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Subject: 
Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo
Date: 
Fri, 13 May 2005 21:14:33 GMT
Viewed: 
11320 times
  
In lugnet.trains, John Neal wrote:
   In lugnet.trains, Ross Crawford wrote:

   Ahem. Thomas the Tank Engine books and records (7” 45 RPM!) were very popular in Australia in the early 70s.

What happened since?

Ummmmm does it matter? They were very popular in countries other than the UK, so they (the characters/stories) were propelled to the world stage many years before anyone thought of a Brio Thomas or TV series.

  
   So while the TV series may have propelled it onto the North American stage, that is not necessarily the world stage.

Well, the success of the series prompted the major motion picture release, which could rightly be called a “world stage”.

Sure, but it had already been brought to the “world stage” in different forms many years before.

   I realize that the books have been around a looong time. But as actual toys, Thomas, it seems to me, is a rather recent phenomenon.

Ahhh you see that makes a difference. Your original statement didn’t say “Thomas toys” but just “Thomas”, which to me means the character (and the stories). I guess because that’s how I was introduced to Thomas.

BTW I do remember a plastic unknown brand Thomas toy being available at the time, but I never owned one and I doubt it was a huge success. Unfortunately, I did not write down any info or commit it to memory.

   I had Brio as a kid, but no Thomas Brio (as is now). My dad had Marklin train set, but no Thomas characters were ever sold by model railroad manufacturers (that I’m aware).

And, to be honest, what really turned my crank about Thomas were the videos produced by Britt Alcroft. To me, without the videos, the Thomas stories by the Rev. Awdry become just another little engine that could.

John, I realise it is only relatively recently that Thomas toys & videos and all the paraphenalia that goes with them became popular, but I still think the books and records were a significant introduction for many kids around the world. I just think the statement “the TV series propelled Thomas to the world stage” is not totally correct, hence my post.

ROSCO



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) Fair enough. I guess what I don't understand is how Thomas could have remained a relative unknown here in the US up until the late 80's. JOHN (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: 8 Wide LEGO Thomas! (pics)
 
(...) What happened since? (...) Well, the success of the series prompted the major motion picture release, which could rightly be called a "world stage". I realize that the books have been around a looong time. But as actual toys, Thomas, it seems (...) (19 years ago, 13-May-05, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.duplo, FTX)

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