Allen Saxon

When I was three-years-old, I underwent surgery to correct a crossed eye. Postoperatively, there were patches on my eyes for what seemed an eternity, but I believe was actually only one day. When the patches came off, the first thing I saw was this plastic cowboy sitting on the table next to my hospital bed. My parents knew it would be a perfect gift since I was a huge fan of the westerns shown on TV. Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and, of course, the Lone Ranger were all heroes to me.

This generic cowboy was the first produced by Hartland Plastics, an injection molding company based in Wisconsin. Soon after this cowboy (and a similarly-attired cowgirl) were released, the company teamed with Roy Rogers to produce figures of him, his wife Dale Evans, and their dog, Bullet.

Their line continued to expand, adding the Lone Ranger, Matt Dillon, Brave Eagle, and historical figures like General Custer, George Washington, and General Robert E. Lee. Each occasion brought the gift of a new figure, and I spent hours playing with them--re-enacting TV shows and movies or imagining them as characters riding the range in my own stories.

Every October my father treated me to a birthday trip to Chicago. Our special day together included lunch, a movie, and a trip to Walsh’s on Wabash Avenue, where I was allowed to pick out two new Hartland figures,

I still have my collection, and last year I went on ebay to purchase another cowboy and three cowgirls for my grandchildren.  I wish my father were here to see that I’ve kept the tradition alive. Because when I look at those old toys now, I don’t recall the adventures of those thrilling days of yesteryear. I recall the trips to the city with my dad.