BarringtonPatch has posted an article about Don Levine‘s visit to the Barrington Preservation Society Museum. Who is Don Levine, you may ask? Levine is the very man who created the GI Joe action figure in 1964. He is also a veteran of the Korean War. Here’s a blurb about how GI Joe came to be, and a surprising model for it in the form of a mannequin:
“I came back and felt that I had a duty to tell people about the real American hero,” Levine said. “That became GI Joe.”Levine said just about the first decision he made was that “I wanted a moveable soldier. What’s the use of a soldier unless it could be moveable to ride in Jeeps and planes and boats and scuba diving.”
Levine said he found the model for GI Joe in an art supply store: the wooden dummy with multiple joints used by artists and sculptors as a foundation for their works.
Interestingly enough, Levine mentions that GI Joe was “the first toy ever to be promoted on a TV commercial.” Things have certainly changed as GI Joe toy commercials these days are rare occurrences, the last one airing a few years ago.
Linked to the article was a commercial featuring the original GI Joe figures, shown below:
Shin Densetsu says
Don Levine Discusses The Birth Of GI Joe - GI Joe News
Scroll142 says
It's amazing how I can be nostalgic for something I wasn't around to experience when it came out. Yo Joe.
TK1945 says
The kid saying "Terrific Battle!" cracks me up. Gotta love the old Joes though.
I recommend reading the book that came with the Masterpiece edition GI Joe.
Mercenary696 says
The old joes are great! The 1966 Soldiers Of The World series is outstanding. So much went into those figures and the quality is fantastic.
NCR_Ranger92 says
I still have the 12 inch Joes my dad had as a kid. I hope when I have kids they will hold it close to thier hearts as much as I do.
notpicard says
?
G.I.Joe was definitely not the first toy to be promoted by a TV commercial. Mr. Potato Head was, I believe, Hasbro's first toy commercial. And it was definitely the first commercial directed at kids. That aired at least 10 years before G.I.Joe was created.
I think Barrington Patch may have misquoted.
Dragonrider1227 says
Has Don Levine ever commented on the 80s GI Joes? Did he like the idea? Did he think they ruined his baby? I'm very curious about this
hotmitts says
Levine said just about the first decision he made was that “I wanted a moveable soldier. What’s the use of a soldier unless it could be moveable to ride in Jeeps and planes and boats and scuba diving.”
That's why we shouldn't have reduced articulation.
skinny says
G.I.Joe Documentary - YouTube
paraviper says
That's why we shouldn't have reduced articulation.
Keep reading: Don Levine Discusses Birth Of GI Joe 1964 - Page 2
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