“Yule Gifts in Time for Easter” in 1977
The Kenner Star Wars “Early Bird Kit” is one of those unbelievable moments in the toy industry. The brainchild of Kenner President Bernie Loomis (battlegrip.com search), the “Early Bird Kit” was the promise of toys and not actual toys. Kenner wasn’t able to get Star Wars action figures into stores before early 1978, so the kits were their way of getting those sweet Christmas sales dollars without any inventory.
While poking at the Google newspaper archives I ran across this Milwaukee Journal issue from December 12 of 1977 and had to smile. Seeing a newspaper report on those Star Wars “Early Bird Kits” from when the event was actually happening is a real treat.
“One of the hottest selling toys this Christmas may not be a toy at all, but the promise of one.”
Click through for the full article.
Related articles
- Boba Fett Is A Ronin On A Mission In This New “Star Wars” Figure (robot6.comicbookresources.com)
- Star Wars Movable Action Figures Sale Priced at $1.77! (battlegrip.com)
- Kenner’s Star Wars Death Star Playset in the 1979 Milwaukee Journal (battlegrip.com)