You're The Best (Remco's Karate Kid)

I I've wanted Karate Kid toys since I was a little kid.  I grew up in Hawaii and Hawaii never got the Remco Karate Kid toys as far as I can tell. 

Of course there were a lot of other things that Hawaii didn't get back in the 1980s.  Cinnamon Tic-Tacs.  Toys R Us (we'd finally get one in the 90's).  Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers (had one in 82-83 - went out of business).  The list could go on and on.   

Anyway, I knew about the Karate Kid toys because of a magazine ad.  I don't think it was the same ad as the one pictured, but it was similar. 

It was tough being a kid and knowing that cool toys existed somewhere in the world but not where you lived (and also juicy hamburgers from Wendy's since we got commercials for that too).      

Alas, I no longer live in Hawaii.  Now there's a Wendy's five minutes from my house, a Toys R Us about 20 minutes away, and Cinnamon Tic-Tacs?  Do they even make that anymore?

But I'm still missing out on my Karate Kid toys. 

photo@vintagetenniscans

An unopened Daniel with shelf wear will set you back around $100-$150.  That's a lot of Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers! (Thank you, Dave Thomas.)      

photo@718tgambino

A Mr. Miyagi MOC is just as pricey.

Fun story: I once saw Pat Morita, the actor who played Mr. Miyagi.  We were on the same plane going to the West Coast.  I was just a little kid so I didn't ask for an autograph but I remember being in awe.

Anyway, because of something called the internet, I could get the toys now.  But the prices are too high, man.  Ten years ago, I wanted to start collecting Karate Kid toys.  And the prices were too high even back then.  If I could go back in time and get the toys, I would.  But if I had a time machine purely for toy collecting, I'm sure I could get better/more valuable toys (1977 Star Wars toys, you are coming with me!).  Some things aren't meant to be.  Oh well.  I'll always have the movie to enjoy.  Joe Esposito, take us to the break with your famous Karate Kid song,  "You're The Best".  Mahalo.