An Interview with Marty Abrams Part 2

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This 1974 Interview with then Mego president Marty Abrams is a new discovery here at the Museum. The second installment (You can find Part one here) speaks specifically to Abram’s philosophy on licensing, his past experiences and what he believes is a good license particularly Planet of the Apes, the Superheroes and his latest Evel Knievel. Enjoy.

INTERVIEWER: Part of your whole philosophy is to go after established characters, established products?

ABRAMS: We’ve expanded our business for ’75, and we’re touching other areas. Yes, we want to go after established properties.

INTERVIEWER: Are you also going to introduce an Evel Knievel articulated figure?

ABRAMS: That is not part of our license. That happens to be one of our competitors.

INTERVIEWER: You also mentioned bicycles. Is that diversification part of a trend for the company?


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[palitoy]

The Roddy McDowell thing is neat.

[megozilla13]

Very interesting, especially the POTA stuff. I never knew Roddy had signed on for such a long time.
I was also trying to think of a mego product that didn't fit the license. The Hulk Exlorer and maybe the BatMachine are the only ones that come to mind. Can anyone else think of others? They seem to have stuck to that licensing philosophy till the end.

mikej

[palitoy]

Stuff like the Mangler and the Supervator don't make a tons of sense.

[Wee67]

I found this to be one the most fascinating insights into Marty I have ever read. It really shows both how the company had such great success and also some of the things that may have lead to it s downfall. I actuall have to give Marty more credit than I might have in the past. Not saying I didn't realize how much he had to do with Mego's rise, but it really seems a very thoughtful process.

The philosphy seems to have really helped them keep the lines going for a few years in the 70's. However, when the popularity of the lines dropped, I do not think those lines nevcessarily held up the way he seemed to think they would. Batman and Superman and Hulk remained strong licenses, but the rest of the DC and Marvel lines may have gone down a bit in favor of sci fi, etc.

The reliance on those licenses as the foundation of Mego's product may have actually hurt as things changed a bit.

I think towards the end it was more the license or line itself that began to cause issues (to be added to the other issues at the end). They felt like they were chasing more than leading. (Black V Star Wars, Eagle Force v GI Joe, Mattell hand-held games, etc.).

It seems they did have some success with some stuff, but in the face of the other issues towards the end it was just not enough.

[ScottA]

It's interesting to think what might have happened if Mego had turned left instead of right. Might be a whole different outcome. A very interesting read.

[ctc]

>Stuff like the Mangler and the Supervator don't make a tons of sense.

The Mangler makes perfect sense: it's a TANK with teeth INSTEAD of a gun! And minimal protection for the driver. What's not to get?

Now, the Supervator is another story....

Don C.

[MIB41]

If ever there was a person who would like to go back in time. Just think... one decision the other way and eight inch figures would have found a whole new generation of fans and may have never died out.