Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. evolved from distribution to manufacturing and battled a video game giant along the way.
Origin
Founded in San Francisco, California in 1957 by husband-and-wife team Lewis and Barbara Galoob.
Early Days
Galoob began as a stationery and toy distribution company.
They re-released the popular Jolly Chimp toy, a mechanical monkey that provided amusement by clapping two hand-held cymbals.
Modernization
The founders’ sons, David and Robert, took the reins in 1970 and began developing original products.
Galoob also licensed popular franchises, including Jonny Quest, The A-Team, Men in Black, Spice Girls, Aliens, and others.
Major Micro Success
In the mid-1980s, the company produced Micro Machines, a line of tiny vehicles and playsets. The line quickly gained popularity thanks in part to attention-grabbing television commercials featuring the world’s fastest talker, John Moschitta Jr.
Legal Dispute
Galoob’s Game Genie, a line of home video game cartridges that allowed people to modify licensed video games, came under legal scrutiny. Nintendo of America sued Galoob for copyright infringement in 1990; Galoob won the suit.
Legacy
Hasbro purchased Galoob In September 1998 for $220 million USD.
Hasbro used the Galoob name on toys related to franchises including Star Wars, Transformers, Battlestar Galactica, and others.
In 2020, Wicked Cool Toys announced it was working with Hasbro on a new line of Micro Machines. The line included multipack sets and playsets.
