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1
00:00:02,503 --> 00:00:05,406
(SILENCE)
2
00:00:07,141 --> 00:00:11,312
TO AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD KID,
"STAR WARS" WAS... A DRUG.
3
00:00:11,345 --> 00:00:14,815
I WANTED TO BE PART OF THE--
THAT "STAR WARS" UNIVERSE,
4
00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:17,085
AND I REALLY FELT
LIKE HAVING THE TOYS
5
00:00:17,118 --> 00:00:18,652
WAS THE WAY TO DO IT.
6
00:00:18,686 --> 00:00:20,521
IF YOU ASKED ME
WHAT OTHER TOYS
7
00:00:20,554 --> 00:00:21,789
OR THINGS I WAS INTO
8
00:00:21,822 --> 00:00:24,358
IN, SAY, FIRST
THROUGH THIRD GRADE,
9
00:00:24,392 --> 00:00:26,660
I GOT NOTHIN'.
10
00:00:26,694 --> 00:00:30,398
* PAST THE OCEANS
FAR BELOW *
11
00:00:30,431 --> 00:00:34,602
* THROUGH THE STARS
AND HEAVEN'S GLOW *
12
00:00:34,635 --> 00:00:37,771
* TAKE US FROM
THIS OVERLOAD *
13
00:00:37,805 --> 00:00:42,376
* ON THESE ROCKETS
14
00:00:42,410 --> 00:00:46,347
* PAST THE OCEANS
FAR BELOW *
15
00:00:46,380 --> 00:00:50,384
* THROUGH THE STARS
AND HEAVEN'S GLOW *
16
00:00:50,418 --> 00:00:53,721
* TAKE US FROM
THIS OVERLOAD *
17
00:00:53,754 --> 00:00:56,490
* ON THESE ROCKETS
18
00:01:03,131 --> 00:01:05,699
* AH AH AH AH
19
00:01:05,733 --> 00:01:08,269
* ON THESE ROCKETS
20
00:01:10,804 --> 00:01:13,641
* AH AH AH AH *
21
00:01:17,278 --> 00:01:19,213
90% OF THE TOYS
I HAD AS A CHILD
22
00:01:19,247 --> 00:01:20,348
WERE "STAR WARS" RELATED.
23
00:01:20,381 --> 00:01:22,250
SO, RIGHT FROM
THE GET-GO,
24
00:01:22,283 --> 00:01:24,452
IT DOMINATED MY INTEREST
MORE THAN THE OTHER, UM,
25
00:01:24,485 --> 00:01:26,554
CARTOONS AND TOY LINES
THAT WERE SORT OF
26
00:01:26,587 --> 00:01:29,123
VYING FOR THE ATTENTION
OF YOUR AVERAGE KID
27
00:01:29,157 --> 00:01:30,458
GROWING UP
IN THE EARLY '80S.
28
00:01:30,491 --> 00:01:32,826
THESE WERE SOMETHING
29
00:01:32,860 --> 00:01:35,463
THAT ENABLED YOU
TO CREATE A WORLD
30
00:01:35,496 --> 00:01:36,864
AND PLAY IN THERE.
31
00:01:36,897 --> 00:01:38,332
THERE WERE
NO TOYS LIKE THAT.
32
00:01:38,366 --> 00:01:40,601
THERE WAS NO TOY LINE
THAT I CAN REMEMBER.
33
00:01:40,634 --> 00:01:44,872
THE UNIVERSE LENT ITSELF
TO REALLY FANTASTIC
34
00:01:44,905 --> 00:01:46,474
AND INTERESTING AND--
35
00:01:46,507 --> 00:01:49,210
AND, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF CRAZY STORIES
36
00:01:49,243 --> 00:01:52,280
WITH WEIRD CHARACTERS
AND NEW PLANETS,
37
00:01:52,313 --> 00:01:53,881
AND I THINK THAT
REALLY JUST GRABBED ON
38
00:01:53,914 --> 00:01:55,383
TO KIDS' IMAGINATION.
39
00:01:55,416 --> 00:01:57,885
HAVING ONE OF
THE "STAR WARS" ACTION FIGURES
40
00:01:57,918 --> 00:02:00,554
IN MY-- IN MY HAND
WAS ABOUT AS CLOSE
41
00:02:00,588 --> 00:02:02,690
TO HAVING ONE OF
THE CHARACTERS IN MY ROOM.
42
00:02:02,723 --> 00:02:05,293
YOU KNOW, HAVING 3PO
ON MY TABLE,
43
00:02:05,326 --> 00:02:07,428
SITTING THERE
WITH R2-D2 NEXT TO HIM.
44
00:02:07,461 --> 00:02:09,363
IN THE LATE '70S
AND EARLY '80S,
45
00:02:09,397 --> 00:02:11,732
YOU WEREN'T GONNA SEE
THE MOVIES OVER AND OVER.
46
00:02:11,765 --> 00:02:15,169
FOR A LOT OF KIDS,
THE TOYS, I THINK,
47
00:02:15,203 --> 00:02:17,438
BECAME MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THE MOVIES
48
00:02:17,471 --> 00:02:19,173
BECAUSE THEY WERE GONNA
GET TO PLAY WITH THE TOYS
49
00:02:19,207 --> 00:02:20,641
NEARLY EVERY DAY.
50
00:02:20,674 --> 00:02:23,644
THEY WERE GONNA GET TO TALK
ABOUT THE TOYS NEARLY EVERY DAY.
51
00:02:23,677 --> 00:02:26,180
(BOOTH)
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE GOING
OVER TO YOUR FRIENDS HOUSE,
52
00:02:26,214 --> 00:02:27,581
YOU ALMOST
DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK,
53
00:02:27,615 --> 00:02:29,550
"DO I NEED TO BRING
MY 'STAR WARS' GUYS?"
54
00:02:29,583 --> 00:02:31,952
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST
SHOWED UP WITH 'EM.
55
00:02:31,985 --> 00:02:33,787
ONCE PARENTS CAME INTO A ROOM,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
56
00:02:33,821 --> 00:02:35,423
"WE'RE PLAYING
'STAR WARS.'
57
00:02:35,456 --> 00:02:37,958
SEE, HAMMERHEAD,
HE'S FROM--"
58
00:02:37,991 --> 00:02:39,527
"OKAY, WE'LL
LEAVE YOU ALONE."
59
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,329
THE PARENTS WOULD NOT
BOTHER YOU FOR TWO HOURS
60
00:02:41,362 --> 00:02:43,397
'CAUSE THEY KNEW YOU WERE
IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE.
61
00:02:43,431 --> 00:02:44,665
WE WERE PRETTY
ROUGH WITH THEM.
62
00:02:44,698 --> 00:02:46,467
WE USED TO LIKE TO BUILD
A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORTS
63
00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:48,902
AND BASES OUT OF, YOU KNOW,
CARDBOARD BOXES AND BRICKS
64
00:02:48,936 --> 00:02:49,937
OR WHATEVER ELSE
WE COULD FIND,
65
00:02:49,970 --> 00:02:51,672
UM, TO PLAY WITH.
66
00:02:51,705 --> 00:02:54,275
THEY WERE SORT OF THE MODERN,
I GUESS, YOU KNOW, ARMY GUYS.
67
00:02:54,308 --> 00:02:55,743
YOU KNOW, SETTING UP
THE BATTLES.
68
00:02:55,776 --> 00:02:57,545
PEW, PEW, PEW, PEW!
69
00:02:57,578 --> 00:02:59,780
MY REWARDS TENDED
TO BE "STAR WARS" RELATED.
70
00:02:59,813 --> 00:03:02,883
A DECENT REPORT CARD, MY DAD
WOULD TAKE ME TO THE STORE
71
00:03:02,916 --> 00:03:04,485
AND LET ME PICK OUT
A "STAR WARS" FIGURE.
72
00:03:04,518 --> 00:03:06,320
CHRISTMASES, BIRTHDAYS,
THERE WAS ALWAYS
73
00:03:06,354 --> 00:03:08,356
SOME SORT
OF "STAR WARS" TOY.
74
00:03:08,389 --> 00:03:10,891
I THINK "STAR WARS"
SET NEW GROUND RULES
75
00:03:10,924 --> 00:03:13,994
FOR WHAT WAS COLLECTIBLE
76
00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:17,865
AND THE EMERGENCE
OF POPULAR CULTURE
77
00:03:17,898 --> 00:03:20,534
AS BEING
A MAJOR PHENOMENON,
78
00:03:20,568 --> 00:03:24,272
CERTAINLY IN THE US
AND THEN SPREADING ELSEWHERE.
79
00:03:24,305 --> 00:03:26,907
(SHARP)
THIS IS SORT
OF A FUNNY STORY.
80
00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:30,644
IN MY SCRAPBOOK,
I HAVE, UH, THIS SIGN.
81
00:03:30,678 --> 00:03:34,415
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER,
I SOMETIMES DIDN'T ALWAYS
82
00:03:34,448 --> 00:03:35,649
LOCK THE DOOR
TO THE HOUSE
83
00:03:35,683 --> 00:03:36,950
AND WOULD GET IN TROUBLE.
84
00:03:36,984 --> 00:03:39,387
SO, MY PARENTS WENT
ON VACATION ONE WEEK,
85
00:03:39,420 --> 00:03:42,856
AND I CAME HOME,
AND I SAW THIS SIGN
86
00:03:42,890 --> 00:03:45,659
TAPED TO THE FRONT DOOR
OF THE HOUSE.
87
00:03:45,693 --> 00:03:46,927
"DEAR MR. BURGLAR,
88
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:48,862
"THE MOST VALUABLE
PROPERTY IN THE HOUSE
89
00:03:48,896 --> 00:03:51,031
"IS THE OLD 'STAR WARS'
TOY COLLECTION
90
00:03:51,064 --> 00:03:52,566
"ON THE 2ND FLOOR.
91
00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:53,767
"HELP YOURSELF.
92
00:03:53,801 --> 00:03:55,603
DON'T FORGET
THE LUCITE STAR!"
93
00:03:55,636 --> 00:03:58,339
(MILLER)
SO, THESE ARE MY ORIGINAL
LOOSE "STAR WARS" FIGURES.
94
00:03:58,372 --> 00:04:00,474
THIS IS MOST OF A SET
IN THE CASE HERE.
95
00:04:00,508 --> 00:04:03,511
A LOT OF THESE ARE
FROM WHEN I WAS A KID.
96
00:04:03,544 --> 00:04:04,878
THE SAME FIGURES
I PLAYED WITH.
97
00:04:04,912 --> 00:04:06,347
ACTUALLY, I HAVE
TWO LOOSE SETS.
98
00:04:06,380 --> 00:04:07,981
I ALWAYS HAD MINE
THAT I KEPT
99
00:04:08,015 --> 00:04:11,652
AND, YOU KNOW, RE-ARMED
AND KIND OF FINISHED OUT
100
00:04:11,685 --> 00:04:13,921
AS I GOT MORE SERIOUSLY
INTO COLLECTING.
101
00:04:13,954 --> 00:04:15,389
AND THEN
A FEW YEARS AGO,
102
00:04:15,423 --> 00:04:16,890
I GOT A BOX IN THE MAIL
FROM MY BROTHER.
103
00:04:16,924 --> 00:04:18,992
HE ACTUALLY SENT ME
A DARTH VADER CASE
104
00:04:19,026 --> 00:04:20,661
FULL OF HIS FIGURES
FROM WHEN HE WAS A KID.
105
00:04:20,694 --> 00:04:23,030
YOU KNOW, I HAVE ONE SET
TO PASS DOWN TO MY OLDER SON,
106
00:04:23,063 --> 00:04:24,998
AND ONE SET TO PASS DOWN
TO MY YOUNGER SON.
107
00:04:25,032 --> 00:04:26,634
I'VE SINCE HAD
A DAUGHTER AS WELL,
108
00:04:26,667 --> 00:04:28,702
SO NOW I'LL HAVE TO WORK
ON A THIRD SET.
109
00:04:28,736 --> 00:04:32,072
FOR COLLECTORS THAT NOW
COLLECT THE STUFF TODAY
110
00:04:32,105 --> 00:04:34,908
THE CONNECTION THEY HAD
AS A KID PLAYS A BIG PART
111
00:04:34,942 --> 00:04:37,010
IN WHY THEY COLLECT TODAY.
112
00:04:37,044 --> 00:04:39,947
EVERY KID AROUND MY AGE
HAD "STAR WARS" TOYS.
113
00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:41,649
WHILE THERE'S A FINITE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE
114
00:04:41,682 --> 00:04:43,717
THAT COLLECT THIS STUFF,
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
115
00:04:43,751 --> 00:04:44,985
THAT KNOW WHAT IT IS.
116
00:04:45,018 --> 00:04:47,054
THEY REALIZE THAT
THIS STUFF HAS PLAYED
117
00:04:47,087 --> 00:04:48,922
SOME PART
IN POPULAR CULTURE.
118
00:04:48,956 --> 00:04:50,691
WHETHER IT'S JUST
CHILDREN'S TOYS
119
00:04:50,724 --> 00:04:53,994
OR THAT IT HAS SORT OF EVOLVED
INTO ITS OWN HOBBY,
120
00:04:54,027 --> 00:04:56,430
I THINK MORE PEOPLE ARE
GENERALLY AWARE OF THAT
121
00:04:56,464 --> 00:04:57,931
THAN WE GIVE CREDIT FOR.
122
00:04:57,965 --> 00:05:01,469
I DON'T THINK OUR CONNECTION
WITH VINTAGE "STAR WARS" TOYS
123
00:05:01,502 --> 00:05:04,405
IS MUCH DIFFERENT
THAN IF YOU HAD
124
00:05:04,438 --> 00:05:08,442
GONE TO YOUR DAD,
YOU KNOW, 25 YEARS AGO
125
00:05:08,476 --> 00:05:09,977
AND HANDED HIM A STACK
OF BASEBALL CARDS
126
00:05:10,010 --> 00:05:11,512
FROM THE '50S OR '60S.
127
00:05:11,545 --> 00:05:13,981
THE FACT THAT THESE
PARTICULAR TOYS
128
00:05:14,014 --> 00:05:16,350
ARE TIED
TO SOMETHING BIGGER,
129
00:05:16,384 --> 00:05:17,985
I THINK THAT'S
A BIG PART
130
00:05:18,018 --> 00:05:21,021
OF WHERE THEIR
STAYING POWER COMES FROM.
131
00:05:21,054 --> 00:05:23,691
"STAR WARS" REVOLUTIONIZED
SO MANY THINGS.
132
00:05:23,724 --> 00:05:26,126
THE LIVED-IN UNIVERSE
THAT LUCAS CREATED,
133
00:05:26,159 --> 00:05:29,096
TAKING THE EPIC HERO
AND VILLAIN STORY
134
00:05:29,129 --> 00:05:31,899
AND PLACING THAT IN THE CONTEXT
OF ANOTHER UNIVERSE
135
00:05:31,932 --> 00:05:34,835
CHANGED FILM, IT CHANGED
THE TOY INDUSTRY FOREVER.
136
00:05:34,868 --> 00:05:37,671
YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ BOOKS
ON THE TOY INDUSTRY
137
00:05:37,705 --> 00:05:39,440
THEY ALMOST ALWAYS
WILL HAVE A CHAPTER
138
00:05:39,473 --> 00:05:40,808
THAT TALKS
ABOUT "STAR WARS."
139
00:05:40,841 --> 00:05:44,478
IT IS A PROFOUND CHANGE
TO THE TOY INDUSTRY.
140
00:05:44,512 --> 00:05:45,713
(FAWCETT)
TO THE BEST
OF OUR ESTIMATES,
141
00:05:45,746 --> 00:05:48,081
AND THERE ARE NO
SOLID NUMBERS ON THIS,
142
00:05:48,115 --> 00:05:51,151
KENNER SOLD THREE QUARTERS
OF A BILLION
143
00:05:51,184 --> 00:05:53,521
ACTION FIGURES.
144
00:05:53,554 --> 00:05:55,956
JUST WRAP YOUR HEAD
AROUND THAT.
145
00:05:59,026 --> 00:06:01,895
THAT'S A LOT OF TOYS.
146
00:06:07,435 --> 00:06:11,004
THERE HAD NEVER BEEN
A SUCCESSFUL TOY LICENSE
147
00:06:11,038 --> 00:06:12,039
BASED ON A MOVIE.
148
00:06:12,072 --> 00:06:13,741
MOVIES CAME AND WENT.
149
00:06:13,774 --> 00:06:17,778
PLUS, THE LICENSING INDUSTRY
AT THAT POINT WAS FAIRLY NEW.
150
00:06:17,811 --> 00:06:19,980
(LOPEZ)
THERE HAD BEEN SOME TIE-INS
OF MOVIES AND TOYS.
151
00:06:20,013 --> 00:06:22,049
SO THERE ARE EXAMPLES
OF LIKE "PLANET OF THE APES"
152
00:06:22,082 --> 00:06:23,617
YEARS AFTER THE FILMS
CAME OUT.
153
00:06:23,651 --> 00:06:27,855
NOBODY HAD REALLY DONE
A MASSIVE TOY LINE
154
00:06:27,888 --> 00:06:29,557
AT THE RELEASE
OF A FILM.
155
00:06:29,590 --> 00:06:31,692
YOU KNOW, I THINK
SOMEWHERE IN GEORGE'S MIND,
156
00:06:31,725 --> 00:06:35,996
THE FEELING OF "STAR WARS"
WAS ON THE 1930S SERIALS.
157
00:06:39,066 --> 00:06:40,568
AND THEY HAD BEEN
MERCHANDISED.
158
00:06:40,601 --> 00:06:42,636
FOR ITS TIME
IT WAS A GOOD SUCCESS.
159
00:06:42,670 --> 00:06:45,439
AND I GUESS THAT SOMEWHERE
IN HIS MIND HE THOUGHT,
160
00:06:45,473 --> 00:06:47,207
"WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE
THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT
161
00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,776
FOR "STAR WARS."
162
00:06:48,809 --> 00:06:52,546
SEND AWAY FOR A LUKE SKYWALKER
DECODER RING.
163
00:06:57,150 --> 00:07:01,789
** (20TH CENTURY FOX THEME)
164
00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:11,064
SO, LUCASFILM AND FOX,
YOU KNOW, THE SENT OUT
165
00:07:11,098 --> 00:07:12,866
THE INFORMATION
AND A SOLICITATION
166
00:07:12,900 --> 00:07:15,469
TO ALL OF THE MAJOR
TOY COMPANIES IN THE US.
167
00:07:15,503 --> 00:07:17,738
AND THAT INCLUDED
MATTEL AND HASBRO.
168
00:07:17,771 --> 00:07:19,740
THEY DECIDED,
AH, YOU KNOW,
169
00:07:19,773 --> 00:07:21,174
BY THE TIME WE WOULD
GET THE TOYS OUT,
170
00:07:21,208 --> 00:07:23,511
NOBODY'S EVEN GONNA
REMEMBER THIS MOVIE.
171
00:07:23,544 --> 00:07:25,913
AND SO THEY ALL PASSED.
172
00:07:25,946 --> 00:07:30,551
BUT THERE WAS THIS
SECOND-TIER TOY COMPANY
173
00:07:30,584 --> 00:07:33,987
IN CINCINNATI
CALLED KENNER PRODUCTS.
174
00:07:34,021 --> 00:07:36,490
THEY WERE KNOW
FOR MAKING TOYS
175
00:07:36,524 --> 00:07:38,826
THAT KIND OF MIMICKED
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES.
176
00:07:38,859 --> 00:07:40,861
SO THE EASY-BAKE OVEN
WAS LIKE A TOY OVEN
177
00:07:40,894 --> 00:07:42,563
THAT GIRLS COULD MIMIC
WHAT THEIR MOM'S DID
178
00:07:42,596 --> 00:07:43,931
WITH A REAL OVEN.
179
00:07:43,964 --> 00:07:45,599
THEY MADE A TOY
THAT WAS LIKE A MINIATURE COW
180
00:07:45,633 --> 00:07:46,967
AND YOU COULD MILK IT.
181
00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,570
THEY MADE A GOAT THAT
YOU COULD FEED THINGS TO.
182
00:07:49,603 --> 00:07:51,271
THEY BECAME ASSOCIATED
WITH PLAY-DOH.
183
00:07:51,304 --> 00:07:52,806
ACTIVITY-TYPE TOYS.
184
00:07:54,675 --> 00:07:57,678
HERE WE ARE ON KENNER STREET
WHERE THE COMPANY GOT ITS NAME.
185
00:07:57,711 --> 00:07:58,846
**
186
00:07:58,879 --> 00:08:02,883
SO 1947, WHEN THE COMPANY
ORIGINALLY GOT STARTED OUT,
187
00:08:02,916 --> 00:08:05,853
IT WAS A SPINOFF OF A SOAP
COMPANY, CINCINNATI SOAP.
188
00:08:05,886 --> 00:08:07,921
THE SOAP COMPANY,
LIKE ANY OTHER COMPANY,
189
00:08:07,955 --> 00:08:09,256
WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY
TO GET PEOPLE TO USE
190
00:08:09,289 --> 00:08:10,724
MORE AND MORE
OF THEIR PRODUCTS
191
00:08:10,758 --> 00:08:12,593
AND TO DIFFERENTIATE
FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
192
00:08:12,626 --> 00:08:16,029
AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
FOR A GUN THAT SHOT BUBBLES.
193
00:08:18,566 --> 00:08:20,701
PROCTER AND GAMBLE AT
THAT TIME WAS REALLY WANTING
194
00:08:20,734 --> 00:08:22,603
TO GET INTO CONSUMER
HOME-GOODS,
195
00:08:22,636 --> 00:08:24,738
SO THEY BOUGHT
CINCINNATI SOAP.
196
00:08:24,772 --> 00:08:26,607
AND THE GUYS
FROM CINCINNATI SOAP
197
00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,308
CALLED UP AND SAID, "WELL,
WHAT ABOUT THE BUBBLE GUN?
198
00:08:28,341 --> 00:08:29,843
DID YOU BUY
THE RIGHTS TO THAT?"
199
00:08:29,877 --> 00:08:31,945
IMMEDIATELY, "NO, NO,
NO INTEREST IN THAT."
200
00:08:31,979 --> 00:08:34,081
AND THEY SAID, "WELL, DO YOU
MIND IF WE RUN WITH IT?"
201
00:08:34,114 --> 00:08:38,018
AND, UH, KENNER TOYS
WAS ON ITS WAY.
202
00:08:38,051 --> 00:08:40,854
COLONEL STEVE AUSTIN,
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN,
203
00:08:40,888 --> 00:08:43,090
AND THE NEW BIONIC
TRANSPORTING REPAIR-STATION.
204
00:08:43,123 --> 00:08:46,226
KENNER HAD HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS
WITH THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN,
205
00:08:46,259 --> 00:08:47,628
AND THAT STARTED
TO GET THEM THINKING
206
00:08:47,661 --> 00:08:49,162
ABOUT DOING
OTHER PROPERTIES.
207
00:08:49,196 --> 00:08:51,765
SO I'M SURE THAT'S WHAT KENNER
SAW IN "STAR WARS" PARTIALLY.
208
00:08:51,799 --> 00:08:54,635
AND THAT'S PROBABLY
WHAT, UH,
209
00:08:54,668 --> 00:08:55,903
LUCASFILM SAW IN KENNER,
210
00:08:55,936 --> 00:08:57,270
THAT THEY HAD
SUCCESSFULLY DONE THIS
211
00:08:57,304 --> 00:08:58,606
WITH THE SIX MILLION
DOLLAR MAN.
212
00:08:58,639 --> 00:08:59,973
(BOY)
BIONIC EYE, A-OKAY.
213
00:09:00,007 --> 00:09:03,543
SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN,
READY FOR ACTION!
214
00:09:05,979 --> 00:09:08,916
(SWEARINGEN)
IT CAME INTO
THE OFFICE AS A SCRIPT
215
00:09:08,949 --> 00:09:11,652
AND A SERIES OF
BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS.
216
00:09:11,685 --> 00:09:13,821
DIFFERENT LOCALES, THERE WERE
DIFFERENT VEHICLES,
217
00:09:13,854 --> 00:09:15,222
THERE WERE
DIFFERENT CHARACTERS
218
00:09:15,255 --> 00:09:18,659
WAITING TO BE TURNED
INTO A TOY.
219
00:09:18,692 --> 00:09:21,328
EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY
IN THE DESIGN DEPARTMENT
220
00:09:21,361 --> 00:09:23,797
WAS VERY INTRIGUED
AND VERY EXCITED
221
00:09:23,831 --> 00:09:26,600
ABOUT WORKING ON "STAR WARS"
AS A PROPERTY
222
00:09:26,634 --> 00:09:28,001
BECAUSE IT WAS
SO DIFFERENT
223
00:09:28,035 --> 00:09:31,204
AND REVOLUTIONARY FROM WHAT
THEY'D WORKED ON BEFORE.
224
00:09:31,238 --> 00:09:33,073
WE WERE FORAGING
INTO NEW TERRITORY,
225
00:09:33,106 --> 00:09:35,809
AND A LOT OF US DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHERE WE WERE GOING WITH IT.
226
00:09:35,843 --> 00:09:37,878
LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND
OF TOYS WOULD WE MAKE,
227
00:09:37,911 --> 00:09:39,880
WHAT WOULD SELL,
WHAT WOULDN'T SELL.
228
00:09:39,913 --> 00:09:42,750
(TROY)
UP UNTIL THAT POINT IN TIME,
"STAR TREK" AS A LICENSE,
229
00:09:42,783 --> 00:09:44,752
EVERYTHING WAS POLISHED.
230
00:09:44,785 --> 00:09:47,955
AND ALMOST ALL SCIENCE FICTION
WAS DONE THAT WAY.
231
00:09:47,988 --> 00:09:50,691
WHEN IT CAME TO "STAR WARS,"
ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'VE HAD
232
00:09:50,724 --> 00:09:52,392
WEATHERED EFFECTS
ON THINGS.
233
00:09:52,425 --> 00:09:53,661
AND I THOUGHT
THAT WAS NEAT.
234
00:09:53,694 --> 00:09:55,663
AND THEN TO PUT
A BRAND-NEW FORM
235
00:09:55,696 --> 00:09:57,297
UNDER THAT KIND
OF TREATMENT
236
00:09:57,330 --> 00:09:58,699
AND THEN SELL IT
AS A PRODUCT
237
00:09:58,732 --> 00:10:00,367
WOULD BE REALLY,
REALLY NICE.
238
00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,336
(SANSWEET)
BERNIE LOOMIS, WHO WAS THEN
THE PRESIDENT OF KENNER
239
00:10:03,370 --> 00:10:05,839
AND BECAME VERY WELL KNOWN
IN THE TOY BUSINESS,
240
00:10:05,873 --> 00:10:09,076
SAID, "I THOUGHT IT HAD
A 'TOYETIC' APPEAL.
241
00:10:09,109 --> 00:10:12,245
IT WOULD MAKE AN INTERESTING
LINE OF TOYS."
242
00:10:12,279 --> 00:10:15,382
AND THEY LITERALLY
SIGNED THE CONTRACT
243
00:10:15,415 --> 00:10:17,985
A MONTH BEFORE
THE MOVIE CAME OUT
244
00:10:18,018 --> 00:10:22,022
IN APRIL OF 1977.
245
00:10:22,055 --> 00:10:25,659
BERNIE LOOMIS CALLED ME
INTO HIS OFFICE,
246
00:10:25,693 --> 00:10:29,429
AND HE SAID, UM,
"I WANT YOU TO TAKE YOUR STAFF
247
00:10:29,462 --> 00:10:31,732
TO A MOVIE THIS WEEKEND."
248
00:10:31,765 --> 00:10:34,267
AND I SAID,
"BERNIE, IT'S, UH...
249
00:10:34,301 --> 00:10:37,070
IT'S A HOLIDAY WEEKEND."
250
00:10:37,104 --> 00:10:39,673
AND HE SAYS, "SO WHAT?
251
00:10:39,707 --> 00:10:41,441
"WE JUST BOUGHT
THE RIGHTS TO THIS MOVIE.
252
00:10:41,474 --> 00:10:43,143
I WANT YOUR STAFF
TO SEE THIS."
253
00:10:43,176 --> 00:10:46,013
HE DIDN'T TELL ME
ANYTHING ABOUT THE MOVIE.
254
00:10:46,046 --> 00:10:48,949
HE DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE NAME
OF THE MOVIE WAS.
255
00:10:48,982 --> 00:10:50,918
AT LEAST
THEY PAID FOR THE TICKETS.
256
00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,922
THEY TOOK
THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT,
257
00:10:54,955 --> 00:10:56,790
ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT
PEOPLE OVER,
258
00:10:56,824 --> 00:10:58,358
THEY RENTED
A MOVIE THEATRE,
259
00:10:58,391 --> 00:11:00,293
AND WE ALL HAULED IN
CAMERAS IN THERE
260
00:11:00,327 --> 00:11:02,062
SO WE COULD
TAKE PICTURES OF THE SCREENS
261
00:11:02,095 --> 00:11:05,298
LOOKING FOR ALL THE ELEMENTS
IN THAT MOVIE
262
00:11:05,332 --> 00:11:07,200
THAT WE COULD
CREATE INTO TOYS.
263
00:11:07,234 --> 00:11:11,038
(NARRATOR)
... AND GEORGE LUCAS
BRING YOU AN ADVENTURE...
264
00:11:11,071 --> 00:11:15,308
EVERYBODY WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY
AT THE NUMBER OF MACHINES
265
00:11:15,342 --> 00:11:17,377
AND ALL THE FIGHTERS
AND THE ROBOTS.
266
00:11:17,410 --> 00:11:20,380
(R2-D2 BLEEPING)
267
00:11:20,413 --> 00:11:23,316
EVERYBODY THAT WALKED OUT
268
00:11:23,350 --> 00:11:25,819
REALIZED THAT WE HAD
SOMETHING HERE
269
00:11:25,853 --> 00:11:28,055
THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.
270
00:11:28,088 --> 00:11:30,924
NOT A PRODUCT LINE,
IT WAS PROBABLY A PHENOMENON
271
00:11:30,958 --> 00:11:32,192
ABOUT TO OCCUR.
272
00:11:33,493 --> 00:11:35,128
THEY WENT INTO IT
THINKING THE MOVIE
273
00:11:35,162 --> 00:11:36,329
WOULD BE OUT THERE FOR,
274
00:11:36,363 --> 00:11:37,931
YOU KNOW, A DECENT
PERIOD OF TIME.
275
00:11:37,965 --> 00:11:40,801
AND THEIR ORIGINAL
PRODUCT PLAN WAS,
276
00:11:40,834 --> 00:11:43,270
"OKAY, WELL,
IN THE FIRST YEAR WE'LL HAVE
277
00:11:43,303 --> 00:11:47,808
"ONE OR TWO BOARD GAMES,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME PUZZLES.
278
00:11:47,841 --> 00:11:50,343
"IN THE SECOND YEAR
WE'LL HAVE A VEHICLE.
279
00:11:50,377 --> 00:11:52,880
AND THEN MAYBE
SOME FIGURES."
280
00:11:52,913 --> 00:11:55,115
BUT THEY WEREN'T
OVER-PROMISING.
281
00:11:57,851 --> 00:12:00,420
** ("STAR WARS" THEME)
282
00:12:00,453 --> 00:12:02,756
(LOPEZ)
"STAR WARS" CAME OUT
IN MAY, 1977.
283
00:12:02,790 --> 00:12:04,524
BY MID-LATE SUMMER,
IT WAS JUST
284
00:12:04,557 --> 00:12:08,095
THIS AMAZING
BLOCKBUSTER SUCCESS.
285
00:12:08,128 --> 00:12:09,863
(SANSWEET)
EVERYTHING WAS
ABOUT "STAR WARS."
286
00:12:09,897 --> 00:12:11,932
EVERYBODY WANTED
TO KNOW ABOUT "STAR WARS."
287
00:12:11,965 --> 00:12:14,234
THE MARKETING AND MERCHANDISING
PLANT AT KENNER
288
00:12:14,267 --> 00:12:15,836
CHANGED OVERNIGHT.
289
00:12:15,869 --> 00:12:18,839
HOW MUCH CAN WE HAVE
AND HOW FAST CAN WE HAVE IT?
290
00:12:18,872 --> 00:12:20,874
YOU HAD TO HAVE
SOMETHING
291
00:12:20,908 --> 00:12:24,244
BY CHRISTMAS OF 1977
292
00:12:24,277 --> 00:12:25,545
OR YOU'RE DEAD.
293
00:12:25,578 --> 00:12:28,916
IT'S MAY, WE NEED
PRODUCT OUT FOR CHRISTMAS,
294
00:12:28,949 --> 00:12:32,285
WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT
IN THE STORE BY AUGUST.
295
00:12:32,319 --> 00:12:35,889
I REALIZED THAT THERE WASN'T
ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THIS WORK.
296
00:12:38,158 --> 00:12:39,993
(ROARS)
297
00:12:40,027 --> 00:12:42,562
SO, I WAS IN A MEETING,
I MENTIONED,
298
00:12:42,595 --> 00:12:45,999
"WHAT IF WE SELL THE RIGHT
299
00:12:46,033 --> 00:12:48,802
TO BUY THE PRODUCT
WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE?"
300
00:12:48,836 --> 00:12:51,805
(ANNOUNCER)
R2-D2, CHEWBACCA,
301
00:12:51,839 --> 00:12:53,306
LUKE, AND PRINCESS LEIA,
302
00:12:53,340 --> 00:12:55,242
THEY'RE THE "STAR WARS"
EARLY-BIRD SET OF FIGURES.
303
00:12:55,275 --> 00:12:57,544
THESE ACTION FIGURES
ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE,
304
00:12:57,577 --> 00:12:59,813
BUT THIS "STAR WARS" EARLY-BIRD
CERTIFICATE PACKAGE
305
00:12:59,847 --> 00:13:01,414
IS IN STORES
WITH THIS COLORFUL
306
00:13:01,448 --> 00:13:03,283
"STAR WARS" PICTURE
DISPLAY STAND
307
00:13:03,316 --> 00:13:04,818
AND CERTIFICATE
TO SEND IN
308
00:13:04,852 --> 00:13:06,086
TO GET A SET
OF FIGURES BY MAIL.
309
00:13:06,119 --> 00:13:07,554
THEY'LL BE SENT
TO YOU AT HOME
310
00:13:07,587 --> 00:13:09,289
BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1ST
AND JUNE 1ST.
311
00:13:09,322 --> 00:13:12,159
THE "STAR WARS" EARLY-BIRD
CERTIFICATE PACKAGE.
312
00:13:12,192 --> 00:13:14,027
NEW FROM KENNER.
313
00:13:14,061 --> 00:13:16,563
SO, THIS IS WHAT YOU'D SEE,
PROBABLY ON A COUNTER
314
00:13:16,596 --> 00:13:19,599
ADVERTISING THE EARLY-BIRD
CERTIFICATE PACKAGE.
315
00:13:19,632 --> 00:13:21,434
AND IF YOU WERE
A LUCKY KID,
316
00:13:21,468 --> 00:13:22,569
THE PARENT WOULD
PULL OUT AN ENVELOPE
317
00:13:22,602 --> 00:13:24,604
AND BUY IT FOR YOU
FOR CHRISTMAS.
318
00:13:24,637 --> 00:13:26,974
THIS IS THE DISPLAY
STAND PORTION
319
00:13:27,007 --> 00:13:29,042
OF WHAT WOULD BE INSIDE
OF THE EARLY-BIRD ENVELOPE.
320
00:13:29,076 --> 00:13:31,044
IT WAS JUST A COOL-LOOKING
PIECE OF CARDBOARD
321
00:13:31,078 --> 00:13:32,913
UNTIL YOU GOT THE FIGURES
TO PUT THE ON THERE.
322
00:13:32,946 --> 00:13:34,414
AND YOU CAN SEE
I PUT THE FIGURES ON THERE.
323
00:13:34,447 --> 00:13:36,917
THAT'S HOW IT WOULD LOOK ONCE
YOU GOT THEM IN THE STORES.
324
00:13:36,950 --> 00:13:38,285
IT SOUNDS
REALLY LAME TODAY.
325
00:13:38,318 --> 00:13:40,187
YOU HEAR IT AND YOU GO,
"WELL, OH, MY GOD,
326
00:13:40,220 --> 00:13:42,856
YOU JUST GAVE THESE KIDS,
LIKE, A SLAB OF CARDBOARD."
327
00:13:42,890 --> 00:13:44,557
PEOPLE PRETTY MUCH
SHOOK THEIR HEAD, GOING,
328
00:13:44,591 --> 00:13:46,093
"HOW ARE THEY
GONNA DO THAT?
329
00:13:46,126 --> 00:13:47,995
HOW ARE YOU GONNA
PULL THAT OFF?"
330
00:13:48,028 --> 00:13:49,897
WELL, THIS WAS KIND OF
UP THERE WITH THE PET ROCK.
331
00:13:49,930 --> 00:13:51,131
YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHAT--
332
00:13:51,164 --> 00:13:53,566
I'M-- I'M SPENDING
THIS MUCH MONEY
333
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,335
FOR AN EMPTY BOX.
334
00:13:56,636 --> 00:13:58,972
THIS NEEDED TO SELL
THIS TO LUCASFILM
335
00:13:59,006 --> 00:14:00,874
AND 20TH CENTURY FOX.
336
00:14:00,908 --> 00:14:03,877
SO WHAT THEY DID
IS THEY CREATED PROTOTYPES
337
00:14:03,911 --> 00:14:06,113
OF WHAT THE KIDS
WOULD GET IN THIS PACKAGE
338
00:14:06,146 --> 00:14:08,048
AND PRESENTED IT
TO GEORGE LUCAS.
339
00:14:08,081 --> 00:14:09,649
ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE
WHO WERE IN THE MEETING
340
00:14:09,682 --> 00:14:12,152
FILLED THEM OUT
AND GAVE THEM BACK TO KENNER
341
00:14:12,185 --> 00:14:15,155
SO THEY COULD GET THE TOYS
WHEN THEY CAME OUT.
342
00:14:15,188 --> 00:14:17,490
I HADN'T BEEN THERE
THAT LONG.
343
00:14:17,524 --> 00:14:20,627
AND THIS WAS...
344
00:14:20,660 --> 00:14:22,162
MY IDEA.
345
00:14:22,195 --> 00:14:24,497
AND EVEN THOUGH
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EMBRACED
346
00:14:24,531 --> 00:14:26,499
BY SOME OF THE TOP PEOPLE,
347
00:14:26,533 --> 00:14:28,401
IT DIDN'T
NECESSARILY MEAN
348
00:14:28,435 --> 00:14:29,970
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO
EMBRACE IT
349
00:14:30,003 --> 00:14:32,072
IF IT DIDN'T WORK.
350
00:14:37,210 --> 00:14:39,012
IT SOUNDS LIKE,
WOW, THEY PULLED
351
00:14:39,046 --> 00:14:41,014
THIS AMAZING
CON GAME ON KIDS
352
00:14:41,048 --> 00:14:42,649
IN CHRISTMAS, 1977.
353
00:14:42,682 --> 00:14:45,118
BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY
A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN,
354
00:14:45,152 --> 00:14:47,687
ALTHOUGH A LOT
OF THE SETS WENT UNSOLD.
355
00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,656
AS A KID GOING THROUGH IT
AT THE TIME,
356
00:14:49,689 --> 00:14:51,391
IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
"STAR WARS" THINGS
357
00:14:51,424 --> 00:14:53,093
I EVER BOUGHT.
358
00:14:53,126 --> 00:14:55,262
AND YOU HAD A LITTLE CATALOG
THAT CAME WITH IT.
359
00:14:55,295 --> 00:14:57,130
YOU SAW THE PLAY SET,
YOU WERE LOOKING FORWARD--
360
00:14:57,164 --> 00:14:58,999
I ACTUALLY
LOVED THE THING.
361
00:14:59,032 --> 00:15:01,568
(SANSWEET)
THE EARLY FANS
HAD THAT HUNGER FOR IT.
362
00:15:01,601 --> 00:15:03,536
AND SO, WHEN THAT
HUNGER WAS MET,
363
00:15:03,570 --> 00:15:06,139
OH, THE SATISFACTION!
364
00:15:06,173 --> 00:15:09,609
THE, "I'VE FINALLY
BEEN FED."
365
00:15:09,642 --> 00:15:14,581
AND I THINK THAT STILL EXISTS
IN THE MINDS OF THOSE OF US
366
00:15:14,614 --> 00:15:16,116
WHO GREW UP
WITH "STAR WARS."
367
00:15:16,149 --> 00:15:18,685
IT WAS THAT WONDERFUL
FEELING
368
00:15:18,718 --> 00:15:21,588
THAT THAT ITCH
HAD BEEN SCRATCHED.
369
00:15:21,621 --> 00:15:26,626
ONCE THE "STAR WARS" EARLY-
REDEMPTION PROGRAM WAS DONE,
370
00:15:26,659 --> 00:15:29,529
I WAS WALKING
DOWN THE HALL,
371
00:15:29,562 --> 00:15:32,432
AND BERNIE LOOMIS
372
00:15:32,465 --> 00:15:36,136
WAS WALKING DOWN THE HALL
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
373
00:15:36,169 --> 00:15:39,539
HE SAW ME
AND HE LOOKED AT ME
374
00:15:39,572 --> 00:15:43,343
AND HE SAYS, "GOOD."
375
00:15:48,781 --> 00:15:50,317
BEHIND ME
IS THE KROGER BUILDING.
376
00:15:50,350 --> 00:15:52,152
THIS WAS THE HEADQUARTERS
WHEN KENNER TOYS
377
00:15:52,185 --> 00:15:54,154
WAS MAKING
THE "STAR WARS" LICENSE.
378
00:15:54,187 --> 00:15:56,589
IN THIS BUILDING, YOU WOULD
HAVE HAD THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES,
379
00:15:56,623 --> 00:15:58,158
THE SCULPTING
DEPARTMENT WAS HERE,
380
00:15:58,191 --> 00:16:00,994
AND EVEN A FOUNDRY TO HELP
MAKE EARLY PROTOTYPES.
381
00:16:01,028 --> 00:16:03,696
EVEN BEFORE THE LICENSE
WAS SIGNED IN APRIL,
382
00:16:03,730 --> 00:16:06,266
THE TOY TEAM
WAS VERY BUSY
383
00:16:06,299 --> 00:16:09,036
DOING IT'S THING
AND COMING UP WITH CONCEPTS
384
00:16:09,069 --> 00:16:12,672
WAY BEYOND WHAT
COULD ACTUALLY
385
00:16:12,705 --> 00:16:15,775
COME OUT IN 1977
386
00:16:15,808 --> 00:16:18,078
BECAUSE OF
THE LENGTHY PRODUCTION TIME.
387
00:16:18,111 --> 00:16:20,480
(SANTAW)
WE HAD SCRIPTS AND WE GUESSED
388
00:16:20,513 --> 00:16:24,617
AT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BE
THE MOST VISIBLE CHARACTERS
389
00:16:24,651 --> 00:16:28,588
AND THE MOST VISIBLE
VEHICLES AND SETS.
390
00:16:28,621 --> 00:16:32,292
(SWEARINGEN)
THE FIRST THINGS WE WORKED ON
WERE THE FIGURES.
391
00:16:35,062 --> 00:16:37,097
THE VERY FIRST FIGURES
WERE ALL KIND OF CARVED
392
00:16:37,130 --> 00:16:41,000
OUT OF HUMAN FIGURES
THAT WE FOUND.
393
00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:46,206
LIKE THE STORMTROOPER,
394
00:16:46,239 --> 00:16:50,177
I TOOK THOSE FIGURES
AND USED, UH, BONDO
395
00:16:50,210 --> 00:16:52,112
TO START ROUGHING OUT
THE HELMET.
396
00:16:52,145 --> 00:16:55,248
I WAS KIND OF PLAYING
JUNIOR SCULPTOR.
397
00:16:55,282 --> 00:16:57,117
SOME OF THE FIGURES
ARE A LITTLE FUNKY.
398
00:16:57,150 --> 00:17:01,254
LIKE THE TUSKEN RAIDER'S
HEAD IS ALL FUNKY LOOKIN'.
399
00:17:01,288 --> 00:17:03,756
THE ORIGINAL
DEATH SQUAD COMMANDER
400
00:17:03,790 --> 00:17:06,193
LOOKS MORE LIKE
A STORMTROOPER.
401
00:17:06,226 --> 00:17:08,495
DAVE OKADA, WHO WAS HEAD
OF THE DESIGN TEAM
402
00:17:08,528 --> 00:17:09,796
TOLD ME, AS SOON
AS HE KNEW
403
00:17:09,829 --> 00:17:11,831
THAT THERE WAS REALLY
GONNA BE A CONTRACT,
404
00:17:11,864 --> 00:17:13,400
HE AND EVERYBODY ELSE
WAS SO EXCITED,
405
00:17:13,433 --> 00:17:15,568
HE WENT HOME,
HE RAIDED HIS SOCK DRAWER,
406
00:17:15,602 --> 00:17:18,771
GOT OUT SOME BROWN SOCKS,
AND MADE A PLUSH JAWA.
407
00:17:18,805 --> 00:17:20,273
(FINK)
HERE, SO YOU CAN SEE HERE
408
00:17:20,307 --> 00:17:23,576
THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY
JUST A BROWN SOCK.
409
00:17:23,610 --> 00:17:26,146
IT JUST SHOWS
THAT AT THAT TIME
410
00:17:26,179 --> 00:17:28,248
THEY WERE PROBABLY JUST DOING
WHATEVER THEY COULD
411
00:17:28,281 --> 00:17:29,816
TO GET THESE PRODUCTS MADE.
412
00:17:29,849 --> 00:17:31,851
(JAWA CHITTERING)
413
00:17:31,884 --> 00:17:33,220
(ANNOUNCER)
IT'S KENNER'S NEW
414
00:17:33,253 --> 00:17:34,521
"STAR WARS"
ACTION FIGURES.
415
00:17:34,554 --> 00:17:35,755
EACH SOLD SEPARATELY.
416
00:17:35,788 --> 00:17:37,690
(BOY)
I GOTCHA NOW, BEN KENOBI!
417
00:17:37,724 --> 00:17:40,860
(LUTTRULL)
WHEN YOU'RE THE KID WITH THE BOX
FULL OF "STAR WARS" TOYS.
418
00:17:40,893 --> 00:17:44,431
YOU ARE-- I THINK "HERO" MIGHT
NOT BE THE RIGHT WORD,
419
00:17:44,464 --> 00:17:47,567
BUT EVERYONE WANTS
TO SEE THE FIGURES.
420
00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,703
MAYBE NOT YOU SO MUCH, BUT THEY
WANT TO SEE THE FIGURES.
421
00:17:50,737 --> 00:17:52,305
WHAT MAKES
THE MOVIE GREAT
422
00:17:52,339 --> 00:17:54,307
IS THE SAME THING THAT MAKES
THE TOYS GREAT.
423
00:17:54,341 --> 00:17:56,309
THERE'S ALL
THIS IMAGINATION INVOLVED.
424
00:17:56,343 --> 00:17:58,845
THERE'S ALL THESE
VARIED CHARACTERS.
425
00:17:58,878 --> 00:18:01,381
YOU HAVE REALLY STRANGE
ALIEN CHARACTERS,
426
00:18:01,414 --> 00:18:03,550
DOWN-HOME
LOOKING CHARACTERS,
427
00:18:03,583 --> 00:18:05,152
MILITARY---
428
00:18:05,185 --> 00:18:08,188
I MEAN, THERE'S ALL THIS STUFF
ALL BUILT IN TO IT.
429
00:18:08,221 --> 00:18:09,556
(SALVATORE)
WHEN THE FIGURES
FINALLY HIT THE STORES,
430
00:18:09,589 --> 00:18:10,890
THERE WAS 12 AVAILABLE.
431
00:18:10,923 --> 00:18:12,892
LUKE SKYWALKER,
PRINCESS LEIA,
432
00:18:12,925 --> 00:18:14,761
DARTH VADER, OBVIOUSLY,
433
00:18:14,794 --> 00:18:16,763
R2-D2, C-3PO,
434
00:18:16,796 --> 00:18:19,699
HAN SOLO, CHEWBACCA,
OBI-WAN KENOBI,
435
00:18:19,732 --> 00:18:21,868
STORMTROOPER,
DEATH SQUAD COMMANDER,
436
00:18:21,901 --> 00:18:23,470
THE SAND PERSON,
AND THE JAWA.
437
00:18:23,503 --> 00:18:24,904
(JAWA CHITTERING)
438
00:18:24,937 --> 00:18:26,773
(PEREZ)
THE FIRST TIME I SAW
"STAR WARS" FIGURES
439
00:18:26,806 --> 00:18:28,841
OR ANY OTHER TOYS
IN THE STORE,
440
00:18:28,875 --> 00:18:30,210
I DON'T THINK
MY DAD UNDERSTOOD
441
00:18:30,243 --> 00:18:32,345
EXACTLY WHAT I WAS
TRYING TO SAY
442
00:18:32,379 --> 00:18:33,846
BECAUSE I WAS BASICALLY
JUST HOWLING AND WHOOPING
443
00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,183
AND MAKING ALL THESE NOISES,
POINTING...
444
00:18:36,216 --> 00:18:38,618
YOU KNOW, LIKE...
(GRUNTING EXCITEDLY)
445
00:18:38,651 --> 00:18:40,220
HE PROBABLY THOUGHT
I WAS DOING AN IMPRESSION
446
00:18:40,253 --> 00:18:41,488
OF ONE OF THE SAND PEOPLE.
447
00:18:41,521 --> 00:18:43,156
(GRUNTING)
448
00:18:43,190 --> 00:18:46,259
(TOM BERGES)
MY FIRST FIGURE
WAS OBI-WAN KENOBI.
449
00:18:46,293 --> 00:18:48,528
YOU KNOW, HE HAD THE ARM,
AND THE LIGHTSABER
450
00:18:48,561 --> 00:18:49,829
WOULD POP OUT.
451
00:18:49,862 --> 00:18:52,165
THAT WAS MIND-BLOWING
TO A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD KID.
452
00:18:52,199 --> 00:18:53,900
THE FIRST ONE I GOT
WAS A JAWA
453
00:18:53,933 --> 00:18:55,902
IN THE CLOTH CAPE.
454
00:18:55,935 --> 00:18:58,305
DARTH VADER
OR LUKE SKYWALKER?
455
00:18:58,338 --> 00:18:59,939
DARTH VADER'S COOLER.
456
00:18:59,972 --> 00:19:01,808
MY MOM BOUGHT ME R2-D2,
AND THAT WAS
457
00:19:01,841 --> 00:19:04,311
MY FIRST FIGURE
THAT I EVER HAD.
458
00:19:04,344 --> 00:19:06,313
OF COURSE, THE BULLIES THAT
LIVED AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME
459
00:19:06,346 --> 00:19:08,881
LATER SOAKED HIM IN THE CREEK
THAT WAS BY MY HOUSE
460
00:19:08,915 --> 00:19:09,949
AND HE COMPLETELY
GOT RUINED.
461
00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:11,618
THEY DIDN'T MAKE
THEM TO LAST,
462
00:19:11,651 --> 00:19:15,355
AND IF YOU BROKE THEM,
ALL YOU NEEDED TO DO
463
00:19:15,388 --> 00:19:17,790
WAS GO TO THE STORE
AND PICK UP ANOTHER ONE.
464
00:19:17,824 --> 00:19:20,960
(LUTTRULL)
I ALWAYS KIND OF MADE LUKE
465
00:19:20,993 --> 00:19:23,763
MUCH MORE OF A HERO
EVEN THAN HE WAS IN THE FILM.
466
00:19:23,796 --> 00:19:25,532
HE WAS PRETTY MUCH
THE INVINCIBLE
467
00:19:25,565 --> 00:19:26,899
"STAR WARS" CHARACTER.
468
00:19:26,933 --> 00:19:29,269
HE WAS, YOU KNOW,
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER.
469
00:19:29,302 --> 00:19:33,540
THIS IS MY ORIGINAL
470
00:19:33,573 --> 00:19:35,975
FIRST-12 FIGURE STAND.
471
00:19:36,008 --> 00:19:38,945
UM, NOT ALL OF THESE
ARE MY ORIGINAL FIGURES
472
00:19:38,978 --> 00:19:40,947
FROM MY CHILDHOOD,
SEVERAL OF THEM ARE.
473
00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:42,815
I KNOW THE R2-D2 IS,
WHICH IS OF COURSE
474
00:19:42,849 --> 00:19:45,218
WHY HE'S SO BEAT UP.
475
00:19:45,252 --> 00:19:47,754
I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED
AN ACTION STAND
476
00:19:47,787 --> 00:19:50,423
BECAUSE IT HAS
ACTION LEVERS.
477
00:19:50,457 --> 00:19:51,791
(LAUGHING)
478
00:19:51,824 --> 00:19:53,226
AND YOU CAN SEE
IT'S CRACKED
479
00:19:53,260 --> 00:19:54,761
AND THE STICKERS
ARE COMING OFF,
480
00:19:54,794 --> 00:19:57,730
BUT I WILL NEVER
GET RID OF THIS
481
00:19:57,764 --> 00:20:01,568
BECAUSE THIS
MEANT SO MUCH TO ME.
482
00:20:01,601 --> 00:20:06,506
THERE WERE 12 ACTION FIGURES
AND I HAD THEM ALL.
483
00:20:06,539 --> 00:20:08,975
THIS FIGURE
IS SORT OF IMPORTANT TO ME.
484
00:20:09,008 --> 00:20:10,910
WHEN I WAS FIVE
OR SIX YEARS OLD,
485
00:20:10,943 --> 00:20:13,613
I LOST ONE OF MY TEETH,
AND I TOLD MY PARENTS
486
00:20:13,646 --> 00:20:15,782
THAT I HOPED
THE TOOTH-FAIRY WOULD BRING ME
487
00:20:15,815 --> 00:20:17,317
A "STAR WARS" FIGURE.
488
00:20:17,350 --> 00:20:19,352
AND I REMEMBER WAKING UP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
489
00:20:19,386 --> 00:20:21,354
AND REACHING
UNDER MY PILLOW
490
00:20:21,388 --> 00:20:23,990
AND SORT OF FELLING
THE BUBBLE OF THE CARDED FIGURE,
491
00:20:24,023 --> 00:20:26,259
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH
FIGURE I RECEIVED.
492
00:20:26,293 --> 00:20:27,760
I PROBABLY SHOULD
HAVE JUST PULLED IT OUT
493
00:20:27,794 --> 00:20:29,028
FROM UNDERNEATH MY PILLOW
494
00:20:29,061 --> 00:20:30,530
AND HELD IT UP
TO THE MOONLIGHT AND SAW,
495
00:20:30,563 --> 00:20:33,366
BUT I WAS AFRAID AT SOME
FIVE-YEAR-OLD LEVEL
496
00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,001
THAT THE THING WOULD
DISAPPEAR OR TURN TO DUST
497
00:20:35,034 --> 00:20:36,469
IF I GOT AN EARLY PEEK
AT IT.
498
00:20:36,503 --> 00:20:38,004
SO, I LAID THERE
ALL NIGHT TILL THE MORNING
499
00:20:38,037 --> 00:20:40,440
AND THEN PULLED IT OUT
AND GOT FX-7.
500
00:20:40,473 --> 00:20:41,808
MY MOST FAVORITE
THING TO DO
501
00:20:41,841 --> 00:20:44,544
WITH MY "STAR WARS"
FIGURES AS A KID
502
00:20:44,577 --> 00:20:46,946
WAS TO TAKE HAN SOLO
AND PUT HIM IN A CUP OF WATER
503
00:20:46,979 --> 00:20:48,315
AND PUT HIM
IN THE FREEZER OVERNIGHT
504
00:20:48,348 --> 00:20:49,682
BECAUSE THEN,
THE NEXT MORNING,
505
00:20:49,716 --> 00:20:51,484
YOU WOULD HAVE HAN SOLO
FROZEN IN HIS BLOCK OF ICE.
506
00:20:51,518 --> 00:20:54,053
AND YOU COULD PLAY WITH THAT
FOR A WHILE
507
00:20:54,086 --> 00:20:55,755
THE ROOM WASN'T
JUST A ROOM.
508
00:20:55,788 --> 00:20:57,990
IT BECAME THE ENVIRONMENT
LIKE I SAW IN THE MOVIE.
509
00:20:58,024 --> 00:20:59,359
SO I'D PRETEND
THE TOP OF MY DESK
510
00:20:59,392 --> 00:21:00,593
WAS THE FLOOR
OF THE DEATH STAR,
511
00:21:00,627 --> 00:21:02,729
OR TAKE ONE OF MY MOM'S
TAN BLANKETS,
512
00:21:02,762 --> 00:21:03,896
THROW IT ON THE TABLE,
513
00:21:03,930 --> 00:21:05,498
NOW IT'S THE ENVIRONMENT
OF TATOOINE.
514
00:21:05,532 --> 00:21:07,434
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED
I NEED MORE CHARACTERS HERE
515
00:21:07,467 --> 00:21:09,436
BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THE REST
OF THIS MOVIE ON MY OWN
516
00:21:09,469 --> 00:21:10,937
WITHOUT MORE FIGURES AROUND.
517
00:21:10,970 --> 00:21:13,573
SO I NEED JAWAS,
I NEED SAND PEOPLE.
518
00:21:13,606 --> 00:21:15,041
(LOPEZ)
KENNER, EVEN FROM
THE VERY START,
519
00:21:15,074 --> 00:21:16,543
THEY REALIZED THAT
EVEN THOUGH
520
00:21:16,576 --> 00:21:18,378
THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD
A LOT OF SCREEN TIME,
521
00:21:18,411 --> 00:21:20,680
MANY OF THE CHARACTERS WERE NOT
EVEN PIVOTAL TO THE PLOT,
522
00:21:20,713 --> 00:21:22,582
THEY WERE DIFFERENT,
THEY WERE UNIQUE.
523
00:21:22,615 --> 00:21:24,684
THEY KNEW THAT KIDS WOULD
STILL BE INTERESTED IN IT,
524
00:21:24,717 --> 00:21:26,519
AND WOULD REALLY HAVE
AN AFFINITY FOR IT.
525
00:21:26,553 --> 00:21:29,389
SO THEY MADE, FOR EXAMPLE,
THE TUSKEN RAIDER CHARACTER.
526
00:21:29,422 --> 00:21:30,623
THEY DO GET
SOME SCREEN TIME
527
00:21:30,657 --> 00:21:32,091
WHEN THEY ATTACK LUKE
IN THE FILM,
528
00:21:32,124 --> 00:21:34,827
BUT REALLY NOT A CENTRAL
CHARACTER TO THE STORY.
529
00:21:34,861 --> 00:21:37,530
(SHARP)
I TENDED TO GRAVITATE
TOWARD SOME OF THE CHARACTERS
530
00:21:37,564 --> 00:21:38,965
LIKE WALRUS MAN
AND HAMMERHEAD
531
00:21:38,998 --> 00:21:41,901
THAT REALLY HAD NO PART OF
THE OVERALL STORY IN THE MOVIES.
532
00:21:41,934 --> 00:21:43,403
THEY'RE JUST THERE.
533
00:21:43,436 --> 00:21:45,472
SO, I COULD DO THINGS
WITH THOSE CHARACTERS
534
00:21:45,505 --> 00:21:48,408
THAT I THOUGHT COULD HAVE
ACTUALLY HAPPENED
535
00:21:48,441 --> 00:21:49,909
SORT OF
OFF SCREEN SOMEWHERE.
536
00:21:49,942 --> 00:21:51,411
IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT HAMMERHEAD
537
00:21:51,444 --> 00:21:52,879
COULD HAVE STOLEN
THE FALCON AT SOME POINT.
538
00:21:52,912 --> 00:21:55,582
(HAMMERHEAD)
YEE-HAW!
539
00:21:55,615 --> 00:21:59,386
ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES WITH
THE FIRST "STAR WARS" MOVIE,
540
00:21:59,419 --> 00:22:01,087
AND WORKING ON
THE VERY FIRST ONE
541
00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:03,990
WAS THE LACK
OF DOCUMENTATION
542
00:22:04,023 --> 00:22:06,092
FOR THE MOVIE.
543
00:22:06,125 --> 00:22:10,062
THEY HAD NOT
PHOTOGRAPHED EVERY COSTUME,
544
00:22:10,096 --> 00:22:12,999
THE MODELS WEREN'T SHOT
FROM EVERY DIRECTION.
545
00:22:13,032 --> 00:22:14,867
PEOPLE THAT DID
THE SET DESIGNS,
546
00:22:14,901 --> 00:22:16,469
WE WOULD USE
THEIR DRAWINGS.
547
00:22:16,503 --> 00:22:18,137
WE WOULD USE SOME
PHOTOGRAPHS,
548
00:22:18,170 --> 00:22:21,974
AND INTERPOLATE
INTO OUR OWN TURNAROUNDS,
549
00:22:22,008 --> 00:22:25,378
OUR OWN SIDE AND FRONT
AND BACK VIEWS.
550
00:22:25,412 --> 00:22:26,946
THE LACK OF
REFERENCE MATERIAL,
551
00:22:26,979 --> 00:22:29,716
OR THE INADEQUATE REFERENCE
MATERIAL THAT KENNER HAD
552
00:22:29,749 --> 00:22:31,918
IS PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR SOME OF THE--
553
00:22:31,951 --> 00:22:34,587
THE MORE FAMOUS, UM...
554
00:22:34,621 --> 00:22:36,923
SCREW-UPS KNOWN
IN THE "STAR WARS" LINE.
555
00:22:36,956 --> 00:22:38,958
FOR INSTANCE, THE ORIGINAL
VERSION OF SNAGGLETOOTH
556
00:22:38,991 --> 00:22:42,629
WHICH WAS DESIGNED FOR THE SEARS
EXCLUSIVE CANTINA PLAY-SET
557
00:22:42,662 --> 00:22:45,898
WAS A LARGE BLUE FIGURE
WITH SILVER GO-GO BOOTS.
558
00:22:45,932 --> 00:22:49,536
** (DANCE MUSIC)
559
00:22:49,569 --> 00:22:51,471
LUCASFILM DECIDED
THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
560
00:22:51,504 --> 00:22:53,105
WHEN THE FIGURE ACTUALLY
APPEARED IN STORES,
561
00:22:53,139 --> 00:22:54,807
IT WAS A MUCH SHORTER
FIGURE IN A RED OUTFIT
562
00:22:54,841 --> 00:22:56,142
WITH HAIRY FEET.
563
00:22:56,175 --> 00:22:59,612
ALL YOU REALLY SAW
IN THE FILM WAS HIS HEAD.
564
00:22:59,646 --> 00:23:01,648
SO, YOU KNOW,
HOW BIG HE WAS
565
00:23:01,681 --> 00:23:03,650
WAS KIND OF UP
TO CONJECTURE.
566
00:23:03,683 --> 00:23:06,152
(SALVATORE)
WHEN LUCASFILM GOT MORE
IN THE BUSINESS WITH KENNER
567
00:23:06,185 --> 00:23:07,854
AND EVERYTHING
BECAME INTEGRATED,
568
00:23:07,887 --> 00:23:10,490
THEY WOULD ACTUALLY SEND PROPS
OUT THE KENNER,
569
00:23:10,523 --> 00:23:12,892
AND THEY HAD TO BE
KEPT IN A LOCKED CAGE.
570
00:23:12,925 --> 00:23:16,062
SO YOU REALLY SAW THE TOYS
GET BETTER AND BETTER
571
00:23:16,095 --> 00:23:19,899
IN TERMS OF DESIGN
AS THE LINE WENT ON.
572
00:23:19,932 --> 00:23:23,202
YOU CAN WALK THROUGH
THE HISTORY OF AN ITEM
573
00:23:23,235 --> 00:23:26,539
BY LOOKING AT THE PRE-PRODUCTION
STAGES FOR THAT ITEM.
574
00:23:26,573 --> 00:23:28,641
IT'S KIND OF NEAT
TO BE ABLE TO GO,
575
00:23:28,675 --> 00:23:30,543
"LOOK, HERE'S
A WHOLE PROGRESSION
576
00:23:30,577 --> 00:23:35,181
OF HOW THIS THING
WAS CREATED."
577
00:23:35,214 --> 00:23:38,518
HERE WE HAVE
SEVERAL PROTOTYPES
578
00:23:38,551 --> 00:23:40,219
WHICH REVEAL QUITE A BIT
OF INFORMATION
579
00:23:40,252 --> 00:23:44,223
INTO HOW A FIGURE
WAS DEVELOPED AT KENNER.
580
00:23:44,256 --> 00:23:46,893
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE
THE ORIGINAL WAX-SCULPTING,
581
00:23:46,926 --> 00:23:50,963
AND THAT IS THE ACTUAL
3D ART FOR THE FIGURE.
582
00:23:50,997 --> 00:23:54,967
THE WAX IS SPECIALLY FORMULATED
TO HOLD A LOT OF FINE DETAIL.
583
00:23:55,001 --> 00:23:57,537
NEXT WE HAVE A HARD COPY,
584
00:23:57,570 --> 00:24:00,072
WHICH IS MADE BY TAKING MOLDS
OFF THE SCULPT
585
00:24:00,106 --> 00:24:03,109
AND POURING INTO THOSE MOLDS
A TWO-PART URETHANE MATERIAL.
586
00:24:03,142 --> 00:24:05,545
OFTEN, SOME OF THOSE
HARD-COPY FIGURES
587
00:24:05,578 --> 00:24:08,948
WILL BE PAINTED SO THAT
THE DESIGNERS AT KENNER
588
00:24:08,981 --> 00:24:10,149
CAN USE THEM
IN PHOTOGRAPHY
589
00:24:10,182 --> 00:24:12,585
OR TO TEST DIFFERENT
PAINT SCHEMES
590
00:24:12,619 --> 00:24:14,186
THE ACTUAL
PRODUCTION FIGURES,
591
00:24:14,220 --> 00:24:16,255
WHICH YOU SEE AN EARLY
EXAMPLE OF HERE,
592
00:24:16,288 --> 00:24:18,858
ARE MADE BY SENDING
A HARD-COPY FIGURE
593
00:24:18,891 --> 00:24:21,628
OVER TO THE ORIENT
WHERE THEY MAKE A TOOLING MASTER
594
00:24:21,661 --> 00:24:23,896
THAT'S USED TO CUT
THE FINAL STEEL TOOLS
595
00:24:23,930 --> 00:24:28,568
THAT ARE MADE TO MAKE THOUSANDS
OF THESE THINGS.
596
00:24:28,601 --> 00:24:30,570
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
WAS THE LIGHTSABER.
597
00:24:30,603 --> 00:24:31,838
(LIGHTSABER WHOOSHES)
598
00:24:31,871 --> 00:24:33,105
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW DO YOU MAKE
599
00:24:33,139 --> 00:24:35,908
A LIGHTSABER HAPPEN
600
00:24:35,942 --> 00:24:37,209
WITHOUT ELECTRONICS
601
00:24:37,243 --> 00:24:39,045
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING THAT SMALL.
602
00:24:39,078 --> 00:24:41,247
I WAS A BIG
PROPONENT OF A--
603
00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,117
OF THE SPRING-LOADED DEVICE
604
00:24:45,151 --> 00:24:47,787
THAT WOULD ALLOW IT
TO POP OUT.
605
00:24:47,820 --> 00:24:50,089
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR FRIENDS
IN THE COST DEPARTMENT
606
00:24:50,122 --> 00:24:54,093
WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO
SPEND THREE CENTS ON A SPRING,
607
00:24:54,126 --> 00:24:57,530
AND IT WAS A MORE DIFFICULT
PRODUCT TO MANUFACTURE.
608
00:24:57,564 --> 00:25:01,934
I HAD THE MODEL SHOP
PUT A MONOFILAMENT
609
00:25:01,968 --> 00:25:03,202
DOWN THE ARM OF THE FIGURE
610
00:25:03,235 --> 00:25:04,871
AND IT WOULD COME OUT
THROUGH HIS HAND--
611
00:25:04,904 --> 00:25:06,639
THROUGH THE HAND
612
00:25:06,673 --> 00:25:09,876
AND CURL UP
INTO A NICE CURLICUE.
613
00:25:09,909 --> 00:25:12,845
AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW...
(BUZZING)
614
00:25:12,879 --> 00:25:13,846
... THAT WAS IT.
615
00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:14,981
(BOY)
NOW I KNOW
616
00:25:15,014 --> 00:25:16,616
THE FORCE IS WITH US.
617
00:25:18,184 --> 00:25:19,886
(SALVATORE)
THE REGULAR LUKE HAD
A LIGHTSABER IN THE ARM
618
00:25:19,919 --> 00:25:21,220
THAT SLID OUT ONE TIME.
619
00:25:21,253 --> 00:25:22,889
THE EARLIEST VERSIONS
HAD ONE THAT SLID OUT
620
00:25:22,922 --> 00:25:25,024
AND THEN TELESCOPED OUT
A SECOND TIME.
621
00:25:25,057 --> 00:25:27,627
SO THE EARLY-BIRD SET
IS KNOWN FOR HAVING THAT
622
00:25:27,660 --> 00:25:29,562
EARLY-BIRD LUKE THAT HAS
623
00:25:29,596 --> 00:25:31,631
THE DOUBLE TELESCOPING
LIGHTSABER.
624
00:25:31,664 --> 00:25:34,767
THESE ARE ALL FOUR-INCH
DARTH VADER PROTOTYPES.
625
00:25:34,801 --> 00:25:36,736
WHAT'S NOTABLE
ABOUT A LOT OF THESE
626
00:25:36,769 --> 00:25:40,139
ARE, OF COURSE, THE DOUBLE
TELESCOPING SABERS.
627
00:25:43,209 --> 00:25:45,177
THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE
628
00:25:45,211 --> 00:25:48,648
IS A PROTOTYPE STAGE
OF THAT
629
00:25:48,681 --> 00:25:51,584
AT THE VERY TIP IS
WHAT WE CALL THE MUSHROOM TIP
630
00:25:51,618 --> 00:25:53,019
BECAUSE IT HAS
A SMALL DISC.
631
00:25:53,052 --> 00:25:55,788
AND THE IDEA WAS THAT
IT WOULD GIVE THE PERSON
632
00:25:55,822 --> 00:25:57,724
THAT WAS MANIPULATING
THE INNER SABER,
633
00:25:57,757 --> 00:25:59,158
LIKE, YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING TO GRAB ONTO
634
00:25:59,191 --> 00:26:00,760
TO HELP EXTEND IT.
635
00:26:01,928 --> 00:26:05,798
**
636
00:26:05,832 --> 00:26:08,200
(LUTTRULL)
I THINK KENNER REALLY
637
00:26:08,234 --> 00:26:10,336
BOTTLED LIGHTNING
WITH THOSE FIGURE.
638
00:26:10,369 --> 00:26:13,339
IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN
WHY THESE TOYS
639
00:26:13,372 --> 00:26:16,375
BECAME SO IMPORTANT
TO SO MANY KIDS,
640
00:26:16,408 --> 00:26:17,877
BUT THEY DID.
641
00:26:17,910 --> 00:26:19,812
(SHARP)
THE CARD-BACKS TO ME
WERE AS NEAT
642
00:26:19,846 --> 00:26:21,380
AS THE FIGURES,
EVEN AS A CHILD.
643
00:26:21,413 --> 00:26:22,749
NOT ONLY DID YOU GET
THE FIGURE,
644
00:26:22,782 --> 00:26:24,784
BUT YOU GOT
THIS BIG COLOR IMAGE
645
00:26:24,817 --> 00:26:27,620
OF THAT CHARACTER
IN THE MOVIE.
646
00:26:27,654 --> 00:26:30,156
THAT WAS SORT OF
PART OF THE TOY.
647
00:26:30,189 --> 00:26:32,959
WHEN I WAS A KID,
I DON'T THINK
648
00:26:32,992 --> 00:26:34,827
FINDING A BEAT UP CARD
649
00:26:34,861 --> 00:26:36,796
WOULD HAVE BEEN
ACCEPTABLE TO ME
650
00:26:36,829 --> 00:26:40,366
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO RIP
THROUGH A FRESH CARD.
651
00:26:40,399 --> 00:26:42,368
YOU WANT TO RIP THROUGH
A FRESH CARD.
652
00:26:42,401 --> 00:26:44,170
I, NOWADAYS, LOOK
FOR FIGURES
653
00:26:44,203 --> 00:26:47,707
THAT ARE IN
THE BEST CONDITION.
654
00:26:47,740 --> 00:26:52,344
I WANTED TO BE REMINDED OF
ACTUALLY SEEING THESE FIGURES
655
00:26:52,378 --> 00:26:55,848
FOR THE FIRST TIME
AT THE TOY STORE.
656
00:26:55,882 --> 00:26:59,719
THIS IS A EARLY
CONCEPTUAL SKETCH,
657
00:26:59,752 --> 00:27:02,388
KIND OF THE ROUGH-OUT IDEAS
FOR THE "STAR WARS" PACKAGING.
658
00:27:02,421 --> 00:27:04,857
YOU SEE THAT THE TOP
HAS THE PYRAMIDAL LOGO
659
00:27:04,891 --> 00:27:07,359
WHICH YOU SEE IN SOME EARLY
"STAR WARS" PRODUCTS.
660
00:27:07,393 --> 00:27:09,095
IT KIND OF LOOKS
LIKE IT'S "STAR WARS"
661
00:27:09,128 --> 00:27:10,663
FADING INTO THE BACKGROUND.
662
00:27:10,697 --> 00:27:12,865
SOME COMMENTARY
ABOUT THE RACETRACK
663
00:27:12,899 --> 00:27:14,967
PIPING AROUND THE FIGURE,
664
00:27:15,001 --> 00:27:18,671
WHICH DID MAKE IT'S WAY
INTO THE FINAL PRODUCT.
665
00:27:18,705 --> 00:27:21,007
YOU'LL SEE ALSO THAT THERE'S
A STAR BEHIND THE FIGURE
666
00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,743
RATHER THAN A RECTANGLE,
A COLORED RECTANGLE.
667
00:27:23,776 --> 00:27:26,078
OBVIOUSLY,
AS THINGS MOVED ALONG
668
00:27:26,112 --> 00:27:28,014
IN THE DESIGN PROCESS,
669
00:27:28,047 --> 00:27:30,416
IT GOT MORE
TO THE TRADITIONAL LOOK.
670
00:27:30,449 --> 00:27:33,319
THE DISTINCTIVE DOUBLE
SILVER-PIPING
671
00:27:33,352 --> 00:27:34,754
IS AROUND THE SIDE.
672
00:27:34,787 --> 00:27:35,955
THE DISTINCTIVE LOGO,
673
00:27:35,988 --> 00:27:37,389
IT'S NOT THE PYRAMIDAL
LOGO ANYMORE.
674
00:27:37,423 --> 00:27:39,325
HERE, IT LOOKS THOUGH
LIKE THEY'RE USING
675
00:27:39,358 --> 00:27:40,893
THE HILDEBRANDT
LUKE AND LEIA
676
00:27:40,927 --> 00:27:43,095
RATHER THAN AS
A SMALL DESIGN ELEMENT,
677
00:27:43,129 --> 00:27:44,897
AS THE MAIN CARD ART.
678
00:27:44,931 --> 00:27:46,465
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS,
LIKE, AN IDEA
679
00:27:46,498 --> 00:27:49,368
FOR A UNIFIED CARD ART
ACROSS THE WHOLE LINE.
680
00:27:49,401 --> 00:27:50,870
WHEREAS THE FINAL
FIGURES WOULD HAVE HAD,
681
00:27:50,903 --> 00:27:52,304
IF IT WAS A DARTH VADER
FIGURE, YOU KNOW,
682
00:27:52,338 --> 00:27:54,306
HAS A PICTURE
OF DARTH VADER.
683
00:27:54,340 --> 00:27:56,909
KENNER, UNLIKE
ANY OTHER TOY LINE,
684
00:27:56,943 --> 00:27:58,444
PUT AT THE BACK
OF THE PACKAGE
685
00:27:58,477 --> 00:28:01,180
"COLLECT ALL 77!"
OR 65 OR 92.
686
00:28:01,213 --> 00:28:03,049
AND REALLY NO OTHER TOY LINES,
EVEN THOUGH I WAS INTO
687
00:28:03,082 --> 00:28:05,417
LOTS OF OTHER TOYS,
WERE REALLY LIKE THAT.
688
00:28:05,451 --> 00:28:06,753
YOU KNOW, THEY CONTINUED
TO BUILD
689
00:28:06,786 --> 00:28:07,920
ON THE BACK
OF THOSE PACKAGES
690
00:28:07,954 --> 00:28:09,455
THIS IDEA THAT YOU COULD
GET 'EM ALL.
691
00:28:09,488 --> 00:28:10,790
YOU COULD KIND OF SEE
WHERE THAT WOULD COME FROM.
692
00:28:10,823 --> 00:28:12,191
LIKE, HEY, WE HAVE
A LINE HERE
693
00:28:12,224 --> 00:28:14,493
WHERE YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANT
YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER,
694
00:28:14,526 --> 00:28:16,262
YOU'RE GONNA
WANT EVERY CHARACTER.
695
00:28:16,295 --> 00:28:18,330
IT WAS...
696
00:28:18,364 --> 00:28:20,032
IT WAS LIKE
EGGING YOU ON.
697
00:28:20,066 --> 00:28:22,368
THE BACK OF THE CARD-BACK SAYS,
YOU KNOW, "COLLECT ALL 92."
698
00:28:22,401 --> 00:28:25,004
IT DOESN'T ASK YOU TO,
IT TELLS YOU TO.
699
00:28:25,037 --> 00:28:26,505
YOU'D GET,
KIND OF, THIS ANXIETY
700
00:28:26,538 --> 00:28:28,074
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM ALL.
701
00:28:28,107 --> 00:28:29,942
AND THAT STAYED WITH ME
ALL THROUGH MY CHILDHOOD
702
00:28:29,976 --> 00:28:31,944
COLLECTING THESE THINGS,
YOU KNOW?
703
00:28:31,978 --> 00:28:34,246
I CAN REMEMBER THAT'S
HOW KIDS USED TO KEEP TRACK.
704
00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:36,949
YOU'D KEEP A SPARE CARD-BACK
AROUND YOUR HOUSE.
705
00:28:36,983 --> 00:28:39,485
ALL THE ACTION FIGURES
WERE PICTURED ON THE BACK,
706
00:28:39,518 --> 00:28:42,521
AND WHEN YOU GOT ONE,
YOU'D "X" IT OFF.
707
00:28:42,554 --> 00:28:44,791
I WOULD CONSTRUCT
LISTS OF ONES I WANTED.
708
00:28:44,824 --> 00:28:47,059
I ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTED LISTS
OF ONES I DIDN'T WANT.
709
00:28:47,093 --> 00:28:50,763
SO, YOU KNOW, IF I SENT MY DAD
TO THE STORE FOR AN IG-88,
710
00:28:50,797 --> 00:28:53,499
HE BETTER NOT COME HOME
WITH, YOU KNOW, A BESPIN GUARD
711
00:28:53,532 --> 00:28:57,003
OR LOBOT OR ONE OF
THOSE POOR GUYS.
712
00:28:57,036 --> 00:28:59,138
I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW,
SITTING IN THE TOY AISLE
713
00:28:59,171 --> 00:29:01,007
WITH MY BROTHER, LOOKING OVER
THE BACK OF THE CARDS,
714
00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,309
LOOKING FOR
FIGURES THAT, UM...
715
00:29:03,342 --> 00:29:05,044
DID THEY HAVE THEM YET?
716
00:29:05,077 --> 00:29:07,479
"RETURN OF THE JEDI," THEY HAD
A FEW BLACKED OUT, THE EWOKS.
717
00:29:07,513 --> 00:29:09,081
SO YOU WOULDN'T KNOW
WHAT THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE.
718
00:29:09,115 --> 00:29:11,250
AND SITTING THERE
AND THINKING, YOU KNOW,
719
00:29:11,283 --> 00:29:12,819
WHAT WAS THIS ABOUT?
720
00:29:12,852 --> 00:29:14,553
AND WHO ARE THESE,
AND WHY WERE THEY BLACKED OUT?
721
00:29:14,586 --> 00:29:15,988
THEY MUST BE
REALLY SPECIAL.
722
00:29:16,022 --> 00:29:19,859
UM... WE DIDN'T KNOW
ANY BETTER.
723
00:29:19,892 --> 00:29:22,094
REALLY, PEOPLE DIDN'T
COLLECT TOYS BACK THEN.
724
00:29:22,128 --> 00:29:24,230
BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY
CREATING THIS WHOLE CULTURE
725
00:29:24,263 --> 00:29:26,465
OF KIDS TRYING TO COLLECT
ALL THE TOYS.
726
00:29:26,498 --> 00:29:29,368
THE COLLECT-ALL PHILOSOPHY
727
00:29:29,401 --> 00:29:31,570
IS, I THINK,
A PRETTY IMPORTANT IDEA
728
00:29:31,603 --> 00:29:34,073
BEHIND THE EARLY SUCCESS
OF THE TOYS.
729
00:29:34,106 --> 00:29:35,942
NOT THAT THEY WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL ANYWAY,
730
00:29:35,975 --> 00:29:37,877
BUT I THINK MOST KIDS
AT THAT TIME
731
00:29:37,910 --> 00:29:40,512
DEFINITELY
REMEMBER THAT WHOLE
732
00:29:40,546 --> 00:29:43,916
UM... CALL TO COLLECT
ALL OF THESE FIGURES.
733
00:29:43,950 --> 00:29:45,551
IT IS PRETTY INSIDIOUS
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
734
00:29:45,584 --> 00:29:47,086
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FUN--
735
00:29:47,119 --> 00:29:50,489
IT WAS A FUN
SORT OF INSIDIOUS.
736
00:29:50,522 --> 00:29:53,459
NOW YOU CAN GET THIS NEW
4-LOM ACTION FIGURE FREE
737
00:29:53,492 --> 00:29:55,261
FOR FIVE PROOFS
OF PURCHASE FROM ANY
738
00:29:55,294 --> 00:29:56,562
"STAR WARS" ACTION FIGURES.
739
00:29:56,595 --> 00:29:58,164
DETAILS ON SPECIALLY
MARKED PACKAGES
740
00:29:58,197 --> 00:29:59,832
AT PARTICIPATING STORES.
OFFER EXPIRES--
741
00:29:59,866 --> 00:30:01,100
YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR
THEY'D HAVE A DIFFERENT
742
00:30:01,133 --> 00:30:02,368
MAIL-AWAY FIGURE,
JUST ABOUT.
743
00:30:02,401 --> 00:30:04,070
AND YOU'D HAVE TO COLLECT
744
00:30:04,103 --> 00:30:05,905
THE PROOF OF PURCHASE FROM
THE BACK OF THE BLISTER CARD.
745
00:30:05,938 --> 00:30:07,239
SO YOU'D HAVE TO
CUT IT OUT.
746
00:30:07,273 --> 00:30:09,608
AND YOU'D NEED, YOU KNOW,
FIVE PROOFS OF PURCHASE
747
00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:12,311
OR WHATEVER IT WAS TO GET
ADMIRAL AKBAR
748
00:30:12,344 --> 00:30:13,980
OR ANAKIN SKYWALKER.
749
00:30:14,013 --> 00:30:15,614
WHEN YOU WENT
TO THE TOY STORE,
750
00:30:15,647 --> 00:30:17,516
YOU COULD LOOK AND SEE
ALL THE ACTION FIGURES.
751
00:30:17,549 --> 00:30:19,451
YOU COULD LOOK
AND SEE ALL THE SPACESHIPS.
752
00:30:19,485 --> 00:30:21,387
THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT
YOU COULD BUY IN A STORE,
753
00:30:21,420 --> 00:30:23,622
SO IT WAS A NEW
"STAR WARS" THING.
754
00:30:23,655 --> 00:30:25,858
A LOT OF TIMES THEY'D
DO IT AS A CARROT
755
00:30:25,892 --> 00:30:28,427
TO GET YOU ABOUT
A NEW UPCOMING FILM,
756
00:30:28,460 --> 00:30:30,129
A NEW, SECRET CHARACTER.
757
00:30:30,162 --> 00:30:32,364
THEY WOULD TRY TO KIND OF
KEEP IT MYSTERIOUS
758
00:30:32,398 --> 00:30:35,601
AND KEEP THE MYSTIQUE
OF THE NEW CHARACTER THERE.
759
00:30:35,634 --> 00:30:37,203
(ANNOUNCER)
AND NOW, BOBA FETT,
760
00:30:37,236 --> 00:30:39,939
"STAR WARS" VILLAIN,
WITH HIS LASER RIFLE.
761
00:30:39,972 --> 00:30:41,507
BOBA FETT IS NOT YET
AVAILABLE IN STORES,
762
00:30:41,540 --> 00:30:43,042
BUT YOU CAN GET HIM FREE
763
00:30:43,075 --> 00:30:44,543
WITH FOUR PROOFS
OF PURCHASE FROM ANY
764
00:30:44,576 --> 00:30:46,112
"STAR WARS"
ACTION FIGURES.
765
00:30:46,145 --> 00:30:49,248
KENNER, IN LATE 1978,
BEGAN ADVERTISING
766
00:30:49,281 --> 00:30:52,018
ITS FIRST ACTION FIGURE
MAIL-AWAY OFFER FOR BOBA FETT.
767
00:30:52,051 --> 00:30:54,120
AND IN THOSE ILLUSTRATIONS
768
00:30:54,153 --> 00:30:56,322
AND PHOTOGRAPHY THEY SHOWED
FOR THIS OFFER,
769
00:30:56,355 --> 00:30:59,258
BOBA FETT HAD
A ROCKET-FIRING BACKPACK.
770
00:30:59,291 --> 00:31:00,960
WHEN WE WERE KIDS,
771
00:31:00,993 --> 00:31:03,429
WE SAW THE ROCKET-FIRING
BOBA FETT
772
00:31:03,462 --> 00:31:05,031
ON THE BACK OF THE CARDS,
773
00:31:05,064 --> 00:31:07,133
AND WE WERE TOTALLY
EXPECTING TO GET THIS FIGURE.
774
00:31:07,166 --> 00:31:10,903
AND WHEN IT CAME, IT WASN'T
WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS.
775
00:31:10,937 --> 00:31:12,104
(LOPEZ)
KENNER HAD LOOKED AT
776
00:31:12,138 --> 00:31:13,906
THIS ROCKET-FIRING
MECHANISM,
777
00:31:13,940 --> 00:31:16,042
AND FOUND THAT IT WAS
A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD.
778
00:31:16,075 --> 00:31:17,643
THEY WERE NEVER
SHIPPED TO KIDS.
779
00:31:17,676 --> 00:31:19,979
BUT BEFORE THE TOY
WENT INTO PRODUCTION,
780
00:31:20,012 --> 00:31:22,181
KENNER HAD MADE
SOME PROTOTYPES OF IT.
781
00:31:22,214 --> 00:31:23,916
SO, THE ONE ON THE LEFT
IS THE--
782
00:31:23,950 --> 00:31:25,517
WHAT THEY CALL
THE "L-SLOT VERSION"
783
00:31:25,551 --> 00:31:27,119
OF ROCKET-FIRING BOBA FETT.
784
00:31:27,153 --> 00:31:30,056
THERE'S A CAVITY THAT'S
THE SHAPE OF A BACKWARDS "L"
785
00:31:30,089 --> 00:31:32,925
WHERE THE SLIDER WOULD GO DOWN
AND THEN TO THE LEFT,
786
00:31:32,959 --> 00:31:34,560
LOCK IN, AND THEN
RELEASE A ROCKET.
787
00:31:34,593 --> 00:31:36,128
WELL, THE PROBLEM
WITH THIS THING
788
00:31:36,162 --> 00:31:38,931
WAS THAT BECAUSE IT WAS
THIS-- THIS L-SHAPE,
789
00:31:38,965 --> 00:31:40,266
IT'D BE EASY TO
KIND OF KNOCK THE TAB
790
00:31:40,299 --> 00:31:42,634
AND HAVE THE ROCKET
ACCIDENTALLY FIRE.
791
00:31:42,668 --> 00:31:45,004
THEY THEN UPDATED THIS
TO THE J-SLOT
792
00:31:45,037 --> 00:31:46,672
ROCKET-FIRING BOBA FETT.
793
00:31:46,705 --> 00:31:48,674
AND YOU CAN SEE THE SLOT
IS THE SHAPE OF A "J."
794
00:31:48,707 --> 00:31:50,576
AND IT WOULD HOOK
AROUND THIS "J,"
795
00:31:50,609 --> 00:31:52,178
BUT THE LITTLE
PIECE AT THE BOTTOM
796
00:31:52,211 --> 00:31:54,013
COULD BREAK OFF
VERY EASILY.
797
00:31:54,046 --> 00:31:55,514
THERE ARE A FEW OTHER STYLES
AND DIFFERENCES
798
00:31:55,547 --> 00:31:57,149
THAT HAVE TURNED UP
OVER THE YEARS.
799
00:31:57,183 --> 00:31:59,018
NOT VERY MANY, OF COURSE,
THESE ARE EXTREMELY RARE,
800
00:31:59,051 --> 00:32:02,388
BUT THOSE ARE THE MAJOR
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS THEY HAD.
801
00:32:02,421 --> 00:32:04,323
KIDS NEVER GOT THIS TOY.
802
00:32:04,356 --> 00:32:06,292
THERE ARE COUNTLESS
STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER
803
00:32:06,325 --> 00:32:07,593
GETTING A ROCKET-FIRING
BOBA FETT,
804
00:32:07,626 --> 00:32:08,660
BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
805
00:32:08,694 --> 00:32:10,963
THEY WERE NEVER
SHIPPED TO KIDS.
806
00:32:15,501 --> 00:32:18,470
ONE DAY, I COME HOME
AND I GET OFF THE SCHOOL BUS,
807
00:32:18,504 --> 00:32:21,107
AND MY FRIEND
IS WAITING THERE,
808
00:32:21,140 --> 00:32:24,710
AND HE'S HOLDING
A LANDSPEEDER.
809
00:32:24,743 --> 00:32:28,714
** (ANGELIC CHOIR)
810
00:32:28,747 --> 00:32:30,983
AND OF COURSE,
I JUST FREAK OUT.
811
00:32:31,017 --> 00:32:31,984
"THAT'S SO COOL! WOW!
812
00:32:32,018 --> 00:32:33,452
LET ME SEE IT! LET ME--"
813
00:32:33,485 --> 00:32:35,454
HE WAS THERE TO PLAY WITH
ONE OF THE OTHER KIDS THAT DAY.
814
00:32:35,487 --> 00:32:38,190
REALLY?!
815
00:32:38,224 --> 00:32:41,994
UM, UP HERE I HAVE THE ORIGINAL,
VINTAGE TIE FIGHTER
816
00:32:42,028 --> 00:32:45,164
THAT I RECEIVED
WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD.
817
00:32:46,498 --> 00:32:47,699
YOU KNOW, IT HAS A COCKPIT,
818
00:32:47,733 --> 00:32:49,201
YOU CAN PUT
THE FIGURES IN.
819
00:32:51,803 --> 00:32:53,772
THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD
MILLENNIUM FALCON
820
00:32:53,805 --> 00:32:57,609
WHICH I RECEIVED
FOR CHRISTMAS OF '81, I THINK,
821
00:32:57,643 --> 00:32:59,011
OR MAYBE 1980.
822
00:32:59,045 --> 00:33:01,113
AND IT'S A BIT
WORSE FOR WEAR,
823
00:33:01,147 --> 00:33:03,349
IT'S FAIRLY BEAT UP,
BUT IT'S--
824
00:33:03,382 --> 00:33:05,584
THIS TOY, I PROBABLY
PLAYED WITH MORE THAN ANYTHING.
825
00:33:05,617 --> 00:33:08,754
I MEAN, THE MILLENNIUM FALCON'S
SUPPOSED TO BE BEAT UP ANYWAY.
826
00:33:08,787 --> 00:33:11,090
UH, THIS...
827
00:33:11,123 --> 00:33:14,260
IS MY ORIGINAL X-WING.
828
00:33:14,293 --> 00:33:18,664
IT HAS NO COCKPIT,
MOST OF THE WINGS ARE GONE,
829
00:33:18,697 --> 00:33:21,633
THERE'S HARDLY ANY
STICKERS LEFT,
830
00:33:21,667 --> 00:33:23,802
BUT I WILL...
831
00:33:23,835 --> 00:33:26,705
NEVER PART WITH IT.
(CHUCKLES)
832
00:33:26,738 --> 00:33:29,308
WHEN YOU PICK UP
THAT KENNER X-WING,
833
00:33:29,341 --> 00:33:31,077
AND YOU PUSH DOWN
ON THE R2-D2,
834
00:33:31,110 --> 00:33:32,778
AND THE WINGS POP OPEN,
835
00:33:32,811 --> 00:33:34,713
YOU'RE IN THAT.
836
00:33:34,746 --> 00:33:36,548
THESE WERE
A WAY FOR ME
837
00:33:36,582 --> 00:33:39,185
TO FEEL LIKE I WAS FLYING
AROUND IN THAT X-WING.
838
00:33:39,218 --> 00:33:44,090
(SANSWEET)
CLEARLY, THEY SAW
THIS RICH UNIVERSE
839
00:33:44,123 --> 00:33:46,125
OF "STAR WARS"
840
00:33:46,158 --> 00:33:47,426
THAT GEORGE
HAD CREATED
841
00:33:47,459 --> 00:33:50,662
WITH ALL THESE ENVIRONMENTS
AND SHIPS,
842
00:33:50,696 --> 00:33:53,399
AND UNDERSTOOD
THAT THIS WAS A LINE.
843
00:33:53,432 --> 00:33:55,767
IT WAS NOT JUST A FEW
EIGHT-INCH,
844
00:33:55,801 --> 00:33:58,070
CLOTH COVERED DOLLS.
845
00:33:58,104 --> 00:34:01,807
YEAH, I THINK IT WAS COGNIZANT
OF THE DESIGN DEPARTMENT
846
00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:05,577
TO GIVE THE CHILDREN
A WORLD TO PLAY IN...
847
00:34:05,611 --> 00:34:07,079
WITH "STAR WARS,"
848
00:34:07,113 --> 00:34:10,716
AS MUCH AS LUCAS TRIED
TO CREATE ONE ON CAMERA.
849
00:34:10,749 --> 00:34:12,418
I THINK, YOU KNOW,
THESE ARE SOME OF THE--
850
00:34:12,451 --> 00:34:15,187
SOME OF THE MOST PLAYABLE AND
BEST DESIGNED OF THE TOYS.
851
00:34:15,221 --> 00:34:16,188
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
YOU GOT THE RANCOR,
852
00:34:16,222 --> 00:34:17,623
WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?
853
00:34:17,656 --> 00:34:20,092
A BIG MONSTER YOU COULD PLAY,
YOU KNOW, ON ITS OWN.
854
00:34:20,126 --> 00:34:22,128
HAD A LOT OF MONSTER
BATTLES IN THE BACKYARD
855
00:34:22,161 --> 00:34:24,196
WITH THIS PARTICULAR GUY.
856
00:34:24,230 --> 00:34:26,332
THE OBJECTIVE, ALWAYS,
857
00:34:26,365 --> 00:34:30,236
IT WAS THE WORD
THAT LOOMIS USED CONSTANTLY
858
00:34:30,269 --> 00:34:32,238
IN HIS CONVERSATIONS
WITH ALL OF US,
859
00:34:32,271 --> 00:34:35,541
IS SHOW ME
THE PLAY-VALUE.
860
00:34:35,574 --> 00:34:39,645
WHAT PLAY-VALUE ARE WE
GIVING THESE KIDS?
861
00:34:39,678 --> 00:34:41,713
EVERY PRODUCT
THAT BECAME A TOY
862
00:34:41,747 --> 00:34:44,516
HAD TO HAVE
CHILD INVOLVEMENT
863
00:34:44,550 --> 00:34:46,618
AS PART OF THE PREMISE.
864
00:34:46,652 --> 00:34:48,687
SO, IT WASN'T A TOY
WITHOUT IT.
865
00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:50,189
OTHERWISE, IT WAS
A COLLECTIBLE.
866
00:34:50,222 --> 00:34:52,191
IT WAS A BASEBALL CARD.
867
00:34:52,224 --> 00:34:55,261
THE EWOK PLAY-SET WAS PROBABLY
THE MOST FUN PLAY-SET
868
00:34:55,294 --> 00:34:56,862
THAT I DID
WHILE I WAS AT KENNER.
869
00:34:56,895 --> 00:34:59,798
I WANTED MY MODEL
TO LOOK EXACTLY
870
00:34:59,831 --> 00:35:02,334
LIKE THE MOVIE SET.
871
00:35:02,368 --> 00:35:05,304
THEY HAD
AN ARTIST DO A PICTURE
872
00:35:05,337 --> 00:35:07,739
OF WHAT THE EWOK VILLAGE
WOULD LOOK LIKE.
873
00:35:07,773 --> 00:35:09,475
AND THEY GAVE THAT
TO ONE OF THEIR--
874
00:35:09,508 --> 00:35:11,243
THEIR, UH, EMPLOYEES,
875
00:35:11,277 --> 00:35:13,479
AND HE WENT AND TOOK
STICKS AND STONES
876
00:35:13,512 --> 00:35:17,816
AND BUILT A HAND-MADE
PROTOTYPE OF THE EWOK VILLAGE.
877
00:35:17,849 --> 00:35:19,685
EVERY LUNCH BREAK,
I WOULD GO OUT,
878
00:35:19,718 --> 00:35:20,686
WANDER THROUGH
THE PARK.
879
00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:21,753
I SPENT A LOT OF WEEKENDS
880
00:35:21,787 --> 00:35:23,155
JUST WANDERING
AROUND THE WOODS
881
00:35:23,189 --> 00:35:25,224
LOOKING FOR THE EXACT,
RIGHT STICK.
882
00:35:25,257 --> 00:35:26,792
I'D JUST COME
INTO WORK WITH A--
883
00:35:26,825 --> 00:35:28,760
A BUCKET FULL OF STICKS
AND BARK,
884
00:35:28,794 --> 00:35:30,662
AND I JUST BUILT IT.
885
00:35:30,696 --> 00:35:32,231
THERE WAS
A PASSION THERE.
886
00:35:32,264 --> 00:35:34,300
I MEAN, THESE GUYS WEREN'T
JUST PUNCHING THE CLOCK.
887
00:35:34,333 --> 00:35:37,169
THEY REALLY LOVED
WHAT THEY DID,
888
00:35:37,203 --> 00:35:38,537
AND THEY LOVED MAKING TOYS
889
00:35:38,570 --> 00:35:42,774
THAT KIDS WOULD GET--
HAVE EXCITING TIME WITH.
890
00:35:42,808 --> 00:35:44,343
THERE CAME A DAY
891
00:35:44,376 --> 00:35:47,613
THAT IT WAS NECESSARY
TO COME UP WITH A PRODUCT
892
00:35:47,646 --> 00:35:49,448
THAT USED A TALKING DEVICE
893
00:35:49,481 --> 00:35:51,950
WHICH WAS SUPPLIED
BY OZEN SOUND COMPANY.
894
00:35:51,983 --> 00:35:54,620
IT WAS USED IN A LOT
OF TOYS PREVIOUSLY.
895
00:35:54,653 --> 00:35:56,655
(DOLL)
LET'S PLAY HOUSE.
896
00:35:56,688 --> 00:35:59,291
AND THEY WANTED TO MAINTAIN
A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COMPANY
897
00:35:59,325 --> 00:36:00,726
WITHIN THE "STAR WARS" LINE.
898
00:36:00,759 --> 00:36:01,927
(ANNOUNCER)
THE "STAR WARS" IMPERIAL
899
00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:03,495
TROOP TRANSPORTER.
(LASER SOUNDS)
900
00:36:03,529 --> 00:36:05,297
WHAT'S THAT?
IT'S MY TROOP TRANSPORTER!
901
00:36:05,331 --> 00:36:07,866
IT MAKES FIVE
MORE SOUNDS TOO!
902
00:36:07,899 --> 00:36:10,536
(TOY)
R2-D2, WHERE ARE YOU?
903
00:36:10,569 --> 00:36:12,204
(R2-D2 BLEEPING)
904
00:36:12,238 --> 00:36:14,973
SOME OF THE IDEAS
THAT WERE BOUNCED
905
00:36:15,006 --> 00:36:17,343
ARE HERE.
906
00:36:17,376 --> 00:36:19,745
THIS WAS A-- SORT OF
LIKE A MONO-WHEEL.
907
00:36:19,778 --> 00:36:21,447
NOT VERY
POSSIBLE IN A TOY,
908
00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:24,983
THOUGH PROBABLY GREAT
FOR FILM.
909
00:36:25,016 --> 00:36:29,255
AND HERE WE HAVE
A BOBA FETT-ISH SORT OF GUY
910
00:36:29,288 --> 00:36:32,224
RIDING A FUNNY-LOOKING
MOTORCYCLE.
911
00:36:32,258 --> 00:36:35,261
A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG,
912
00:36:35,294 --> 00:36:38,497
WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE
THERE WAS A TROOP TRANSPORT
913
00:36:38,530 --> 00:36:41,433
WITH MAYBE SOME
GUARDS ON IT.
914
00:36:41,467 --> 00:36:43,969
THE DOUBLE-POINTED VERSION
CAME ABOUT
915
00:36:44,002 --> 00:36:45,971
BECAUSE I WANTED
TO HAVE A PRISONER
916
00:36:46,004 --> 00:36:49,007
OR A DROID IN THE CENTER.
917
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:53,345
AND IN THIS CASE, WE WENT
TO MAKING A BLACK R2-D2
918
00:36:53,379 --> 00:36:55,347
TO BE THE BAD DROID
919
00:36:55,381 --> 00:36:58,016
THAT WORKED
FOR THE IMPERIAL GUYS.
920
00:36:58,049 --> 00:37:01,387
WELL, THE POINTY VERSION
WAS PROBLEMATIC
921
00:37:01,420 --> 00:37:03,789
FOR SOMEBODY,
AESTHETICALLY, AT LUCASFILM.
922
00:37:03,822 --> 00:37:05,291
THEY CAME BACK WITH
ANOTHER SKETCH,
923
00:37:05,324 --> 00:37:06,925
AND JOE JOHNSTON DID THAT.
924
00:37:06,958 --> 00:37:09,261
AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE
THE BLUNT-NOSED VERSION
925
00:37:09,295 --> 00:37:10,829
THAT YOU SAW IN PRODUCTION.
926
00:37:13,499 --> 00:37:15,501
HERE WE ARE IN OAKLEY
AT THE KENNER MORGUE.
927
00:37:15,534 --> 00:37:18,404
80% OF THIS MASSIVE FACILITY
WAS ALL KENNER.
928
00:37:18,437 --> 00:37:20,339
THIS IS WHERE OLD KENNER
IDEAS WERE KEPT.
929
00:37:20,372 --> 00:37:22,341
THIS IS ALSO WHERE THEY DID
A LOT OF THEIR PHOTOGRAPHY
930
00:37:22,374 --> 00:37:24,376
FOR CATALOGS
AND OTHER ITEMS.
931
00:37:24,410 --> 00:37:26,578
OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED
HERE WERE QUALITY CONTROL.
932
00:37:26,612 --> 00:37:28,614
A LOT OF CHOKE HAZARDS
WERE HANDLED HERE.
933
00:37:28,647 --> 00:37:31,016
THEY ALSO HAD A GIANT SAND-BOX
THAT YOU COULD THROW TOYS IN
934
00:37:31,049 --> 00:37:34,052
TO SEE HOW THEY
DO IN THE SAND.
935
00:37:34,085 --> 00:37:36,054
NO, I DIDN'T FEEL
LIKE I WAS A ROCK STAR
936
00:37:36,087 --> 00:37:38,056
OR ANYBODY SPECIAL
OR DIFFERENT,
937
00:37:38,089 --> 00:37:42,027
BUT IT DID SEEM
TO GO WELL WITH PEOPLE
938
00:37:42,060 --> 00:37:43,362
THAT YOU WOULD MEET
AROUND TOWN.
939
00:37:43,395 --> 00:37:44,696
THEY SAY,
"OH, WHAT DO YOU DO?"
940
00:37:44,730 --> 00:37:46,532
"OH, I DESIGN 'STAR WARS'
TOYS FOR KENNER."
941
00:37:46,565 --> 00:37:48,800
"OH, THAT MUST
BE A COOL JOB!"
942
00:37:48,834 --> 00:37:50,936
"YES, IT IS."
943
00:37:50,969 --> 00:37:54,039
I BELIEVE THAT,
AT THAT TIME,
944
00:37:54,072 --> 00:37:57,042
KENNER WAS THE PLACE TO BE
IN THE TOY INDUSTRY,
945
00:37:57,075 --> 00:38:00,045
NOT JUST FOR DESIGNERS,
BUT FOR MARKETING PEOPLE
946
00:38:00,078 --> 00:38:02,314
AND UPPER-MANAGEMENT
AS WELL.
947
00:38:02,348 --> 00:38:04,383
THAT'S WHY WE
ATTRACTED SO MANY PEOPLE
948
00:38:04,416 --> 00:38:06,818
FROM OTHER BIG
TOY COMPANIES
949
00:38:06,852 --> 00:38:08,787
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GOING
TO WORK ON A DOLL LINE TODAY,
950
00:38:08,820 --> 00:38:09,955
WHERE ARE YOU
GONNA GO?
951
00:38:09,988 --> 00:38:11,590
BARBIE. NUMBER ONE.
GO TO THE TOP.
952
00:38:11,623 --> 00:38:13,058
AND AT THAT TIME,
IF YOU WANTED TO DO
953
00:38:13,091 --> 00:38:16,094
REALLY COOL VEHICLES
AND SPACE STUFF,
954
00:38:16,127 --> 00:38:17,529
"STAR WARS" WAS IT.
955
00:38:17,563 --> 00:38:18,897
I FELT LIKE
I BELONGED THERE
956
00:38:18,930 --> 00:38:21,333
BECAUSE ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE
AND CHARACTERS THERE
957
00:38:21,367 --> 00:38:23,635
WERE A LITTLE BIT
ECCENTRIC AND STRANGE.
958
00:38:23,669 --> 00:38:27,005
THEY TENDED TO FRAME
THAT ENVIRONMENT,
959
00:38:27,038 --> 00:38:30,876
AND ME IN IT,
IN A COMFORTABLE WAY.
960
00:38:30,909 --> 00:38:33,345
IT WAS LIKE A FRATERNITY
OF DESIGNERS
961
00:38:33,379 --> 00:38:36,114
THAT WERE REALLY
HONING THEIR SKILLS
962
00:38:36,147 --> 00:38:38,950
AND REALLY USING
THEIR SKILLS TO CREATE
963
00:38:38,984 --> 00:38:42,354
THESE AMAZINGLY
DIFFERENT THINGS.
964
00:38:42,388 --> 00:38:44,089
KENNER WAS
A VERY SOCIAL COMPANY.
965
00:38:44,122 --> 00:38:46,358
AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PEOPLE WOULD THROW
966
00:38:46,392 --> 00:38:49,395
DIFFERENT SOCIAL EVENTS,
PARTIES, WHATEVER.
967
00:38:50,128 --> 00:38:52,931
THIS IS, UM, A BROCHURE
968
00:38:52,964 --> 00:38:54,566
FOR THE AFTER HOURS.
969
00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:56,602
IT WAS, UH, THIS ONE'S
SECOND ANNUAL KENNER EMPLOYEE
970
00:38:56,635 --> 00:39:00,038
ART SHOW DONE AT A GALLERY
IN CINCINNATI.
971
00:39:00,071 --> 00:39:02,708
THESE WERE ACTUAL
ARTISTS DOING REAL WORK
972
00:39:02,741 --> 00:39:04,610
FOR A TOY COMPANY.
973
00:39:04,643 --> 00:39:06,578
THE OUTDOOR
ADVENTURERS CLUB.
974
00:39:06,612 --> 00:39:08,514
AND IT SHOWS SOME OF
THESE GUYS GOING OUT
975
00:39:08,547 --> 00:39:11,883
AND HUNTING AND CAMPING
AND STUFF.
976
00:39:11,917 --> 00:39:14,119
THERE WAS, UM...
977
00:39:14,152 --> 00:39:16,021
THE NOW INFAMOUS
978
00:39:16,054 --> 00:39:19,591
HALLOWEEN TOY SHOW...
979
00:39:19,625 --> 00:39:22,828
WHERE EVERYBODY WAS SUPPOSED
TO COME UP WITH
980
00:39:22,861 --> 00:39:24,596
SOME SORT OF SOMETHING
981
00:39:24,630 --> 00:39:27,866
TO SHOW AS A TOY
FOR HALLOWEEN.
982
00:39:27,899 --> 00:39:30,536
I HAD THIS MONKEY AT HOME.
983
00:39:30,569 --> 00:39:33,138
(IMITATING MONKEY BARKING)
984
00:39:33,171 --> 00:39:36,842
I JUST SAW ANOTHER ROLE
FOR THAT MONKEY.
985
00:39:36,875 --> 00:39:38,143
THE FLASHER MONKEY.
986
00:39:38,176 --> 00:39:41,146
IT WAS A GREAT TOY.
REALLY GREAT.
987
00:39:41,179 --> 00:39:43,815
DUM-DUM DUM.
988
00:39:43,849 --> 00:39:44,883
WELL, IT'S A TOY COMPANY.
989
00:39:44,916 --> 00:39:46,151
YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE FUN.
990
00:39:46,184 --> 00:39:48,620
I MEAN, THAT WAS
PRETTY MUCH MY ATTITUDE.
991
00:39:48,654 --> 00:39:52,023
I'M DESIGNING THE COOLEST TOYS
IN THE UNIVERSE
992
00:39:52,057 --> 00:39:53,759
AND MY JOB'S
THE BEST ONE IN THE WORLD,
993
00:39:53,792 --> 00:39:56,762
SO WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE
ABOUT THAT?
994
00:39:56,795 --> 00:39:59,498
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I ADMIRED ABOUT BERNIE LOOMIS
995
00:39:59,531 --> 00:40:02,668
IS THAT BERNIE HAD, UM,
996
00:40:02,701 --> 00:40:05,671
AN UNDERSTANDING THAT
WHEN YOU HAVE CREATIVE PEOPLE,
997
00:40:05,704 --> 00:40:08,740
YOU GOTTA GIVE THEM
AN OUTLET FOR IT.
998
00:40:08,774 --> 00:40:10,542
YOU CAN'T JUST
TELL 'EM WHAT TO DO,
999
00:40:10,576 --> 00:40:12,511
AND GO DESIGN THIS.
1000
00:40:12,544 --> 00:40:15,947
I'M THINKING ABOUT
ONE PARTICULAR IDEA I HAD
1001
00:40:15,981 --> 00:40:17,182
WHEN I GOT THERE.
1002
00:40:17,215 --> 00:40:21,186
IT WAS CALLED
AN R2-D2 CHOO-CHOO.
1003
00:40:21,219 --> 00:40:24,055
TAKING AN R2-D2,
A LITTLE THREE-AND-A-QUARTER
1004
00:40:24,089 --> 00:40:26,157
OR WHATEVER IT WAS,
BENDING HIM OVER,
1005
00:40:26,191 --> 00:40:28,093
AND HAVING A REMOVABLE
HEAD ON THE NEXT ONE
1006
00:40:28,126 --> 00:40:30,095
AND SHOVING IT INTO
THE BOTTOM OF THAT ONE,
1007
00:40:30,128 --> 00:40:31,697
AND ON
AND ON AND ON
1008
00:40:31,730 --> 00:40:33,799
SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE
A CHOO-CHOO OF R2-D2.
1009
00:40:33,832 --> 00:40:36,067
(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)
1010
00:40:36,101 --> 00:40:38,737
IT DIED, BUT NONETHELESS
IT WAS WORTH IT
1011
00:40:38,770 --> 00:40:42,474
FOR THE DAY OR HALF A DAY,
OR WHATEVER I PUT INTO IT
1012
00:40:42,508 --> 00:40:45,210
TO EXPLORE IT,
BECAUSE THE LICENSE WAS THERE.
1013
00:40:45,243 --> 00:40:46,678
THERE WAS MONEY TO BE MADE.
1014
00:40:46,712 --> 00:40:49,515
WHEN WE DEVELOPED
THESE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS,
1015
00:40:49,548 --> 00:40:53,552
WE WOULD DO RENDERINGS
AND CONCEPT IMAGES OF THEM.
1016
00:40:53,585 --> 00:40:56,021
AND THEN THOSE ITEMS WOULD BE
TAKEN TO MARKETING,
1017
00:40:56,054 --> 00:40:59,157
AND IF IT LOOKED LIKE
A ITEM THAT WOULD SELL WELL
1018
00:40:59,190 --> 00:41:00,692
IN THE MARKET
AND ALL THAT,
1019
00:41:00,726 --> 00:41:02,561
WE WOULD GO AHEAD
AND DEVELOP THAT.
1020
00:41:02,594 --> 00:41:07,232
EVERY WEEK, THERE WERE
DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS.
1021
00:41:07,265 --> 00:41:09,167
THEY WERE VERY STRESSFUL
1022
00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,102
FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE PRESENTING.
1023
00:41:11,136 --> 00:41:12,738
(TROY)
THERE'D BE BERNIE LOOMIS,
1024
00:41:12,771 --> 00:41:15,841
THE PRESIDENT, AND PROBABLY
FOUR OR FIVE OTHER PEOPLE
1025
00:41:15,874 --> 00:41:18,209
FROM DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS IN MARKETING
1026
00:41:18,243 --> 00:41:19,811
THAT WOULD BE LOOKING
AT ALL THE PRODUCTS
1027
00:41:19,845 --> 00:41:21,279
BEING PRESENTED.
1028
00:41:21,312 --> 00:41:23,615
AND THERE'D BE
MULTIPLE PRESENTERS.
1029
00:41:27,185 --> 00:41:28,654
SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE
1030
00:41:28,687 --> 00:41:30,722
OF ONE OF THE IDEAS
THAT I SUBMITTED.
1031
00:41:30,756 --> 00:41:33,124
IT'S ABOUT FOUR--
THREE-FOOT LONG,
1032
00:41:33,158 --> 00:41:36,862
AND IT WAS A BLOW-MOLDED CHAIR
THAT LITTLE KIDS COULD SIT IN.
1033
00:41:36,895 --> 00:41:40,265
IT HAD A LITTLE PROJECTOR BOX
INSIDE OF IT
1034
00:41:40,298 --> 00:41:43,769
THAT COULD SCROLL THROUGH
SOME "STAR WARS" IMAGES.
1035
00:41:43,802 --> 00:41:45,771
AND THEN IT HAD
A LIGHT ON THE FRONT OF IT
1036
00:41:45,804 --> 00:41:48,273
SO THAT YOU COULD PROJECT
IMAGES ON THE WALL
1037
00:41:48,306 --> 00:41:50,676
AND THEN SHOOT AT
THOSE IMAGES ON THE WALL
1038
00:41:50,709 --> 00:41:53,679
WITH THE LITTLE--
LITTLE LED LASER LIGHT.
1039
00:41:53,712 --> 00:41:55,647
THEY WERE CLOSE TO
PICKING THIS UP,
1040
00:41:55,681 --> 00:41:58,784
BUT IT REQUIRED A VERY
LARGE TOOL AND BLOW-MOLDING.
1041
00:41:58,817 --> 00:42:00,619
I STILL THINK IT WAS
A GREAT IDEA,
1042
00:42:00,652 --> 00:42:03,154
BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE IT.
1043
00:42:03,188 --> 00:42:05,090
BERNIE WAS
A VERY HARD CRITIC.
1044
00:42:05,123 --> 00:42:09,060
HE WOULD CHEW YOU OUT
IF HE DIDN'T LIKE WHAT YOU DID
1045
00:42:09,094 --> 00:42:10,929
IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY.
1046
00:42:10,962 --> 00:42:14,733
OR HE WOULD SAY, "I THINK
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA."
1047
00:42:14,766 --> 00:42:18,704
YOU KNOW,
"CARRY MY GOLF CLUBS."
1048
00:42:18,737 --> 00:42:21,239
SO THEY WERE CONSIDERING THIS
FOR THE VEHICLE LINE,
1049
00:42:21,272 --> 00:42:24,042
FIRST IN '83
AND THEN AGAIN IN '85.
1050
00:42:24,075 --> 00:42:27,012
SO, YOU CAN SEE IT'S GOT
A NUMBER OF FEATURES.
1051
00:42:27,045 --> 00:42:29,047
A GUN ON TOP
HERE THAT TURNS,
1052
00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:32,984
THERE'S A...
AN ESCAPE POD...
1053
00:42:33,018 --> 00:42:34,319
THAT WOULD EJECT,
1054
00:42:34,352 --> 00:42:38,089
AND THE CANOPY
THAT OPENS AND CLOSES.
1055
00:42:39,390 --> 00:42:41,359
OKAY, SO THIS IS
A FOLDER
1056
00:42:41,392 --> 00:42:44,696
OF SOME CONCEPT DESIGNS.
1057
00:42:44,730 --> 00:42:46,932
THESE ARE
ALL DATED 1979.
1058
00:42:46,965 --> 00:42:50,268
SO, THE INTERESTING ON HERE
IS A LITTLE MODULE
1059
00:42:50,301 --> 00:42:52,237
YOU'D PUT ONTO
YOUR BIKE HANDLEBARS,
1060
00:42:52,270 --> 00:42:53,972
AND ANOTHER LITTLE ONE
THAT HAD--
1061
00:42:54,005 --> 00:42:56,975
GO OVER NEAR THE HANDLE
THAT YOU COULD PUNCH A BUTTON
1062
00:42:57,008 --> 00:42:59,811
AND MAKE A LASER SOUND,
OR AND IGNITION SOUND
1063
00:42:59,845 --> 00:43:02,814
OF YOUR BIKE, AND A LITTLE
TARGETING COMPUTER SCREEN
1064
00:43:02,848 --> 00:43:05,050
HERE, WE'VE GOT
A DARTH VADER PENCIL SHARPENER
1065
00:43:05,083 --> 00:43:07,318
WHERE YOU'D PUT THE PENCIL
IN DARTH VADER'S NOSE
1066
00:43:07,352 --> 00:43:09,220
TO SHARPEN YOUR PENCIL.
1067
00:43:09,254 --> 00:43:13,358
HERE'S A R2-D2
TELEPHONE.
1068
00:43:13,391 --> 00:43:17,228
AND HERE, FINALLY,
IS A R2-D2 GUMBALL MACHINE.
1069
00:43:17,262 --> 00:43:21,066
(TROY)
IF IT WASN'T IN THE FILM...
1070
00:43:21,099 --> 00:43:23,334
IT WAS NOT
PROHIBITED,
1071
00:43:23,368 --> 00:43:26,738
BUT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY
AN ENCOURAGED THING.
1072
00:43:26,772 --> 00:43:29,240
THE DROID FACTORY
CAME ABOUT
1073
00:43:29,274 --> 00:43:31,376
I THINK JUST FROM
SKETCHING ROBOTS.
1074
00:43:31,409 --> 00:43:35,714
AND THEN REALIZING
THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS
1075
00:43:35,747 --> 00:43:38,416
TO CUSTOMIZE THE ROBOTS
THAT WERE THERE.
1076
00:43:38,449 --> 00:43:41,853
YOU CAN SEE...
1077
00:43:41,887 --> 00:43:43,354
THESE GUYS.
1078
00:43:43,388 --> 00:43:46,992
THEY ALL HAD
A "STAR WARS" AESTHETIC.
1079
00:43:47,025 --> 00:43:49,160
AND EVERYBODY SAID, "WELL,
IT'S NOT IN THE MOVIE."
1080
00:43:49,194 --> 00:43:52,030
WELL, SO WHAT?
1081
00:43:52,063 --> 00:43:55,200
I USED THESE SKETCHES
BASICALLY AS A STARTING POINT.
1082
00:43:55,233 --> 00:43:58,003
I CAME UP
WITH A TRIPOD DROID.
1083
00:43:58,036 --> 00:44:00,438
THIS GUY WAS JUST A LITTLE IDIOT
WALKING AROUND
1084
00:44:00,471 --> 00:44:02,774
LOOKING LIKE
A MOUSE SORT OF.
1085
00:44:02,808 --> 00:44:05,010
THIS ONE WAS
A ROLL AROUND QUICKIE.
1086
00:44:05,043 --> 00:44:06,377
TINY DROID.
1087
00:44:06,411 --> 00:44:08,279
THIS GUY WAS WALKING DROID
1088
00:44:08,313 --> 00:44:10,982
LIKE "SILENT RUNNING"
DROIDS WOULD BE
1089
00:44:11,016 --> 00:44:12,417
OTHER ONES
WOULD HAVE MAYBE CLAMPS.
1090
00:44:12,450 --> 00:44:13,885
LIKE THIS ONE,
FOR INSTANCE.
1091
00:44:13,919 --> 00:44:16,221
I SAW IT HAVING MAYBE
AN OVER-CENTER CLAMP
1092
00:44:16,254 --> 00:44:18,790
WHERE IT WOULD JUST SNAP ON
TO WHATEVER YOU PUT IT AROUND.
1093
00:44:18,824 --> 00:44:20,692
AND THIS IS ANOTHER
JUST ROLL AROUND THING.
1094
00:44:20,726 --> 00:44:24,429
PROBABLY ANALOGOUS TO
THIS ONE WITH WHEELS.
1095
00:44:24,462 --> 00:44:26,197
I WAS JUST LIKE
DRAWING DROID.
1096
00:44:26,231 --> 00:44:27,665
(LAUGHING)
1097
00:44:33,839 --> 00:44:35,373
(ANNOUNCER)
AND WHEN YOU SEE
THE "STAR WARS" MOVIE
1098
00:44:35,406 --> 00:44:36,908
AT PARTICIPATING THEATERS,
1099
00:44:36,942 --> 00:44:38,443
YOU GET KENNER'S
CASH-REFUND BOOKLET,
1100
00:44:38,476 --> 00:44:40,411
GOOD FOR REFUND COUPONS
FROM 50 CENTS
1101
00:44:40,445 --> 00:44:41,780
UP TO TWO DOLLARS EACH
1102
00:44:41,813 --> 00:44:43,882
ON 14 DIFFERENT
"STAR WARS" TOYS.
1103
00:44:43,915 --> 00:44:45,083
OFFER EXPIRES DECEMBER...
1104
00:44:45,116 --> 00:44:47,018
"STAR WARS" WAS REALLY
THE FIRST ONE
1105
00:44:47,052 --> 00:44:49,821
TO REALLY GRASP ONTO
1106
00:44:49,855 --> 00:44:51,990
MARKETING POP-CULTURE
IN A TOY.
1107
00:44:52,023 --> 00:44:55,827
THERE HAD BEEN
CERTAINLY TV ADS FOR TOYS,
1108
00:44:55,861 --> 00:44:58,129
UM, BEFORE "STAR WARS,"
1109
00:44:58,163 --> 00:45:01,833
BUT THEY REALLY TOOK THAT
AND RAN WITH THAT.
1110
00:45:01,867 --> 00:45:03,969
WITH THEIR TELEVISION
COMMERCIALS, I THINK KENNER
1111
00:45:04,002 --> 00:45:07,405
WAS TRYING TO PUT THE IDEA
INTO A KID'S HEAD
1112
00:45:07,438 --> 00:45:09,340
OF HOW EXACTLY
THEY COULD PLAY WITH THESE TOYS.
1113
00:45:09,374 --> 00:45:12,744
THEY PUT ACROSS THIS IDEA THAT
IF YOU HAVE THESE FIGURES,
1114
00:45:12,778 --> 00:45:17,182
YOU CAN CREATE
A MINIATURE PLAY ENVIRONMENT
1115
00:45:17,215 --> 00:45:18,483
RIGHT IN YOUR BEDROOM,
1116
00:45:18,516 --> 00:45:20,018
AND IT'S LIKE
THE MOVIE.
1117
00:45:20,051 --> 00:45:21,953
(BOY)
... HE'S AFTER THE BOAT.
1118
00:45:21,987 --> 00:45:23,955
ALL TROOPS
REPORT TO BASE.
1119
00:45:23,989 --> 00:45:26,257
GLIDER ATTACK,
HIT THE DIRT!
1120
00:45:26,291 --> 00:45:27,959
(LUTTRULL)
THE COMMERCIALS
WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE SCENES
1121
00:45:27,993 --> 00:45:29,360
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
IN THE MOVIE.
1122
00:45:29,394 --> 00:45:30,829
AND I WOULD THINK,
"HM, I DON'T REMEMBER
1123
00:45:30,862 --> 00:45:31,997
THAT PART OF THE MOVIE..."
1124
00:45:32,030 --> 00:45:33,431
(BOY)
WE'LL GET YOU TO SAFETY!
1125
00:45:33,464 --> 00:45:35,934
"... BUT, WOW, I WANT TO
RECREATE THAT PART."
1126
00:45:35,967 --> 00:45:37,302
(LOPEZ)
YOU'RE TRYING TO TEACH KIDS
1127
00:45:37,335 --> 00:45:39,838
THROUGH THE ADS AND THROUGH
THE SHOWING THE PLAYING
1128
00:45:39,871 --> 00:45:42,540
THAT YOU ARE PART
OF THIS "STAR WARS" UNIVERSE.
1129
00:45:42,573 --> 00:45:44,976
THAT WAS A BIG, BIG EMPHASIS
AT THE TIME.
1130
00:45:45,010 --> 00:45:46,011
(BOY)
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!
1131
00:45:46,044 --> 00:45:47,278
(SECOND BOY)
IT'S OKAY, R2-D2,
1132
00:45:47,312 --> 00:45:48,880
I'VE GOT MY LASER PISTOL.
1133
00:45:50,348 --> 00:45:52,818
(SHARP)
MY DAD TOOK ME TO SEE
"EMPIRE STRIKES BACK"
1134
00:45:52,851 --> 00:45:54,986
WHEN IT HIT THEATERS
IN '80 OR '81,
1135
00:45:55,020 --> 00:45:56,521
AND I WAS FIVE
OR SIX YEARS OLD.
1136
00:45:56,554 --> 00:45:58,223
I WAS PRETTY YOUNG.
1137
00:45:58,256 --> 00:45:59,925
AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER
WE SAW THE FILM,
1138
00:45:59,958 --> 00:46:02,794
HE TOOK ME DOWN TO
KIDDY CITY, THE LOCAL TOY STORE,
1139
00:46:02,828 --> 00:46:05,030
AND HE BOUGHT ME MY FIRST
COUPLE "STAR WARS" TOYS.
1140
00:46:05,063 --> 00:46:08,433
AND I REMEMBER
STARING UP AT THIS WALL,
1141
00:46:08,466 --> 00:46:10,235
THIS AISLE FULL OF TOYS.
1142
00:46:10,268 --> 00:46:12,303
IT JUST LOOKED LIKE
A MOUNTAIN OF "STAR WARS" TOYS.
1143
00:46:12,337 --> 00:46:14,873
AND MY FATHER SAID, "PICK OUT
AND ACTION FIGURE."
1144
00:46:14,906 --> 00:46:17,843
AND I LOOKED THEM OVER
AND I PICKED OUT DARTH VADER.
1145
00:46:17,876 --> 00:46:19,144
(BOOTH)
I WAS A LITTLE KID,
SO IT JUST SEEMED
1146
00:46:19,177 --> 00:46:21,813
LIKE THIS DISPLAY
WAS TOWERING OVER ME.
1147
00:46:21,847 --> 00:46:24,015
JUST THIS RACK
OF ALL THE "STAR WARS" FIGURES
1148
00:46:24,049 --> 00:46:24,883
ON THE PEG.
1149
00:46:24,916 --> 00:46:27,018
WHAT A TERRIBLE CHOICE
TO HAVE TO MAKE!
1150
00:46:27,052 --> 00:46:30,555
I'VE GOT 12 FIGURES,
I CAN ONLY GET ONE.
1151
00:46:30,588 --> 00:46:32,824
(SALVATORE)
THE TERM THAT COMPANIES
1152
00:46:32,858 --> 00:46:34,559
GENERALLY USE,
OR AT LEAST KENNER USED
1153
00:46:34,592 --> 00:46:36,461
FOR SETTING UP, LIKE,
ITS TOY AISLE
1154
00:46:36,494 --> 00:46:38,930
IN A COORDINATED WAY
WAS A "PLAN-O-GRAM."
1155
00:46:38,964 --> 00:46:41,232
CATALOGS OR BROCHURES
THAT THEY SENT TO RETAILERS
1156
00:46:41,266 --> 00:46:43,101
THAT TOLD THEM THIS IS THEY WAY
IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK.
1157
00:46:43,134 --> 00:46:45,436
HOPEFULLY IT ACTUALLY LOOKED
THAT WAY WHEN THEY SET IT UP,
1158
00:46:45,470 --> 00:46:46,905
BUT WHO KNOWS
IF IT REALLY DID?
1159
00:46:46,938 --> 00:46:50,041
(CASH REGISTER DINGS)
1160
00:46:50,075 --> 00:46:52,610
THESE SHELVES HERE
SHOW SOME OF THE, UH,
1161
00:46:52,643 --> 00:46:55,113
"STAR WARS" KENNER
MARKETING CAMPAIGNS,
1162
00:46:55,146 --> 00:46:56,982
STUFF THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
SENT TO TOY STORES
1163
00:46:57,015 --> 00:47:00,518
TO HELP PUSH THE LINE
AND HELP DECORATE THE AISLES
1164
00:47:00,551 --> 00:47:02,220
THAT THE TOYS WERE
DISPLAYED IN.
1165
00:47:02,253 --> 00:47:04,189
THAT BIG "TOY CENTER" SIGN
IS BASICALLY
1166
00:47:04,222 --> 00:47:07,592
WHAT KENNER WOULD HAVE USED,
I BELIEVE, IN ABOUT '79
1167
00:47:07,625 --> 00:47:10,328
TO KIND OF BRAND
A WHOLE AISLE.
1168
00:47:10,361 --> 00:47:13,098
I MEAN, THAT WAS KIND OF
THEIR SIGNATURE GONDOLA DISPLAY.
1169
00:47:13,131 --> 00:47:15,033
THESE HERE
ARE SHELF TALKERS.
1170
00:47:15,066 --> 00:47:17,468
AND THIS WOULD HAVE JUST
GONE OVER A SHELF
1171
00:47:17,502 --> 00:47:19,070
TO MASK
THE FRONT OF THE SHELF
1172
00:47:19,104 --> 00:47:21,439
AND KIND OF GIVE IT A DIFFERENT
"STAR WARS" FLAVOR.
1173
00:47:25,076 --> 00:47:28,213
OKAY, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS
1174
00:47:28,246 --> 00:47:31,616
A POPAI OUTSTANDING
MERCHANDISING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
1175
00:47:31,649 --> 00:47:34,019
THAT KENNER RECEIVED
IN 1978
1176
00:47:34,052 --> 00:47:37,155
FOR THEIR "STAR WARS"
FLOOR DISPLAY.
1177
00:47:37,188 --> 00:47:42,427
A TEMPORARY, FREE-STANDING
DISPLAY OF ACTION FIGURES
1178
00:47:42,460 --> 00:47:45,030
WITH A BELL SIGN
ON TOP THAT SAID
1179
00:47:45,063 --> 00:47:46,597
"'STAR WARS'
ACTION FIGURES,"
1180
00:47:46,631 --> 00:47:48,900
AND AND HAD PICTURES
OF ALL 12.
1181
00:47:48,934 --> 00:47:50,335
AND THEY KIND OF
DID THAT THROUGHOUT THEIR LINE.
1182
00:47:50,368 --> 00:47:52,270
THEY HAD ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT
MERCHANDISING KITS
1183
00:47:52,303 --> 00:47:55,006
THAT YOU COULD BUY THAT WERE
SPECIFIC TO "STAR WARS,"
1184
00:47:55,040 --> 00:47:57,275
AND MADE "STAR WARS"
STAND OUT IN THE TOY AISLE.
1185
00:48:02,013 --> 00:48:04,916
ROY FRANKENFIELD,
TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
1186
00:48:04,950 --> 00:48:07,318
WAS THE FIRST
"STAR WARS" PHOTOGRAPHER
1187
00:48:07,352 --> 00:48:11,189
BECAUSE HE'D BEEN DOING IT
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
1188
00:48:11,222 --> 00:48:16,094
I TOOK OVER FOR HIM
IN 1981, BASICALLY DOING...
1189
00:48:16,127 --> 00:48:18,696
ALMOST ALL OF THE SHOOTING
OF "STAR WARS,"
1190
00:48:18,729 --> 00:48:20,531
IF NOT ALL OF IT,
1191
00:48:20,565 --> 00:48:24,635
AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.
1192
00:48:24,669 --> 00:48:27,205
HOW MANY PEOPLE
GET PAID TO GO TO WORK
1193
00:48:27,238 --> 00:48:30,708
AND PLAY WITH TOYS
AND HAVE FUN?
1194
00:48:30,741 --> 00:48:32,610
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
1195
00:48:32,643 --> 00:48:35,213
I LIKE HAVING
THE BOXES WITH THE TOYS
1196
00:48:35,246 --> 00:48:38,016
BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT PEOPLE
SAW ON THE SHELF.
1197
00:48:38,049 --> 00:48:40,551
I REALLY LOVE THE WAY THEY DID
THE RACETRACK AROUND THE SIDE
1198
00:48:40,585 --> 00:48:42,120
AND THE LOGO.
1199
00:48:42,153 --> 00:48:44,422
AND THEN THEY ALWAYS
USED BIG, PRIMARY COLORS,
1200
00:48:44,455 --> 00:48:46,324
AND THEY SHOW THE PICTURE
OF THE ACTUAL TOY.
1201
00:48:46,357 --> 00:48:50,095
(SHARP)
IT HAD, YOU KNOW, STARTED OFF
AS A POINT OF SALE ITEM.
1202
00:48:50,128 --> 00:48:51,696
IT WASN'T INTENDED
TO BE ART.
1203
00:48:51,729 --> 00:48:55,100
I THINK IT HAS BECOME ART,
THE DESIGN OF THE BOX,
1204
00:48:55,133 --> 00:48:57,102
HOW EACH BOX
SORT OF HAS ITS OWN COLOR,
1205
00:48:57,135 --> 00:48:58,703
HOW THE TOYS ARE SORT OF
ARRANGED ON THE BOX
1206
00:48:58,736 --> 00:49:01,306
I THINK HAS BECOME,
IN AND OF ITSELF,
1207
00:49:01,339 --> 00:49:03,308
A PIECE OF POP ART.
1208
00:49:03,341 --> 00:49:05,643
EARLY STUFF
IS ATTRACTIVE TO ME
1209
00:49:05,676 --> 00:49:07,112
BECAUSE IT MORE OF
A RETRO LOOK.
1210
00:49:07,145 --> 00:49:09,080
TO ME, THESE REALLY
LOOK '70S, YOU KNOW?
1211
00:49:09,114 --> 00:49:10,415
YOU HAVE THIS KID
IN THE BELL-BOTTOMS
1212
00:49:10,448 --> 00:49:13,251
AND THE PINK SHIRT HERE--
I DON'T EVEN KNOW
1213
00:49:13,284 --> 00:49:14,986
IF THAT'S A GIRL
OR A BOY, BUT WHOEVER IT IS,
1214
00:49:15,020 --> 00:49:17,322
THE EARLY "STAR WARS" STUFF
HAS A REAL FLAVOR TO IT
1215
00:49:17,355 --> 00:49:20,058
THAT THE LATER STUFF
DOESN'T, PACKAGING-WISE.
1216
00:49:20,091 --> 00:49:22,327
I REALLY LIKE THE EARLY--
EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY.
1217
00:49:22,360 --> 00:49:24,129
IT DOES HAVE
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FEEL.
1218
00:49:24,162 --> 00:49:27,498
AND AT THAT TIME,
EVERYTHING WAS HOT LIGHT,
1219
00:49:27,532 --> 00:49:29,034
MINIMAL DIFFUSION,
IF AT ALL.
1220
00:49:29,067 --> 00:49:31,502
AND I'D LOOK AT IT AND GO,
"WHOA!
1221
00:49:31,536 --> 00:49:33,571
"COULDN'T WE HAVE SOFTENED
THIS DOWN A LITTLE BIT?
1222
00:49:33,604 --> 00:49:35,773
COULDN'T YOU HAVE REFLECTED
THIS THIS WAY?" YOU KNOW.
1223
00:49:35,806 --> 00:49:38,409
THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE
A DIFFERENCE LATER ON
1224
00:49:38,443 --> 00:49:40,211
WHEN I CAME IN.
1225
00:49:40,245 --> 00:49:43,448
THIS...
1226
00:49:43,481 --> 00:49:46,284
IS AN 8X10 CAMERA.
1227
00:49:46,317 --> 00:49:49,087
IT IS A...
1228
00:49:49,120 --> 00:49:51,456
THEY CALLED IT
A CENTURY CAMERA.
1229
00:49:51,489 --> 00:49:55,360
THAT WAS THE NAME OF IT.
1230
00:49:55,393 --> 00:49:58,263
AND-- HI, GUYS.
1231
00:49:58,296 --> 00:50:02,633
IT'S BEEN A LONG,
LONG TIME.
1232
00:50:02,667 --> 00:50:05,470
I USED THIS ONE
1233
00:50:05,503 --> 00:50:07,238
UH, MANY TIMES
1234
00:50:07,272 --> 00:50:10,508
FOR DOING DIFFERENT--
DIFFERENT "STAR WARS."
1235
00:50:10,541 --> 00:50:12,143
IF ANYBODY KNOWS
GRETA GARBO,
1236
00:50:12,177 --> 00:50:13,644
THIS WAS PROBABLY
AN OLD CAMERA AT THAT TIME.
1237
00:50:13,678 --> 00:50:15,113
(LAUGHS)
1238
00:50:15,146 --> 00:50:17,248
IT'S ALWAYS THE TOY,
YOU KNOW,
1239
00:50:17,282 --> 00:50:20,118
SITTING IN A JUNGLE
WITH FOUR OR FIVE CHARACTERS
1240
00:50:20,151 --> 00:50:22,787
AROUND IT THAT AREN'T
INCLUDED IN THAT TOY,
1241
00:50:22,820 --> 00:50:24,322
BUT IT'S INSTANTLY
CREATING THAT,
1242
00:50:24,355 --> 00:50:26,724
"LOOK, HERE'S A STORY
YOU CAN CREATE
1243
00:50:26,757 --> 00:50:28,426
WHEN-- IF YOU
BUY THIS TOY."
1244
00:50:28,459 --> 00:50:29,660
YOU'RE SELLING TO KIDS
1245
00:50:29,694 --> 00:50:32,797
MORE THAN YOU ARE
TO ADULTS.
1246
00:50:32,830 --> 00:50:35,466
THE IDEA
OF SHOWING A TOY
1247
00:50:35,500 --> 00:50:37,668
IN AN ACTION ENVIRONMENT
1248
00:50:37,702 --> 00:50:41,172
APPEALS--
IT MAKES SENSE.
1249
00:50:46,444 --> 00:50:48,279
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S REALLY DIFFERENT
1250
00:50:48,313 --> 00:50:51,149
ABOUT "STAR WARS"
IS HOW INTERNATIONAL
1251
00:50:51,182 --> 00:50:53,418
THE PHENOMENON WAS
FROM THE BEGINNING.
1252
00:50:53,451 --> 00:50:55,753
I THINK WHAT THE MERCHANDISING
OF "STAR WARS"
1253
00:50:55,786 --> 00:50:57,355
ALL OVER
THE WORLD SHOWS US
1254
00:50:57,388 --> 00:51:01,292
IS THAT IT WAS REALLY
AN INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENA,
1255
00:51:01,326 --> 00:51:05,130
IT CAUGHT ON, AND, YOU KNOW,
TO THIS DAY
1256
00:51:05,163 --> 00:51:08,233
THERE ARE COLLECTORS
WHO HAVE, EVEN RECENTLY,
1257
00:51:08,266 --> 00:51:10,301
STARTED UP, AND TRY
TO COLLECT STUFF
1258
00:51:10,335 --> 00:51:12,837
THAT WAS MADE
FOR THEIR OWN COUNTRIES.
1259
00:51:12,870 --> 00:51:14,305
THERE WERE BARBIES
IN OTHER COUNTRIES
1260
00:51:14,339 --> 00:51:16,141
THERE WERE OTHER TOYS
IN OTHER COUNTRIES,
1261
00:51:16,174 --> 00:51:20,345
BUT NOTHING CAPTURED EVERYBODY'S
ATTENTIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY
1262
00:51:20,378 --> 00:51:21,879
THE WAY
"STAR WARS" TOYS DID.
1263
00:51:21,912 --> 00:51:24,249
THE MOST COMMON
FOREIGN VARIANCE
1264
00:51:24,282 --> 00:51:27,385
THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE
ARE MOST LIKELY THE TRI-LOGOS.
1265
00:51:27,418 --> 00:51:30,188
NOW, THE TRI-LOGO CARDS
WERE ACTUALLY PRODUCED
1266
00:51:30,221 --> 00:51:32,290
BY PALITOY,
WHICH IS A UK PROVIDER.
1267
00:51:32,323 --> 00:51:33,791
YOU HAD THE LOGO
IN ENGLISH,
1268
00:51:33,824 --> 00:51:36,494
YOU HAD THE FRENCH,
AND THEN SPANISH.
1269
00:51:38,529 --> 00:51:41,166
ALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL
PRODUCTS, THEY WERE EITHER
1270
00:51:41,199 --> 00:51:44,335
KENNER DIRECT SUBSIDIARIES
OR AFFILIATES OF KENNER
1271
00:51:44,369 --> 00:51:47,572
OR THEY PAID A FEE,
BECAUSE THE-- THE--
1272
00:51:47,605 --> 00:51:50,908
WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF THE LILI LEDY TOYS IN MEXICO,
1273
00:51:50,941 --> 00:51:54,379
WHICH WERE MADE IN MEXICO,
ALL OF THE TOYS
1274
00:51:54,412 --> 00:51:58,849
WERE MADE IN
THE KENNER FACTORIES IN ASIA,
1275
00:51:58,883 --> 00:52:01,752
AND THEN THEY WERE PACKAGED
IN A CERTAIN WAY
1276
00:52:01,786 --> 00:52:03,888
AND THEN SHIPPED
TO THE COUNTRIES.
1277
00:52:03,921 --> 00:52:05,890
THIS IS ACTUALLY
AN OBI-WAN KENOBI
1278
00:52:05,923 --> 00:52:08,159
MADE BY FRENCH
COMPANY MECCANO.
1279
00:52:08,193 --> 00:52:10,795
MECCANO DECIDED
TO COMPLETELY ABANDON
1280
00:52:10,828 --> 00:52:13,231
THE NORMAL SIZING
OF A CARD
1281
00:52:13,264 --> 00:52:16,301
BY USING A MORE
PERFECTLY SQUARED CARD.
1282
00:52:16,334 --> 00:52:20,438
FOR "EMPIRE STRIKES BACK,"
A JAPANESE COMPANY CALLED POPY
1283
00:52:20,471 --> 00:52:24,775
PICKED JUST 15 OF THE FIGURES,
USED THEM IN KENNER BAGGIES,
1284
00:52:24,809 --> 00:52:26,811
AND THEN PUT THEM
IN THESE COOL BOXES
1285
00:52:26,844 --> 00:52:29,180
AS PART OF
THE "WORLD HEROES" LINE.
1286
00:52:29,214 --> 00:52:30,915
SO IT MIXED "STAR WARS"
WITH OTHERS.
1287
00:52:30,948 --> 00:52:33,318
AND YOU CAN SEE
IT'S JUST THE, YOU KNOW,
1288
00:52:33,351 --> 00:52:35,886
KENNER BAGGIE
OF THE BOBA FETT, AND--
1289
00:52:35,920 --> 00:52:37,822
OH, WAIT A SECOND, THIS IS
A RARE, MISSILE--
1290
00:52:37,855 --> 00:52:39,390
OH, NO,
NO, SORRY.
1291
00:52:39,424 --> 00:52:44,329
THIS RIGHT HERE IS AN ORIGINAL
HAND-DRAWN PACKAGE
1292
00:52:44,362 --> 00:52:47,398
THAT ITALY,
UNDER THE BRAND HARBOR
1293
00:52:47,432 --> 00:52:51,936
SENT TO KENNER IN ORDER TO GET
LUCASFILM APPROVAL
1294
00:52:51,969 --> 00:52:53,538
OF THE PACKAGE DESIGN.
1295
00:52:53,571 --> 00:52:56,374
THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT LUCASFILM
1296
00:52:56,407 --> 00:52:59,210
WAS OKAY
WITH THE OVERALL DESIGN
1297
00:52:59,244 --> 00:53:00,445
AND LAYOUT OF THE PACKAGE.
1298
00:53:00,478 --> 00:53:02,980
SO THIS IS ALL HAND-DRAWN
AND EVERYTHING.
1299
00:53:03,013 --> 00:53:04,849
AS YOU START TO GO
AROUND THE WORLD AND SEE
1300
00:53:04,882 --> 00:53:06,417
SOME OF THESE OTHER PICKUPS,
1301
00:53:06,451 --> 00:53:08,753
THERE ARE SOME MINOR
VARIATIONS ON SOME FIGURES,
1302
00:53:08,786 --> 00:53:11,956
AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY SOME HUGE
VARIATIONS ON OTHERS.
1303
00:53:11,989 --> 00:53:14,359
THIS IS THE MEXICAN
LILI LEDY LINE.
1304
00:53:14,392 --> 00:53:16,761
THE MEXICAN LEDY LINE HAD
A COUPLE OF VARIATIONS.
1305
00:53:16,794 --> 00:53:20,731
THE JAWA ACTUALLY HAS,
INSTEAD OF A ONE-PIECE CLOAK,
1306
00:53:20,765 --> 00:53:23,834
THE JAWA ACTUALLY HAS A HOOD
THAT YOU PULL OFF,
1307
00:53:23,868 --> 00:53:25,903
REVEALING
THE FIGURE'S HEAD SCULPT.
1308
00:53:25,936 --> 00:53:27,972
THIS IS A MEXICAN
LARGE-SIZE R2D2,
1309
00:53:28,005 --> 00:53:30,741
WHICH IS INTERESTING
BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY
1310
00:53:30,775 --> 00:53:32,843
JUST KENNER'S
SMALL R2D2 FIGURE
1311
00:53:32,877 --> 00:53:35,713
BLOWN UP TO LARGER SIZE.
1312
00:53:35,746 --> 00:53:37,848
AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS THE--
THE KENNER VERSION
1313
00:53:37,882 --> 00:53:39,584
IS QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT.
1314
00:53:42,920 --> 00:53:45,323
JAPAN EVEN WENT SO FAR
AS TO, YOU KNOW,
1315
00:53:45,356 --> 00:53:47,258
ARTICULATE THE FIGURES
AND BUILD THEM UP
1316
00:53:47,292 --> 00:53:48,626
TO A LARGER SIZE,
1317
00:53:48,659 --> 00:53:50,728
AND USE VINYL AND,
IN SOME CASES, DIE CAST,
1318
00:53:50,761 --> 00:53:53,364
WHICH WERE MORE CULTURALLY
IN THE MAINSTREAM
1319
00:53:53,398 --> 00:53:55,333
OVER THERE AT THE TIME.
1320
00:53:55,366 --> 00:53:56,634
SO THERE WERE SOME PRODUCTS
THAT WERE MADE
1321
00:53:56,667 --> 00:53:58,736
THAT PROBABLY
WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE MADE.
1322
00:53:58,769 --> 00:54:00,505
GEORGE DID NOT WANT
THE "STAR WARS" LABEL
1323
00:54:00,538 --> 00:54:04,342
JUST SLAPPED ON THINGS,
BUT UP IN CANADA, UM,
1324
00:54:04,375 --> 00:54:07,278
THEY PUT OUT THESE
UTILITY BELTS, YOU KNOW.
1325
00:54:07,312 --> 00:54:08,746
IT WAS LIKE BATMAN.
1326
00:54:08,779 --> 00:54:13,651
AND THEY HAD THE "STAR WARS"
LABEL ON A RUBBER TIP DART
1327
00:54:13,684 --> 00:54:18,923
AND A PLASTIC BELT
AND A CHEESY LIGHTSABER THING.
1328
00:54:18,956 --> 00:54:24,295
AND AS SOON AS LUCASFILM SAW
THE FIRST PRODUCTION SAMPLES,
1329
00:54:24,329 --> 00:54:25,663
THEY SAID, "UH-UH,"
1330
00:54:25,696 --> 00:54:27,498
AND THEY MADE THEM
TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET.
1331
00:54:27,532 --> 00:54:32,269
SO, OF COURSE, THESE ARE AMONG
THE RAREST CANADIAN TOYS.
1332
00:54:34,004 --> 00:54:36,307
UNLIKE MOVIES TODAY,
WHICH OPEN DAY AND DATE
1333
00:54:36,341 --> 00:54:37,775
ALL AROUND THE WORLD,
1334
00:54:37,808 --> 00:54:40,845
"STAR WARS" DIDN'T OPEN
IN ANY OTHER COUNTRIES,
1335
00:54:40,878 --> 00:54:43,448
APART FROM THE US AND CANADA,
1336
00:54:43,481 --> 00:54:46,451
UNTIL AT A MINIMUM
SIX MONTHS LATER,
1337
00:54:46,484 --> 00:54:49,387
AND, IN THE CASE OF JAPAN,
A YEAR LATER.
1338
00:54:49,420 --> 00:54:51,422
AND SO THERE WAS TIME
FOR PEOPLE TO GEAR UP
1339
00:54:51,456 --> 00:54:54,759
FOR THE TOYS AND ALL
OF THE RELATED PHENOMENON.
1340
00:54:54,792 --> 00:54:57,662
SO, UNLIKE THE US,
THERE WAS STUFF AVAILABLE.
1341
00:54:57,695 --> 00:55:01,332
MOST OF WHICH PEOPLE DIDN'T
FIND OUT ABOUT UNTIL,
1342
00:55:01,366 --> 00:55:05,703
YOU KNOW, 15 OR 20 YEARS
AFTER THEY WERE PRODUCED.
1343
00:55:11,909 --> 00:55:13,544
** ("STAR WARS" THEME PLAYING)
1344
00:55:13,578 --> 00:55:14,812
(ANNOUNCER)
"STAR WARS."
1345
00:55:14,845 --> 00:55:16,714
THE IMPACT IS STAGGERING.
1346
00:55:16,747 --> 00:55:18,816
NEVER IN THE HISTORY
OF MOTION PICTURES
1347
00:55:18,849 --> 00:55:20,518
HAS ONE FILM BEEN SO POPULAR,
1348
00:55:20,551 --> 00:55:23,421
BUT THE CRAZE DID NOT
STOP AT THE BOX OFFICE.
1349
00:55:23,454 --> 00:55:27,024
IN 1977, KENNER LAUNCHED
THE "STAR WARS" COLLECTION,
1350
00:55:27,057 --> 00:55:29,527
WITH A MASSIVE
ADVERTISING BLITZ.
1351
00:55:29,560 --> 00:55:31,596
AND, THANKS TO YOUR EFFORTS
AND FAITH IN THE FORCE,
1352
00:55:31,629 --> 00:55:34,699
THE RESPONSE HAS SHOT SALES
RIGHT OFF THE GROUND.
1353
00:55:34,732 --> 00:55:36,567
I THINK THEY WERE TOTALLY
UNPREPARED FOR...
1354
00:55:36,601 --> 00:55:38,969
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE SUCCESS,
1355
00:55:39,003 --> 00:55:41,839
AND HOW SUDDEN IT HIT THEM,
AND HOW RAPIDLY THEY HAD TO
1356
00:55:41,872 --> 00:55:44,509
CONVERT FROM A SORT OF
SMALL-TIME TOY COMPANY
1357
00:55:44,542 --> 00:55:46,444
TO ONE OF THE MAJOR PLAYERS.
1358
00:55:46,477 --> 00:55:48,779
FOR "EMPIRE," THEY WERE
A LITTLE MORE PREPARED.
1359
00:55:48,813 --> 00:55:52,049
THEY HAD THE FIGURES READY
ACTUALLY EVEN BEFORE
1360
00:55:52,082 --> 00:55:53,518
THE FILM WAS OUT.
1361
00:55:53,551 --> 00:55:55,119
BUT THEY WERE STILL
FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE.
1362
00:55:55,152 --> 00:55:57,555
NO ONE HAD BET
ON A SEQUEL BEFORE.
1363
00:55:57,588 --> 00:55:59,123
PEOPLE WERE LIKE,
"WELL, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS."
1364
00:55:59,156 --> 00:56:00,758
(ANNOUNCER)
THE FORCE IS BACK.
1365
00:56:00,791 --> 00:56:03,594
THE REBELS WON'T TIRE TILL
THEY SEE THE LAST OF THE EMPIRE.
1366
00:56:03,628 --> 00:56:05,596
AND KENNER'S THERE
WITH STAR WARS
1367
00:56:05,630 --> 00:56:07,598
"RETURN OF THE JEDI"
COLLECTION.
1368
00:56:07,632 --> 00:56:09,667
(LOPEZ)
RETURN OF THE JEDI,
THEY WERE READY.
1369
00:56:09,700 --> 00:56:11,669
THEY HAD A MASSIVE LINEUP
OF ACTION FIGURES.
1370
00:56:11,702 --> 00:56:14,405
LOTS OF VEHICLES,
LOTS OF TOYS PLANNED.
1371
00:56:14,439 --> 00:56:16,140
EVEN IF IT WAS
A HORRIBLE FILM,
1372
00:56:16,173 --> 00:56:17,442
THEY KNEW IT WAS GONNA
DO VERY WELL.
1373
00:56:17,475 --> 00:56:18,609
BUT, REALLY, IT TOOK THEM--
1374
00:56:18,643 --> 00:56:20,745
IT TOOK THEM EVEN
TILL ABOUT '83
1375
00:56:20,778 --> 00:56:22,547
TO REALLY GET--
BUILD UP THE MOMENTUM,
1376
00:56:22,580 --> 00:56:23,881
AND NO ONE KNEW
WHAT THEY WERE DOING YET.
1377
00:56:23,914 --> 00:56:25,750
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
THIS HAD BEEN DONE.
1378
00:56:25,783 --> 00:56:28,152
"STAR WARS" UNFORTUNATELY
SET OFF
1379
00:56:28,185 --> 00:56:30,721
AN UNFORTUNATELY
CHAIN OF DOMINOES,
1380
00:56:30,755 --> 00:56:32,890
WHERE KENNER WENT FROM THIS
LITTLE, CHARMING TOY COMPANY
1381
00:56:32,923 --> 00:56:36,427
TO LIKE THIS BIG KIND OF
ENTERTAINMENT-RELATED COMPANY
1382
00:56:36,461 --> 00:56:39,730
THAT HAD A CORPORATE FACE TO IT
AND WAS KIND OF LESS...
1383
00:56:39,764 --> 00:56:42,500
FUN, I GUESS.
IT BECAME LESS FUN.
1384
00:56:42,533 --> 00:56:46,437
"STAR WARS" HAD
AN ENORMOUS IMPACT
1385
00:56:46,471 --> 00:56:48,072
ON NOT JUST THE BOTTOM LINE,
1386
00:56:48,105 --> 00:56:50,207
BUT THE CULTURE, PER SE.
1387
00:56:50,240 --> 00:56:51,976
EIGHT TO TEN HOURS A DAY.
1388
00:56:52,009 --> 00:56:54,779
WE WERE ASKED TO COME IN ON
SATURDAYS FOR A WHILE
1389
00:56:54,812 --> 00:56:57,648
TO WORK ON ESPECIALLY
"STAR WARS."
1390
00:56:57,682 --> 00:57:02,687
I REALLY LOST THE FIRST TWO
YEARS OF MY KIDS' GROWING UP,
1391
00:57:02,720 --> 00:57:06,457
BECAUSE I LITERALLY SPENT
MOST OF MY TIME
1392
00:57:06,491 --> 00:57:10,127
IN MY OFFICE
OR WITH MY STAFF.
1393
00:57:10,160 --> 00:57:12,597
I HAD A COT IN MY OFFICE.
I SLEPT THERE.
1394
00:57:12,630 --> 00:57:14,999
PEOPLE PUT HOLES IN THE WALL.
1395
00:57:15,032 --> 00:57:16,601
BROKE OUT IN PSORIASIS.
1396
00:57:16,634 --> 00:57:18,068
TORE THEIR PHONES
OUT OF THE WALL
1397
00:57:18,102 --> 00:57:20,204
AND THREW THEM
ACROSS THE ROOM.
1398
00:57:20,237 --> 00:57:23,073
I KNOW THE MANAGERS WERE
UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE,
1399
00:57:23,107 --> 00:57:27,077
BUT THEY SEEMED TO TRY TO KEEP
SOME OF THAT PRESSURE OFF OF US
1400
00:57:27,111 --> 00:57:29,079
BECAUSE, AS LONG AS THEY
SAW THAT WE WERE
1401
00:57:29,113 --> 00:57:31,582
DOING THE CREATIVE PROCESS
1402
00:57:31,616 --> 00:57:34,251
AND GETTING THE ITEMS DONE
AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD,
1403
00:57:34,284 --> 00:57:36,253
YOU KNOW, THEY JUST KIND OF
GAVE US, UH,
1404
00:57:36,286 --> 00:57:39,223
YEAH, SAY, "YEAH, GO WORK
ON THESE THREE FIGHTERS.
1405
00:57:39,256 --> 00:57:41,225
GET 'EM DONE AS QUICK
AS YOU CAN."
1406
00:57:41,258 --> 00:57:43,628
"THAT TOY'S YOUR BABY.
YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT."
1407
00:57:43,661 --> 00:57:46,497
BUT, TO ME, I REALLY ENJOYED
THE PRESSURE OF IT,
1408
00:57:46,531 --> 00:57:48,933
JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS THE ADRENALINE.
1409
00:57:48,966 --> 00:57:50,100
"OH, GET IT DONE," YOU KNOW.
1410
00:57:50,134 --> 00:57:51,602
AND YOU KNOW
WHAT THE SCHEDULE WAS,
1411
00:57:51,636 --> 00:57:54,238
AND, YEAH, OF COURSE
EVERYTHING'S IN A HURRY.
1412
00:57:54,271 --> 00:57:55,706
IF IT WASN'T IN A HURRY,
1413
00:57:55,740 --> 00:57:56,874
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE YOU THERE
TO DO IT, SO...
1414
00:57:58,609 --> 00:58:02,112
TRYING TO KEEP "STAR WARS" ALIVE
PAST 1985 WAS JUST...
1415
00:58:02,146 --> 00:58:03,280
NOT HAPPENING.
1416
00:58:03,313 --> 00:58:05,616
LUCASFILM WAS SMART ENOUGH
TO SAY,
1417
00:58:05,650 --> 00:58:08,519
"YOU KNOW, GUYS,
WE'VE HAD A GREAT RUN.
1418
00:58:08,553 --> 00:58:10,855
"BUT WE THINK WE WANT
TO GIVE IT A BREATHER.
1419
00:58:10,888 --> 00:58:13,924
WE-- WE-- WE THINK THERE'S
NOT A MARKET OUT THERE."
1420
00:58:13,958 --> 00:58:15,793
AFTER "RETURN OF THE JEDI,"
1421
00:58:15,826 --> 00:58:18,729
WHEN THERE WAS NO MORE
ANTICIPATION
1422
00:58:18,763 --> 00:58:20,264
FOR ANOTHER
"STAR WARS" MOVIE,
1423
00:58:20,297 --> 00:58:23,267
IT'S NOT THAT I DRIFTED AWAY
FROM "STAR WARS."
1424
00:58:23,300 --> 00:58:25,269
I NEVER STOPPED BEING A FAN.
1425
00:58:25,302 --> 00:58:26,971
BUT THERE JUST WASN'T
THAT ONGOING--
1426
00:58:27,004 --> 00:58:29,740
THERE WASN'T ONGOING THINGS
KIND OF FUELING THAT FANDOM.
1427
00:58:29,774 --> 00:58:31,542
PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE
THREE MOVIES AND OUT.
1428
00:58:31,576 --> 00:58:33,744
YOU JUST HAD A REAL FEEL THAT
THAT WAS THERE.
1429
00:58:33,778 --> 00:58:35,880
THERE WAS GONNA BE A BREAK.
THERE WAS A CONCLUSION TO IT.
1430
00:58:35,913 --> 00:58:37,882
KENNER REALLY HAD
A PROJECT AHEAD OF IT,
1431
00:58:37,915 --> 00:58:39,884
BECAUSE LUCASFILM
HAD INDICATED
1432
00:58:39,917 --> 00:58:42,620
THEY WERE NOT MAKING ANY MORE
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,
1433
00:58:42,653 --> 00:58:46,891
AND HOW DO YOU MARKET AND SELL
A LINE OF "STAR WARS" STUFF
1434
00:58:46,924 --> 00:58:48,893
WITHOUT "STAR WARS"
BEING IN THEATERS?
1435
00:58:48,926 --> 00:58:52,329
UM, THE MOVIE LINE MOVED
FROM "RETURN OF THE JEDI"
1436
00:58:52,362 --> 00:58:54,665
TO A LINE CALLED
POWER OF THE FORCE.
1437
00:58:54,699 --> 00:58:57,301
POWER OF THE FORCE
WAS THEIR PLAN FOR 1985
1438
00:58:57,334 --> 00:59:00,905
TO, UH, LOOK BEYOND
"RETURN OF THE JEDI,"
1439
00:59:00,938 --> 00:59:03,240
KNOWING THERE WERE GONNA BE
NO NEW "STAR WARS" FILMS.
1440
00:59:03,273 --> 00:59:04,909
THEY HAD WONDERFUL CHARACTERS
THEY HAD CHOSEN,
1441
00:59:04,942 --> 00:59:07,645
LIKE HAN CARBONITE
OR LUKE IN STORMTROOPER,
1442
00:59:07,678 --> 00:59:08,879
THE TATOOINE SKIFF.
1443
00:59:08,913 --> 00:59:10,615
THEY BUNDLED THESE THINGS
WITH COINS.
1444
00:59:10,648 --> 00:59:12,049
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS
IN POWER OF THE FORCE LINE
1445
00:59:12,082 --> 00:59:13,718
THAT MANY COLLECTORS VIEW
AS KIND OF THE PINNACLE
1446
00:59:13,751 --> 00:59:15,085
OF "STAR WARS" COLLECTING.
1447
00:59:15,119 --> 00:59:16,654
IRONICALLY, IT WAS ALSO
THE PERIOD
1448
00:59:16,687 --> 00:59:18,923
OF LEAST INTEREST
IN "STAR WARS" TOYS.
1449
00:59:18,956 --> 00:59:21,325
LIKE IT LITERALLY WAS
THE BIGGEST FAILURE EVER
1450
00:59:21,358 --> 00:59:23,594
IN "STAR WARS"
ACTION FIGURE TOYS.
1451
00:59:23,628 --> 00:59:26,363
THE WHOLE GENERATION THAT
WAS BROUGHT UP ON THOSE TOYS
1452
00:59:26,396 --> 00:59:29,333
IS STARTING TO MOVE INTO
JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL,
1453
00:59:29,366 --> 00:59:30,668
AND GETTING OUT OF TOYS.
1454
00:59:30,701 --> 00:59:32,269
SO I JUST DON'T
THINK THERE WAS--
1455
00:59:32,302 --> 00:59:34,805
THERE WAS ANY--
ANYTHING TO BRING
1456
00:59:34,839 --> 00:59:36,741
THE NEXT GENERATION
OF KIDS INTO IT.
1457
00:59:36,774 --> 00:59:38,809
BY ABOUT 13, IT WAS
A LITTLE RIDICULOUS
1458
00:59:38,843 --> 00:59:42,146
FOR, YOU KNOW, ME
TO GO INTO A TOY STORE
1459
00:59:42,179 --> 00:59:44,081
AND BUY FIGURES.
1460
00:59:44,114 --> 00:59:45,883
OF COURSE, 20 YEARS LATER,
1461
00:59:45,916 --> 00:59:48,118
(LAUGHING) IT DIDN'T MATTER
WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT ANYWAY.
1462
00:59:48,152 --> 00:59:51,388
BY 1985, KENNER HAD KILLED
THE POWER OF THE FORCE LINE.
1463
00:59:51,421 --> 00:59:53,624
THEY STILL HAD THE "DROIDS
AND EWOKS" CARTOON SERIES.
1464
00:59:53,658 --> 00:59:55,192
THOSE WERE TV SHOWS
THAT WERE RUNNING
1465
00:59:55,225 --> 00:59:57,862
IN A COUPLE OF COUNTRIES,
THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
1466
00:59:57,895 --> 00:59:59,229
EVENTUALLY, IT DID
GET ALL OVER THE WORLD.
1467
00:59:59,263 --> 01:00:00,898
I THINK BY AROUND EARLY '86,
1468
01:00:00,931 --> 01:00:04,368
THEY EVEN KILLED OFF
THE "DROIDS AND EWOKS" LINES.
1469
01:00:04,401 --> 01:00:06,036
YEAH, I WAS AWARE,
AFTER POWER OF THE FORCE
1470
01:00:06,070 --> 01:00:09,406
SORT OF FIZZLED OUT,
I WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS
1471
01:00:09,439 --> 01:00:11,709
NO "STAR WARS" PRODUCT
BEING MADE.
1472
01:00:11,742 --> 01:00:13,711
I MEAN, WALK INTO A TOY STORE
IN 1986,
1473
01:00:13,744 --> 01:00:15,980
AND THERE'S NO "STAR WARS"
STUFF ON THE SHELF.
1474
01:00:16,013 --> 01:00:20,417
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
SELL THE PUBLIC ANYTHING
1475
01:00:20,450 --> 01:00:22,687
THAT IT DOESN'T WANT TO BUY.
1476
01:00:23,954 --> 01:00:26,256
IN 1991, HASBRO
WOULD BUY KENNER
1477
01:00:26,290 --> 01:00:27,858
AND MOVE OPERATIONS
TO ELSINORE PLACE,
1478
01:00:27,892 --> 01:00:29,426
IN THIS BUILDING BEHIND ME.
1479
01:00:29,459 --> 01:00:31,996
IT WAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES,
IT WAS BOYS' TOYS,
1480
01:00:32,029 --> 01:00:34,999
AS WELL AS SOME MANUFACTURING
AND THINGS IN THE BACK.
1481
01:00:35,032 --> 01:00:36,333
THEY WOULD CLOSE THEIR
OPERATIONS HERE
1482
01:00:36,366 --> 01:00:38,368
IN THE YEAR 2000.
1483
01:00:38,402 --> 01:00:39,937
KENNER BY THE '90S
1484
01:00:39,970 --> 01:00:41,872
IS THE PREEMINENT
ACTION FIGURE COMPANY
1485
01:00:41,906 --> 01:00:43,808
DOING A LOT OF STUFF
FOR MOVIES,
1486
01:00:43,841 --> 01:00:45,743
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE
HASBRO SAW THE VALUE
1487
01:00:45,776 --> 01:00:47,411
IN ACQUIRING KENNER,
BECAUSE THEY WOULD
1488
01:00:47,444 --> 01:00:49,013
BOLSTER THEIR GI JOE LINE
1489
01:00:49,046 --> 01:00:52,416
AND KIND OF TAKE OVER THEIR
ACTION FIGURE OPERATION.
1490
01:00:52,449 --> 01:00:55,419
HASBRO LOOKED AT IT,
AND I THINK...
1491
01:00:55,452 --> 01:00:57,454
HONESTLY SAW AN AMAZING
AMOUNT OF TALENT
1492
01:00:57,487 --> 01:00:58,956
HERE IN CINCINNATI.
1493
01:00:58,989 --> 01:01:01,391
AND IF YOU WANTED TO GET
TO THAT NEXT LEVEL,
1494
01:01:01,425 --> 01:01:03,794
COME TO CINCINNATI
AND GET SOME PEOPLE.
1495
01:01:09,834 --> 01:01:16,741
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY
WASN'T UNTIL... 1994
1496
01:01:16,774 --> 01:01:20,044
WHEN THE FIRST
REALLY...
1497
01:01:20,077 --> 01:01:23,781
MAJOR LINE OF "STAR WARS"
TOYS CAME BACK.
1498
01:01:23,814 --> 01:01:27,451
AND THEY WERE THOSE
EXECRABLE BEND-EMS.
1499
01:01:27,484 --> 01:01:29,453
(GAULE)
THE BEND-EMS WERE
A RUNAWAY SUCCESS,
1500
01:01:29,486 --> 01:01:30,921
AND THOSE WERE TERRIBLE
ACTION FIGURES.
1501
01:01:30,955 --> 01:01:32,723
SO YOU COULD IMAGINE
PEOPLE THINKING LIKE,
1502
01:01:32,757 --> 01:01:34,792
"MAN, IF WE MADE ACTUALLY
GOOD ACTION FIGURES,
1503
01:01:34,825 --> 01:01:36,827
THIS THING
COULD DO REALLY WELL."
1504
01:01:36,861 --> 01:01:38,829
BY THEN, UH, VINTAGE
"STAR WARS" COLLECTING
1505
01:01:38,863 --> 01:01:40,330
HAD COME IN FULL FORCE.
1506
01:01:40,364 --> 01:01:43,934
PEOPLE WERE DIGGING UP THE OLD
ACTION FIGURES AT TOY SHOWS.
1507
01:01:43,968 --> 01:01:45,302
KENNER WAS OBVIOUSLY
AWARE OF THIS,
1508
01:01:45,335 --> 01:01:46,737
THAT THERE'S THIS
HUGE OPPORTUNITY.
1509
01:01:46,771 --> 01:01:48,372
"PEOPLE ARE PAYING A LOT
FOR THE OLD ONES.
1510
01:01:48,405 --> 01:01:50,107
WHY DON'T WE MAKE NEW ONES?"
1511
01:01:50,140 --> 01:01:53,443
HASBRO DECIDED TO RELEASE
NEW VERSIONS
1512
01:01:53,477 --> 01:01:55,212
OF THE CLASSIC
"STAR WARS" CHARACTERS.
1513
01:01:55,245 --> 01:01:56,413
THE FIGURES WERE BASED
1514
01:01:56,446 --> 01:01:58,082
OFF PRODUCTION FIGURES
BACK IN THE DAY.
1515
01:01:58,115 --> 01:02:00,050
I REMEMBER IN MY HOMETOWN,
THE TOYS-R-US HAS THEM
1516
01:02:00,084 --> 01:02:02,252
AND SOLD OUT OF THEM
WITHIN LIKE THREE DAYS.
1517
01:02:02,286 --> 01:02:05,089
WITH THE SUCCESS OF-- KIND OF
THAT "PUT YOUR TOE IN THE POOL,"
1518
01:02:05,122 --> 01:02:07,524
UH, THEY DECIDED TO GO
FULL FORCE INTO THE DEEP END
1519
01:02:07,557 --> 01:02:08,859
WITH "STAR WARS."
1520
01:02:08,893 --> 01:02:10,294
THESE THREE SHELVES
1521
01:02:10,327 --> 01:02:12,229
ARE MY POWER OF THE FORCE II
SHELVES.
1522
01:02:12,262 --> 01:02:14,031
AND POWER OF THE FORCE II
WAS THE FIRST LINE
1523
01:02:14,064 --> 01:02:16,233
THAT KENNER,
OWNED BY HASBRO AT THE TIME,
1524
01:02:16,266 --> 01:02:20,037
REINTRODUCED IN '95,
TO BRING THE FIGURES BACK.
1525
01:02:20,070 --> 01:02:22,106
(ANNOUNCER)
THE POWER OF THE FORCE,
FROM KENNER!
1526
01:02:22,139 --> 01:02:24,842
THE BIGGEST, MOST REALISTIC
FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE!
1527
01:02:24,875 --> 01:02:27,011
ONLY THE POWER OF THE FORCE
BRINGS YOU THE BIGGEST
1528
01:02:27,044 --> 01:02:28,512
HEROES AND VILLAINS
STRAIGHT FROM THE MOVIES.
1529
01:02:28,545 --> 01:02:30,781
HASBRO WENT ON
TO MAKE THAT INTO
1530
01:02:30,815 --> 01:02:32,983
ONE OF THE BIG
ACTION FIGURE LINES EVER.
1531
01:02:33,017 --> 01:02:34,785
YOU KNOW,
"STAR WARS" PART TWO.
1532
01:02:34,819 --> 01:02:36,987
WELL, ONCE PEOPLE GOT OVER
THE EXCITEMENT
1533
01:02:37,021 --> 01:02:38,856
THAT NEW "STAR WARS" FIGURES
WERE OUT,
1534
01:02:38,889 --> 01:02:41,992
THEY SOON BEGAN
TO REALLY, UM,
1535
01:02:42,026 --> 01:02:43,560
HAVE KIND OF
A DISDAIN FOR THEM.
1536
01:02:43,593 --> 01:02:47,064
BECAUSE THEY WERE SO
OVERLY MUSCULAR
1537
01:02:47,097 --> 01:02:50,300
AND DID NOT REALLY RESEMBLE
THE CHARACTERS FROM THE FILM.
1538
01:02:50,334 --> 01:02:53,137
A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE TIME
CALLED THIS HAN SOLO
1539
01:02:53,170 --> 01:02:56,340
"HAN SOLOFLEX,"
BECAUSE HE WAS...
1540
01:02:56,373 --> 01:02:59,076
SO OVERLY MUSCULAR.
1541
01:02:59,109 --> 01:03:00,344
THEY WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
1542
01:03:00,377 --> 01:03:02,012
AND PARTICULARLY THE SCULPTORS,
1543
01:03:02,046 --> 01:03:03,547
SOME OF THEM WANTED TO BE--
ARTISTICALLY CREATE
1544
01:03:03,580 --> 01:03:05,015
THESE DIFFERENT LIKENESSES
1545
01:03:05,049 --> 01:03:06,550
THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY
THE SCREEN LIKENESSES.
1546
01:03:06,583 --> 01:03:09,353
THEY WERE TRYING TO CREATE
THIS KIND OF OTHER LOOK.
1547
01:03:09,386 --> 01:03:11,255
WELL, I KNOW
A LOT OF COLLECTORS
1548
01:03:11,288 --> 01:03:12,890
CAN'T STAND THEM.
1549
01:03:12,923 --> 01:03:16,493
I HAVE A SPECIAL, UM,
APPRECIATION FOR THEM.
1550
01:03:16,526 --> 01:03:19,029
UH... I JUST THINK
THEY'RE FUN.
1551
01:03:19,063 --> 01:03:20,564
AND I CONTINUE
TO THINK THEY'RE FUN.
1552
01:03:20,597 --> 01:03:23,133
AND I WILL ALWAYS
DISPLAY THEM.
1553
01:03:26,937 --> 01:03:29,506
(ANNOUNCER)
NOW, FOR ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY,
1554
01:03:29,539 --> 01:03:31,341
THE ADVENTURE
OF A LIFETIME
1555
01:03:31,375 --> 01:03:33,077
RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN.
1556
01:03:33,110 --> 01:03:35,212
THE SPECIAL EDITIONS
CAME OUT IN '97,
1557
01:03:35,245 --> 01:03:37,181
WHICH KIND OF AMPED IT UP
TO AN EXTRA NOTCH.
1558
01:03:37,214 --> 01:03:40,184
AND THAT'S WHEN I THINK
IT REALLY HIT THE MAINSTREAM,
1559
01:03:40,217 --> 01:03:42,052
THAT "STAR WARS" WAS...
1560
01:03:42,086 --> 01:03:45,455
UM, STILL A CULTURAL FORCE
OR POP CULTURAL FORCE.
1561
01:03:45,489 --> 01:03:48,558
AS MUCH AS THE OLDER GENERATION
1562
01:03:48,592 --> 01:03:50,961
DIDN'T REALLY CARE FOR
THE PREQUELS MUCH,
1563
01:03:50,995 --> 01:03:52,930
THOSE MOVIES BROUGHT IN
A WHOLE NEW GENERATION
1564
01:03:52,963 --> 01:03:54,865
OF COLLECTORS
COMING UP BEHIND ME.
1565
01:03:54,899 --> 01:03:57,301
AS THE HEAD OF ONE OF
THE SMALLER TOY COMPANIES
1566
01:03:57,334 --> 01:03:58,936
ONCE SAID TO ME,
1567
01:03:58,969 --> 01:04:03,140
THE "STAR WARS" GENERATION
PASSED ON THE GENE--
1568
01:04:03,173 --> 01:04:05,209
THE "STAR WARS" GENE--
TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
1569
01:04:05,242 --> 01:04:07,344
AND NOW WE'RE SEEING
THREE GENERATIONS
1570
01:04:07,377 --> 01:04:08,979
OF "STAR WARS" FANS,
1571
01:04:09,013 --> 01:04:12,482
AND THEY ALL LOVE
THE "STAR WARS" TOYS AND STUFF.
1572
01:04:12,516 --> 01:04:13,951
THAT'S AMAZING TO SEE.
1573
01:04:13,984 --> 01:04:16,921
I THINK IT'S GONNA LAST
A LONG, LONG TIME.
1574
01:04:20,357 --> 01:04:23,560
(BERGES)
THE COMPELLING THING
ABOUT THESE TOYS IS
1575
01:04:23,593 --> 01:04:26,430
THE FACT THAT
IT CAN TAKE YOU BACK
1576
01:04:26,463 --> 01:04:28,098
TO THAT TIME.
1577
01:04:28,132 --> 01:04:30,500
I THINK THAT'S
THE COOLEST THING ABOUT IT.
1578
01:04:30,534 --> 01:04:34,404
WHEN YOU HAD
A "STAR WARS" TOY...
1579
01:04:34,438 --> 01:04:35,605
THERE WERE NO LIMITS.
1580
01:04:35,639 --> 01:04:38,208
AND WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THEM NOW,
1581
01:04:38,242 --> 01:04:41,611
EVEN THROUGH OLDER
AND DIFFERENT EYES,
1582
01:04:41,645 --> 01:04:43,981
IT CAN STILL TRIGGER
SOME OF THOSE--
1583
01:04:44,014 --> 01:04:45,983
THOSE FEELINGS
AND THAT ADRENALINE.
1584
01:04:46,016 --> 01:04:49,586
AND... THAT--
THAT KIND OF WONDER.
1585
01:04:49,619 --> 01:04:51,355
(LOPEZ)
"STAR WARS" WAS NOT JUST
ANOTHER TOY
1586
01:04:51,388 --> 01:04:52,522
YOU HAD AS A KID.
1587
01:04:52,556 --> 01:04:54,158
IT CHANGED EVERYTHING--
IT CHANGED FILM,
1588
01:04:54,191 --> 01:04:55,125
IT CHANGED TOY.
1589
01:04:55,159 --> 01:04:58,595
IT HIT PEOPLE ON A LEVEL
THAT'S UNPARALLELED.
1590
01:04:58,628 --> 01:05:00,097
(SHARP)
I STILL CARE
ABOUT THESE TOYS,
1591
01:05:00,130 --> 01:05:02,066
20 YEARS AFTER I STARTED
COLLECTING THEM,
1592
01:05:02,099 --> 01:05:03,567
FOR THE SAME REASONS
THAT I ENJOYED THEM
1593
01:05:03,600 --> 01:05:04,601
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
1594
01:05:04,634 --> 01:05:06,270
I LIKE "STAR WARS."
1595
01:05:06,303 --> 01:05:09,073
THE SENSE OF NOSTALGIA
THAT I GET FROM OWNING THESE
1596
01:05:09,106 --> 01:05:10,240
HASN'T DIMINISHED AT ALL.
1597
01:05:10,274 --> 01:05:12,142
AND I STILL GET A THRILL
OUT OF THEM.
1598
01:05:12,176 --> 01:05:14,278
(TROY)
YOU KNOW, I KNEW
IT WAS SOMETHING POPULAR
1599
01:05:14,311 --> 01:05:16,080
AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
1600
01:05:16,113 --> 01:05:18,348
BUT I THINK WHEN IT
CAME TO A POINT
1601
01:05:18,382 --> 01:05:20,951
THAT, 15 OR 20 YEARS LATER,
1602
01:05:20,985 --> 01:05:26,023
SOME KID FOUND OUT
THAT I WORKED ON "STAR WARS,"
1603
01:05:26,056 --> 01:05:27,691
THAT'S WHEN IT CAME HOME.
1604
01:05:27,724 --> 01:05:29,693
CERTAINLY "STAR WARS" HAS HAD,
UH, YOU KNOW,
1605
01:05:29,726 --> 01:05:32,696
THE LONGEVITY, UH, AND THAT
IT'S STILL BEING ENJOYED
1606
01:05:32,729 --> 01:05:35,232
AT THIS POINT IS,
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
1607
01:05:35,265 --> 01:05:36,700
THAT MAKE YOU FEEL
REALLY GOOD ABOUT...
1608
01:05:36,733 --> 01:05:39,469
YOUR CAREER
AS A TOY DESIGNER.
1609
01:05:39,503 --> 01:05:42,706
(BEAUMONT)
IT-- IT IS REALLY
SATISFYING TO ME
1610
01:05:42,739 --> 01:05:45,109
TO KNOW THAT I WAS A PART
OF SOMETHING
1611
01:05:45,142 --> 01:05:49,179
THAT HAD AN IMPACT
ON A WHOLE GENERATION OF--
1612
01:05:49,213 --> 01:05:52,182
OF CHILDREN, AND THEY'RE
STILL ENJOYING IT TODAY.
1613
01:05:52,216 --> 01:05:55,252
MY TIME AT KENNER,
THOSE FOUR YEARS WERE
1614
01:05:55,285 --> 01:05:58,122
PROBABLY THE MOST FUN
I HAD IN THE TOY BUSINESS.
1615
01:05:58,155 --> 01:06:01,491
LOOKING BACK, I HAD SUCH
A GREAT TIME DOING IT THAT
1616
01:06:01,525 --> 01:06:03,527
I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
1617
01:06:05,229 --> 01:06:08,732
ADD IT ALL UP, YOU SAY
TO YOURSELF,
1618
01:06:08,765 --> 01:06:11,101
"I WAS THERE.
1619
01:06:11,135 --> 01:06:13,603
"I WAS A PART OF THAT.
1620
01:06:13,637 --> 01:06:17,041
IT WAS SOMETHING
BIGGER THAN ME."
1621
01:06:19,309 --> 01:06:20,677
**
1622
01:06:20,710 --> 01:06:24,681
* PAST THE OCEANS FAR BELOW
1623
01:06:24,714 --> 01:06:28,685
* THROUGH THE STARS
AND HEAVEN'S GLOW *
1624
01:06:28,718 --> 01:06:32,022
* TAKE CONTROL
AND TAKE US HOME *
1625
01:06:32,056 --> 01:06:36,626
* ON THESE ROCKETS
1626
01:06:36,660 --> 01:06:40,697
* PAST THE OCEANS
FAR BELOW *
1627
01:06:40,730 --> 01:06:44,801
* THROUGH THE STARS
AND HEAVEN'S GLOW *
1628
01:06:44,834 --> 01:06:48,105
* TAKE US FROM
THIS OVERLOAD *
1629
01:06:48,138 --> 01:06:50,507
* ON THESE ROCKETS
1630
01:06:57,414 --> 01:07:00,117
* AH AH AH AH
1631
01:07:00,150 --> 01:07:03,120
* ON THESE ROCKETS
1632
01:07:07,791 --> 01:07:10,460
* AH AH AH AH
1633
01:07:10,494 --> 01:07:13,230
* ON THESE ROCKETS
1634
01:07:15,632 --> 01:07:19,403
* AH AH AH AH
1635
01:07:23,773 --> 01:07:27,311
* AH AH AH AH
1636
01:07:31,648 --> 01:07:35,452
* AH AH AH AH *
120624
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