Note: All images taken from completed eBay auctions.

Yesterday I wrote about the two M*A*S*H action figures released by Durham Industries Inc. in 1975. Today I’ll tackle the remainder of Durham’s M*A*S*H toy line: a helicopter and a motorcycle, both also released in 1975. Or at least these are the only other additional toys I’m aware of. But until recently I didn’t know the motorcycle existed. First up is the 6″ long M*A*S*H Copter, which looks nothing like the helicopters used in the series.

Durham M*A*S*H Copter, Circa 1975

As the box advertises, the toy is friction powered and needs no batteries. Grasping the white plastic piece on the bottom of the copter’s tail and squeezing it makes the propeller twirl. At least that’s my best guess at what the toy does. The white “ski” at the front is likely only included to keep the copter level when on the ground. I assume the wheels also spin but it doesn’t look like the green plastic windshield opens. There’s also what looks like a white knob on the back of the toy that may or may not do something. The copter was sold boxed/carded, safely secured by wires behind a plastic bubble. A black and white picture of Alan Alda as Hawkeye adorns the card. One of these copters sold for $38 on eBay in December of 2009 (from Australia of all places).

This next toy was a complete mystery to me when I stumbled upon it on eBay last month. It’s called a Freewheeler Cycle and Rider and comes in an open package with no plastic bubble to protect the toy. A hole on the back of the box suggests that the toy was once wired to the box to keep it from moving around. The rider is obviously supposed to be Hawkeye and can be removed from the cycle (although whether it is supposed to come off is another question). A sticker on the back of the cycle, perhaps intended as a sort of license plate, says M*A*S*H 4077.

Durham M*A*S*H Freewheeler Cycle and Rider

I don’t know exactly what the cycle does. The back wheel seems to be quite a bit thicker than the front wheel, which might allow it to stand upright on the ground. Does the cycle move if pulled back? Or is it human powered? If anyone has information about the cycle (or the copter) please let me know. The only cycle I have seen sold for $23 on eBay last month, but the auction also included a Durham Hot Lips action figure.

Durham M*A*S*H Freewheeler Cycle and Rider

Durham Industries Inc. also produced cast metal miniatures, wind-up toys (including a Spider-Man one), bendable toys, cars, trains, squirt guns (Batman and Superman) and generic action figures (safari hunter, kung fu fighter, cowboy, robot, etc.). The company was sold to View-Master International in 1985.

Note: All images taken from completed eBay auctions.

Back in 2008, Peter Kurch wrote a wonderful analysis of the 1982 Tristar line of M*A*S*H collectibles (action figures, vehicles and a huge playset). But Tristar wasn’t the first company to release M*A*S*H action figures. That distinction falls to Durham Industries Inc., which released a pair of roughly 9″ figures in 1975. The two figures were obviously meant to represent Hawkeye and Hot Lips but there were no names mentioned on the packaging. However, black and white photographs from the series, focusing heavily of Alan Alda and Loretta Swit, make it clear who these figures are supposed to be.

Durham M*A*S*H Action Figures, Circa 1975

From what I’ve seen, the sculpting on the faces is quite well done. The likenesses to Alda and Swit isn’t terrific but the paint is applied nicely, especially the white around the eyes and on the teeth. The hair on Hot Lips is a very bright shade of yellow and her eyes are bright blue. I’ve never seen a Hawkeye figure up close so I can’t say what color his eyes are but his hair appears to be dark brown. Both figures are seemingly solid plastic painted to look like olive drab green Army uniforms, complete with brown boots. Included are white cloth surgical gowns and green plastic hats. The Hawkeye figure comes with a golf club (or potentially two) while the Hot Lips figure has a white suitcase emblazoned with the Red Cross logo.

(more…)

The collection of 38 scripts from M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D. that I wrote about back in October sold last week for $310.70 (with a buyer’s premium) as part of Heritage Auction Galleries’ 2009 November Signature Music & Entertainment Auction #7011. A separate M*A*S*H script, a revised draft of “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet,” sold for $79 (again, with a buyer’s premium).

A collection of 38 scripts from M*A*S*H and 20 from Trapper John, M.D. will go under the hammer on Saturday, November 7th as part of Heritage Auction Galleries‘ 2009 November Signature Music & Entertainment Auction #7011. The auction, which will run two days, includes a total of 1,450 items (714 of which fall into the Movie/TV Memorabilia categories). Here’s the description for the M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D. scripts:

M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D. Television Script Collection. A set of 38 final and revised final draft scripts for for the long-running sitcom M*A*S*H (mostly from the final two seasons), dated August 13, 1973 to August 25, 1982; plus 20 final and revised final drafts for the 1979-86 spin-off Trapper John, M.D., dated September 27, 1979 to January 24, 1984. In overall Very Fine to Excellent condition, with some duplicate copies. Estimate: $500 – up.

The opening bid is $250. Also up for auction in a separate lot is a copy of a revised final draft script for the M*A*S*H episode “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” (originally broadcast January 28th, 1973). The script is dated December 4th, 1972 and includes an additional 34 pages of revisions from December 8th. The opening bid is just $1 and the script has an estimated sale price of $500 or more.

Back in October of 2005, TV Guide Magazine switched from its classic digest format to a larger, more standard magazine size. The final small-size issue, published on October 9th, 2005 (Volume 53, Number 41, Issue #2741), had nine commemorative covers. In each one, popular contemporary television stars recreated classic covers from the magazine’s past. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa dressed up as the characters from I Dream of Jeannie, for example, and Jennifer Love Hewitt recreated The Flying Nun.

2005 Scrubs TV Guide Cover – Copyright 2005 TV Guide

1976 M*A*S*H TV Guide Cover – Copyright 2005 TV Guide

One of the other covers saw Zach Braff, Donald Faison and John C. McGinley from Scrubs down bathrobes to portray Hawkeye, B.J. and Colonel Potter from a 1976 M*A*S*H cover. Andy Ryan took the cover photograph. The cover pulls out to reveal the original 1976 version as well. Inside is a lengthy article about the recreated cover that includes an interview with John C. McGinley in which he discusses watching M*A*S*H and the influence of Colonel Potter on his Scrubs character.