The Kids from C.A.P.E.R./Ideal Toy Company

## The Kids from C.A.P.E.R. Action Figures

Along with a near-produced toyline based on the obscure *Monster Squad*, Ideal Toy Company also had plans on doing a line of products based on another forgotten crime-solving show from the 1970's.

## **Summary**

*The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.* was a Saturday morning live0action television comedy series that aired on NBC from September 11th to November 20th 1976, and reran from April 9th to September 3rd 1977. The show was a hodge-podge parody of *The Man From U.N.C.L.E.* and several other pop culture shows of the day (*Scooby-Doo*, *The Monkees*, *The Six Million Dollar Man*, *Shazam!*) with a premise that followed the titular organization (an acronym for "the Civilian Authority for the Protection of Everybody Regardless), which was a team of four teenage boys headquartered in the 927th Police Precinct in the fictitious city of "Northeast Southweston." Together, they helped the police solve unusual cases with their shark puppet, a TV reporter that tries to get the scoop on their latest shenanigans, and a hot dog truck titled the "Big Bologna" that they use to get around town. While *The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.* was created by Romeo Muller, all 13 episodes were produced and directed by Stanley Z. Cherry; among the executive producers was Don Kirshner, whom he and Cherry each had experience together with *Monkees*. The show has never been released on video, though there is an LP of most of the songs from the series that was released by Kirshner Records and Tapes in 1977; sans "Baby Blue", "You're Under My Spell" and, ironically, the show's theme. One of the songs from the series, "When It Hit Me (The Hurricane Song)" was released as a single; the song was also recorded by Rob Hegel (who co-wrote the song) for his 1980 RCA album. Two other album tracks, "Tit for Tat" and "Baby Blue", had both been co-written and previously released by Neil Sedaka on his 1975 album *Hungry Years*.

## **Action Figures**

Featured in the same 1976 catalog with the cancelled *Monster Squad* action figures, Ideal Toy Company produced prototypes for a potential toyline based on *Kids from C.A.P.E.R.* with action figures of Bugs and Doomsday standing next to a playset representation of the "Big Bologna" hot dog truck they drove to fight crime, and a carded sample of a Doc action figure. In the 1970's, Ideal had a line of toys called "Mighty Mo" that consisted of 1:64 scale die-cast cars that were motorized and were essentially their answer to Hot Wheels. Interestingly, on the cardback for sets that were released in 1976-77 season was a rendered image of what appeared to be the "Big Bologna Van" and it seems to be the only thing from the show that Ideal toys ever got to release as at least three carded samples of them have shown up for sale on online websites.   The one that came in the alternative packaging (a rectangular plastic clamshell instead of the T-shaped window) had a back sticker on it that features some sort of red, green and blue feather-like shapes strapped together.

## **Final Verdict**

While the Mighty Mo "Big Bologna" van is very hard to find nowadays, *The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.* action figures never got released due to the show relatively underperforming and lack of buyer's interest in the brand. Given its been four decades since the 1970's and no one barely knows what TKFC is, they will forever remain **LOST** as even the most dedicated fans that grew up with the show have no idea where they are today.

## **External Links**

* Fink, S. (Retrieved May 2020). The Monster Squad and Kids from C.A.P.E.R. *The MEGO Museum*. Online post.

* *PlaidStallions*. (Retrieved May 2020). Monster Squad Merchandise. Online post.

* *The C.A.P.E.R. Project*. (Retrieved 2021, November 26). Micro Mighty Mo Big Bologna. Online post.

## **References**

1. ↑ *The Kids from C.A.P.E.R.* on Wikipedia
2. ↑ Worthpoint
3. ↑ PicClick UK