Greg AutoreApr 28, 20195 minSpace… Big Jim’s Final Frontier – Part 1 HeroesMattel Launched Big Jim in 1973 as a sportsman. This separated the line from being an adventurer like Hasbro’s GI Joe Adventure Team or...
Greg AutoreApr 21, 20193 minGI JOE: THE ORIGINAL CROCODILE HUNTERIn 1969 when sales of war toys were waning, one of GI Joe’s new assignments was to go up the river into the Mouth of Doom. This early...
Greg AutoreApr 14, 20195 minThe Twelve Inch Tall GiantIn 1968, Americans and Russians were blasting into space trying to beat each other to the moon. This excitement spilled over into toys...
Greg AutoreApr 6, 20194 minGo Big or Go Home – Part 2In part one, I reviewed several of the GI Joe Real American Hero sets with large accessories. On the GI Joe Duke with Desert Surfer, I...
Greg AutoreMar 31, 20195 minGo Big or Go Home – Part 1In the second series of Classic Collection GI Joes specifically targeted to kids (instead of only collectors), was a larger sized package...
Greg AutoreMar 17, 20195 minAdventures in StorytellingWhen I had the privilege of attending the Disney University program during my Mattel years, they taught us about the importance of...
Greg AutoreMar 2, 20196 minGI Joe Has Gone to the Dogs! Part 2There are amazing stories of how dogs have saved their handler’s lives in the field. In Vietnam, the dogs were so helpful to our...
Greg AutoreFeb 24, 20196 minGI Joe Has Gone to the Dogs! Part 1We know how America’s Movable Fighting Man was a huge success when he was first deployed in 1964. However, his effectiveness on the toy...
Greg AutoreFeb 17, 20194 minWe Interrupt this Blog…New York Toy Fair comes around each year at this time. For a span of twelve years, I would have to work eighteen hours on – then sleep...