Nov 6, 2019

Toy Association inducts three icons into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame

The Toy Association announced that it will induct three icons into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame. The individuals nominated include: Thomas Chan, founder and CEO of Playmates Toys Inc.; Thomas G. Murdough, Jr., founder of Little Tikes, Step2, and Simplay3.

The individuals were nominated for induction and voted on by members of The Toy Association in recognition of their significant contributions to the industry and the impact they have had on the lives of children through a lifelong commitment to toys and play. They will join an impressive roster of 79 toy industry luminaries, such as Milton Bradley, Joan Ganz Cooney, Walt Disney, Ruth Handler, Jim Henson, and Stan Lee, who have been inducted into the Hall since it was established in 1984.

“Thomas Chan, Thomas G. Murdough, Jr., and Harry Kislevitz have made a lasting impact on the global toy community, inspiring generations of creative, imaginative, and physical play. They have introduced products that challenged play norms and evolved them into evergreen brands that continue to be loved by kids young and old,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Toy Association. “A clear commitment to innovative design and marketing is a career-long hallmark among all three inductees and serves as inspiration to future toy and play makers. For 2020, our members once again offered an impressive array of potential nominees and from that cadre three worthy giants have emerged.”

2020 Living Inductees

Thomas Chan, founder and CEO of Playmates Toys Inc.

Chan is the visionary behind one of the industry’s first global distribution networks. He transformed Playmates into a branded, promotional toy development and marketing company that set the stage for its long-term growth and entry into the U.S. market.  Mr. Chan also led the company’s efforts to launch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) toy line and fund production of the original TMNT TV mini-series, which lead to the single biggest year of sales (1990) ever achieved by an action figure line. His product and brand legacy include such industry- and category-leading successes as TMNT, Star Trek, The Simpsons, and Space Jam action figures; Cricket interactive dolls; Waterbabies; Baby So Beautiful dolls; Nano Virtual Pets; and more.

Thomas G. Murdough, Jr., founder of Little Tikes, Step2, and Simplay3

With a career spanning more than 50 years that includes the launch of three separate companies, Thomas G. Murdough, Jr., has transformed the world of outdoor play and kids’ ride-ons. After founding Little Tikes in 1970, Mr. Murdough bucked the trend toward injection molding, instead building the company into the world’s largest rotational molder — a move that earned him the title of “the godfather of rotational molding” and allowed the company to increase its speed to market and hire more employees. He has brought innovation to the toy aisle, for example, the Turtle Sandbox transformed outdoor play into a year-round category, and his dedication extends to his employees and the communities surrounding company plants and offices. He has served on The Toy Association board of directors as well as several Northeastern Ohio boards including the Akron Children’s Hospital and Cleveland’s University Hospitals.

2020 Posthumous Inductee

Harry Kislevitz, co-founder of Colorforms

The late Harry Kislevitz (1927-2009) founded Colorforms in 1951 along with Patricia, his wife and fellow art student, after experimenting with a low-cost alternative to paint. They discovered that the vinyl material stuck to the semi-gloss paint in their bathroom, and Colorforms was born. Outside bringing innovation to the arts and crafts category, Mr. Kislevitz was also one of the first in the industry to recognize and prove the power of licensing. He transformed the company into one of the first license-based toy companies, with early licenses including Mickey Mouse, Holly Hobbie, and Popeye in the 1950s. Mr. Kislevitz also understood the importance of brand building, tapping Paul Rand to create Colorforms’ now-iconic logo design, and of promoting STEAM/STEM learning in an era in which toys and education did not overlap. Colorforms products taught the alphabet, counting, art, and spatial learning in ways that had never been done before. Kislevitz remained a respected leader in the industry throughout his lifetime and beyond.

The Toy Industry Hall of Fame lives alongside the National Toy Hall of Fame in a special exhibit at The Strong museum in Rochester, New York. The cutting-edge installation features inductees of both halls under one roof.