logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
38m 16s

EP125: The Evolution of Star Wars Mercha...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

On this episode of Our American Stories, Star Wars enthusiast and museum curator Jarod Roll shares how Star Wars revolutionized movie merchandising, licensing and how kids played with toys; and Wally Soplata tells the story of his eccentric union carpenter father who collected rare and vintage WWII aircraft for pennies on the dime.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)


Time Codes:

00:00 - Star Wars

23:00 - The B-25 In the Backyard

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Chuck Colson’s Road from Watergate to Redemption
<p>On this episode of Our American Stories, Chuck Colson once operated at the center of Washington power as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon. Watergate brought that world crashing down, sending him into a federal prison and into a reckoning he never expected. In this fi ... Show More
10m 49s
Yesterday
My Family Was At the First Thanksgiving
<p>On this episode of Our American Stories, Joy Neal Kidney has always loved Thanksgiving, and it makes perfect sense why. Her family was there at the first one. One branch survived a fall from the Mayflower in the middle of the ocean, and another began with a child who lost both ... Show More
9m 29s
Yesterday
A Young Officer Died in Normandy. His Story Found Her.
<p>On this episode of Our American Stories, for years, Heather McPherson knew only fragments about her great-uncle, a young officer who served with the 29th Division during World War II. His name was Ralph Ferguson, and he was among the Allied troops who landed at Omaha Beach on ... Show More
9m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
The Star Wars Holiday Special that Luke Skywalker Hates ft. Adam Pally and Betsy Sodaro | 15
<p>Back in 1978, George Lucas and CBS created a Star Wars holiday special so staggeringly bad, Lucas has publicly stated he wants it destroyed. The variety show featured Carrie Fisher singing, Wookiee porn, and many, many things that should never be associated with Star Wars. Bud ... Show More
37m 39s
Apr 2024
Wings of Courage: A World War II Pilot Adventure
Take to the skies, as we follow Eddie on his journey of becoming a World War II  fighter pilot. In this historical fiction adventure, Eddie dreams of flying, joins the war effort in Europe, and engages in dogfights with enemy fighters.  📺 YouTube👍 Facebook | Instagram🇲🇽 Span ... Show More
9m 56s
May 2023
The Force is Strong With This Episode
On the eve of Star Wars Day, we present to you a camtono (AKA grab bag AKA an ice cream maker) of Star Wars thoughts and topics, the Light side and Dark Side of fandom, and why things like this matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
36m 50s
Jan 2023
Episode 253: Tarkovsky's Starchild
<p>It's the episode that Tamler has been waiting for – a long deep dive into Andrei Tarkovsky's mysterious masterpiece "Stalker." A writer and professor are led by their guide (Stalker) into a cordoned off "zone" that may have been visited by a meteorite (or aliens) a couple of d ... Show More
2h 8m
Jul 2022
203. American Civil War: Aftermath & Legacy (Part 4)
In the final episode of this 'American Civil War' series, Tom, Dominic and historian Adam Smith look at the end of the conflict, the subsequent assassination of Abraham Lincoln and how the war is viewed in modern day America. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening t ... Show More
49m 12s
Jun 2024
Spin Master/PAW Patrol: Ronnen Harary (2021)
<p>Ronnen Harary built a 4 billion dollar toy company without relying on market research or focus groups. Instead, he believed wholeheartedly in intuition: the "ah-hah" moment that comes from thinking like a 7-year old. Over a 25-year period, he and his Spin Master partners launc ... Show More
1h 6m
Mar 2022
Ridiculous History Presents: A History of "Adult" Toys, Part 1
<p>While it's a taboo subject in the modern day, it turns out people have been improvising ways to pleasure themselves since, well, the dawn of history. In this week's two-part takeover episode, Ben and Noel join Eli and Diana Banks, real-life spouses and creators of the hit podc ... Show More
56m 35s
Feb 2024
MIGHTY 8TH - CRISIS (Part 3)
“We love fighting. Fighting is a grand sport.” For so much of the war, the vicious fighter planes that we obsess over to this day were being mis-used. In a new epic seven-part series inspired by the release of ‘Masters Of The Air’ on AppleTV, Al Murray and James Holland tell the ... Show More
1h 1m