European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse To makers High on desert storm and old standbys Mike Genalo new York Bureau a a a it seemed like everybody was there. A Archie jughead and Veronica were at the front door. Off to the Side a russian Cossack danced to the Delight of passers by. Toxic Leader new environmental heroes the toxic crusaders mingled with amused visitors. The scene was last ,88th american International toy fair in new York City. And even the most Streetwise new yorkers a our motto Quot never make Eye Contact Quot a had to Stop to look some 1,400 toy manufacturers exhibited their wares for More than 20,000 buyers irom around the world at various locations in Manhattan a toy i Strifas Well As at the giant Jacob Jav is convention Center exhibitors represented a Cross Section of the toy Industry Large and Small from i Lugg a Plant inc whose sales for the first time reached $1 million last year to giants like Mattel toys $ 15 billion a half of that from the Barbie doll line. Promotions arc important to to makers who fight for attention in a crowded but lucrative Industry. Last year toys produced $13.4 billion in. Retail sales a a every year Between 5,000 and 6,000 new toys come says Frank Cyson jr., editor of playthings Magazine. A two years later under 5 percent arc still following Are some of the items that were displayed at the show and should be appearing soon at a toy store near you a with the conflict in the persian Gulf Wapra Latch toys were among the hottest items although manufacturers Are trying to avoid any appearance of pro tag from the situation. One firm str inc., has just introduced a Board game called a line in the Sand which focuses on the conflict Between Allied forces and Iraq a a a a. A a a. A it took a lot of soul searching to bring this out a said just Mccormick of str. A we expected that people would question our intentions hut since they arc above Board a to provide a new Board game challenges players to duplicate the Success of Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf. Ash inc an educational simulation a we feel we Are doing the right thing. Hasbro toys while maintaining a Low profile brought out an Arsenal of new weapons and Fig urls for a i Joe its 26-year-old creation. This year there is a line of sonic fighters plus a new group of recruits to the . Joe ranks they arc equipped with weaponry that rivals what we re seeing on the nightly news including Battle Wagon and the attack Cruiser a some firms Are sticking to proven product lines. Mattel is beefing up its popular Barbie line in Hopes of pushing sales of the doll and accessories past the $1 billion Mark in 1991. Entire new lines of attire Are being introduced to keep Barbie in �?T90s fashions irom ski togs to a line of clothing tied to the fashions of by Nieton the giant clothing manufacturer. Mattel is also introducing an african Macri can doll Sham who shares barbies love of Fine clothing. And naturally there had to be a doll of a Rock Star. Matte has a new . Hammer figure re it Splendente m the flashy outfits he favors during his performances v a on the More bizarre Side Are playmates new toxic crusaders action figures. An offshoot of the teenage mutant ninja turtles figures the crusaders fight against planetary pollutants there arc also the usual spinoffs from popular television and movie characters this years blockbuster seems to be the Simpsons and once again Mattel is in the forefront. Mattel has produced such figures As baseball Bart Daris Jirvil Bart and even ninja Bart others include Krusty the Clown and Homer Simpson. These Are backed up by a slew of Succes sories such As homers nuke truck and the Simpsons family convertible plus Milton Bradley has come out with a Board game done to have a cow Dice game based on the Simpsons characters a a another recurring theme is professional wrestling. Tonka has added figures of Jake the Snake and big Boss Man to its line of world wrestling federation wrestling buddies the 21 Inch Tali dolls made of soft and Safe material sire hug Gable yet Tough enough to withstand any beating that a Junior wrestler May throw at them. Hasbro has a line of action figures of some of the most popular of today a wrestling stars As Well As accessories including a replica of championship Belt and Damian the pet Snake of Jake 1 he Snake Roberts. Milton Bradley is also bringing out two new games based on Whf events wrestling Challenge and Whf superstars card game. Wrestlers big Boss Man and Jake Snake Roberts Are soft but Tough. A the Page 6
