Marx Great Garloo and Big Loo
Technically not monsters (though Garloo is definitely monster-ish) but they ARE in my mind because of their MONSTEROUS SIZE!…
By the mid-1960s, Marx was making odd and AMAZING space robots and monsters, such as Big Loo (a moon robot that squirted water out of its navel) and Great Garloo, a green space monster that wore sandals and a leopard-skin loincloth. The Garloo was obviously used to terrorize many a little sister.
Even though I never got one of these when I was a kid, I always LOVED and wanted Big LOO and Great Garloo. Sadly, they were very expensive for the time. I doubt there was a better toy ever created than Big Loo and Great Garloo. Just look at that face! My friends had these, and boy was I jealous! I always wanted to be the the lucky kid who received a monster robot pal! I would have never played with another toy afterwards (maybe LOL). Why would you? Between the both of them, Big Loo and Great Garloo had everything! They could pick up things, had flashing eyes, shot out balls, wore a cool loincloth, had awesome colors, dealt with rockets and water blasts, included a whistle, had a compass and a chart for Morse Code, remote control and more!
During the holiday season in 1963, a Big Loo robot was introduced to the toy market in limited quantities. Marx produced the 37-inch tall Big Loo Giant Moon Rocket, only an estimated 5,000 Big Loo units were produced and due to its high retail price of $29.95, he sold poorly and was sold for only one season. Since then, the toy has become a favorite among collectors.
Great Garloo was just (what can I say?) GRRRRREEEAT!!! He stormed the toy room like nobody’s business! Garloo ran over cars, Barbies, buildings etc. Everything in his way was trampled or picked up and moved by him! This killer green ogre was just the best thing rollin’ on 4 wheels!
Great Garloo was designed by Marvin Glass, the genius game designer who made Ants in the Pants, Dynamite Shack, Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots, Gnip Gnop, Hands Down, Haunted House, Lite Brite, Odd Ogg, Operation, Mouse Trap, Time Bomb, Tip-It, and Toss Across, among other masterpieces of primary-colored plastic.
