Little People(R) Crew, Doctor Doodle, Snoopy Sniffer & Friends Help Make
History for the Pre-Eminent Toy Maker
EAST AURORA, N.Y., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2005, one of the best-loved
and most trusted names in preschool toys will commemorate its 75th
Anniversary. Fisher-Price, a division of Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT) will begin a
year-long celebration by joining the 78th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade(R) with a spectacular float that depicts the wonder and imagination of
childhood through larger-than-life, classic Fisher-Price(R) favorites.
"Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is steeped in holiday tradition and so is
Fisher-Price, which is why everyone at Macy's is so happy to welcome the
fantastic new 'Magic of Childhood' float to the Macy's Parade family this
year," says Robin Hall, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"The Fisher-Price team collaborated closely with the Macy's Parade Studio to
produce a float filled with fun and brimming with color; it is a carnival of
delights that both embraces the childhood memories of the adult audience while
exciting the imaginations of the millions of kids who will see it for the
first time on Thanksgiving morning."
This is just the second appearance for Fisher-Price in the Macy's Parade
route. The first Fisher-Price float appeared thirty years ago, in 1974, and
was based on the Little People(R) Circus Train.
"The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is enjoyed by millions of people
across the country, whether in person or on TV. It's become part of the
American Thanksgiving tradition," says Neil Friedman, president of
Fisher-Price. "Over three generations of children have played with
Fisher-Price toys. Having this captivating float in the Macy's Parade is the
perfect way to invite children and kids-at-heart to join us as we celebrate
our 75th birthday."
The Fisher-Price float will show the world through the eyes of a child and
feature classic and modern-day Fisher-Price toys that capture the company's
rich history and preview its bright future. Some familiar toys on the float
will include a larger-than-life rocking Rock-a-Stack(R), a working Corn
Popper(R), the Chatter Telephone(TM), the Little People(R) characters and a
merry-go-round complete with favorite classic pull toys such as the Snoopy
Sniffer and Doctor Doodle.
Throughout 2005, in addition to participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving
Day Parade, Fisher-Price will celebrate its 75th birthday with a national
sweepstakes, retail promotions, the Fisher-Price web site and much more.
Fisher-Price History
The year was 1930. Irving L. Price, recently retired from his position
with the F.W. Woolworth Co., was serving as mayor of the small village of East
Aurora, New York. He was looking for new business ventures for the village
when he approached toy industry veteran Herman G. Fisher. Little did the two
men know what delight their partnership would bring to children and collectors
through the years.
Fisher-Price has operated in East Aurora, New York (just outside Buffalo),
since its incorporation in September of 1930. The Fisher-Price corporate
headquarters is the hub of the brand's core product development, with a
world-renowned Play Laboratory, the ToyTown Museum, the Fisher-Price toy store
and more. Perhaps most importantly, it is the birthplace of thousands of toys
that young children throughout the world have grown up loving -- from the Corn
Popper and Chatter Telephone to Little People(R) and Rescue Heroes(R).
Wow! Did you know that?
* Over the past 75 years, Fisher-Price has created well over
5,000 different toys for children from birth to five years of age.
Many of those toys have become Fisher-Price classics, remaining
popular playthings for generations of children.
* The first Fisher-Price toy ever sold was Dr. Doodle. In 1931, parents
could buy this delightful little pull toy for under $3.00. The same
toy, in excellent condition, could command up to $1,000.00 today.
* If stacked on top of one another, the 40 million+ Rock-A-Stacks sold
since their introduction in 1960 would reach over 6,000 miles into the
sky.
* The Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone has been the first telephone for
over 26 million people since 1962. As a matter of fact the Chatter
Telephone is one of the only "telephones" on the market that still has
a rotary dial!
Fisher-Price, Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) and located
in East Aurora, New York, is the leading brand of infant and preschool toys in
the world. Its often-emulated Play Laboratory was the first child research
center of its kind in the toy industry, allowing researchers to observe the
way children play and how play benefits their development. The result is a
75-year legacy of high-quality toys that enhance early childhood development.
Some of the Company's best-known "classic" brands include Little People(R),
Power Wheels(R) and View-Master(R). The Company also creates toys that bring
some of the most popular and widely recognized characters to life -- from
Barney(TM) and Blue's Clues(TM) to Disney, Dora the Explorer(TM), Sesame
Street(R) and Winnie the Pooh. Fisher-Price is also a leading developer of
babygear products (nursery monitors, infant swings, high chairs and more).
The Company's web site, at http://www.fisher-price.com, provides valuable information
and resources to parents.
SOURCE Fisher-Price
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Related links:
http://www.fisher-price.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/540363.html
CONTACT:
Sue Murphy, smurphy@freemanpr.com, or Kelley
Haughey, khaughey@freemanpr.com, both of Freeman Public
Relations, +1-973-470-0400, for Fisher-Price; or Laurie Oravec,
+1-716-987-3395, oravecla@fisher-price.com, or Dana Marciniak,
+1-716-687-3354, marcinid@fisher-price.com, both of Fisher-Price
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