Sunday, October 23, 2011

Hasbro-ver the Rainbow


The idea for Mr. Potato Head took root in 1949.  George Lerner developed sharp pronged plastic face & body parts meant to be stuck into vegetables & fruits to create wacky visages.  George shopped his idea around to various toy companies, but was met with repeated refusals.  World War II had ended only four years before and Americans had not forgotten the many sacrifices they made to support the war effort, one of which included food rationing.   The "waste not, want not" mindset was still firmly intact.  It's possible many young adults still harbored not so distant childhood memories of the Great Depression which lasted from 1929 to the early 40s.  Undaunted, George still had faith in his unpretentious little toy and so he pressed on.

In 1951, he managed to sell his idea to a food company for use as cereal premiums.  Later that same year, George showed his plastic appendages to Hassenfeld Brothers, Inc.  (Hasbro) who happened to produce a line of children's play kits such as doctors & nurses kits, mailman kits, and cosmetic kits.  George presented the option of producing toys that were just plain fun rather than instructive.  The son of one of Hassenfeld Brothers founders was taken with the simplicity and silliness of George's invention.  Hassenfeld Brothers purchased the plastic pieces from the cereal company.

Potatoes were a staple of every household and they held up better than other vegetables when pierced with the sharp prongs and so the plastic components were christened Mr. Potato Head.  The first kits contained almost 30 accessories; body, hands, feet, ears, mouths, eyes, noses, hats, eyeglasses, a pipe, felt pieces to shape into hairstyles, and a Styrofoam head to practice on.  Right after it's initial release, order forms for even more parts were added to the kits.

Television was still in its infancy, but was rapidly becoming the preferred media to reach the masses.  Hasbro used this new marketing tool to their advantage to premiere not only the first toy commercial, but the first commercial aimed solely at children.  This savvy move brought Hasbro over a million sales in the first year.  Some sources estimate as high as 4 million!!

Mr. Potato Head set Hasbro well on it's way to becoming one of the most loved and largest toy manufacturers in the world.  Buoyed by the early success and the general optimism and post-war affluence, Hasbro introduced Mrs. Potato Head and more extravagant accessories in 1953.

The desecration of innocent potatoes ground to a halt in 1964.  The government deemed the sharp prongs hazardous so Hasbro was forced to adapt to the new standards.  The new and improved dull prongs made potato stabbing difficult.  Hasbro created a non-perishable plastic head with ready made holes. Children accepted the change without complaint and Hasbro's sales were unaffected. 

Ten years later, the government reared it's ugly head and Hasbro conformed yet again.  It seems with nothing to drive into their flesh children took to sticking the small parts in their mouths and choking.  And so Mr. Potato Head's noggin doubled in size to accommodate larger accessories which meant fewer parts.  His arms mysteriously vanished and his complexion was darkened.

Mr. Potato Head underwent more changes to his appearance during the 1980s.  His skin adopted a pleasant golden brown hue and his shape was more oval.  Best of all, his arms were reinstated.  He also came equipped with the revolutionary "tater tush" storage compartment to hold his accessories. 

The charm of Mr. Potato Head has never worn off, but he soared to new heights after he was featured in Pixar's mega hit Toy Story.  Baby boomers experience a resurgence of reminiscence for their favorite toy and a new generation embraced a vegetable without coaxing or bribes.  Potato mania ensued creating a large demand for Mr. Potato Head memorabilia.

Manufacturers heeded the call with clothing, books, jewelry, bobbleheads, games, and fast food giveaways.  Neiman Marcus offered Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head figures made of Swarovski crystals priced at $8000 each. 

Mr. Potato Head was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2000. Probably the truest testament to his iconic status is his inclusion in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as a balloon.  He weighed 529 pounds and towered 43 feet over 50 handlers. 

Though Mr. Potato Head is a bona fide pop culture favorite in his own right, he pays homage to other beloved films, characters, and personalities such as Star Wars, KISS, Elvis Presley, Looney Tunes,  The Three Stooges, Star Trek, even his Toy Story co-stars have been potatofied!  The newest characters to undergo the Potato Head treatment are from The Wizard of Oz.





 
 
 

 
 







Dorothy with Tater, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion make up the first collector's set from PPW Toys.  They are scheduled to ship at the end of October and will be available in specialty outlets such as gift, toy, and collectible stores.  This gift set will be followed up early next year by a Wicked Witch of the West/Winged Monkey set.



Hasbro, Pez, and Lionel have been the stuff children's dream of for generations and are cornerstones of American culture.  As fans and collectors we are very fortunate The Wizard of Oz was honored by these esteemed institutions.

What's next for Mr. Potato Head?  What's next for The Wizard of Oz?  Mr. Potato Head recently debuted a slimmer body style and next year he'll celebrate his 60th anniversary.  Excitement is already mounting for the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz in 2014.  Undoubtedly, very bright futures lie ahead for both properties. 



F.Y.I.   -  In 1968 Hasbro issued a set of Wizard of Oz Stand Up Rub Ons 

                                        

Fundex and USAopoly licensed games from Hasbro.  They were also granted license from Warner Brothers Consumer Products to release Wizard of Oz versions of Scrabble, Life, and Monopoly. 


Promotional Partners Worldwide (PPW) is a manufacturer of licensed toys and games based in Los Angeles, CA.  Specializing in co-licensed products, PPW Toys is focused on growing our toy portfolio with classic characters and brands that appeal to adults as well as children. 
For more information please see  www.ppwtoys.com

 
  
References and Links
The Wizard of Oz Collector's Treasury -  William Stillman & Jay Scarfone
Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them
 - Tim Walsh

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

R. John Wright Wicked Witch Production Photos


The amount of work and artistry that goes into these dolls is just amazing to me!!!  More photos can be seen at http://www.rjohnwright.com/production.html

In case you missed Dorothy      http://www.rjohnwright.com/proddor.html

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

New from ICUP!!


An industry leader in the design and manufacturing of barware and home
goods, ICUP Inc. has been producing its extraordinary line of products for
over a decade. From concept and design to sales and service, ICUP holds
itself to the highest standards, and is committed to providing our customers
with the best in quality licensed merchandise. Like our ever-expanding
offering of popular products, ICUP continues to grow. Working in partnership
with the most popular properties in the worlds of music, publishing, film
and television, ICUP is a leading source of iconic licensed goods.

The following items are hitting retailers shelves now and will be available soon via their website

ICUPINC.com   Watch their Facebook page for new product and "Like" them for updates.





 
Enlarge photos for detail.  How cute is the apron??!!  That, I've no doubt, is going to be a hot product.  Just adorable!!! 
Keep checking back for updates.  Looks like we'll have a busy holiday season! 

Photos courtesy ICUP Inc. 






Sunday, October 16, 2011

Jersey Jack Backglass Art & Updates

Today, we are releasing the remaining completed artwork by artist, Jerry VanderStelt. The Backglass image will be portrayed on a 26" Wells Gardner LCD monitor which will display scores, animation, movie clips, attract mode, backglass artwork and more.

The left and right sides of the back box act as a bridge to the cabinet artwork and help the story come full circle. Jerry put forth a tremendous amount of thought and effort when creating the artwork t so that every aspect of the Wizard of Oz would be captured. Jerry is an extremely talented artist and an asset to the JJP Team.

PS-Our fans are AWESOME -Check out this Mini Paper-WOZ Pinball that customer, Peter Schotvanger created. Once you click the link, follow the link in the yellow box that says "Click here to start download from MediaFire.." to access the PDF. Thank you to Daniel Tonks for the idea and original version and anyone else who contributed.

Pinball Expo kicks off next week in Chicago and the JJP Team is hosting a Fireside Chat on Thursday October 20th at 8 PM. Jack Guarnieri has been invited as the Guest Speaker at the banquet this year on Saturday October 22nd at 8 PM. You can visit www.pinballexpo.net for more information.


We are now taking Pre-Orders for the Wizard of Oz Pinball, (Non- ECLE) that has a link below. The Pre-Order Price is $6500.00 with just a $250.00 deposit. The first 1,000 games will be numbered. If you would like a specific number, when ordering please provide number(s) requests in the comments section.Click here to Order

Both the LE Emerald City and WOZ Pinball Include:


-Hand drawn playfield, plastic set, decal set by artist Greg Freres. Four major mechanical toys; Dorothy's Spinning House, the Witch's Castle, Flying Monkey, Melting Witch.

-Five flippers, Two mini playfields, three Trumper-Bumpers, one Balloon Bumper, Two magnets, One Spinning target, Crystal Ball, Rollover targets, Winkie Guard drop target.

-Full color cabinet and backbox artwork created by artist Jerry VanderStelt will be screened on the highest grade adhesive backed vinyl and printed with UV stabilized inks.


-Digital Stereo sound system which will boom the music and effects created by SoundMaster, Chris Granner. Front of game audio connection jack for headphone/ear bud. Component audio connection jack at rear of game.


-26" Wells Gardner LCD monitor which will display scores, animation, movie clips, attract mode, backglass artwork and more.

-Bally / Williams Parts

-One Year Warranty

 The Wizard of Oz is a Wide Body Game! It is the same dimensionally as a Twilight Zone.

Unique to the Emerald City Limited Edition

Wizard of Oz Pinball Machine:


-Limited to 1,000 units


-Each game will have a numbered plaque affixed to the game, on the front of the cabinet - # of 1,000 etc....


-Certificate of Authenticity, hand signed by the Design Team

-Body armor is in the Emerald Green/Black special finish that Matt has chosen with Jerry. The four legs, side rails, hinges, lockdown bar.

-Emerald Green Mirror effect backglass framing a commercial 26" Wells Gardner LCD monitor which will display scores, animation, movie clips, attract mode, backglass artwork and more.

-Optical non-reflective playfield glass.


-Interactive Emerald City Limited Edition Topper


Shown below are the backglass/LCD monitor and left & right side backbox art work.  Please enlarge photos for detail. 




THE WIZARD OF OZ and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Turner Entertainment Co. (s11)



Judy Garland as Dorothy from THE WIZARD OF OZ. (s11)

Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc

1645 Oak Street

Lakewood, NJ 08701

(800) 473-5225 (Direct)

Jack@JerseyJackPinball.com



Friday, October 14, 2011

Paperhouse Productions Journals and Stationery

Journal covers are embellished with glitter.  The die-cut foldover covers have magnetic closures.  The pages are lined and there are ribbon place holders. 

Shown are the covers, open journals, end papers, and lined pages.







Boxed stationery set.  Cover is embellished with glitter accents and 3-D chipboard die cut Wizard of Oz logo.  Set includes Glinda & Wicked Witch sticky notes, Poppyfield, Wicked Witch, Glinda, Ruby Slippers & Emerald City blank notecards, Ruby Slipper & Emerald City envelope seals, Yellow Brick Road lined papers and envelopes.



Thursday, October 13, 2011

Oztober Updates

The adorable porcelain tea set from Schylling will be out at the end of the month. 



Please see my original blog entry about the Schylling tea sets to see the musical tin set that came out a few months ago.

Icup  Pint Glasses  Available now through mail order catalogs and Target. 



Spoontiques    Ceramic 14 oz. Travel Mugs,  16 oz. acrylic cups with straws, compact mirrors, and eyeglass cases with cleaning cloths


Please enlarge photos for detail.  Looks like we're in for a busy holiday season.  More updates coming very soon!!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Jersey Jack Catch Up and Color Art


We're Off to See the Wizard sound clip: 
http://www.jerseyjackpinball.com/offtoseethewizard.mp3




Emerald City Wizard of Oz Limited Edition Pinball details:


Limited to 1,000 units
Each game will have a numbered plaque affixed to the game, on the front of the cabinet - # of 1,000 etc....

Certificate of Authenticity, hand signed by the Design Team

Body armor is in the Emerald Green/Black special finish that Matt has chosen with Jerry. The four legs, side rails, hinges, lockdown bar.
Emerald Green Mirror effect backglass framing a commercial 26" Wells Gardner LCD monitor which will display scores, animation, movie clips, attract mode, backglass artwork and more.
Optical non-reflective playfield glass.
Interactive Emerald City Limited Edition Topper
Shaker Motor
The game includes:
Hand drawn playfield, plastic set, decal set by artist Greg Freres. Four major mechanical toys; Dorothy's Spinning House, the Witch's Castle, Flying Monkey, Melting Witch.
Two mini playfields, three Trumper-Bumpers, one Balloon Bumper, Two magnets, One Spinning target, Crystal Ball, Rollover targets, Winkie Guard drop target, Five Bally/Williams Flippers which include Two Ruby Red Slipper Flippers. (Standard Flipper Bats Available by Request)
Full color cabinet and backbox artwork created by artist Jerry VanderStelt will be screened on the highest grade adhesive backed vinyl and printed with UV stabilized inks.
Digital Stereo sound system which will boom the music and effects created by SoundMaster, Chris Granner. Front of game audio connection jack for headphone/ear bud. Component audio connection jack at rear of game.
Bally / Williams Parts
One Year Warranty
Oh, by the way.......the Wizard of Oz is a Wide Body Game! It is the same dimensionally as a Twilight Zone.


The only way to pack all of the features and elements that the Design Team wanted to incorporate in this game was to make it a wide body game. As we all know, the size of the back box is the same for a standard or wide body Williams game so it takes up the same footprint in either model.

The best thing is that we get more room to create and you get more room to play pinball! Of the top most popular pinball machines of all-time, three are wide body games. The last wide body to be built was in 1995 with Road Show.

Jack was asked now and then these past months if the game would be a wide body and he said "I just started a pinball company. If you think I would do a wide body as our first game, you must also think I'm crazy!" Now we know.

For all of our loyal customers who have joined us on the Yellow Brick Road, we appreciate your trust and confidence in us. It is because of you that we are able to create this game and propel pinball into the next age, growing a bigger player base that will love and treasure pinball as much as we do for generations to come.


Wide Body Definition per Internet Pinball Database



First playfield video! Music used here is not for the game just for background. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDrRZeaQ5JI






Matt gets to show off his latest approved version of his Trumper Bumper Trees and the State Fair Balloon which is at the lower left of the playfield.

The 1,000 Emerald City Limited Edition WOZ games have all been allocated amongst our distributors. Soon, we will have details on the Wizard of Oz Pinball and how it is different from the Emerald City Edition. Those will be available for purchase starting on 10/10 for $6500.00 with just a $250.00 deposit and the first 1,000 games will be numbered. Available numbers start at #26.

October 10th

This week we reveal for the first time the complete full color cabinet artwork for our Wizard of Oz Pinball machine.

Next week we will release the full color backbox images along with the revised color image that will be displayed on the LCD - our "backglass" artwork.

Artist Jerry VanderStelt was commissioned to do seven different works that comprise the game, backbox, cabinet, backglass . The backglass art will be displayed on our 26" LCD.

The artwork that Jerry created tells the story of the beloved movie as it starts on the left side of the cabinet body front and works its way around the cabinet and backbox from back to the front right side of the cabinet.

"Well, Oz has always captivated me by the magical qualities in which the film was created from the musical themes, the acting and the beautifully whimsical backdrops. Oz has a dream-like mood to the film and my job was to try and convey that same mood in the cabinet art package."

Jerry continues: "Much of the design arrangement was based upon childhood memories of how The Wizard of Oz film affected me then. Hopefully these designs will fertilize the imaginations and recollections of both the young and old among us."

Our Design Team is on the tenth revision of the playfield and have ordered up the second version whitewood which they will be building soon. Next week we have some announcements about people joining the company and an update on game production.

We are also planning for our time at Pinball Expo and we thank Rob and Mike for all of their hospitality and promotion of JJP in advance.

We leave you with an appropriate quote from Christopher Columbus:

"By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination."

Happy Columbus Day & Happy Birthday to Jack!





Be sure to check out Jersey Jack on Facebook.  It looks like the JJ crew had a blast at the Chesterton Wizard of Oz festival and you'll get a sneak peek of the backglass art.  
https://www.facebook.com/#!/JerseyJackPinball

Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc
1645 Oak Street
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(800) 473-5225 (Direct)
Jack@JerseyJackPinball.com
All Rights Reserved 2011, Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc.