Discussion about Kenner Toys on WVXU today and Library Show

Many illustrators in town worked on Kenner Products.

Today, Cincinnati Edition will be about Kenner and the exhibit at the Cincinnati public Library.

More info here: http://wvxu.org/post/public-library-celebrates-kenner-toys-just-time-holidays

http://cincinnatilibrary.org/news/2015/kennertoys.html 




Here are some of the library events:

Kenner Toy Symposium —Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. –5:30 p.m.

In celebration of the exhibits and upcoming release of The Force Awakens, the Main Library will host a special day-long symposium with former Kenner employees. All events will take place in the Main Library’s Reading Garden Lounge. No registration is required.

Kenner History, 10 a.m.–noon

Corky Steiner, the son and nephew of Kenner’s founders, will retell the history of the company through 50 years of vintage Kenner toy commercials wrapped into two 20-minute segments. The segments will be followed with a Q&A session featuring former Kenner executives.

The Phases of Kenner Toys, 1–3:15 p.m.

Take an in-depth look at the various phases of the Kenner Toy company from the 1950s to ‘90s. Session will feature actual video interviews with the leadership that guided Kenner in the post Steiner era from 1972 to its closing in 2000. A Q&A session with Kenner employees will follow.

• 1950–1970s: A family business to General Mills management
• 1970s–1980s: General Mills to Tonka
• 1990s–2000: Hasbro’s acquisition of Kenner and Hasbro’s consolidation of its various entities to their Rhode Island general offices in 2000.

Plastic Galaxy Screening, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys, directed by Brian Stillman, examines the history and pop-culture impact of Kenner’s of Star Wars toy line.

Panel discussion with Star Wars toy designers, 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Moderated by director Brian Stillman, this panel discussion will feature original Star Wars toy designers Jim Swearingen, Tom Osborne, and Mark Boudreaux.
For more information, contact the Genealogy & Local History Department at 513-369-6905.

Toy Hunters on The Travel Channel

 Many local illustrators, sculptors and designers have worked with Kenner (now owned by Hasbro) over the years, so this should be an interesting show. 

I tried to find a promo clip but was unsuccessful. If anyone has a link let me know...

11PM Toy Hunters

Toy Hunters

Jordan Hembrough travels to Cincinnati and Miami in search of rare vintage items to sell at the New York Comic Con. He strategically maneuvers around reluctant sellers and an abating budget to land a big-ticket item for Comic Con. TV-G, CC

From the Enquirer:

"Collectible toy expert Jordan Hembrough goes searching through Cincinnati area garages, basements, attics and warehouses for vintage and rare Kenner/Hasbro toys on “Toy Hunters” (11 p.m. Sunday, Travel Channel).

It’s a one-hour pilot by  Sharp Entertainment (“Man vs. Food Nation”) for a potential series — though some involved here worry about the possible audience for the show at 11 p.m. on a Sunday night. So set the DVR.

Hembrough of Hollywood Heroes.com looks for old Star Wars, Thundercats and other vintage Kenner toys at the homes of former Kenner/Hasbro employees Rob Meyer in Anderson Township, Ron Boyle of Withamsville and others,  plus Queen City Comics, for him to take to the New York ComiCon, Boyle said."

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2012/01/12/toy-hunters-debuts-sunday-night/#more-14267

Article About the local Toy Design Community

A lot of people on the lunch list and that read this blog have either worked or done illustrations for Kenner/Hasbro and other toy companies over the years.

The Sunday Cincinnati Enquirer had a great article written by Laura Baverman about several companies in the area that still do toy design.

Here is a link:
We're still creating kids' favorite toys
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20101211/BIZ01/12120327/

As a segue, I recently did some Crayola Game package art for Wild Planet Toys. Here is a link to my post about it: http://christinawald.blogspot.com/2010/12/package-illustrations-wild-planet.html


I know a couple other people on the blog have done game and toy package illustration. Post some!