Kenner Kids Vol. V: "You'll Stomp Your Eye Out!"

Ralphie: I want an official Kenner swivel side cannon action battle stomping SCOUT WALKER!
Santa Claus: You'll stomp your eye out, kid.

Steve writes:

I've always thought the kid featured in the photograph above was the vintage Kenner Star Wars equivalent of Ralphie from A Christmas Story, with similar Christmas dreams and aspirations that were fulfilled just the same (hopefully with spectacles intact). Stills such as this have turned up from different types of sources, including newspaper archives and groups of catalog-related items, indicating that they may have been sent to retailers and wholesalers in addition to being included in press releases. In any case, it's a fun image featuring one of the more endearing Kenner Kids that may not be as familiar as others from the earlier Star Wars products.

The Scout Walker was initially released in 1982 as part of the Empire Strikes Back line following an extremely brief appearance in the film during the Battle of Hoth. When did a passing glance onscreen ever eliminate a cool character or vehicle from toy consideration? Well, describing Prune Face as "cool" is slightly more questionable, but I digress. Featuring swivel side cannons with clicking "laser machine gun sounds" (I don't recall ever seeing the term "machine gun" associated with a Star Wars toy) and perhaps most importantly, the ability to "stand unassisted," the Scout Walker (or AT-ST) would go on to pay a prominent role in Return of the Jedi, providing even greater returns on Kenner's initial investment. I mean, the thing even makes the Vehicle Maintenance Energizer seem awesome in this commercial. What's not to like?

Happy Holidays from the SWCA!

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Special thanks to Todd Chamberlain for providing additional background information on Kenner press stills.

Kenner Kids Vol. IV: "BREAKER, BREAKER, Blast Those TIE Figthers, Luke!"

 
Steve writes:

Perhaps the most logical of Kenner's recycled toys hastily produced during the initial Star Wars craze, the Luke Skywalker AM Headset Radio represents a vintage rarity that surely must have pulled the wool over some eyes as a genuine product from a galaxy far, far away. As described in the 1978 Kenner Retailer Catalog, this headset was equipped with a "pretend microphone styled like the one worn by LUKE SKYWALKER in STAR WARS."



Sounds about right, doesn't it? Dad ponders, "It surely must function better and last longer than those flimsy inflatable laser swords...hell, those came with repair kits." In terms of special features, it "actually receives local AM stations... has a station selector... volume control...comfortable padding for ear... It's adjustable to fit all head sizes." What is more, "Special STAR WARS labels add exciting fun to pretend STAR WARS adventures." Those labels sure did seem to add a lot of "fun" to everything at that point in time. Regardless... before they knew it, Timmy and Jimmy could be spending hours taking out TIE Figthers from windows of the backyard treehouse while catching some Boss Radio on the airwaves.

The packaging established a relatively clear resemblance to a memorable scene from the film and seems perfectly appropriate. But alas, this toy had a former life being adorned by much goofier looking kids as Kenner's Six Million Dollar Man CB Headset Radio Receiver that was on shelves only a year prior.

 The SMDM incarnation boasts one of the greatest Kenner Kids yet in the following catalog image:

From the collection of Ron Salvatore

Who knows what this child is actually pointing at or thinking about, but he surely isn't ready to man a turret in the Millennium Falcon, as is illustrated by the much more engaged and focused youth chosen for the Star Wars version.

For those interested in the history of toys repurposed for and by Star Wars, be sure to check out Ron's comprehensive SWCA Special Feature "The Recycling of the Force." 

Kenner Kids Vol. III: "Come on... PUNCH-ME!"

Steve writes:

Bop bags seem to be one of those ubiquitous children's toys that go back decades. The eternally punchable "Bozo the Clown" has to have endured beatings beyond reasonable measure by this point. With an apparently expanding popularity and selection in the 1960s (you could sock anyone from Huckleberry Hound to the Caped Crusader himself), it should come as no surprise that a set of these gluttons for punishment featuring Star Wars characters were among the early Kenner products available during the original film's era. Darth Vader and R2-D2 were soon joined by Chewbacca and Jawa for a "Bopping Good Time!" The two shorter characters (36") were then deemed "LIL BOPPERS" while the taller pair (50") became the "BIG BOPPERS."

"Bop 'Em! Love 'Em! They Come Back For More!"

In terms of product photography for packaging and catalogs, what good is a bop bag without an aggressive yet innocent child (aka "little boppers age 2 and up") landing a haymaker on it?

Here we have some examples of the packaged final product:

The language in the 1978 Kenner Retailer Catalog is pretty straightforward for the Dark Lord of the Sith: "Kids love to give a good bop to arch villain DARTH VADER." Who wouldn't want to take out their frustrations on such a bully (or mean older sibling)?  R2's description is a bit more complicated: "ARTOO-DETOO not only can be bopped, but loved." The kids in the toy's packaging above are definitely a bit more pensive about their attack. What is that one in the green sweater and killer plaid pants going for? A love tap?

The second pair of boppers' packaging maintained the line's early primary color palette with some warm yellows to balance out the red and blue of Vader and R2. Blondie Bluepants here is delivering a solid left hook to an oddly modern-looking Chewbacca, with his pigtailed friend providing what looks to be a supplementary kick. Once again, the kids are a bit more timid in their assault on the "LIL BOPPER" Jawa, undecided on whether they feel compassion or disgust towards it.

For those interested in international versions of these things, check out these Clipper Darth Vader and  R2-D2  "acrobate gonflables" from the Netherlands, this Canadian Darth Vader Bop Bag, and this Japanese Takara Bop Bag featuring some unique artwork which is pictured in Steve Sansweet's Star Wars: 1,000 Collectibles: Memorabilia and Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Photos of production toys courtesy of Ron Salvatore and Duncan Jenkins.

Kenner Kids Vol. II: "The super-8 film never tangles!"

Steve writes:

And the Oscar for achievement in cinematography goes to...

Well...Jimmy here isn't actually shooting film, but viewing it. I've been fascinated by the Kenner MovieViewer ever since I first saw one in person while visiting the actual "Toy Chamber" of Todd Chamberlain's this past summer. I think of them as the second generation View-Master in that the illusion of movement is achieved by a device that mimics hand crank movie cameras rather than the View-Master's simulated shutter and click of a still camera. Though the Star Wars manifestation of the MovieViewer was released in late 1977, the toy itself, much like many of the film's early licensed items, was merely an easily adaptable retread from Kenner's existing repertoire (we'll pick up on this theme further in future posts in the series). This particular image is derived from the 1978 Kenner Retailer Catalog, which makes a point of mentioning that "The super-8 film never tangles! No batteries needed." Though modern parents needn't worry about their kids' Nintendo DS game cartridges tangling, they'd likely appreciate the absence of battery burden with old "analog" toys like this.

I'm hoping to write a more thorough post about these things once I'm able to add a working viewer and set of cassettes to my collection. On that note, if you have any to spare, drop me a line! :^)

Kenner Kids Vol. I: Primary Objective = Primary Colors

Steve writes:

Dorky looking kids will always and forever be associated with the marketing of Vintage Star Wars toys. From their unforgettable (and usually awkward) performances in television commercials to their engaged (and at times slightly unsettling) poses in photography utilized in merchandise packaging and catalogs, these endearing little goobers were an integral component of Kenner's visual language for the product line's promotion, particularly during the first few years. This was with good reason -- they were the public representation of the franchise's key audience and consumer.

While the toys themselves are often the primary focus for collectors, this blog series -- which we'll call Kenner Kids -- will put the spotlight on the youths behind the toys. While there will be some fun being poked, it will be with harmless intent and completely celebratory in nature. Lastly, I hereby promise to dig up and post at least one equally embarrassing photograph of yours truly at about this age to even the score a bit at some point.
 

DIP DOTS PAINTING SET (1977) - They provide the color and STAR WARS the action.

When scouring the Archive for images to curate for these posts, a pattern that I had always sort of noticed became all the more clear: red, yellow, blue...red, yellow, blue. Almost every marketing image from the original Star Wars product line (and especially those featured in retailer catalogs) predominantly featured primary colors -- not only with backgrounds, but with the clothing of the kids depicted. They too were incorporated into the simple yet eye-catching color scheme that just isn't found in toy aisles anymore.

ESCAPE FROM THE DEATH STAR GAME (1977) - "has all the appeal of the movie." Well...

With the ESCAPE FROM THE DEATH STAR GAME released in 1977, even the backgrounds of the game pieces were primary color coordinated. Whether or not it had "all of the appeal of the movie" I couldn't tell you, as I've never played it. Regardless, this trio of yellow-clad youngsters seem to be enjoying it quite a bit. With the action figure line yet to reach their hands, they probably just didn't know any better. Ignorance is bliss.

DIECAST VEHICLES (1978)

The level of excitement in these kids' expressions wanes appropriately with each of these diecast vehicles released in 1978. Perhaps an omen for the failure of the Micro Collection four years later?

3 POSITION LASER RIFLE - Image courtesy of Ron Salvatore

This child marksman has mastered all three positions of the 3 Position Laser Rifle: "STANDING GUARD" (top), "SNEAK ATTACK" (lower left), and..."LASER BATTLE" (lower right). Configurations for comfort are of the utmost importance when it comes to firearms.

The first three images were derived from the Fall 1977 Products supplement and 1978 Kenner Retail Catalog. There are quite a few scanned pages from early catalogs still up and running in the Toy Fair and Dealer Catalogs section maintained by Chris Georgoulias.