Mr. Big's Toyland Commercial

Submitted by JoshB on 16 January, 2007 - 09:43.

If there ever was a place that haunted my dreams as a child, it is this store. This commercial aired during Force Five, Starblazers, and Battle of the Planets in the late 70s - early 80s. I begged my parents to take me but they never did. I did get Shogun Warriors for chistmas, but it was only as an adult did I find out that my parents went there to shop for me but never took me. "We would never get you out of that store" they said.

There are lots of great stories about this store floating around. Stories of anguish (Mason, I am lookng at you), stories of Joy. Stories of their going out of business sale, and the downstairs room, where only a select few were allowed to enter.

If you have any Mr. Big Stories, why not leave them in the comments section? Pretty Please?

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Mr. Big's...

Submitted by Sanjeev on 16 January, 2007 - 10:21.

*sigh* ...your parents never took you there, either, huh?

Hey, Josh, what's that website you can order the time machine from? Y'know, the one Uncle Rico got?

Big Love for Big Toys

Submitted by Dennis B. on 16 January, 2007 - 13:20.

So many years ago, so many fond memories. I share your pain Josh. My parents to did not bring me to Mr.Big's Toyland when I was small as well. Ever so often though, dad's work would bring him out to the Waltham area near the store and he would sometimes bring home a unique item. Skylar from Gaiking, or a fighter jet from Danguard Ace, or some other bizarre item what was just plain whole-some good! Alas, I was a fool and did not treated my toys w/ care. Most of them lost (and now re-bought since getting older and I can now sorta afford them).

I remember the TV ad like it was yesterday and think I still could quote it line for line as well.

Good times... Thanks dad.

Never got there either...

Submitted by jaydeflix on 16 January, 2007 - 17:19.

Living way out in Gardner in central MA, I never got there either. It makes me sad to this day, tho, admittedly, not getting the USS Flagg at Rich's Department Store or the Scott Bernard Cyclone at Child World depresses me more. Sort of. I mean, I'm pretty sure I'd never have kept either, but, hey, it'd have made me happier then.

Now I'm just stuck looking for a Cyclone I can afford and a house big enough to hold a USS Flagg before I go and buy one. =)

Never got to go either.

Submitted by NekroDave on 16 January, 2007 - 20:29.

Never got to go either. Funny thing is, I don't recall asking to go too often (though I must have a few times), but I used to always tell my folks every Xmas about the "Argo" they had at Mr. Big that I wanted. Never did get it, or anything else from the store. Who knows, maybe if I had, I would be a chogokin collector instead of Jumbos today.

Curse you, mom and dad!

"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High

Why was force 5/Starblazers

Submitted by Goldenage on 16 January, 2007 - 22:46.

Why was force 5/Starblazers such a MA. thing? I dont remember it over in the Tri-Sate area. In fact I don't even think the shows were on the TV.

"Dinobots, destroy Devestator!"-Optimus Prime TFTM

Man, what a blast from the past...

Submitted by Lazarus on 17 January, 2007 - 08:47.

I used to love seeing those commercials when I was growing up. If I remember right, they played on Channel 56. I always tried to get my folks to bring me, but i never had any luck.

I remember finding one of the Takara Dougram sets at the Child World out in North Dartmouth when I was a kid. At te time it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. That and Robotech were my two big robot/mecha loves as a kid (although I also had a soft spot for Gaiking).

It's interesting that most fo the folks who posted so far were never able to visit the store. Does anyone know anybody who did? I was always curious if it would have lived up to my expectations :)

I got to go

Submitted by Atom on 29 January, 2007 - 12:09.

Well I lucked out I did get to go once just after we moved out here. I had seen all the comercials during the showings of Robotech on tv. It was my birthday so Mr. Big end up giving my parents a good deal on two Valkyries. Aparently he closed the store only a few months after we where in there.

I live in Waltham

Submitted by Z28 Autobot on 25 February, 2007 - 20:31.

Hey guys this is my first post here. I did a search for Mr. Bigs Toystore. One reason is as described the memories it brought. I grew up seeing the commercial on TV during force 5 and other shows. The other thing is this was the "Magical" Toystore that till it was gone I really did not realize what type of place it was. First off let me say this if anyone still is reading this has info or knows anything about Mr. Big I ask you to email me Evost7@aol.com. Would love to make a tribute page to this store. As it had a national reputation.
Like I said I live in Waltham. I rode my bike past this store when I was a teen. I would go in for my Voltron, Transformers, Robotech, Starblazers, G.I.Joe toys. Many times to window shop. As the prices were a few dollars more than the regular outlets. But did carry stuff you never could find. Star Wars stuff also. I remember the store set up. It was like a 5 and dime type of store where it was dusty and kept as a minimal operating level. The toys were displayed in glass cases and alot of carded figures were on pegboards. The toys ranged in there from the 50-60 and many items look like they were on the shelf from that era. the price tage were square orange ones. Many things were there that I wish I could write here and say but I get lost in the nostalgia. I remeber the set up of the store. The window case in the front was a big display of I think playschool action sets. The owners. The man Aurther Sandberg and his wife. This asian guy and one other person. If you were alone you would be followed around to close. But if with parents they would tell you the world about anything they had. Eventually they did get to know me and my purchasing habits. They were kind and had many things not sold anywhere. Still have daydreams about the store. Such a wonderful place. It is now a furnature store.I do know they moved to Fla and retired and not sure if they are still alive butthey sold the store to some people that did not run it like they ran it. This was soon after it closed. Really sad. and this basement room?? never been there?? what was in it??
There is hope another store in Waltham carries on a great tradition like Mr. Bigs. The Outer Limits in Waltham a few stores up is a great place and in a small way you get the same feel walking in there.
Like I said would love to talk to people about Mr. Bigs and see if we could get something together to pay homage to the place. Again would love to hear from you guys about this Evost7@aol.com

my favorite place as a kid

Submitted by xTIMMYxCOREx on 20 June, 2008 - 12:49.

Wow, brings back memories, watching Force Five and Starblazers, going to Mr. Big Toyland on Moody Street.

Mr. Big

Submitted by Chandon25 on 8 December, 2008 - 04:54.

Oh man I didn't get to go but I hounded my old man to go because he had work nearby. We lived on capecod so it was kind of a hike. I remember giving him some of my first communion money to get me a Gaiking space dragon. I was so pumped to get that thing. The first thing to break was the end of the tail. That thing lasted till my littlest brother destroyed it. What a great toy. Those ads would make you salivate as a kid. I mean it almost had this mystical appeal to any kid with two bits worth of imagination. If it was still open I would seriously rob that place like oceans 11 style. I collect now and the prices are so out of control. I think the original danguard ace is going for like 1000.00 in the box. Yikes. I need to pay off my college loan first. I did recently aquire a danguard rancher; which is the little fighter that fits on his head. I had no idea that it even existed as a toy. When I saw it I knew instinctively which anime it was connected to. Oh man I also just got a soul of chogokin Grandizer and let me tell you those toys f####n rule! If you need an old skool fix thats connected to your inner anime/mecha soul I highly recommend picking something up from them. You can feel the die-cast goodness in their hefty weight when you pick one up.

Mr. Bigs Toyland

Submitted by David Banner on 18 March, 2009 - 14:01.

Wow, I remember this commercial from when I was a kid! I think it actually played into the LATE 80's. I used to see it during G.I. Joe and Transformers on channel WLVI 56 in Boston. I think they also played it during Creature Double Feature on Saturday mornings. I used to BEG my parents to bring me there, however it was quit a haul from southern New Hampshire, I considered myself lucky to make it to the comic store in Manchester. I think the narater is that movie critic that used to host The Movie Loft on WSBK 38, Dana Hersey, but I'm not sure. I'm sorry to here that the store went out of business, how long ago did that happen?