Monday, February 12, 2024

Happy 70th Birthday Creature from the Black Lagoon (5/54) - Veny's Aquarium Ornament (2013)


Our good friend the Internet informs us that it was 70 years ago today that Creature from the Black Lagoon premiered in Detroit (and Colorado?) before embarking upon a regional release in March. So here is your bonus post that will get us to 54 this year alongside our weekly entries!

In the early '70s, a company named Penn Plax seemingly cornered the market on Action-Aerating Aquarium ornaments — you've surely seen treasure chests or giant clamshells in a fish tank that open and close as air pumps through them, or a pirate skeleton run through with a sword, and quite possibly a familiar looking (if unlicensed) sea Creature (clearly inspired by Aurora's classic model kit). I seem to recall having one, though I also recall always wanting one whenever I encountered one in a pet shop — even when we didn't have an operating fish tank in the house. 

While Penn Plax is still around, they know longer offer their 'Action-Aerating Monster,' but over the years other companies have done their part to keep these bootleg Aquarium Creatures on the market.

The current example I have is from Veny's (called a Sea Treasure; perhaps a typo for Sea Creature?), and I won't lie, it's a rather cheaply made reporduction, but it ticks the appropriate nostalgia box. I don't know if I'd put it in a tank with any fish I had a particular fondness for, but as a display item it suits me fine!



Come back Friday for our regularly scheduled weekly Creature collectible!
 

No comments:

Post a Comment