Merchandise Street Release dates (80's- 90's)

This Blog will be regularly updated for the time being.

This blog is to map out a timeline for merchandises street releases in the 80's and 90's. This blog is a sister to blog "First Air Dates are Wrong" which was about air dates for The Real Ghostbusters and Slimer.

Issue at Hand

Unlike the air date blog, there never was a strong reference point to work from. Currently, thanks to efforts by google and other archive projects we can now start to piece together and timeline. That being said, one must realize that there will never be a perfect listing. Even the newspaper articles that claim the toys "NEW" may infact mean within the last few weeks.

Notes by Year

I am going to go ahead and include the Kenner toys, guessing the year of release. Due to the nature of this project there will be varying degrees of it being confirmed:

• (V) Verified and is noted as "New" or "Just Released".
• (E) This means it is the earliest known date in reference information.
• (R) Referred to without using the name of product or name.
• (nv) Not Verified at any degree other than noted info on other related products such as back of packaging.

Noted credits for references and information found:

• (MJ) Matthew Jordan of Ghostbusters Wiki
• (PR) Paul Rudoff of Spook Central (Fan Site)

Background and Factors

Expand/Collapse Area

A brief timeline of media releases and other factors that played a part in releases: (June 8, 1984) Ghostbusters-The theatrical release of the first film. (September 13, 1986-October 10, 1991) The Real Ghostbusters/Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters- (December 05, 1985) - Janson/Melville write "Ghostbusters Writer's Bible". Second revision done on 2/18/1986. (source: PDF on bonus disc of DVD Set. Note: Bible gives date as 12/5/1986, but that's surely a typo as second revision couldn't have been done before the first) Credit: "PR" (December 16, 1985) - Promo Pilot produced. Used to sell series. Features unfinalized character designs. (source: Video duplication card on master tape; screenshot given to Spook Central by James Eatock.) Credit: "PR" (February 20, 1986) - Straczynski writes "Writer's Guidelines" for Syndicated season (first draft). (source: PDF on bonus disc of DVD Set.) Credit: "PR" (February 26, 1986) - Straczynski writes "Knock, Knock" (first draft), which is episode script with earliest date of all scripts that have been made public. (source: PDF on Vol. 1 of DVD Set.) Credit: "PR" (September 13, 1986) - First episode, "Ghosts R Us", premieres on ABC. Credit: "PR" (June 16, 1989) Ghostbusters II-The theatrical release of the second film.

1983-1986

Expand/Collapse Area

(E) The Real Ghostbusters Board Game by Milton Bradley was first sighted on Dec 3, 1986. Images used to confirm dates. Confirmed The Real Ghostbusters Board Game by Milton Bradley was first sighted on Dec 3, 1986. Newspaper: "Tri City Herald" - Dec 3, 1986. The whole paper can be found on google. Add a photo to this gallery Images not used for confirming dates, but still have interest to the overall project.

1987

Expand/Collapse Area

(V) Classic Ghostbusters line confirmed on Jan 29, 1987. This is also the start of the line of Kenner Toys for Real Ghostbusters. (E) Stay Puft was first sighted on Feb 13, 1987. (E) Green Ghost was first sighted on Feb 16, 1987. (E) Ecto-Plazm (purple) was first sighted on Apr 16, 1987. (R) Classic Ghosts Line II (Bug-Eye Ghost, H2 Ghost, & Bad-To-The-Bone Ghost) confirmed on Jul 14, 1987. (E) Real Ghostbusters Play-Doh was first sighted on Oct 15, 1987. (V) Gooper Ghosts confirmed on Nov 17, 1987. (nv) Classic Ghosts Plush Toys were likely released with the First wave of Kenner toys, however the only proof is a Plan-O-Gram. (nv) GhostPopper weapon accessory were likely released with the First wave of Kenner toys, however the only proof is a Plan-O-Gram. Images used to confirm dates. Confirmed That the Classic Heroes Line was released on Jan 29, 1987. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Jan 28, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed Stay puft was first sighted on Feb 13, 1987. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Feb 13, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed Green Ghost was first sighted on Feb 16, 1987. Newspaper: "Schenectady Gazette" - Feb 16, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed Ecto-Plazm was first sighted on Apr 16, 1987. Newspaper: "Schenectady Gazette" - Apr 16, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Suggests that the Classic Ghosts Line II was released on Jul 14, 1987. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Jul 14, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed Real Ghostbusters Play-Doh was first sighted on Oct 15, 1987. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Oct 15, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed That the Gooper Ghosts was released on Nov 17, 1987. Newspaper: "Tri City Herald" - Nov 17, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Add a photo to this gallery Images not used for confirming dates, but still have interest to the overall project. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Apr 9, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Apr 12, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Star-News" - Sep 6, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Sep 19, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Oct 9, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Oct 22, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Nov 7, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Tri City Herald" - Nov 11, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Toledo Blade" - Nov 22, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Toledo Blade" - Nov 29, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Tri City Herald" - Nov 29, 1987. The whole paper can be found on google. Add a photo to this gallery

1988

Expand/Collapse Area

(E) Fright Feature Hero line that included Peter, Egon, Ray, and Winston (minus Janine) confirmed on Jan 15, 1988. (E) Real Ghostbusters Watch (purple color with Peter on it) was noted on Jun 29, 1988. Images used to confirm dates. Confirmed that the Fright Feature Hero line (minus Janine) was first sighted on Jan 15, 1988. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Jan 15, 1988. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed Real Ghostbusters Watch (purple color with Peter on it) was noted on Jun 29, 1988. Newspaper: "Schenectady Gazette" - Jun 29, 1988. The whole paper can be found on google. Add a photo to this gallery Images not used for confirming dates, but still have interest to the overall project. From the Newspaper: "Star-News" - Nov 30, 1988. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Star-News" - Dec 11, 1988. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Schenectady Gazette" - Dec 14, 1988. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "Schenectady Gazette" - Dec 19, 1988. The whole paper can be found on (page 60) google. From the Newspaper: "Star-News" - Dec 21, 1988. The whole paper can be found on google. Add a photo to this gallery

1989

Expand/Collapse Area

(E) Ghostbusters (Video Game) for Sega Master System first sighted on Jan 13, 1989. (V) Classic Monsters line confirmed on Feb 17, 1989. (E) Ghostbusters (Video Game) for Nintendo System was first sighted on Mar 16, 1989. (E) Ecto-Cooler was first sighted on Aug 11, 1989. (E) The Real Ghostbusters Ghostly Makeup Kit was first sighted on Oct 25, 1989. Images used to confirm dates. Confirmed Ghostbusters (Video Game) for Sega Master System first sighted on Jan 13, 1989. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Jan 13, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed that the Classic Monsters line was released on Feb 17, 1989. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Feb 17, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed Ghostbusters (Video Game) for Nintendo System was first sighted on Mar 16, 1989. Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Mar 16, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed that Ecto-Cooler was first sighted on Aug 11, 1989. Newspaper: "The Modesto Bee" - Aug 11, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. Confirmed that the Real Ghostbusters Ghostly Makeup Kit was first sighted on Oct 25, 1989. Newspaper: "Schenectady Gazette" - Oct 25, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. Add a photo to this gallery Images not used for confirming dates, but still have interest to the overall project. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Mar 16, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Mar 22, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - Mar 23, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. From the Newspaper: "The Spokesman-Review" - May 23, 1989. The whole paper can be found on google. Add a photo to this gallery