Why no Star Wars or SMDM?

[Evel KMego]

OK, here's something I've been pondering. The one toy line that had even more licenses in the 70's than Mego was Colorforms. Everything was made into a Colorform! So why no Star Wars or SMDM? Any other big names of the 70's that didn't get a Colorform?

[Riffster]

ha speaking of colorforms reminded my wife and I about that unique smell...


ah memories

[Mikey]

Any other big names of the 70's that didn't get a Colorform

Ron Jeremy

[palitoy]

The key to this is Kenner, they held master toy licenses for both of those properties. So Colorforms couldn't get the rights.

[Evel KMego]

The key to this is Kenner, they held master toy licenses for both of those properties. So Colorforms couldn't get the rights.

Very true Brian, but for instance, there were Batman Colorforms(DC), why couldn't they come together with Kenner? I'm not on expert on toy licensing , just wondering. Any ideas? I guess ultimately Kenner wasn't interested in going that route. Would of been cool though!

[palitoy]

Very true Brian, but for instance, there were Batman Colorforms(DC), why couldn't they come together with Kenner? I'm not on expert on toy licensing , just wondering. Any ideas? I guess ultimately Kenner wasn't interested in going that route. Would of been cool though!

Well, lots of people had Batman, the license was shared. Nobody could make a Batman action figure because Mego held the license for that toy. With a Master Toy license, Kenner didn't really have to share.

So they ended up making stuff that they never did before like Colouring books and puzzles, just to live up to the contract.

Licensing is about categories, Colorforms while unique, would still fall into one and all Kenner would have to do is produce a similiar product, which they did.

There is also no Star Wars Viewmaster because Kenner also had a similiar product.

[Evel KMego]

Ah, I see. Very good info Brian. What was the similar product you referred too?

[palitoy]

For Viewmasters, the "see-a-show" and "give a show" brand would have been competition:



As for colorforms, I'm gonna guess Play-Doh was the reason we didn't see colorforms:

[MIB41]

Here you go Evel... Online Star Wars colorforms...Alas no smell though. I just KNOW Darklord will spend hours on this...

Create-a-Scene! - Star Wars Spoofs

[Evel KMego]

Hey! That was kinda cool MIB41.love that Star Wars Give a Show box Brian!!!

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I remember seeing that Play-doh set and thinking that it would be cool to have.