Meet Phebe Taylor & Jeff Zappala: Inside the Collection
This collection of forgotten toys is absolutely unforgettable!
Apr. 19, 2026
Welcome to the Museum of Nostalgia in New York! Phebe Taylor and Jeff Zappala may love forgotten toy lines, but their collection is anything but forgettable.
After years of collecting separately — and then together through marriage — the two opened the Museum of Nostalgia to share their favorite toys with their community. The space also includes an adjoining toy store that encourages others to start collections of their own.
The museum features both beloved and obscure toys from the 1960s through the 1980s with about 6,000 to 7,000 items. They’ve created a welcoming space for like-minded people to connect, collect and celebrate nostalgia.
So today, let’s share in the fun and celebrate this collection dedicated to nostalgia and the lost toys of the past. What’s one toy you miss and wish you could bring back today? Follow us on Facebook or Instagram and let us know.
1. Mattel’s Liddle Kiddle Dolls
These adorable toys are called Liddle Kiddle dolls, made by Mattel in the late 1960s.
Phebe owns about 50 of these toys, proving that even the most forgotten toys are still remembered by some.
The line was very short-lived, running for about four years before being discontinued during the oil crisis of the 1970s. As a result, they became scarce and are difficult to find in good condition today.
Despite their simple concept, the dolls changed themes each year — from classic styles to space adventures and storybook characters.
Our expert valued these toys at $900.
2. Sea Wees and Li'l Loggers Bath Toys
These are some quirky collectibles: Sea Wees and Li’l Loggers are bath toys from the early 1980s.
This collection includes some of Phebe's original toys. For many kids, bath time was the worst — unless you had awesome toys like these to make a splash.
They’re very rare to find today, as they often deteriorated over time, making them incredibly difficult to find in good condition.
Originally, these cost $3.99, but today they’re worth much more. Our expert valued them at $350 — talk about a squeaky-clean investment!
3. Food Fighters by Mattel
These are Food Fighters, originally released by Mattel from 1988 to 1989, after the popular He-Man toy series ended.
The toys have names like Private Pizza, Short Stack, Sergeant Scoop, and more. There are 10 characters, 13 figures, and some variants.
The rarest of all is Short Stack, which usually comes with maple syrup but occasionally with blueberry. These forgotten toys aren’t edible — but this collection really ate it up.
According to our expert, the set would be worth around $900. Not a bad day in the kitchen — these toys really serve up nostalgia!
4. Marshal BraveStarr & Thirty/Thirty Figures
This figure is from BraveStarr and includes Thirty/Thirty, the robotic horse.
Phebe loves this line because the toys closely resemble the characters, making it a "mane" attraction for collectors.
BraveStarr was a groundbreaking animated toy line made by Mattel in the 1980s. It was followed by a TV show and, in between, an obscure movie.
Phebe didn’t watch the cartoon as a kid, but the theme song is as unforgettable as the collection itself.
The toy is in great shape, and according to our expert, it helps bring the overall collection value to around $250.
5. Filmation Ghostbusters Ghost Buggy & Figures
Here’s another toy you might not recognize: Filmation Ghostbusters.
Filmation originally created the toy line and the original Ghostbusters and later sold the rights to Columbia, which became the 1984 movie we know today.
Phebe found it at an auction, and it’s truly historic. There are 12 figures in the toy line, and anything from this set is highly collectible because of the history behind it.
According to our expert, the collection is valued at around $850!
6. Inhumanoids Toy Line
These toys are hideously underrated. They represent the bad guys in the Inhumanoids toy line and are a favorite for our collectors — a face only a collector could love.
The toy line was based on a very short-lived cartoon, but the toys may have been more popular than the show itself.
According to our expert, these figures are iconic among collectors of 1980s toys. All three are unbroken, which is rare — a "monster" find for any collection.
The set is valued at around $800 for all three.
7. The total value of Phebe and Jeff’s forgotten toy collection:
