The Friday Five

Matt Proulx oversees location-based entertainment at Hasbro. Here, Proulx shares Hasbro’s plans for a theme park at West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, as announced in December 2019.

Jill Nash Malool is the Museum Director at Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping the history and art of puppetry alive and well in North America. In this edition of The Friday Five, Malool expands on the role of the Center and shares why it’s important to preserve the history of puppetry arts.

Nick Collins’ Blockbuster-inspired basement video store and personal VHS collection has turned into a full-time pursuit. Here, he shares the origin of his unlikely hobby.

Kelly McClain serves as consignment manager of Hake’s Auctions. Here, McClain tells Toy Tales how Hake’s came to auction the Boba Fett J-slot rocket-firing prototype and explains why the demand for pop culture collectibles has changed over time.

A new exhibit called Toy Boom! at the North Carolina Museum of History showcases toys of the 1950s and ’60s. Here, curator Katie Edwards talks about the role of the museum in preserving the cultural heritage of North Carolina and how toys fit into that mandate.

Writer G. Wayne Miller captured the dynamics of the toy industry and its relationship with Hollywood in his 1998 bestselling book Toy Wars. In his new book, Kid Number One: Alan Hassenfeld and Hasbro, Miller revisits Hasbro to uncover the unlikely rise of the Hassenfeld Brothers – the eponymous founders of Hasbro – and shines the light on one of the company’s most fabled leaders.

BMC Toys is quickly becoming a household name since announcing a new line of female toy soldiers. Jeff Imel, company president, talks about the genesis of the idea and the challenges involved in creating a line from scratch.

While Barbie debuted in 1959, the doll’s impact on popular culture is still unfolding to this day. Author Robin Gerber has dedicated significant time researching and writing about the toy doll. With her second Barbie-focused book, Barbie Forever: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy, approaching its release date, she talked to Toy Tales about Barbie’s notable legacy.

Blacked-out windows, video surveillance, and elaborate disguises; toy-industry legend Marvin Glass was an eccentric and highly-private man. Author Bill Paxton uncovers the myths and realities about Glass and his career in his new book A World Without Reality: Inside Marvin Glass’s Toy Vault.

The Society of Illustrators in New York City showcases the history of Batman art and illustrations in a series of exhibits on until October 12, 2019. Co-curators John Lind and Robert Pistella explain the mandate of the Society and share what surprised them the most as they put together the exhibits highlighting the crime-fighting superhero.

As co-president and founding partner of Wicked Cool Toys, Michael Rinzler has his finger on the pulse of the toy industry. Rinzler talks about the company’s upcoming Micro Machines launch and the opportunity facing entrepreneurs in the wake of the loss of Toys “R” Us.

Shannon Symonds curates the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong. Here, Symonds explains her enviable role at the Museum and sheds light on the changes the Center is undergoing as The Strong undertakes an ambitious expansion.

Bryan Stevens, Exhibitions Director at Petersen Automotive Museum, talks about the fantastical vehicles featured in the Museum’s Hollywood Dream Machines exhibit and explains why the vehicles are so compelling.

In Michelle Ann Abate’s latest book, Funny Girls: Guffaws, Guts, and Gender in Classic American Comics, she revisits comic book and strip titles from the early 20th century featuring young female protagonists. Abate talks with Toy Tales about the origins of these characters and why they are often overlooked in academia.

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum recently acquired the Dan DeCarlo Collection, a group of works from the late Archie cartoonist. Kay Clopton, Mary P. Key Resident at University Libraries Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, describes the collection and explains DeCarlo’s contribution to Archie.

Urban Culture Auctions is pioneering a new style of auction. Wade Terwilliger, the company’s president, talks about the changing landscape of auctions and the memorable pieces that have come across his desk.

Tin Toy Works is a specialty toy- and model-train-preservation business based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Owners, Barbara and Joe Freemen, talk about their path to making a business of repairing and preserving toys for an international network of museums, collectors, and dealers.

The Antique Toy Collectors of America (ATCA) has brought toy collectors together since 1965. ATCA president William Gallagher describes the mission of the organization and shares why he thinks preserving toy history remains important.