Sue’s joined by Jonathan and Holly to talk Trek toys! Starting with Aluminum Model Toys in 1966, through Mego and Galoob and Playmates, all the way to Eaglemoss and Funko, and beyond. We talk about the history, licensing, demographics, and so much more.
Downloand Now (right-click and save)
Host: Sue
Guests:
Jonathan Alexandratos – @jalexan
Holly Amos – @hollyamos22
Editor: Andi
Transcription: Grace
Download Transcript: PDF or Word
Resources:
- To Boldly Play: A Warp-Speed History of Star Trek Toys (Entertainment Earth)
- History of Trek Movie Merchandising (TrekMovie)
- Galoob 25: The First Generation of TNG Toys (TrekCore)
- The Toys That Made Us: Star Trek (IMDB)
For me, it became about consumerism with the Mr. Spock bust filled with liquor. This came out in 1979 and tied in with STTMP. I’ve seen them on eBay.
Does anybody else feel like merchandise today is marketed and directed more towards adults than towards children? I kind of feel like that’s a bit of a negative trend because I’m not sure that there is enough stuff out there that adults can feel comfortable in order to buy for a child in their lives. Say what you will about the quality of rack toys, but, they were cheap and a kid who’s obsessed with Star Trek could love that thing and the adults won’t have to worry about the child breaking it. I kind of feel like it’s those sorts of toys and merchandise, just like shows that are available for the whole family to be able to watch, that help to secure future generations of fans. I’m not sure that the “action figures” That are simply designed to go onto a stand and sit on somebodies mantle will have the same affect on a child that a more breakable toy does. Granted, this could all be because I don’t yet have any children, nor are the kids whom my friends do have old enough for Trek.
Maybe will see a different trend once Lower Decks gets on TV?
I think that’s a great point, Jason! We can definitely see that in the action figures. As a kid I would get the Playmates figures in the toy aisle with my allowance and tear them out of the box and my parents didn’t care because they were relatively cheap and framed as “toys” more than “collectibles.” As an adult collector I love the Art Asylum, Diamond Select and McFarlane gorgeous action figures that have been produced since but they are a real investment and definitely harder to treat as “toys”. I’d love to see more of a range like we have with Star Wars action figures and toys. Would also love to see articulated larger dolls of some of the women of Trek, not quite Barbies but more like the large DC superhero girls, Star Wars Forces of Destiny and Marvel Rising dolls that have come out.