Hugo, Man of a Thousand Faces
Note: This is an updated repost because of a few new comments and one new pic!
As a kid I was fascinated and repelled by Kenner’s “Hugo, Man of a Thousand Faces.” While I’d stare at him for hours in the Sears Wishbook, hoping Santa would bring him to me, part of me was creeped out by his corpselike look sans accoutrements. He wasn’t outright evil like a ventriloquist dummy and his disguises served as a way to make him look like, well, a thousand other faces. It was plain, chalk-like Hugo that terrified me: “Create thousands of pretend friends,” the box screamed and you knew who had these toys: you see them at comic book conventions. Where the hell did the other half of him go?
Jesus!
Years later, my friend would name one of those creepy, realistic baby dolls “Hugo” after it. There’s even a Virtual Hugo online! Too bad I couldn’t find the commercial, tho the MST3K gang did a good Hugo spoof during “Devil Doll” (someone posted the entire episode in pieces; you can see the sketch here.)
Jeez, this one’s for $90 on ebay! Look at the description - obviously written by a sadist:
“Nice vintage Hugo man of a thousand faces with box. Hugo is in excellent condition, the box is in good condition for the age, normal use. Including all pieces on the picture. Box measures 6″ x 9″ x 14″……Beautiful toy!”
… um, yeah. And I don’t even wanna know what “normal use” of Hugo would be.
see you in your nightmares, kid.
Howie and Hugo
PS. for more along these lines, see the amazing Secret Fun Spot. He’s the guy that put the SS Adams catalog online!
PPS. Step points out the resemblance to Johnny Eck:
and also points out the rather strange object: Hugo’s removable bum?
