Toy maker grows into a giant on Hollywood, comic motifs

"He is now bringing out toy figures based on the popular TV series "The Waltons." He expects they will do as well as the "Planet of the Apes" line, which had $10 million in sales "

Hey, you can't win them all....

The Apes are at Big N

We Don't Monkey Around!

"Giantway" is the coolest name for a store ever. This ad makes me giddy.

Planet of the Apes! As Seen on TV!

All this December at the Mego Museum

All this December, a look at vintage Christmas ads and articles devoted to Mego Crop, spanning the company's humble beginnings to it's hay day in the 70s.

There are a couple of surprises plus appearances by many of your Mego Favorites.

Check it out the Megomuseum

Television Shows Spawn Long Life For Merchandise

June 22nd 1975 -
For "many TV shows, the report of their merchandising divisions is almost as important as the latest rating. The sale of merchandise built around the show can be a big plus to its credit rating.

I visited Barbara Atlas in heroffice, to talk about the show she and Doug Momary created and produce. That would be the syndicated children's show, Tlie New Zoo Revue. It is currently one of the most successful shows for children — both in ratings and ih merchandising. Her office is unlike the average TV producer's digs. It is more like a toy showroom, shelves line all the walls and they, are crammed with samples of the toys and other items built around The New Zoo Revue's characters.

Before she got into the TV business. Barbara Atlas was a free-lance toy designer. Her husband is a toy retailer. So this end of show business was familiar to her. more familiar than the other end. The New Zoo Revue is now shown in 128 markets, and they have 196 half-hour episodes showing. They are anxious to; keep up the good work in that department, but they are equally anxious to sell merchandise. The designing, licensing and merchandising of toys' featuring the-show's stars Freddie Frog, Henrietta Hippo, and Charlie Owl' is big business.

"In some cases." Atlas says, "the money from the merchandising exceeds the profits from the show itself. That hasn't yet happened to us, but I still have hopes." They have products ranging in price from 29 cents — an eraser — to $150 — huge stuffed animals. There is everything from bikini underpants to cigarette lighters, clothing, pillows, games, dolls, jewelry.

"Dolls are a big item these days." she says. "And dolls are currently as important in boys' toys as they are in girls'. Boys begin playing with dolls at an early age, and they are masculine in character; but still dolls." The ability to create a line of items that sells is important in today's TV programming.

Sometimes, though, the failure of a show leaves toy manufacturers holding the bag. That happened this past network season. Barbara Atlas says, with Planet of the Apes. "It got off to a tremendous start," she says, "and they licensed all kinds of toys and gadgets, but the show's flop
caused retailers and distributors to get stuck with a lot of it.'They just hope that the continued success of the Apes movies'will result in some sales yet.

"On the" other hand. Star Trek merchandise is still selling well, even though the show has been off the network for some years.: But it is still doing well in syndication." . The Federal Communications Commission keeps a watchful eye on the merchandising area, Atlas says. They frown on having any of the merchandise shown on the air, although can be used in.the background.

The Mego Apes are at Mammoth Mart

$2.69? I can get them for a $1.99 at Kiddie City!

A Mego Planet of the Apes Coupon

Sadly this Kiddie City coupon expired 34 years ago but one can dream......

Apes and Christmas Trees

Mego Apes on sale in an ad for Kings Department Store Portsmouth New Hampshire (October 1975)

Friday Nov 22, 1974:

As a TV series, "Planet of the Apes" has been a major disappointment to Fred Silverman, Program VP at CBS, but it has been a big hit in the eyes of Marty Abrams, president of Mego International. Mego is the company which manufactures those Ape toys, and so far they have made $8 million in retail sales! But how does Mego feel about the possibility of CBS cancelling "Planet of
the Apes"? "We'll get by," says Marty Abrams, "so long as they don't cancel before the Christmas toy season."

The Apes Are Coming!

Coming soon to MegoMuseum.com: Mike Jimenez has created a complete revisal of the Mego Planet of the Apes Galleries with every page containg new information and photography.

In the spirit of all things Apes, we'll let a few jaw dropping twists escape that we have hiding beneath the Museum archives. While it will be quite a battle, you won't want to miss the ape conquest of the Mego Museum.

I'm sorry about the puns.

Redemption at the Sword of King Arthur

The Black Knight finally gets an audience with Mego King Arthur and all is made right again. THis card was sponsored by Thomas Meuleman and Dave "Aussie Mego Man".

Thanks to all our sponsors and of course to Scott for making this week of Knights happen and be so darn cool.

Mego Sir Launcelot Defends the Chamber

As the Black Knight enters the castle he is met by Arthur's best soldier, Sir Launcelot who luckily was on hand to protect Guenivere. This super card was sponsored by Bill McFarland AKA Wee67.

Check out the new and updated Museum Sir Launcelot Gallery here.

Mego Ivanhoe Jousts for Justice

Ivanhoe's card was sponsored by Derek Richardson (Flynne) and as always was designed by Scott. This card also has an appearance by the wonderful jousting horse.

Want more? Check out the new Ivanhoe gallery...

Mego Sir Galahad Does Battle

Our second card in the series depicts Sir Galahad taking on the Black Knight, this card was sponsored by our own Webmaster Joe DeRouen.

Check out the new Galahad Gallery at the Megomuseum.

The Mego Black Knight Strikes!

Kicking off our Knights week with gusto is the new Mego Museum Black knight Trading Card, Art by Scott and this card by sponsored by Jason "BlackKnight" Roberts.

Also check out the sweet new gallery for this guy, it's terrific!

Expect new Knights cards all week.

The Black Knight is Coming

Mego Museum Wyatt Earp Trading Card and Gallery

Our Final Entry in American West Week is lawman Wyatt Earp, this card was sponsored by Rob Chatlin. Like every character featured, Wyatt Earp has a new Mego Museum Gallery.

Megomuseum Trading Card of the Day: Buffalo Bill

As American West Week rolls on we have a new trading card for that Master Showman Buffalo Bill, art by Scott Adams and sponsored by the "International Men of Mystery"

As always, Bill has a new Mego Museum gallery showing packaging variants and original artwork.

New Star Trek Magazine

Now available is the "Unofficial Guide to Star Trek Collectibles" magazine, this publication is packed with Mego related items including:

• An article about EMCE toys written by Paul "Dr.Mego" Clarke
• A history of Mego and the Star Trek License
• A piece about the Mission to Gamma IV play set
• An analysis of Mego's many reuses of the Star Trek Transporter
• A look at the Mego Intergalactic Planetarium

And a whole lot more, so if you're in the mood to read something "startrekish" then beam down to your local book or comic retailer now!

Mego Card of the Day Sitting Bull

Our new card reveal today is none other than Sitting Bull, as always the card was designed by Scott Adams and sponsored by Scott Arendsen.

In addition, Sitting Bull has a new Gallery page at the Mego Museum, check it out.

Stay tuned all week for more American West Galleries and Card Reveals.

Mego of the Day: Cochise

Mego of the Day is Cochise, we has a new Gallery page today.

Stay tuned all week for more American West Galleries and Card Reveals.

Mego Davy Crockett Gallery

Kicking off our American West week is the New Davy Crockett Gallery. The card was launched at this year's Mego Meet but come check out the new images and information added to his page.

Stay Tuned this week for new card reveals and galleries as American West Week continures

Mego of the Day will return this month, promise!