There are several stories in major media on the Monster Scenes.
The July 12, 1971 New York Times story was centered on an interview with one women who claimed to speak for consurmer, parent, and feminist organizations. Ralph Nader's Public Interest Research Group also expressed concern. The specific reference was to "plastic guillotine kits" and "sadistic toys" that were "psychologically harmful."
On November 16, 1971 The NYT ran another story about a dozen women from the National Organization for Women, Women Strike for Peace, and Parents for Responsibility in the Toy Industry who were picketing Nabisco headquarters on Park Avenue. One was dressed like a hangman and another carried a sign: "Sick toys for children make a sick society." NOW said that Vampirella was sexist. A Nabisco VP invited the women inside and said that the Monster Scenes were "a terrible embarassment." He claimed that Nabisco had learned of the existence of the kits only four days before Nabisco purchased Aurora. He said production of the kits had been stopped. (A Wall Street Journal story of November 26 contains a shorter version of this story.)
A New York Times item of November 27, 1971 quotes Nabisco's director of publicity as saying that the Hanging Cage and Pendulum had been discontinued in the summer and that now all the kits would be discontinued. He added that the company was not taking this action because of the pickets.
Dick Schwarzchild, Aurora's VP of marketing, said in the Nov. 26 NYT article that Aurora had received 120 letters protesting the Monster Scenes line, but had received many more letters requesting more Monster Scenes. He said Aurora had created the MS line in response to interest expressed by kids.
When I interviewed Schwarzchild for my "Aurora Model Kits" book, he said that the whole thing happened because of the Nabisco purchase. Protestors would not have received any publicity marching outside the Aurora Plant on Cherry Valley Road, but did get notice on Park Avenue in Manhattan.
