M*A*S*H Hardee's Poster

I saw this Hardee's promotional poster for sale on eBay a few months ago. The seller had no info on it, so that leaves me baffled as to the purpose of this. What's the connection between Hardee's and M*A*S*H?

Also, it's interesting(ish)--this shot of the gang is familiar to any M*A*S*H fan, except this is a painted version of the original photo. Was this ever used in another capacity? Why in the world was this painting even commissioned, when they had the photo already? Not that it's not nifty (it is), but it still leaves me baffled.

Maybe Col. Potter painted it?

Hop Lips IPA

I haven't tried this, but I really want to. The creators, Dominion Brewing Co., say it contains "post-mash citrus." I bet it does!

Courtesy newest Swamp Rat Hugh B. Scott. Thanks Hugh!

M*A*S*H Emergency Helicopter

If you were a rack toy manufacturer and had a gross of toy helicopters laying around, it only made sense to spend a few bucks for the M*A*S*H license in the hopes you could move a few more that way.

The only real notable thing here is the card art--I don't believe I've seen that particular piece of art before, featuring semi-caricatures of the gang. Even more unusual is the inclusion of Radar, who (generally) had left the show before the merchandising really kicked in. Still, if I had seen this at a toy store when I was a kid, I would have picked it up, stat!


(h/t: PlaidStallions)

Nehi Magnet

Newest Swamp Rat Christina Stith found this magnet on sale at a JoAnn Fabrics in Maryland and, of course, immediately thought of M*A*S*H. How could you not, especially with those 4077th-esque colors?

Thanks Christina!

M*A*S*H Drinking Glass

I found this on eBay a few years ago...I have no idea where these were offered or who made them. Generally, these sorts of pop culture drinking glasses were sold at fast food restaurants, but I can't really picture Arby's deciding that teaming up with M*A*S*H was a great way to move some Big Beef N' Cheddars.

That said, this is a pretty nifty looking glass, and I know it was part of a set. I hope there's a Sidney one!

M*A*S*H 1978 Calendar

Newest Swamp Rat Michael Dumas sent in pics of this 1978 M*A*S*H Calendar, an item I had never seen before. Nowadays, calendars starring your favorite TV stars are commonplace, but I think this was still pretty rare back then. I'm amused that for the cover shot, they apparently couldn't find one that had Gary Burghoff smiling.

Thanks Mike!

M*A*S*H Air Freshener

Sometimes merchandisers went a little overboard in their desire to hop aboard the M*A*S*H gravy train just as the show was ending its record-breaking run. After all, would you want your car to smell the 4077th? From what Hawkeye and some of the others said in the occasional episode, it was a pretty gamey place.

Hawkeye Variant Action Figure by Tri-Star - 1982

I've covered the quixotic line of M*A*S*H action figures made by Tri-Star in 1982, but while trolling on eBay recently I made this discovery--a Hawkeye "variant"!

I knew Tr-Star had made this anonymous corpsman figure (who I've named "Goldman") to accompany some of their playsets and vehicles, but I had no idea they released the figure on its own, naming it Hawkeye for some strange reason. None of these figures were big sellers, I can only imagine this one was destined to be a peg-warmer before it ever got unpacked at local toy stores, it's so generic.

I guess, if you really wanted to use your imagination, you could pretend this figure is Trapper, and re-enact some of the episodes from the first three seasons.

M*A*S*H Action Figure Four-Pack - 1982

I was recently trolling eBay for M*A*S*H stuff--you never know what you find. Case in point, this little item, which I had no idea existed: a four-pack of Tri-Star M*A*S*H action figures!

I have the entire collection of single-carded figures, never realizing they were ever released in other forms. Usually multi-packs like this are a way for a manufacturer to burn off excess inventory, and since the M*A*S*H line was pretty much a dud, I guess it only make sense they repackaged them in this form.

I'm also guessing that there's another four-pack, with Hawkeye, Hot Lips, Father Mulcahy, and...either the Klinger in Drag figure, or the anonymous "Corpsman" that came with some of the vehicles. Now I have to keep on the lookout for that one, too!

BTW, the seller was asking $150.00 for this set, which I thought was an outrageous price. So I passed on it, but...someday...

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 22

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 64-66:

These are the last three cards in the Donruss set; odd that they worked in one shot from an older episode (card #64). The final card is, I think, the exact same photo of Klinger that he signs for Erin Hunnicutt at the end of "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen."

Hope you enjoyed this look at this weird little piece of M*A*S*H merchandise!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 21

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 61-63:

Can you Guess The Episode shown in card #62? The person who first correctly names the episode gets bragging rights and is named an official AfterM*A*S*H blog Swamp Rat!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 20

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 58-60:

Can you Guess The Episode shown in card #58? The person who first correctly names the episode gets bragging rights and is named an official AfterM*A*S*H blog Swamp Rat!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 19

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 55-57:

Can you Guess The Episode shown in card #55? The person who first correctly names the episode gets bragging rights and is named an official AfterM*A*S*H blog Swamp Rat!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 18

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 52-54:

Can you Guess The Episode shown in card #47? The person who first correctly names the episode gets bragging rights and is named an official AfterM*A*S*H blog Swamp Rat!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 17

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 49-51:

I know card #51 is from an episode, but the shot is so vague its impossible to know for sure!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 16

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 46-48:

Can you Guess The Episode shown in card #47? The person who first correctly names the episode gets bragging rights and is named an official AfterM*A*S*H blog Swamp Rat!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 15

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 43-45:

Nice portrait of Father Mulcahy!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 14

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 40-42:

Can you Guess The Episode shown in card #40? The person who first correctly names the episode gets bragging rights and is named an official AfterM*A*S*H blog Swamp Rat!

M*A*S*H Trading Cards, Part 13

Donruss M*A*S*H Trading Cards 37-39:

Re: #38--did they really need to repeat an image??