Overview
Founded in Cincinnati in 1946, Kenner Products became one of the most influential American toy companies of the 20th century. The company built its reputation on inventive toys that combined play with clever mechanical features, introducing such iconic products as the Easy-Bake Oven in 1963 and Spirograph in 1966. Kenner also brought Play-Doh into its product lineup after General Mills merged Rainbow Crafts with the company in 1970, while products such as Baby Alive and Stretch Armstrong became major successes during the 1970s.
Kenner's greatest impact came from its licensed properties and action figures. The company transformed the toy industry with its 3¾-inch Star Wars figures beginning in 1978, establishing a scale and format that would become an industry standard. Its portfolio also included The Six Million Dollar Man, Alien, Batman, Indiana Jones, and numerous other popular entertainment properties. During the 1980s, Kenner continued this tradition with the Super Powers Collection, applying its trademark combination of recognizable characters, detailed sculpting, and innovative action features to the DC Comics universe.
After decades of success, Kenner went through several changes in ownership, becoming part of Tonka in 1987 and then Hasbro in 1991. Although the original Kenner organization was eventually closed, the company's influence remains evident throughout the modern action-figure industry. For collectors, the Kenner name remains synonymous with the era when toys such as Star Wars, Super Powers, Stretch Armstrong, and Easy-Bake Oven helped define an entire generation of play.
