Released in 1965 from Gilbert, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Spy Magic Tricks playset used the mystery and intrigue of the television show as the backdrop for a toy that allowed children to perform sleights of hand and emulate secret-agent techniques.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was a spy-fiction television series that aired on NBC from September 1964 to January 1968, totalling 105 episodes. The show followed agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin of U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement) as they worked to subjugate international adversaries, including the central foe, a criminal organization known as T.H.R.U.S.H. (Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity). The series was known for its inventive gadgets, an element of the spy world translated by Gilbert for its playset.
In the television series, each episode title incorporated the word “Affair,” such as The Vulcan Affair and The Ultimate Computer Affair. Gilbert followed this format when naming its seven spy tricks: The Incredible Mystery Gun Affair, The Weird Spy Tag Affair (also identified as The Puzzling Spy Tag Affair), The Odd Vanishing Key Affair, The Astonishing Magic Money Affair, The Amazing X-Ray Scope Affair, The Strange Lie Detector Affair, and The Baffling T.H.R.U.S.H. Card Affair.
Inside The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Spy Magic Tricks box were all the props needed to perform each magic trick, including a lie detector, X-ray scope, money converter, mystery gun, spy tag, double agent card, and vanishing key. The tricks helped develop dexterity and coordination, encouraged problem-solving, and promoted social interaction.
MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE AT PLAY
Fuelled by political affairs such as the Cold War, technological advancements, and the cultural influences of James Bond, spy-themed toys and games were a reflection of the era’s fascination with espionage and intrigue. Toys such as Agent Zero M Movie-Shot from Mattel (1965), James Bond 007 Walkie-Talkie Set from Gabriel (1965), and Secret Sam Spy Accessories from Topper Toys (1966) all gave children a sense of being involved in something exciting and hip.
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