Public Opinion from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania • 19

Public Opinion Saturday. December 24, 1977 19 Toys at Christmas To an exteni, the American toy business is recession proof about the toys they are asked to give an opinion on. Despite his experience, however, Kurgeson still finds the extraordinary appeal of "Star Wars' so unique and different? We don't have all the answers. Our research indicates It's the broad aspects of 'Star which comes back to why the 'Wizard of Or' Is a legend It's all the good things, good over evil, a lot of fun, an escape from reality Despite these production problems. Kenner stands to make a bundle from "Star Wars" toys, Kurgeson.

the marketing research man, has had years of experience in testing the reaction of parents and children to toys or ideas for toys. Most of this work is so secret he won't talk about it. Parents engaged in in the testing programs, which take place in communities all over the United States, must sign secrecy oaths the stores this Christmas, because people in Okada shop and elsewhere in the company told Loomis it was Impossible to perfect them and tool up the factory in time a process that normally takes 12 to 18 months. Kenner has been able, however, to prepare several "Star Wars" paper Items for this Christmas. In an effort to recoup, Kenner is offering in stores this Christmas a flat cardboard box with a "Star Wars" scene on the outside and with a certificate promising that the first four figurines Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa.

the robot Artoo Detoo (R2-D2) and Chewbacca. the friendly ape will be sent through the mail within a few months. It retails for $8 to $16. I' fHIL MCCOM8S "Ttt WoMngion Poll I Five yean ago tome engineers at Kenner Products, a toy company, came to the creative conference with a joke a wooden model of a baby doll that chewed its food and then eliminated it into a disposable diaper. The company's top executives, creative people, engineers and designers are sometimes a loud, lively group at the regular Monday meetings.

They present Ideas and exchange views. The ideas come from outside inventors or from within the company. Then the decision comes: "Kill" or "go ahead." This session was especially lively, with many jokes about peristaltic action, until Bernard Loomls, Kenner's president and a man with the fatherly appearance of a large teddy bear, delivered his verdict: "tCs very funny, and I think It will sell a million dolls." Baby Alive, as the doll was called, became one of the industry's all-time best sellers, The supply ran short the first year. Kenner public relations man John Beck remembers the demand, "I had a grandmother call me from New Orleans. She said her daughters In Dallas and Oklahoma couldn't find Baby Alive In the stores.

She said, 'Is it available In Atlanta? because if so, I'll fly down there and get one." Toys are big business: 925 U.S. toy and game manufacturers retail sales of $4 billion last year 235 items in the Kenner catalog alone; conceived, designed and manufactured by the company's 2,500 employees Kenner sales comfortably in excess of $100 million a year a company warehouse that at times has inside more than 800,000 boxed man for the 225-mcmber Toy Manufacturers of America. "What it comes down to is the emotional content of the product. You come to Christmas time and you may be worried about your job. but you'll put off the purchase of a new refrigerator to make sure that the kids get something." SCENE.

It is Pearl Harbor day. David Okada opens the door of his small corner office in Kenner headquarters high In a downtown skyscraper. He is assaulted by squadrons of paper airplanes, Screams and shouts. "BLAM BLAM BLAM. Okada is Hawaiian born and of Japanese extraction.

He's used to this playing around on the job. In fact, he relishes it, encourages it among his subordinates. As Kenner's vice president of toys worth more than $20 million The big Kenner factories, located on acres of Cincinnati's industrial suburbs, are as grim and factory-like outside as the toys Inside are bright and delightful. Inside, assembly-line workers are turning out "Star Wars" poster paint kits and a popular new toy called Milky, the Marvelous Milking Cow. You pump its tall, It drinks water from a trough, moos, and gives whitish pretend-milk through a plastic udder.

Most of the assembly lines are shut down now, and many workers laid off for the Christmas low season. Most of this year's toys are already in the stores. To an extent, the American toy business is even recession proof. "People buy toys when they haven't got money for anything else," says Ted Erickson, a spokes 11 preliminary design, he is one of the company's two top creative persons. Scene.

Loomls' office. A president's office with big desk, big sofa, As throughout the headquarters, there are pictures of children on the walls, although none of them is playing with toys. Public relations-man Beck sits nearby. He Is Jittery, not exactly sure why a reporter is visiting. "Toyetic," says Loomls.

His own Favorite Professional word. He coined it himself. When he spoke with Steven Spielberg about building a toy line around "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," he told the director, "It sounds like a great movie, but it doesn't sound toyetic." Spielberg caught on right away. "Well, it's not 'Star he said. This surprised Loomis, who at that point had not seen "Star Wars" even though he had bought toy rights to the movie.

Spielberg, who had seen it, filled him in. "Our original planning was that it would be another picture," says Loomis. "It would open and close. It would make a good background for a good toy line. Of course, now the picture's opened and it's never going to close." Loomis, who still talks with the suggestion of a rich Bronx accent, claims to be the only man in Cincinnati who subscribes to the Daily Hollywood Reporter.

It has helped keep him in touch, and in six years at Kenner he has led the General Mills subsidiary in more than doubling gross sales. Loomis switched from selling hardware to toys two decades ago after a friend convinced him there was more money in it. But the "Star Wars" coup has not been without its difficulties. Amazing as it seems, there were no "Star Wars" plastic figurines in eace be with you during this holy season h- iff 4 i il rh -y GLENN MILLER'S AUTO PARTS, INC. 542 Lincoln Way Wtit, Chambtrsburg 8-10 North Ptnn Strott, Shipponsburg Phone 263-9134 or 532-4163 TEfifi ri 1 Lwi I lit Two dollars street vendor gestures the price of the toy dogs he's imother in downtown Cleveland.

Lyons Armed services news Colonel retires selling but it's no deal for from Air mand Surgeon, Headquarters, Aerospace Defense Command. The colonel, who has more than 28 years of military service, is a veteran of the Korean War. He is a 1945 graduate of Waynesboro High School and received a B.A. degree in psychology in Tole Floor a boy walking with his Force 1951 from Gettysburg College where he was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps program. Col.

Galbraith also earned a M.P.H. degree in hospital administration in 1961 from Yale University, New Haven, Conn. Large Assortment of Shades Too Lamps Lamps Phone 352-793? In The Spirit of Christmas We Will Be CLOSED December 26, 1977 Offering a prayer of thanks and hoping that the beauty of the Holy Birth will surround you at Christmastide. The true meaning of Christmas is Peace. May you always have it.

W.0. SHUMAN Member of the House 90th Legislative District JOYS bring fireside and yonr friendship VJjyTlNlfCMINIXt fAiHIpm t-. 'item monies, Col. Galbraith was presented the second award of the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding duty performance as chief of the Health Resources Division with the Office of the Com- gets promotion while serving with the 2nd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. gets promotion moted to Army specialist four while serving as a heavy equipment mechanic in Kornwestheim, Germany.

honor graduate tion Center located at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas. Sgt. Coffman achieved the honor of being designated honor graduate of the course which required an excellent capacity for retention of information and attention to detail. Lyons Chambersburg Main at Queen 263-9254 Charge it: Lyons BankAmericard Master Charge Open Thursday Friday to 9 P.M.

Other days to P.M. Westwood lamps Glass Shades Special Orders THE LAMP SHADE SH0PPE 21 East Main Street Fayetteville, Pa. A. Lieutenant Colonel John I R. Galbraith, son of Mr.

and Mrs. jonn w. uaibraitn, 919 P.ark Waynesboro, has retired from the U.S. Air Force at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. During retirement cere man Marine Corporal Michael tl Turner, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Homer R. Turner, Fayetteville, has been promoted to his present rank Army specialist I Glenn E. Heintzelman, son of Elwood M. Heintzelman, R.R.

2, Green-castle, was recently pro Guardsman named "Sergeant First Class Edwin P. Coffman, R.R. 2, senior administrative supply technician for Troop 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, recently completed the administrative supply technician course at the National Guard Professional Educa M1T 1M SUTWOJY AUTHENTIC 100 BRAIDED Hand AREA Custom REMNANTS First RENT-TRADE CALL 264-6161 THE Ma; Christmas friends to your 'We want to thank all of our wonderful customers and wish them a truly blessed Christmas season. MINUTE WASH CHAMBERSBURG ORIENTAL DESIGN Moth Proofed Wool peace to your some. In ROTZ'S CAR 331 WEST LOUDON A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAMBERSBURG BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS TO DISTRICT RESIDENTS Part Two: The negotiations go on.

Since the first of these messages was written last week, representatives of the School Board and the Chambersburg Area Education Association have begun a period of intense negotiation which should continue through early January. Accordingly, the message previously scheduled for this time has been postponed to allow the negotiation teams to work on final details of the new contract. The many issues which the two sides have been discussing for the past eleven months are complicated. The Board has tried and will continue to try through the District Newsletter, messages of this kind, and news releases to keep the citizenry informed about matters of great consequence to them. The Board is proud of the quality of the Chambersburg staff and educational program, and future communications will also deal with the many positive and noteworthy factors of your school system.

Gordon Lambert, President Chambersburg Board of School Directors OVAL RUGS MadeMachine Made RUGS Made nl the glow of extend sincere thanks. Quality From Leading Manufacturers 1 ill HtlDAT II u. ml tm 1 ML QOS WltWfSMT WE WILL CLOSE CHRISTMAS EVE AT 4 P.M. CLOSED ALL DAY DEC. 25 JAN 1st.

Book 'N Card Mall South Gati Mall, Chambtrsburg FREY'S FASHION FLOORS 213 N. Second Street Phone 264-8247.