Boys Pajamas - JCPenney Christmas Catalog - 1987

 

       So, apparently, little boys start out wearing pajamas. At what point do they become grown men who embarrass their children by walking around at night in nothing but tighty-whiteys? No one I know has a dad who wears more than underwear to bed at night. Each generation, the women of America try to raise pajama-liking men by enticing them with character pajamas at a young age. Alas, it never works. Still, we try.
     These were some of the offerings for the boys of my generation (I'm married to one now. Like I said, it never works.) Even as a girl, the logos on these pajamas take me back. When I turned to this page, I actually said out loud, "Oh my gosh! Captain Bravestarr!", which proves I really need to get a better grip on this habit of talking to myself. I actually don't remember a lot about Bravestarr other than the fact that he existed. I don't even think he was really called "Captain Bravestarr" because he clearly looks like a sheriff. Maybe he was "Sheriff Bravestarr"? I don't remember. I'm playing the gender card on this one. I remember much more about the Silverhawks, a line of toys that pulled off the part human/part machine thing much better than Spectra. I didn't own any of them, but I was quite partial to the blue ones. For one, because they were blue, and because the only female of the line (that I knew of anyway) was blue. They were so shiny. I like shiny things. Aside from the trans-generational Mickey and G.I. Joe sets, there's also Lazer Tag. I'm not sure I should admit this, but Mike and I were just talking recently about how cool it would be to get some old Lazer Tag toys on eBay and play in the backyard (since we both wanted it as kids and didn't get it.) Yeah, Lazer Tag was pricey and very desirable. I'm not sure what I thought I would do with it if I had it. My sister was three years younger than I was. A Lazer Tag session could have only ended one way: her in tears and me in trouble.
     I'm starting to think that these were sold more as casual outfits than pajamas because it looks like you had to buy the pants separate from the tops. Well, if you're going to make it that complicated, it's no wonder males give up.