Hi Joe, thank you for taking time to answer a few questions. You've led such an incredible career. How many years have you been in the Toy Business?

I was in the Toy Industry for 78 years from 1948 to 2025.

How did you get into the Toy Industry, and where did it take you?

I was a Staff Sergent in the Intelligence Division of the Marines. I served for 2 years and when I finished my service on an aircraft carrier, I was newly married and needed a job. Luck has it I saw an ad in the NY Times for an Office Boy for $15 a day from Louis Marx, Inc., the largest toy company in the USA at the time. Mr. Marx was a task master, he demanded a lot, and in return I gave him a lot. I was his dream boy, and he enabled me to excel. In a few years’ time I worked my way up to VP of Sales at Marx.

From Marx Toys, I gained the experience, the skills sets and tenacity to start my own toy company. From office boy to CEO! I built the relationships in the buying community, the inventor world, and the licensing industry to have a platform to succeed. The industry was consolidating, so after many years of marketing my own product, I decided to merge with View-Master, the 3-D story telling device, and then acquire IDEAL Toys, one of the oldest toy companies in America, famous for Erector Sets, Baby Dolls and a host of classic Games.

I also had an eye for product…which meant in a fashion forward and trendy industry, I had the ability to spot trends and the ability to translate them into toys. I was the consummate deal maker in my day.

What’s your claim to fame in the toy industry? How did you leave your mark? What makes you a legend?

Product is king in the toy industry so I can list the biggest hits that I was involved with:

Disney – I believe I was the 1^st manufacturer to make 3-D’s toys with the Disney characters versus using stickers to identify them. I cultivated relationships with all the Hollywood Studios to license toys from their movies.

Talking Big Bird – the first animatronic Sesame Street plush who sang and spoke in synch to a child reading a book. Oscar and Cookie Monster followed.

Magnadoodle – the drawing toy which became the modern version of Etch a Sketch, and was featured on the TV show “Friends.”

Magic 8 Ball – the fortune telling 8 Ball soon to be made into a motion picture by Mattel.

Charlie Doll – a hit sensation, with over a million fashion dolls shipped worldwide

Holly Hobby Miniatures – A di-cast collectible line with over 100 themes

The Original Teddy Bear – A letter from Roosvelt authorizing its production authenticated the plush as a collectable.

Big Wheel – one of the 1^st ride-on toys for toddlers

Michael Jackson View-Master – which sold over 5 million units based on the “Thriller” music video and concert footage. Michaels Pets plush line which featured his monkey at his zoo in LA. I had the opportunity to meet Michael at his Neverland Ranch. What was it like meeting Michael? He was friendly and charismatic and hospitable.

In addition to marketing product in the USA, my claim to fame was growing an international distribution network. In addition to attending toy fairs in the USA, I attended them throughout Europe and Asia my entire career. It was a 2-way street…I found new products abroad to bring back home, and marketed my company’s product internationally through these partnerships. I developed lifelong friendships through these partnerships.

What are some other highlights of your career?

I loved sourcing product. I found and supported factories in the USA, Japan, China, England and the former Yugoslavia. The supply chain starts with your factories, the people that run them and the confidence that you can manufacture the unimaginable in record time.

Metting Sam Walton at his home, while he was running Ben Franklin, and before he founded Walmart.  

Serving on the Board of Directors of public companies, including View-Master IDEAL, Russ Berry, and Singing Machine, the latter of which I served until last year, at the age of 95.

It was a great run!

What advice would you give to young graduates who want to get into the toy industry? What are the keys to running a successful company.

Work hard. Make friends, Take chances. Be creative. Delegate authority. Reward well. Spot trends. Expose yourself to the international market.

What was your greatest achievement? Closing comments?

Being a loving supportive husband. Raising an amazing family together…kids, grandkids and great grandkids.

I’m now the oldest living executive in the toy industry from my era. It’s a blessing yet hard to believe how time has flown by.