logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
17m 58s

The Story of How Star Wars Toys Revoluti...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

On this episode of Our American Stories, the "Nostalgia Awakens" is a Star Wars action figure exhibit from enthusiast and museum curator Jarrod Roll. He's here to share the story of how Star Wars toys revolutionized movie merchandising, licensing, and even how children play.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
The 1983 Toy Riot That Changed Holiday Shopping
<p>On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Cabbage Patch Kids hit store shelves in 1983, parents felt a pull they hadn&rsquo;t sensed from a toy before. Crowds formed before sunrise, and the pressure inside those shops grew in a way that felt unfamiliar for the holiday ... Show More
20m 18s
Today
When One Iowa Family Welcomed Refugees to the Table
<p>On this episode of Our American Stories, when a group of refugees from Bosnia arrived at her Iowa church, Joy Neal Kidney watched them step carefully into a world that felt nothing like the one they had escaped. One family in particular carried the quiet weariness of people sh ... Show More
9m 59s
Today
Tom Landry: A Story from “America’s Coach”
<p>On this episode of Our American Stories, before he ever wore his trademark hat on the sidelines, Tom Landry was a young man trying to build a future during the hard years of the Depression. He joined the University of Texas football team, flew combat missions in World War Two, ... Show More
7m 59s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
SMNTY Classics: The Original Star Wars Trilogy
The Star Wars celebration continues with a look at the original trilogy in this classic. Anney and Samantha use their visual scanning to shine a light on the secret weapons of Star Wars, the women both fictional and behind the scenes who gave these movies life, heart and helped m ... Show More
42m 42s
May 2019
Introducing Inside Star Wars
It was made on a shoestring and dumped into a handful of movie theaters back in 1977. And then it changed the world. This is the story of George Lucas and his dream called “Star Wars.” It’s a story of the people who made the original classic and the people who did their very best ... Show More
1m 39s
Apr 2022
Selects: A Partial History of Action Figures
Action figures have a long and glorious history. From GI Joes to Star Wars figures, these offshoots of dolls came along at just the right time to capture the hearts and minds of children everywhere. Learn all about the partial history of action figures in this classic episode.See ... Show More
1h 13m
Dec 2023
Star Wars: The empire strikes cash
When Star Wars launched, it helped usher in the era of the blockbuster. In the wake of the film, came the figures. Forty years on from their launch, the original toys have now become highly sought after - some fetching a few hundred thousand dollars. We head to the largest toy fa ... Show More
17m 48s
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
Dec 2019
Living with Star Wars
This is the true story of how Star Wars Episode IV-A New Hope got made. A film that, as plain old Star Wars, transformed cinema to become part of a pop culture phenomenon known across the world. As Episode IX arrives in our cinemas, wrapping up the destinies of the original trilo ... Show More
50m 29s