SPECIAL FEATURE: Kenner Tour of Cincinnati
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- Albert Steiner
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- Philip Steiner
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- Joseph L. Steiner
1947 Kenner Products is formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, by the Steiner brothers, Albert, Philip and Joseph. The company is named after its original office location on Kenner Street.
Kenner Products introduces the Bubbl-Matic Gun.
1949 Kenner Products’ Bub-L-Rocket sells over one million units.
1956 Joseph McVicker, of the Rainbow Crafts Company, introduces Play-Doh, offered in a single color, white.
1957 Three additional colors of Play-Doh are added.
1958 Kenner Products becomes one of the first toy companies to use nationwide television advertising. The company was also one of the first sponsors of the Captain Kangaroo Show.
1959 Kenner Products introduces the Give-A-Show projector, a product that was to be a success for over twenty years.
1963 Kenner Products sets up a year-round New York showroom.
Kenner Products introduces Easy-Bake Oven.
1964 Kenner’s “Gun that Shoots Around the Corner” entertains kids across the country.
1965 General Mills purchases Cincinnati-based Rainbow Crafts, the Play-Doh manufacturer.
1966 Kenner Products introduces Spirograph design toys.
1967 General Mills purchases Kenner Products.
Kenner’s Close’n Play phonograph makes it safe for younger children to play records.
1968 General Mills purchases Parker Brothers.
1970 Rainbow Crafts is merged into Kenner Products and Play-Doh becomes part of the Kenner line.
1971 Kenner Products introduces Jukebox, a toy that played songs recorded by Kenner employees including “Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”.
1973 Kenner Products introduces Baby Alive, which becomes the number one baby doll of the year.
1975 Kenner Products breaks the $100 million sales mark.
Kenner Products’ Six Million Dollar Man action figures lead the industry and also become the industry’s first successful television license.
1976 Kenner Products moves to 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Kenner introduces Stretch Armstrong, a 13” high figure that could be stretched up to four feet!
1977 Kenner Products negotiates license for Star Wars property, which goes on to become the company’s most powerful toy success.
Albert Steiner, one of Kenner’s founders, passed away in December at the age of 82.
1978 Kenner Products breaks the $200 million sales mark, doubling its sales in just three years, due in large part to the enormous success of Star Wars.
1980 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back toys are introduced and are a huge success.
Kenner Products introduces Strawberry Shortcake mini-dolls.
1983 Four additional colors of Play-Doh are added, expanding the line to the “Basic 8” Rainbow Pack colors.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toys introduced, more than 300 million Star Wars related toys sold since 1977.
Kenner Products introduces Care Bears plush toys, helping to start a new “Care Bears Generation”.
Kenner establishes manufacturing operations in Tijuana, Mexico.
1984 Kenner introduces a collection of Super Powers action figures, each with their own miniature DC comic book.
1985 Kenner introduces M.A.S.K. action figures.
Kenner Parker Toys Inc., the country’s fourth largest toy company, is spun off from General Mills.
Kenner Products does its first out-licensing with the M.A.S.K. property for a wide range of consumer goods.
1986 Kenner Products introduces Real Ghostbusters action figures late in the year.
1987 Tonka Corporation acquires Kenner Parker Toys Inc. on October 16.
Tonka Corporation sales exceed $300 million.
1988 Tonka Corporation establishes four operating divisions: Kenner Products, Parker Brothers and Tonka Products serving the U.S. and Tonka International.
Kenner Products introduces Starting Lineup action figures which soon becomes one of the hottest collectibles.
1989 Sales of Real Ghostbusters toys continue to soar with the release of the second movie.
1990 Kenner’s productive ties to the entertainment industry pay off again with the successful introduction of the Batman line of toys.
Kenner’s Baby Alive returns to toy shelves with a new generation of young girls eager to embrace her. Over 9 million Baby Alive dolls have sold since the doll’s original introduction in 1973.
1991 Play-Doh celebrates its 35th birthday.
When Tonka Corporation (including Kenner Products and Parker Brothers) is purchased by Hasbro, Inc., Kenner becomes a division of the largest toy company in the world. Other divisions at Hasbro, Inc. include Milton Bradley, Playskool, and the Hasbro toy division.
With the Hasbro purchase and resulting restructuring, Play-Doh is shifted to the Playskool Division of the company; Parker Brothers’ Nerf and Tonka’s Cupcake doll lines move to Kenner Products.
1992 Kenner revitalizes their Batman business with a line of toys coinciding with the summer movie release of “Batman Returns”.
Kenner moves its headquarters to 615 Elsinore Place, Cincinnati, OH.
1993 DINOMANIA…As Spielberg’s Jurassic Park became the highest grossing movie of all time, Kenner’s Jurassic Park line became the talk of the toy industry.
Little girls across the country fall in love with the Littlest Pet Shop, Kenner’s new line of miniature pets with magical actions.
Easy-Bake Oven celebrates its 30th birthday with a publicity gala in conjunction with a food and lifestyle conference at Cincinnati’s Westin Hotel.
Kenner’s very successful Batman line expands with the introduction of toys tied to Fox TV’s “Batman, The Animated Series”.
The Nerf line explodes with the introduction of a number of new toys including Nerf Arrowstorm, Sharpshooter and the NB-1.
Philip Steiner, one of Kenner’s founders, passed away in November at the age of 82.
1994 Hasbro restructures the corporation into two groups – the Hasbro Toy Group (Kenner, Tonka and Playskool) and the Hasbro Games Group (Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley), positioning the corporation to enhance responsiveness to consumer demand.
Starting Lineup conventions draw crowds from across the country. Starting lineup prototypes were auctioned for charity with the highest bid at $5,000 for a 1989 Nolan Ryan.
Kenner stuns radio-controlled vehicle category with the introduction of Ricochet…one of the hottest selling R/C vehicles of the year.
1995 As Nerf celebrates its 25th birthday, the line’s popularity with consumers of all ages continues to soar – even the United States Congress was caught playing with Nerf Ballzookas in a brainstorming session addressing the national deficit.
Batman Forever…with the release of the third Batman movie, Kenner steps up to “Bat” with the introduction of yet another very successful line of Kenner toys.
Star Wars action figures, vehicles and accessories are reintroduced with the same excitement as the first introduction in the 70’s.
1996 The Star Wars line of toys continues to grow with the introduction of products tied to the novel Shadows of the Empire. Kenner branded Star Wars toys remain the number one selling toy for almost 12 months straight, second only to Kenner’s Batman action figures and accessories.
The Batman brand released its 100th Edition Batman figure celebrating the 100 different versions of Batman created by Kenner’s designers. The first Batman figure was created in 1984 with the Super Powers collection.
G.I. Joe, the all-American hero, came back in his original 12” form (the original 1963 body with 32 points of articulation was used). Collectors of all ages were thrilled to see the Classic Collection of authentically detailed, military personnel from around the world. Included was the U.S. Airborne Ranger Parachutist, French Foreign legion, U.S. Army Infantry, British SAS, and the Australian O.D.F.
Baby Go Bye Bye, with five ways to play, is the #1 selling large doll.
Kenner branded collectible toys launch the company’s first website at www.hasbrotoys.com.
1997 Star Wars toys celebrate 20 years with the re-release of the Special Edition trilogy at movie theatres and on video. More than 60 new Star Wars figures and vehicles came to the market. In October it is announced that Hasbro has earned expanded rights from Lucasfilm to produce a wide-range of toy and game products for the next three Star Wars movies (the prequels). The first prequel debuted May 1999.
The first G.I. Joe female figure is released since the G.I. Nurse in 1967 – a U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot. Product packages contain the label “G.I. Jane.”
XRC Crashback, a radio-controlled vehicle that smashes up and “unsmashes” at the touch of a button is very popular.
Other entertainment based lines include the fourth Batman movie – “Batman and Robin”, the second installment of Jurassic Park called “Jurassic park – The Lost World”; Warner Brothers “Steel” and Viacom Productions’ “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” which was the #1 television show among girls and teens.
Winner’s Circle, a diecast line featuring NASCAR’s top cars and drivers, is successfully launched. Hasbro even sponsors Kenny Irwin’s #27 NASCAR car with special Nerf, Tonka and G.I Joe paint schemes.
2000 Hasbro announces it will shut its Cincinnati operations, ending 53 years of Kenner history
2002 Joseph Steiner, one of Kenner’s founders, passed away in May at the age of 95.
Does anyone know how to get pens that work with “Spirographs” please email me, thanks
A company called Sound Feelings is a source of Spirograph replacement pens and refills.
http://www.spirograph-parts.com/
I bought a pack of eight BIC retractable pens in eight colors (purple, pink, light green, aqua, dark green, blue and black for under five bucks. Make sure they are retractable ones. These work great. The pens are called BIB Atlantis and the model number in the upper left hand corner is 19077. Hope this helps.
Obviously I misspelled . It is BIC Atlantis pen. There is also a red pen in the pack along with the other seven colors I listed.
My daughter uses any old pen around our house with the 1960 ish Spirograph. I hope that helps.
I have a Kenner’s No. 401 Spirograph and would like to buy colored pens to use with it. Can you help me? My children played with this and now it is my grandchildren’s turn.
Does anyone have information on the Banjo Matic toy banjo? When it was made? What kind of string it uses?
It was made in the early 1960’s, I can find copyright information dated for September 1962 but nothing more.
In your history of Kenner Toys, you make no mention of theIr “Girder and Panel” line of toys. These products were manufactured fom the late 1950s, through to 1967, or 1968. The sts were very popular, and are still quite hevealy traded on auction sites today. The “Girder and Panel” line Is a very important piece of the Kenner story.
Anthony…I was hired at Kenner by Jeep Kuhn and started in January of 1969….as I got promoted a fellow named Mike Oppenheim was assigned to work for me…Mike was one of the first engineers hired at Kenner during its formative years and he was the guy that worked on the Girder and Panel product line…he was a delightful fellow..quite serious but a true gentleman…and we had the same birthday….HB
No mention of the now famous Blythe doll that was released and sold for only a year in 1972? What a shame!
My sister sold one she had for $1000 on Ebay! Someone in Japan bought it I think.
I have the 1980 electronic game called redline drag face game that came out around late 1979 its in mint condition and every button and every light still works
Robert, Dale Goldberg was a great toy guy that worked for me when I was SRVP of Product Concepts at Kenner….Dale came up with the idea for Redline…it was a forerunner of a genre of handheld electronic games and we felt very proud of that product…it was great fun…HB
I have a miniature figure that is about two inches tall and purple with half a skull face and half regular face. He has a green mechanical chest piece and he looks like he changes colors with heat. on the back it has 90 and kenner on it. i feel he went to a bigger playset or vehicle. please help if you can identify the toy line. thanks!!
maybe interested! please send fotos thanoskanun@yahoo.gr
i had same game when I was a kid in 1980. a friend of my fathers worked for keener toys in cinci ohio and at Christmas time I was so spoiled with all the star wars and the redline game. Its such a shame I took all that for granted as a child and have nothing left, I was a spoiled 80s kid ill admit it. I wish I knew then what I know now and wish I could thank that person my self now.
Interesting stuff that reminded me of toys I had in my youth…. Kenner Playdoh (who did not have that?); Kenner Give a Show Projector; Kenner Doozies and my sister had a Kenner Easy Bake oven…. that I remember because she forced me to eat the little cake that was cooked with a light bulb.
I have a “The Doodler” toy with packaging that was manufactured by the Kenner Products Company. I am curious as to why there is no mention of it anywhere online and if that would mean that is it so rare as to not even have a mention. It clearly says “Kenner Products Company, Cincinnati 2, Ohio” on the packaging. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
email is lilredshortstack@yahoo.com if anyone has any information! thank you!
i have a 1972 kenner juke box,that does not work,where could i get a replacement or parts foe it.,do you know of any website i could go to, it is connected with general mills also,gene sinner 1000 3rd street,baraboo,wi 53913-2370,thank you
Why don’t they remake the girder and panel set toys sets.? These toys were a hugh success in the 60’s. These types of toys is what gave a lot children great immagination and thinking skills. I know because I had these toys.
I would like to buy a toy called Gobbles the Garbage Eating Goat if anyone can find it. It was always a favorite. Thanks.
There is one for sale on ebay at this time at a starting bid of $29.99.
I would love to find a Close N Play if anyone know of one, please let me know – crolon@imagenconsultants.com
i have a close n play phonagragh 1971 general mills #867 if anyone is interested. its still in the box. the box has been opened though.
tra.taylor@att.net
How does one even write an article on “Kenner History” without including Blythe?
This was the first line I worked on when I started in August 1972. Little did I know it would last for 40 years.
Please help. We have a white plastic horse with yarn hair and a cowboy hat. The rider is egg shaped with hat also. Number under horse says Catalogue number 9740. From 1975
I love Kenner toys! It’s too bad they no longer exist. I’m always on the lookout for new toys to add to my collection. Anyone looking to sell theirs??
I have a COLORBLASTER T-MASTER. It has never been used and is in perfect condition with all the original parts that were enclosed. If anyone is interested, I would be willing to sell.
You can spray paint your own cool t-shirt designs with colorblaster.
Hi I have a kenner bath time baby in original box, with everything in it. I’m selling, call me 8503818991 que
I wish they still made the Knit-O-Matic! I hear people in Michael’s asking about it all the time. Too bad. There’s still a market for it.
Are they still making the funny bad Kenner Shreeky toy with the care bears as well now, I heard about in 2013 last year and was just wondering if I could order it with a money order as payment too.
Re: Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
Can you tell me when the first doll was made? Is there somewhere I can go to to see the different dolls made for this line?
Looking for a working Gobbles the Goat. I have one, that my boys use to play with when visiting Grandma. When grandma passed away I found it tucked away and brought it home, unfortunately the belt has broken and it won’t eat the food. My 2 yr old granddaughter has fallen in love with it, and I only wish I could get it to work. Looking for a replacement or ideas on how to fix.
Have a Gobbles the Garbabge eating goat. make offer. no box but works good.
Have you heard of a line of kenner toys from 1996 called the crystal’s Palace collection?
How can I find ”warped speeders gang” of savage mondo blitzers?
I worked in Kenner’s shipping office in the late 60’s before I joined the Air Force. We were located in a decrepit old building on Kenner Street right next to the Union Terminal train station in Cincinnati. The biggest sellers at the time were the Spirograph and the Easy Bake Oven. They were always on back order. Mostly we shipped directly to department stores and small toy stores. Those were the days before large distribution centers came into existence. It was a very friendly place to work. The Steiners owned the company at that point, and they would come around regularly, and always ask how things could be improved.
I worked in the Norwood factory in the late 70’s. I was a line stocker so I got to see many different parts of the factory. One of the most interesting jobs I had. I was always fascinated by the whole assembly process. The factory itself was like a huge city, all the buildings connected to each other. Star Wars action figures were a big item at the time as was Stretch Armstrong…little tiny balloon looking thing that went into a BIG machine and came out as Stretch…fascinating stuff.
do you have savage mondo blitzers? I am looking for warped speeders 12 figoures…Or anyone close to you might know something!
Do you remember giving schools tours? I was there in 1979 with my Kindergarten class. We were given toys at the end of the tour. The girls were given Sea Wee dolls and the boys were given Star Wars toys.
Was curious as to the role of toy demonstrators, particular to the 50’s and 60’s. I will presume that many coincided with various major department stores through the toy companies. A beloved aunt was one and worked in conjunction with Famous Barr/Kenner in of St Louis. Most every female cousin of mine got an Easy Bake Oven at Christmas. The Give-a-Show projectors were another popular item. I remember spending hours converting her living room floor into an entire metropolis. Kenner building sets. Girder and Panel, Bridge and Turnpike and those Sub Division ensembles were all this 8yr old developer needed to pass the hours. It was like a politician in charge of zoning–I had it all. From a bit of research I have learned that Kenner was the first to actively pursue the medium of TV exposure aimed at the kids. Coupled with their toy demonstrators the formula was set. All of this pre-empting the big screen acropolis that began with Star Wars and the endless array of super heroes that have since followed. Most of which, lifted from the pages of 60 year old comic books. Such are the attributes of this millennium, not to mention the bombardment and influence of screens- no matter the size. Yet their was a time when texture, smell and hands on coronation depicted playtime esthetics, rather than point n click. And those toy demonstrators were very much a part of the sell. Any information as to a direction in researching Kenner demonstrators would be appreciated.
I am looking for the spoon for the 1990 vintage baby alive doll it is blue in colour I have searched high and low and can not find one just wondering if you knew where I could track one down 🙂
Comment: Please help if you can.I have been looking ,referencing,researching everything and everywhere I can,but I absolutely cannot find any information at all on the following item.What I have is the Kenner Alien Giant Blaster Target set dated 1979.What makes this particular set different from the others I`ve seen is that this set employs a dart pistol (no,this is not the Chase Target Set) instead of the ‘ping pong” type balls I`ve seen in all the other ones.The box art is exactly the same with the only difference being the blaster itself,the text here states” three safety darts instead of three safety balls” and the little boy on the front is a different child than on the other one.The girl and boy are positioned slightly different on this one.I think the little girl is the same one on both boxes.Another interesting feature of the blaster is that it has a cap firing mechanism on the top where you can load a roll of caps.You can plainly see this on the front of the box.However,nowhere on the box or on the instruction sheet does it make any mention of the cap mechanism.This is not a custom job,foreign issue or homemade item.It difinitely came from the Kenner factory.In the 15 years I have owned it,I have not seen another one.Not one.Not even a mention of one.Was this a proto-type? I can send pics to anyone who wants them. Please,anybody out there with any information at all,please,by all means contact me via email or my home phone number which is 704-445-0389.Ask for Bo.Thanks. Email me at: Jameshadden@aol.com
In reference to my comment above about the Giant Alien Blaster Set,does anyone know how I can contact anyone who worked in the toy and development department at Kenner in 1979?
Again in reference to my two comments above about the Giant Alien Blaster Set, it was put out by H G toys and not Kenner. Had Kenner on my mind and wasn`t paying attention.
Does anybody have any information on Kenner’s Baby Buddies dolls? I’ve spent my whole life collecting them and would love to hear from the people who helped develop them.
Katie H. My name is Howard Bollinger. I was SVP of Product Concepts at Kenner. Started there in Jan. 1969 and was the last person standing in Cincinnati after Hasbro closed us down in 2000. I had the groups that developed all the products Kenner sold, including Baby Buddies. Saw your question about them on a site from Oct. 22, 2015. My email is howardbollinger@aol.com if u still have questions about them.
Katie, I was SRVP of Product Concepts at Kenner and Baby Buddies was one of the toy lines developed in my group…I can’t quite remember the origin of doing that product line…but it might have been a great artist named Kathleen Estes who did the first idea drawings….HB
Hello I am trying to get ahold of someone at Kenner Toys company , I found a original care bear with the Rainbow that was Sewn on upside down and I am wondering if that is a rare find ?
Does anyone know where I can find the glamour gals cruise ship?
For Bo Hadden: I worked for Kenner from July 1969 until January 1974. The boss of the prototype shop was jack holland in 1979. After left tohere I did work for them. Jack had a business called clown alley. I don’t know where he is now. Two other fellows who might be able to help are Homer Gemmer of northern Kentucky or Bob Raines of Augusta Kentucky. They both ran the proto development shop back then.
Bill…. Howard Bollinger here…you bring back quite a few memories mentioning Jack..Homer and Bob…Bob Poleski was doing his thing too…was Joe Sparrow around when you were there?….HB
I’m looking for a still in the box 1973 smash-up derby set the one with the truck and a Volkswagen.
Superb !! great job
I’ve come across a Master Star Wars audio tape on a reel that has a note in the box. It has Artoo, C3PO, Stormtrooper and more. To Jewel Records: Please make 3 masters and 1 cassette fro this tape. Etc. Signed by Barry Fichter. It seems like a pretty rare find. What can anyone tell me about this.
still looking for savage mondo blitzers ”warped speeders” 12 figures! Ready to pay! 🙂
Hi Kenner Fans:
Does anyone have a video of the Kenner’s Knit-O-Matic?
Jay
I am specifically referring to the Knit-O-Matic TV Commercial.
Thanks,
Jay
I remember that commercial – “knit a row a second, knit a row a second”
We have an Easy Bake dual temp oven from 1987,says K.P.T. inc. 1983 on the back. It only needs a light bulb to work. Are there any adjustments needed with the current light bulbs sold? It took a 100 watt bulb. Thanks for any help!
Some old toys and board games we had saved since childhood were water damaged. In the collection is a Spirograph 401. There are some components missing and the instructions were ruined. Is there any chance of receiving a listing of components, so that I can see what is missing, and a new instruction booklet? I am in my late 60’s and would like to preserve this for our grandchildren. Thanks for any help.
Looking for a left handed door for the Ghostbusters firehouse, pls contact if you have one.
Looking for a first issue Baby Alive doll…willing to buy at the right price…e-mail me… hakkeekkah@gmail.com.
Hi looking for a Baby Yawnie doll, please contact me if you have any information where I can get one
Many thanks
Jennifer
Is there anyone out there that sells the 1977 Kenner finger pops?
Looking for transmitter for tonka XRC prospeed 1996 hasbro and Kenner 260mph racing car for along time.
They need to bring back some of the toys like the ssp
i didn’t see the 1995 Robin Hood Prince of thieves Line didn’t know if anybody missed that.
Looking for NASCAR Winner’s Circle Championship Legacy Darrell Waltrip 1981 Cup Winner and Rusty Wallace 1989 Cup Winner figures. If anyone knows where I can get them (along with photos of their actual existence) that would be helpful. If they do exist, I would have the whole set, along with the other figures in the line from 1997-2000!
Hello Jay. These two items you are asking about were never produced.
No mention of ssps smash up derby..their best toy?????
What a great site, particularly the history and product chronology:
Does anyone recall, or more particularly know where I might
find any reference to “the Kenner Kids”, three chimpanzees
by the names of Presto, Sparkle and Sam who appeared in
1960’s – 70’s TV ads for Kenner Glitter Paints? I’ve
worn out the keys searching Google and come up
empty handed.
Any reference to print ads or video would be
greatly appreciated.🙈🙉🙊
Hello My name is barbara Graham, my sister has the original dusty from the 1970″s with her accessories and I was doing a paper on the market gross of the company for dusty.
Hello: I have a Terry Bradshaw “Legends Collection” that has never been out of the box. Any idea what it is worth?
Your item is worth about ten dollars.
My brother in-law David Floyd (since passed away) did much of the art work and direction for
toys at Kenner. One I know for sure was the Spirograph. His son and daughter are still living.
Dave did not work at Kenner but as an independent contractor. His daughter may still have some info if anyone is interested. I have a “Picture in a Minute” which I would donate to a good home if someone would pay the shipping.
I have recently bought some Jurassic Park toys for my Son to play with sadly due to their age they are missing some parts. Could anyone please recommend anywhere that I could buy from and that ships to the uk.
Thanks in advance
I live in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and was wondering if anybody could help me with something. Is there is a book or documentary available to buy about the history of Kenner Products and the Steiner family? At the moment I cannot find one.
Does anyone no where I can get a 4 aa battery pack for a kenner remote control motorcycle ???
Hi
I have a boxed Hasbro/Kenner stretch mask, Italian green monster, Allunger and unopened (box still wrapped in original polythene) Fetch Armstrong dog. All large versions and boxed.
Any ideas of values much appreciated
I have 6 1983 Kenner Toys Care Bears in great condition no stains, rips, and a bug/ smoke free home! Any offers? I have Grumpy, Cheer, Wish, Bedtime, Tender Heart and Good Luck Bears!!
I have 3 lithographs that say 1962 Kenner Products Company Cincinnati 2, Ohio..One is of a collie with some sheep in the background..one is a pot with flowers in it,,the other is a locomotive with Indians attacking it,,it is the larger of the prints..Can anyone help me with information on these. I can send pictures if you like
Have a Kenner The Claw Truck that I am repairing, does anyone have the inner mechanism that works as the on off switch and makes the wheels move ?? This is a plastic piece that engages the front and rear wheels and makes the “claw” wheels open up . were there any parts left over from the manufacturing plants ..does anyone have a unit or a list of parts … …..2021 for this posting date
Looking for the current value of the Kenner’s Change- A- Channel TV Set complete and in the box .
Hi Teresa – value depends on completeness. box condition, and whether or not it still works. Assuming the best, it’s around $150.00.