Louis Marx Western Playsets - From Gunsmoke to Wyatt Earp

Do you aim to take a journey to the wild, wild West? The toy manufacturing firm Louis Marx and Company started making and selling its Western themed playsets in the 1950s. During this period of time, thousands of the figures were made and distributed not just in the United States but also in other countries like the United Kingdom.

Just like many toys made today, entertainment companies sought to have their numerous hit television shows and characters licensed to toy manufacturers and other companies who would then sell goods to the public like lunch boxes and the playsets made by Marx. During this time period, cowboys and the wild west were some of the usual hit themes of movies and many TV programs. Since the shows were so popular, the western toys that Marx made also gained a huge following and the popularity was phenomenal.

Among the many popular Marx Western playsets launched into the market are the Fort Apache Stockade in 1951, the Roy Rogers Ranch and Mineral City in 1952, the Wyatt Earp playset in 1959 and the Gunsmoke playset in 1960. The playsets were actually regarded by some as an extension or promotional objects that further intensified and propelled the popularity of the Western tv shows and movies that they were based upon. Manufacturing of the toys was a goldmine for Louis Marx and Company that time. In fact, aside from the popular toy soldier figures, Marx Western playsets became one of the flagship toys made and sold by the firm.

Even today, the popularity of Marx Western toys and figures is still huge. The toys enjoy a great following, although the usual purchasers' demographics have changed a bit over the years. The action figures that used to be played with by children are now regarded as collectors' items by collectors of all ages, especially older people who remember playing with them when they were kids. My dad remembers having a couple of different playsets since he's always been a fan of Western movies and tv shows.

While some collectors may simply display their collectible Western action figures and playsets in display cases to protect them, there are also many collectors who use them to make intricate and realistic looking dioramas. Since most of the figure are made from hard plastic, they are usually more than sturdy enough to be played with by adults who are still kids at heart.