Sorry, I thought you were being sarcastic about the Star Wars thing.  As I recall, there really weren't any Star Wars toys released until the movie was already a hit.

 

An aside:  I remember the first four figures released were Luke, Leia and the droids - my neighbor got them, and they weren't released until around August/September of 1977.  Followed shortly by the first vehicle, the X-wing fighter, which I got for my birthday in October 1977.

 

 

Actually, weren't the original figures from the first movie in such high demand and low production that they sold empty boxes wit mail-in vouchers for the figures at christmas in '77 to meet demand? From what I understand, those boxes are worth more than the figures themselves... and if you have an unused mail in voucher? I can only imagine...

Yeah, the Star Wars toys were initially intended to be promotional materials along the lines of McDonald's Happy Meal toys. (About the same quality, too, I might add.) But the movie was a hit from day one. I'm sure they started releasing the figures in larger quantities later on.

 

Actually.... as I recall the first figures released included some Death Star guy. It was a pre-release package, all part of a four-pack or an eight-pack or something. I think it came with some cardboard diorama or something too.

 

Aside: A friend of mine recently discovered a whole stack of unopened Star Wars plastic cups (the large kind) that they had originally handed out to moviegoers in '77. Apparently his grandparents used to run a movie theater....

Went to Walmart, and they didn't have any Primes left :tfsad :grr

we got primes but no sale :tfsad