From dime-store toys to action figures and playsets, Mego Corporation led the industry in manufacturing efficiencies and display packaging innovations.
Origins
Founded in 1954 by D. David Abrams as a New York-based supplier of dime-store toys that mimicked more expensive popular toys.
Pronounced “me-go”, the name was inspired by Abrams’ young son Howard, who would demand, “Me go, too! Me go, too!” when wanting to join his parents on an outing.
Passing the Baton
Abrams’ other son, Martin “Marty” Abrams was a marketing graduate of NYU. In 1971, at age 28, he became President of Mego Corporation.
Marty pivoted the business from dime-store toys to action figures and playsets.
Early successes with Maddie Mod and Fighting Yank allowed the company to grow.
Mego acquired non-exclusive rights to produce figures based on characters from Marvel, DC Comics, Dukes of Hazard, Wizard of Oz, Dallas, and celebrities such as Sonny and Cher, Diana Ross, Suzanne Somers, and the members of the rock band, KISS.
Production Innovations
Mego’s production system produced figures with generic bodies in 8-, 12-, and 14-inch sizes. This allowed for more cost-effective mass production.
The company also pioneered the “bubble card”, a way to package figures on a cardboard backing with a clear plastic bubble cover that showcased the product inside.
Troubled Times
Mounting financial pressures caused Mego to file for bankruptcy before finally closing in 1983.
Legacy
In 2018, Marty Abrams announced the re-birth of Mego Corporation.
The new line, called “Marty Abrams Presents Mego”, features individual figures and box sets based on characters from I Dream of Jeannie, Star Trek, Nightmare on Elm Street, Bewitched, Charlie’s Angels, and others.
Many vintage and contemporary Mego toys are highly collectable, including the original superhero line of Batman, Robin, Superman, and Aquaman.
