toy I can recall getting, which was "Major Matt Mason/Mattel" (Mattel Toys, get it?), for Christmas 1965. He was a combination US marine/commando bad-ass with flexible arms and legs, a vaguely astronaut-looking helmet and a "jet-pack" on this back. It dispensed black thread which you could tie onto a doorknob or table leg and by which the kid could attach him in turn and make him appear to "fly" down the length of the thread. He also had an uber-cool "ray" gun....very big in the 60's

Edited by AllseeingEye, 17 December 2014 - 09:47 AM.

[Langford Rat]

There was only a limited number of bends in old Matt's arms and legs before that thin interior wire broke, though. I had the Matt Mason Moon walker vehicle. I remember (like it was yesterday) playing with Matt Mason in the living room as the whole family gathered around the TV and watched Neil step onto the moon (or step onto that NASA movie set!)

[AllseeingEye]

 

There was only a limited number of bends in old Matt's arms and legs before that thin interior wire broke, though. I had the Matt Mason Moon walker vehicle. I remember (like it was yesterday) playing with Matt Mason in the living room as the whole family gathered around the TV and watched Neil step onto the moon (or step onto that NASA movie set!)

It was actually Edwards Air Force base...  . The lunar sled came out in later iterations of MMM, hang on to it if you still have him LR these things are worth their weight in gold.

 

If this initiative gets off the ground I will also be particularly interested in their trains, several sets of which were left in my dad's estate. Old Lionel trains especially are the Holy Grail of old toys, although their $ value these days really precludes referring to them as toys, as they are really investments especially to a collector.

Edited by AllseeingEye, 17 December 2014 - 12:41 PM.

[AllseeingEye]

Major Matt Mason/Mattel including his "Lunar Sled", circa Christmas 1965:

Attached Images

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[Victoria Watcher]

PHOTOS: Victoria's Cherry Bomb shop makes room for Canada's toy museum

Visitors invited to 'unplug, slow down and immerse themselves in the joy and history of toys'


https://www.vicnews....-museum-8292906

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 October 2025 - 12:33 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

They charge $10 to get in, or $25 for a family. It must be decent.

[Victoria Watcher]

Very respectable rating.

[Bambam]

Interesting: I'd spend the $ to go see it at least once; I have a large collection of toys from the 50's, 60's/early 70's. If you're a serious collector and diligent you can find some good stuff on Facebook marketplace and other online sources.

[Victoria Watcher]

Yup.