The Retroist

The Retroist

Share this post

The Retroist
The Retroist
Transformers were poised to make coleslaw out of the Cabbage Patch Kids for Christmas 1984
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
User's avatar
Discover more from The Retroist
A Retro Podcast, Blog, and Newsletter.
Over 3,000 subscribers
Already have an account? Sign in

Transformers were poised to make coleslaw out of the Cabbage Patch Kids for Christmas 1984

Retroist's avatar
Retroist
Apr 12, 2017
1

Share this post

The Retroist
The Retroist
Transformers were poised to make coleslaw out of the Cabbage Patch Kids for Christmas 1984
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

In Christmas of 1984, the toy world was shifting. Video games were hitting a rough spot and action figure toys were already years old. Even the heavy hitter of the year before, the Cabbage Patch Kid, was not looking to repeat what it did the year before. No, according to just about everyone, the hot toys for Christmas of 1984 were going to be robots. Which robots in particular? The Transformers, of course.

In this report from the CBC from that year, they discuss not just the Transformers, but other great robot toys, including site favorite Tomy VERBOT. As well as non-robot toys like Rainbow Brite and He-Man.

The toy footage is pretty amazing. They even include a short loop of the original Transformers in front of this techie background at 3:15. However, that is just a small piece of this nearly eight-minute video. They also discuss people against war toys. Some great interviews with precocious kids, including one who wants a pair of glasses that will not get foggy for Christmas.

Watching this now, I chuckle, but I think this type of news show sent waves of fear through my Mother. What was going to be THE hot toy? Was I even aware of it? Could she get her hands on it? These were all the things that stuff like this report would raise. She usually ignored things like the section about War Toys, but that sort of talk was dangerous. It almost got my DnD books taken away because of the negative press around that game.

I think I was still very much into GI Joe in 1984 as were my friends. It would be at least a few months before a Transformer would appear in my circle of playmates. So I am glad my Mom was not on top of this trend. Although I got to admit, I really would have loved a Verbot.

Watch this report from Christmas of 1984 about the Transformers


Subscribe to The Retroist

Launched 4 years ago
A Retro Podcast, Blog, and Newsletter.
1

Share this post

The Retroist
The Retroist
Transformers were poised to make coleslaw out of the Cabbage Patch Kids for Christmas 1984
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Discussion about this post

User's avatar
The Mystery Of The Red Quarters…Solved!
Did you ever find a quarter painted red and wonder if that red served a purpose? It does.
Feb 11, 2017 â€¢ 
Retroist
45

Share this post

The Retroist
The Retroist
The Mystery Of The Red Quarters…Solved!
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
6
Remember when Mickey Mouse decided to commit suicide?
Unless you lived in the 1930s or are a fan of vintage comic strips you might not be aware of the attempted Mickey Mouse suicide.
Aug 30, 2017 â€¢ 
Retroist
9

Share this post

The Retroist
The Retroist
Remember when Mickey Mouse decided to commit suicide?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Monkey’s Blood (Mercurochrome) for those boo-boos
Remember when you were a kid, and you would were out roughhousing with your friends.
Oct 23, 2019 â€¢ 
Retroist
4

Share this post

The Retroist
The Retroist
Monkey’s Blood (Mercurochrome) for those boo-boos
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
2

Ready for more?

© 2025 Retroist
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Create your profile

User's avatar

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.