May, 1978 Playthings Magazine and Star Wars

I dug through decades worth of Playthings magazine issues when I visited the Brian Sutton-Smith Library back in September (posted here), and while exploring my research this morning I came across this 1978 bit of info on Kenner’s Star Wars action figures. Ted J. Rakstis wrote in the magazine:

“As in other areas of the country, Kenner’s red-hot Star Wars figures and vehicles were in severely short supply. One major wholesale house, which already had orders 1.8 million pieces, announced shortly after Easter that all its customers would be asked to commit for the rest of the year by mid-spring, preferably by April 15.

The most popular and hardest to get numbers in the line were the figures — R2-D2, C-3PO, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker — and the Land Speeder and X-Wing Fighter. There were mixed reports on such accessory items as R2-D2 Bop Bag, Dip-Dots, poster, game and toothbrush, but the consensus was that they were selling steadily but not spectacularly.”

Now how could I not share that with you guys?