Theme Song of the Week: Welcome Back Kotter (1975 - 1979)

Lunch Box of the Week: Welcome Back Kotter

Collectible of the Week: Welcome Back Kotter Classroom (Mattel; 1976)

The ABC series Welcome Back Kotter (1975 - 1979) made a star out of John Travolta well before Saturday Night Fever did in 1977, and also resulted in a whole slew of merchandise and toys that have, over the years, become highly prized collectible.  

In particular, Mattel produced a line of nine-inch-tall action figures of the main cast, including the school teacher, Mr. Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) and his troubled students known in toto as "the Sweathogs." 

Independently, the Sweathogs consisted of Barbarino (John Travolta), Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes) Washington (Lawrence Hilton Jacobs), and Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo).  The molds for the action figures should look familiar: they were used by Mattel on every important line of the era, from Space:1999 (1975 - 1977) to Mork and Mindy (1978 - 1981) to the Sunshine Family.

To go along with the Kotter action figures, Mattel also released a very impressive playset of Mr. Kotter's classroom.  

As the promotional material described it: "The sweat hogs sneak in a little school work. Complete Kotter classroom has four chairs, four notebooks, teacher's desk, globe, blackboard with piece of chalk and coat-rack."

This "vinyl play area" could also fold up into "a carrying case."  A second, "deluxe" edition of the toy was also released which came with all the figures in the line, plus a record album of the actors playing in character.

Model Kit of the Week: Sweathogs 'Dream Machine' (MPC)

Board Game of the Week: Welcome Back Kotter - "The Up Your Nose with a Rubber Hose Game" (Ideal)