In the mid 1960's, Irwin Allen treated science fiction buffs with many exciting and innovative shows. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants and the grand-daddy of them all: Lost in Space. I remember sitting at home waiting in front of a glowing black and white screened television(putting out enough heat to warm a small house) for the weekly exploits of the Robinson family. Trying to escape the desert planet that Dr. Smith's latest sabotage scheme had brought them to.

Through the years, I had dreamed of the day when Lost in Space toys would become available. Of course in the 60's you had the Roto-Jet gun, Switch and Go Jupiter 2 playset, the lunch boxes and the wonderful Remco Robot. But, there were no action figures. Until earlier this year, when the Lost in Space motion picture hit the movie screens. With these toys, Trendmasters, the company that brought us ID-4 & Godzilla figures and vehicles, put out a line of movie figures and ships with lights and sounds, and magnetic attack spiders. Even the classic robot B-9 made an appearance on store shelves-I was in heaven! But there was still something missing... There still wasn't a line of figures for the classic Lost in Space. But that emptiness would also be filled by that same company from Saint Louis, Trendmasters.

Earlier this summer when I was taking pictures for Action Figure Times at the San Diego Comic Con, I chanced to pass by the Inkworks booth and saw something interesting. Standing 9" tall was a figure of Don West, pilot of the 60's Jupiter 2, outfitted in a silver space suit and laser rifle, and behind him some art work of the Jupiter 2 itself, top removed to reveal a detailed interior. Randy (of Ask Randy) turned to have me follow the group, but I had already been hypnotized and was heading for the glass display case. After talking to the man at the booth, we convinced him to let us take some photographs of the products, and he told us that Trendmasters would be putting out these and several more classic Lost in Space toys. I was floored! And I knew what I had to do: get in contact with Trendmasters...

I got in touch with Karen Morris in the marketing department for Trendmasters. A very nice woman who was very helpful and got me basic information and photographs of the upcoming line of toys that you see here. She also helped to set up an interview with Brian Weinstock, Trendmasters Vice- President of Boys Toys:

Umpire: Are the new toys from Lost in Space aimed at kids or collectors?
Brian Weinstock: Collectors!

U: Do you expect much in the way of kid interest? I know that there are the video tapes on the market as well as the Sci-fi channel currently running the series.
B.W.: In any line, whether it's aimed at a collector market or kid market, there's always spill over and the two categories aren't as distinct as we make them out to be...

U: I have a seven year old boy and he's loves the old series... When you came out with the classic B-9 robot he just loved it...
B.W.: Aren't robots just the greatest toys for little boys... Every time I talk to people about boys toys, I like to take the conversation to robots immediately... it's just the greatest concept in toys for kids...

U: I know I won't be showing my kid that picture of the 24" B-9 robot your coming out with until a little closer to Christmas...
B.W.: That's available at Sam's Warehouse... it's there now.

U: How much do collectors impact your sales?
B.W.: Trendmaster's is a company that aims a bulk of it's sales at the mass market, that's what we're aiming at, that's what we're after, but when we go after collectors we go after them in a big way, and you can see that in our Lost in Space line that we went after them in a big way. We got the best possible materials, we got the best sculpting on the faces. and we got all the details down to the fine hairs. So, this is really our first step into the collectible arena in a serious way, and we expect this to be a great place to be.

U: I saw the 9" fashion dolls at the San Diego Comic Con. earlier in the summer. Will there be any figures to follow the initial release of Don West, Judy Robinson, Dr. Smith, Will Robinson, the Carrot Man, and Cyclops?
B.W.: We have on the drawing board for several more... like Maureen and Penny and maybe some more of the classic characters as well as different outfits for the characters... and we're also coming out with Austin Powers collectible dolls...

U: In the same scale?
B.W.: Exactly, and the Austin Powers dolls, what makes them cool is they will have sound bases. So, you can push a button and have Austin Powers say his thing and there's Dr. Evil also, and later on some Fem-Bots.

U: I bet there will be a lot of collector interest in those...
B.W.: I was reading in Wizard magazine that Austin Powers is the tenth most requested action figure line.

U: Are there any plans to make additional vehicles to go with the Jupiter 2? Maybe a remote controlled Chariot?
B.W.: We actually have that on the drawing board, and if we meet up with enough success in our classic line that's something that we look forward to rolling out.

U: You released ID-4 with computer disks, any plans for software for Lost in Space?
B.W.: No.

U: You told me earlier that the 24" radio controlled B-9 robot is already available at Sam's Warehouse Club Stores (retail $99.99). Will the rest of the product be ready for Christmas-time?
B.W.: It's shipping now, so. you'll see it in stores for Christmas.

U: What are the prices for the new items?
B.W.: The prices run from $9.99 for the 7.25" B-9 Robot to 29.95 for the Jupiter 2, and the fashion dolls will retail 19.99.

U: Is the smaller B-9 in scale with the new dolls?
B.W.: The dolls are in scale with the B-9 that was released earlier in the year, so Will Robinson will look to be the right size standing next to the older B-9.

U: Will there be any exclusives from this line?
B.W.: There was an exclusive B-9 done for I believe Spencers, and he's electroplated silver, and I believe that he was limited to 10,000.

U: Thank you for all your time Mr. Weinstock, your company has been very kind.
B.W.: No problem, talk to you later...

This new line looks great and for me and all the other Lost in Space fans it sounds as if Trendmasters is listening to us, and making some great toys for us to collect. If there are good sales, it sounds as if plans are already being made to expand the line. It's a great time to be a kid, and a even better time to be kid at heart. UMPIRE

Sam's Warehouse Clubs have the 24" B-9 remote control robot #31268
*giant sized robot with lights and sounds
*R/C unit controls lights, rolling base and a microphone voice booster.
*voice grill lights up in unison with sounds and with voice booster
* cargo hold, spring loaded claws

Target will get Jupiter 2 #31267(probably TRU and KB also...)
*lights and sounds from the show
*three posable figures: Smith, robot and Will
*roof snaps off for access to play area
*removable space pod, figures fit inside
*folding landing gear

Classic Lost in Space 9" Fashion Dolls #31345
* Dr. Smith, Judy Robinson, Will Robinson, Major Don West, Carrot Man (from "The Great Vegetable Rebellion") and the Cyclops (from "Island in the Sky")
*each comes with authentic accessory
*authentic fabric clothing