History of Six Million Dollar Man Toys: Vintage Kenner Action Figure Collection / Review

[@johnwild8336]

Great overview of the Kenner Six Million Dollar Man toy line. I am still impressed with the play features and quality that showed us Kenner toys motto "We Really Do Care." wasn't just words. These toys had value then and today are a testament to the toy designer of the past. I have a growing collection of these toys and have looked at many of them on my KZbin channel. This video was a treat and I thank you very much for your high quality, attention to detail and great information.

[@AnalogToys]

John Wild these toys were fantastic. I feel sorry for today's generation because they don't get to enjoy figures like these.

[@AnalogToys]

John Wild I have watched all your six million dollar man videos and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I highly recommend that my subscribers take a look at your channel

[@johnwild8336]

Thanks Tony. Looking forward to your next Toy History.

[@nostalgicforthe70s18]

Both of your channels are awesome :)

[@AnalogToys]

I hope you've subscribed to John Wild!

[@greyman7849]

Fantastic video. At 49 I still have mine. Thanks again.

[@tonycox7802]

Wow, at 50 I still have mine!

[@laurencekiernan886]

I'm 50 1/2 and still have mine and the engine block

[@mackbonham1]

I nominate Oscar Goldman's exploding briefcase to be the single greatest action figure accessory of all time.

[@ChapMeifan]

I second that!!!! I had more fun with Oscar Goldman's desk and briefcase than I did with the Oscar Goldman figure.

[@steveaustin330]

The Kenner action figure is proudly displayed on my living room wall :D

[@GVSolo]

Oh my... I remember what HUGE fan I was of the Six Million Dollar Man TV series; and I'm still one. I never get tired even today of watching the reruns. This may sound cliche and exaggerated, but the Steve Austin action figure was like the holly grail of toys at the time. Owning such toy really raised your "popularity points" as a kid which would grow exponentially the more toys you owned from the SMDM franchise. It was so great to see all of the figures and related accessories here, even a few I have never seen nor heard of. It is so cool to see that all the toys related to the TV series made by Kenner have such a high and respectable place in the world of vintage toys. They truly deserve it.

[@TB.....]

I think it was my 5th birthday when I woke up to find the 6 million dollar man in his box on my bedroom wardrobe. I still remember that feeling I had to this day.

[@RobertRagolia]

Loved seeing that six million dollar man action figure under my Christmas tree as a 5 yr old

[@RobertRagolia]

greatest figure ever

[@calesgy]

My older brother and me actually owned that toy . We make the funny sounds when he was using his eye or when he was jumping. Great times. Great memories Thnx for this episode

[@s.fyfe-joinery5540]

Lee Majors was awesome as Steve Austin. I had the action figure, the rocket and the engine block you could lift by ratcheting the right arm. You had the cross hair on the eye to. There was also exposed bionics on the arm under the rubber skin lol. Good times as a kid.

[@ahmedvorajee2430]

Yes I had the same one in the summer of the 70’s. Those were the days 😊

[@joeJoe-pb3su]

A neighbor had that toy. It was cool...

[@Bigreid92]

I still have mine. He’s a little beat up it’s sentimental because my grandmother god rest her soul worked hard so I could have it for Christmas.

[@GR-jw7ns]

Late reply I know, but I like your story. What a great Grandmother! I also still have a beat up, unclothed, one armed version. :)

[@nickbonte6519]

@@GR-jw7ns that version you have souns like my grandma.

[@GR-jw7ns]

@@nickbonte6519 Ha ha! :)

[@ivabender3564]

Grandparents Rocked! I Still miss mine a whole lot after so many Years Later! God Bless!

[@paulweston8408]

As a child of the 70's Maskatron was far and away the best action figure you could get back then. It was three toys in one with the different face plates and beyond cool.

[@ivabender3564]

Maskatron! Most Definitely #1!

[@905livewire]

I had all of those toys, including some not shown in this video. I remember walking through the store with my mother and seeing the set of three different arms for Steve Austin....I went nuts and got them for my birthday. Great memory.....lol

[@Cre80s]

Nostalgic beyond words.

[@af22raptor23503]

THank you for the Trip down MEMORY LANE!!!! I had many of those toys and as you were talking about them I was remembering all the Great Times and all the fun that I had with my childhood friends playing with our Six Million dollar Man action figures along with G.I. Joe including Atomic Man and Pulsar. Hard to believe that was 40 years ago I just turned 48 in January and I wish that kids today would get the Joy of being outside playing in the backyard with their action figures like we did at that age it was almost a right of passage to do so.

[@chrisridenhour]

I had that action figure - geez watching this is like time traveling to something I haven't thought about since the 70s. crazy

[@RichardM-kv4uu]

My favourite TV show ever! Had just about everything you could buy as a kid, toys, t-shirts, board games, models, you name it!

[@heathsmith1537]

I’m now 54yrs old and can still vividly remember opening the bionic transporter on Christmas morning that my grand parents got me

[@mandh14]

I virtually shat myself waiting for Christmas day and getting the 6 million dollar man plus accessories like the crystal radio backpack. Bloody brilliant stuff!

[@winstonchurchhill3264]

Lol 😂 ! Greetings from Portsmouth England

[@steveaustin1977]

I´m 42 years old and finally got my first Six Million Dollar Man ten years ago here in Chile. South America. Since then , I started to collect them (Bionic Woman, Maskatron, etc)

[@jamesford5919]

These marketing geniuses got 3 year old me to want an action figure of a man in a business suit with a briefcase accessory for Christmas.

[@Ire308]

My brother had the Steve Austin action figure. We were fans of the show. When the Bionic Woman TV series came along, I got her action figure. Both toys were fantastic, Kenner made great toys back in the day.

[@dex7721]

The Six Million Dollar Man was the first science fiction TV series I really loved! Thanks for this one. Colonel Steve Austin remains one of my fave sci fi characters.

[@theking-nz1ut]

I use to have a six million dollar man action figure. As a kid of the 70's it was my favourite toy apart from action man. I also had a evel Knievel action figure as well. Good times....👍👍👍

[@SciFiFan2012]

the king I had an EK figure and cycle as well, some Motorcycle rider broke his records recently and jumped over Caesar's Palace.

[@MrHaze1947]

I had all them as well m8. I had Evel Knievel's bike and a stretch Armstrong as well. The good old days aye!..

[@helixjc]

the king me too. I also had a Maskatron as well. Ahhh, the 70s.........

[@graemealexander8804]

@@SciFiFan2012 Bike technology has changed, so can't compare. I bet they wouldn't attempt such a jump using Evil's bike.

[@unclelou4839]

Don't forget the awesome J.J. Armes -- 'Real Life Superhero'! Metal claws, suction cups, a pistol, a saber, etc....JJ was the bomb, man.

[@james_tiberius_kirk73]

Six Million Dollar Man was my favourite show growing up in Australia. I nagged my Mum for the Kenner Action Fgure and got it for my 10th Birthday in 1977. It's all I wanted and toys back then for me weren't plentiful. I used to make vehicles for him out of boxes / odds & ends and made my own repair station and all manner of accessories. I _still_ have my original along with Maskatron (MIB) and another SMDM (MIB) and the Back Pack Radio (MIB). The Back Pack Radio which was how I listened to Radio back in the day because it actually worked and I used to clip it onto the steel frame of my bed! Brilliant show and fantastic toys that have withstood the test of time. As I type this I look over at a massive glass cabinet full of 60's/70's/80's Toys most of which I didn't have as a kid. And yes, every now and then I peer through SMDM's eye and make _that_ sound! (LOL). Great video mate :)

[@michaelwhiles5282]

An excellent review of the Six Million Dollar Man toy range, now we know why there are so many modern Star Wars toys being flogged off at discount, the Kids aren't watching the new movies none of which are remotely as good as the 'real' Star Wars films.

[@marceloillanes175]

I was born in 1977 here in Chile. South America, and was really obsessed wth both bionic shows that were very successful till the early 80s. I was running in slow motion all the time. As an adult I finally got The Six Million Dollar Man Bionic Grip, The Bionic Woman doll. Maskatron and the Mission Control Center. My life came full circle!

[@vincentfranklin17]

I got a Steve Austin action figure, and the rocket module for Christmas when I was ten!

[@terryd757]

I am not sure what year I got mine, but also had both the action figure and rocket/surgery center. It was probably closer to 76 so I was 8. I wonder how many met the same fate as mine. When I was about 14-15 and had outgrown them, one afternoon they stopped a lot of BB's before going in the garbage. Who knew this stuff would become collectable.

[@vincentfranklin17]

​@@terryd757I turned ten in the summer of 1976. I got him that Christmas.

[@lpgibbo7463]

Born 72 but I remember these & funnily it jogged my memory of evil knievel toys as I loved both. Great times & great vid 😊

[@SciFiFan2012]

SMDM was the man back in the day- bionic/astronaut/secret agent, a kid's dream job!

[@dalehanna389]

Excellent presentation and good memories, my brother and I each received a Six Million Dollar Man (with the engine block) for Christmas 1975 or 1976.

[@hfactotum1]

Thank you for the trip down memory lane! I owned all of them at some point in the late 1970's before age and injury took it's toll replicating all the stunts I imitated during all those classic episodes. It was a fortune for my parents during Christmas seasons, but no price can take away a young boy's joy....

[@bear740able]

another of my most beloved childhood toys. another feast vid bro.

[@dr.phillnaadoftennessee.9788]

I never had a bionic Bigfoot.. But I did have a big Chewbacca! And some days he would be hanging out with solo, and sometimes he'd be doing battle with the Bionic Man! It would just depend on what mood I was in that day, as the kid lol!

[@oldcorpsl4905]

What a great time it was. I loved my Steve Austin and GI Joe toys. Let's not forget Star Wars!

[@flixsymmetry]

What a great show, thanks! As a child in the 70s, I begged my parents for these toys. Fortunately I still have my action figures and repair station. Now I’m driven to find more!

[@stendec-dd3he]

Wow, nice little trip back to the 70's. Read the novel in high school, watched the 90 minute movies before the television series, then the series. Bought the 1st year action figure, just to store it for the future, to sell it,...guess the future is here. Nice video, ...never had any idea there was so much more items, but then again my toy days were 10 years or more prior.

[@steveh1388]

This is fantastic. For 15 minutes I was 7 years old again. Great content.

[@whyimsmarterthanyou]

Mum insisted that we turn down the TV when the probe episode was on. She hated the vacuum cleaner sound. This is a great vid. I remember playing with that first gen Steve Austin until his track suit was thread bare.

[@deanrane1961]

Man thanx so much for this! A really in-depth look at the entire Six Million Dollar Man toy line. Great memories.

[@pip12111]

This was such and awesome show. I got the the figure,and the repair station. So cool

[@nurseelliott4256]

I had Steve and his repair/rocket ship as a child. Brought back a fond memory

[@scouse1967]

I had this (in the red track suit with engine block) when i was a kid. My late grand dad and nan bought me it for christmas. Great memories indeed.

[@solgoode1]

Excellent video. Six Million Dollar Man was the best

[@malamuteaerospace6333]

I had The Steve Major abd the operating table/rocket. And the fembot guy thing doll. Awesome man brings back some memories. Thank you.

[@solcutta3661]

Kenner is a name I very fond of from my childhood in late 70s early 80s..

[@noneya3635]

LOL, I love that so much of that commercial was them just throwing the Steve Austin doll out of windows and through windows.

[@nbp10000]

Fascinating overview. I never realised many of the additional products existed. The fembot was genius and the ad incredible.

[@kennylauderdale_en]

This is fascinating. I'm so glad someone is giving these historical context. I don't think anyone else online has covered this. You got a subscriber.

[@paulh6591]

Yes, the headsculpt is spot-on, and that was key to its success.

[@garethroberts7932]

I still love that the packaging for the toy line was pink.

[@macorourke2222]

A totally awesomeness of a TV show and the action figures Rocked. Thanks for sharing Brother 😀 👍 ♥️ 🇨🇦 🇬🇧🇺🇸🌎🎉🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🎉💯💯💯💯

[@philmartinez1872]

Thank you. I still have all my stuff at 55

[@woodbut1]

Thanks' for this upload....As a child in the 70's I was a huge fan and glued to the TV every week watching the bionic man.. I had the bionic man action figure...… the transport and repair station and the mission to mars outfit......Soooo many fond memories of this toy.....Thank you for the happy memories and the nostalgic trip back to my youth.

[@polyphonicdrums7051]

great video, as always! i am 31 and have no nostalgic experience with these toys. however, i still find these videos fascinating!

[@user-vs4lg9vh1u]

I had nearly every Six Million Dollar Man figure and accessory, including Bigfoot, Oscar Goldman, Maskatron, Jamie Summers, the Mission Control Set, Radio Backpack and the repair center. Never got Fembot or the Venus Space Probe or any special mission outfits, but by then I was on to collecting Star Wars figures.

[@smugglersrun7779]

Thanks for the trip down memory Lane l had this 6 million dollar man toy one of my favorite great video nice insight and information

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man i remember my oldest sister got me one of those for my birthday! If only knew then what i know now! I would have taken way better care and kept it! But that's what happens when you're a kid! Nothing last for ever! Wow!😎👍cool review!

[@petertyson4022]

My friend had the bionic man. The robot. And what's he's name . The boss figure. . I was a bit jealous. But he's family were rich. Anyway I had my action men. So did my cousin. Oh good old days. Good show. 👍😊

[@TheWarflight]

Oh, man... I had two Steves, and a Maskatron as a kid, along with the radio (that never worked) the rocket/medical center, and a Mission to Mars suit... but they were all lost to childhood. So a few years ago, I ran across a Steve Austin, and a boxed rocket/medical center (the box was messed up, but everything inside was intact) The Steve Austin was sold complete except his "engine block" and the ratcheting feature is supposedly broken... but I could feel it was trying to do something. So it's been displayed on my shelf for the past few years... telling myself that I'm going to crack it open, and see if I can fix that arm. So I watching this, and you say the head has to be turne3d for the arm to work, and it all came back to me! Holy crap ballz, I completely forgot about that! So I pulled Steve out of his rocket, and gave it a try, and lo and behold, there is nothing wrong with his arm at all! I'm assuming the seller, those couple of years ago had no idea as well! (now to find his "engine block")

[@brysimm404]

Six Million Dollar Man was my first favorite prime time show, and I remember getting the action figures for both him (original version) and Maskatron for Christmas at age 7 or 8. Maskatron was a truly awesome toy!

[@JareddarArt]

I had both the figure and the rocket ship for Christmas. Was one of my fave shows growing up.

[@BigAL68xyz]

I ended up with a lot of these toys after they went on clearance. I was only 6 when i got my first Steve Austin, and I was unfortunately quite accident prone. I broke his arm to where it would not go back on. Fortunately, I later got Oscar Goldman. For some reason, they made him so that his arms and legs could be removed and reattached. I used to pretend Oscar had surgery that allowed him to share Co. Austin's special mission limbs. And his briefcase was one of the most clever non-battery-using toys ever.

[@tonytafoya6217]

Another great one. Very enjoyable. Thank you Tony, for improving my mood.

[@robertdenham4977]

My Steve Austin had plenty of adventures in my backyard, with GI Joe, and even Johnny West. Sometimes, these involved the shark from the "Jaws" game. The 70s were a good time to grow up. Thanks for the memories.

[@seathizzo2988]

My life PRE Star Wars! I was 5 turning 6

[@christopherchance4860]

After seeing Star Wars I wrapped my Steve in tin foil. My first 3p0 custom

[@behindthespotlight7983]

Sea Thizzo me too 👊🏼💥

[@dgold6891]

@@christopherchance4860 After seeing Empire I froze my Han in ice. Didn't defrost him until RotJ 😂

[@footofjuniper8212]

Thanks, great video! The show and toy line were at their peak when I was a little too young to appreciate them, but I remember my neighbor having a Maskatron and how cool I thought it was. Mostly I played with Batman figures until Star Wars took over my life at age 7.

[@thereallantesh]

This brings back memories. I had both the Steve Austin figure, and the the rocket/repair lab station. This would have been 1976 for me, which I specifically remember because of where we lived at the time.

[@christophsherburne6792]

Our Family Dog decided to Use these as Chew Toys when I was a Kid. My Mother Hid the Fact from Me for Years....I had Thought I had Lost them. Thank You for the Walk Down Memory Lane...& Rekindling my Childhood PTSD. I destroyed the House looking for them!! Damned Dog.

[@RoarOfWolverine]

My younger brother had this action figure. I remember him cranking the arm and looking thorough the eye. I also remember that rocket capsule that opened up into a lab. This still brings back memories of my baby brother. I miss him a lot since he had to move about 800 miles away for work. I was born in 1960, between two sisters, so I was the only boy for 11 years. You can bet I was really happy when my mother delivered a boy! Back then, you had to wait until a baby was born to know the gender, there was no ultrasound yet. Thank you for the memories. I will definitely send him a link to this video, he’ll get a real kick out of it. He is my only brother, so he was my world and still is, even though he is a father himself. He still collects this stuff and probably still has many of theses figures from his childhood. He had a Six Million Dollar Man lunchbox also. He was really into the bionic stuff, which was really popular around that time in the early 1970s.

[@gazz_N7]

Excellent history and toy review!! Wish I could remember what happen to my Steve Austin....

[@smcw3566]

hell ya brother from another mother I feel you on this my Dad had a lot of those and as a 80s kid I wish I still had those old toys of his

[@HNXMedia]

Heck yeah! I had the Steve Austin with the steel girder. I also had the Bionic Mission Vehicle! I had long ago forgot what that three wheeled vehicle was called. I remember using it as an "over-sized" space vehicle for my smaller GI JOEs! Great memories! Thanks!

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Wow, dad's first television that he bought is similar to that red JVC tv, but only it was black and white and much older than I am.

[@nps1016]

Thanks for the look back. I had Steve Austin, Oscar Goldman, Maskatron and the Bigfoot figures along with the transport and repair center. I wish I’d save mine.

[@brycevo]

This was the beginning of Kenner, and you can see where they started some of their habits: multiple releases of the same character, excellent detailing, numerous vehicles, and so so quality playsets.

[@solcutta3661]

Why has this only just come into my notification. I've been into toys for years and 2 Yr ago I wasn't alerted... Oh well... Looks like I not got to wait for star wars... Wow this was massive part of my life, I'm 47 now so...... I had them all.. And sold before they were rare. I even had the cardboard deathstar playset.. Wow. Worth masses now.

[@TheSentinel3000]

Fantastic video!! I remember my love for these toys transitioning to Star Wars toys in 1978. Today, I collect both lines. Such fantastic toys and memories. Thanks for all these great videos that you do!

[@Playitstraight44]

Fantastic review! Six Mill was really my greatest love in the 1/6 sale figure lines. Even though I enjoyed Gi Joe in the late 60's and early 70's, Six Mill was really the premiere figure line in that scale. I loved... LOVED... Steve Austin and grabbed Maskatron and Big Foot with equal glee to fight him. I loved the obvious attention to detail like the roll up skin for the bionic modules and bionic eye feature. Easily one of my most beloved toys, rivaling even the Mego line. At the end I had the various outfits, and many playsets to accommodate my Steve Austin. But nothing will ever grab my attention like the first Steve Austin figure with all of the gadgets for play time. He is easily one of the ultimate toys for a child's imagination in the 70's. Awesome review!!!

[@goatmanis1]

Excellent video, growing up I found one at a yard sale. I still have him today.

[@jamespeters2859]

The best KZbin vid I've seen all day! Haven't seen that exploding case in donkeys years. Did not know the toy range was so big. Such a wicked vid and so well delivered. Thanks!

[@Retro-Fez]

I had the steve austin and maskatron figures and loved them and the show great days 😊

[@tempfoot]

This video is so well done. I'm misty with nostalgia and even as a big fan, I learned a lot. Thanks so much for making this!

[@spideytracer]

A great review of a much loved toy-line and TV show. I'm now subscribed to see what other goodies you've covered. Great stuff

[@johncbeer]

The Transport and Repair Station, Saturday morning cartoons, Koogle Peanut Spread...man it was a great time.

[@BradHominem]

I had the Bionic Man with rocket, Oscar Goldman, *and* a Pulsar. Amazing toys.

[@darrensmith6999]

That was fascinating thank you . I had the Mk 2 Steve Austin with the metal girder, a christmas present from my parents when i was 12.

[@michaeldibb]

Made by Denys Fisher (Spirograph fame)in the UK. The factory was at Thorp Arch, West Yorkshire. As kids we used to rummage through the rubbish skips for parts. Happy days

[@geemac7267]

Well done! I remember getting a 6 million dollar man for my birthday in, I think, 1978. I loved that thing. Always wanted the BIgfoot but it never happened lol.

[@jamesdesanders5618]

I had one played with it till everything was broken just the way it should be I loved it!!! Awesome toy!!

[@mikewoodman2872]

Awesome retrospective. It is with a sense of shock that I realize I (and my sister) had almost all the toys featured in this video! I had the SMDM doll (of course - gen 1 with the engine block); the transport / repair station; the backpack crystal radio; the mission critical assignment arm + legs; the Oscar Goldman doll with essploding briefcase; Oscar's OSI office; the Maskatron doll... Apart from that, I was an official member of the SMDM fan club - I mean, what self-respecting fan *wouldn't* be a member of that ultra-elite club? I wish I still had the materials they sent when you joined the club. And finally, I had both SMDM board games which were fun, plus the odd colouring book, bubble gum cards and 'fan book', plus a few of the comics (hotly desired). My sister had the Jamie Somers doll. About the only thing we didn't have was that 'tent' office thing, the Bigfoot doll, the SMDM flying/driving vehicle, or the terrible-dangerous space probe. So yeah, I was probably one of the biggest fans of that show, the items above should prove my street cred. Fun memories!

[@TheHelado36]

A time when roles were well defined and no one was offended !

[@agfagaevart]

Actually, that is complete bullshit! If anything, women's equality issues were at their height during the mid and late 1970s when the show aired. And this is a good example of those issues, because Lee Majors who played Steve Austin was married to Farah Fawcett Majors. He was not happy with her coming home late from her job filming some TV series, you may or may not have heard of, called Charlie's Angels. He wanted a wifey waiting at home with his cooked dinner on the table. Farah was not about that at all, and she left him for Ryan O'Neal.

[@junodonatus4906]

@@agfagaevart I know that men were more macho and chauvinistic back but one of the things I learned is that someone has to be a homemaker in order for a marriage with children to be successful. I don't base that role on gender at all but on how much work is really involved in meals, raising children, helping them with their homework, and doing household chores. Nor do I view that roll as demeaning in any way. Unfortunately, in this day and age both parents have to work and the children end up being raised by strangers, grandparents, or some kind of after care. One cannot blame people for becoming divorced because that is not a functional life.

[@largolore]

Great video, Tony. Some of my earliest memories of beloved toys always include Steve & Oscar.

[@texasmade456]

I was lucky enough to get the Steve Austin with the radio thank you for taking me back

[@Qui-GonJohn]

Awesome documentary. I remember this toy so well

[@christophermontoya5526]

My cousin got one of these for his birthday. I remember being envious.

[@bella0167]

I've got one of the dolls .My favorite toy of all time .Im 54 now.

[@spacepirateshobbies9426]

Very cool video. I had many of these. Brings back a lot of good memories.

[@GallifreyanGunner]

This brings back a lot of memories. I had the Steve Austin action figure, the Mission Control Centre and the Radio Pack. I kept the radio pack for years after the rest to use the crystal radio it had inside.

[@matthewpage848]

Excellent video! I had none of these toys as a kid, but had many other action figures, including GI Joe, Action Jackson, figures from Mego's PLANET OF THE APES and STAR TREK lines, and even a Commander Koenig action figure from SPACE: 1999! I now wish that that I had had some of the SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN toys in my collection then, as I was a fan of the show.

[@universalexport007]

Great job. Great memories