Action figure notable for its ability to stretch several feet
Stretch Armstrong
is a large, gel-filled
action figure
that was first introduced in 1976 by
Kenner
.
[1]
In 2016, at the New York Toy Fair,
Hasbro
announced the return of the Stretch Armstrong toy in its original 1976 design.
Stretch Armstrong is made of latex rubber filled with a proprietary gelled substance similar to corn syrup, which allows it to retain shape for a short time before shrinking to its original shape.
Stretch Armstrong is an
action figure
shaped as a short muscular man with
blond hair
wearing black trunks. The doll's most notable feature is that it can be stretched from its normal size of about 15 inches (38 cm) to four to five feet (120 to 150 cm). If a tear does develop, it can be fixed with an adhesive bandage. Information on how to repair Stretch is provided in the toy's instruction booklet, which is included in the original box.
History
[
edit
]
The Stretch Armstrong toy concept was created by Jesse D. Horowitz,
[2]
the industrial designer for Kenner's
R&D
group. The idea was approved for development by the head of R&D, Jeep (James) Kuhn, vice president of Kenner.
The "stretch man" idea as it was called was pursued with two different bodies in mind. One was a
sumo wrestler
and the other was an
All-American
blond
hunk
. Horowitz sculpted the models himself instead of hiring a freelancer. The sumo man was too bulky and large, so the All-American body was cast by Kenner's model maker Richard Dobek, and the resultant resin model was taken to a latex doll manufacturer in New Jersey, where the first bodies were dipped.
Originally, springs were thought of as the way to stretch the man. However, they were thought to be too awkward and stiff, too difficult to insert and would likely pierce the skin. Kuhn, a chemical engineer, pursued a liquid sugar idea which eventually proved successful. Tremendous quantities of
Karo
corn syrup
were purchased from an
A&P
supermarket
[
citation needed
]
. The syrup was boiled down to get the proper viscosity. Kuhn and Horowitz flew to Kenner's headquarters in
Cincinnati
,
Ohio
, and presented the concept to Bernie Loomis, Kenner's president. He loved it and a toy icon was born.
The original Stretch Armstrong figure was conceived and developed by Bill Armasmith, and was in production from 1976 until 1980.
[
citation needed
]
Denys Fisher
manufactured and released the figure in Europe, under license from Kenner.
[3]
The original 1970s toy commands high prices on the secondary collectors' market, selling for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of US dollars.
[
citation needed
]
Through storage and play, the figure could become damaged and rendered useless. There are still original Stretch Armstrongs that have survived the passing of time and are remarkably preserved through sheer luck or being stored at the correct temperature.
[
citation needed
]
The figure keeps best at room temperature.
[
citation needed
]
Stretch Armstrong is made of
latex rubber
filled with gelled corn syrup, which allows it to retain shape for a short time before shrinking to its original shape.
[4]
Similar releases
[
edit
]
An estimated 67 different versions from
Japan
,
Germany
,
Italy
,
France
,
Australia
, and other countries released Stretch Armstrong variations between 1976 and the 1990s.
[5]
- Stretch X-Ray (1977), had an oversized exposed
brain
and an alien-looking face with a transparent form that showed its internal organs which were lungs, an intestinal system and what appears to be a heart. This version was re-released.
- Harbert Sport Mister Muscolo, 1977 Italian version of Stretch Armstrong
[6]
- Lili Ledy El Hombre Elastico, Mexican version of Stretch Armstrong
[6]
- Tsukuda
Mr. X, Japanese version of Stretch Armstrong
[6]
- Stretch Monster, a
reptilian
green nemesis released by Kenner in 1978
- Harbert Sport Mister Mostro, Italian version of Stretch Monster
[6]
- Tsukuda
Stretch Monster, Japanese version
[6]
- Stretch Ollie and Stretch Olivia, male and female
octopuses
(colored blue and pink, respectively) which had the same face shape but the only difference was their color. Kenner issued both weeks apart but Ollie was more popular.
[
citation needed
]
The
Denys Fisher
UK toy company issued Ollie and Olivia in smaller boxes than their American counterparts, saving on shelf space. The figures are rare to come by now.
- Denys Fisher Stretch
Incredible Hulk
(1979) This figure used the original Stretch Armstrong molds and graphics without permission, and was discontinued due to a lawsuit from Kenner in 1980.
[3]
- Mego
Elastic
Donald Duck
(1980)
[6]
- Mego Elastic
Mickey Mouse
(1980)
- Mego Elastic
Batman
[6]
- Mego Elastic Incredible Hulk (1979)
[3]
[6]
- Mego Elastic
Plastic Man
(1979)
[6]
- Kenner Stretch
Serpent
[6]
- Cap Toys Fetch Armstrong, Stretch Armstrong's pliable
canine
counterpart, released in the early 1990s
- Kenner/
Hasbro
Super Stretch
Mask
[6]
- Cap Toys
Stretch Vac-Man
- ToyQuest Super Morphman
- Super Impulse
Gumby and Pokey Stretch
The last two were filled with a granular solid in place of the
viscous liquid
found in the other figures. A
vacuum pump
, which attached to the heads of these figures, removed the air from within, which "froze" the toy in its stretched position.
[4]
Stretch Armstrong was reissued in the 1990s by Cap Toys, with a canine
sidekick
, "Fetch Armstrong".
[1]
[7]
The reissue stretch Armstrong had a more comical exaggerated face (a huge genial smile) and had on a vanity T-shirt and shorts. This new reissue figure was introduced in 1993 and 1994 version exist with slightly different art work. He also has an evil brother named Evil X-ray Wretch Armstrong who has a skull face, sports a
mohawk
, and also stretches. Wretch Armstrong seems to be a redesigned, smaller remake of Stretch X-Ray but in reality looks nothing like the 1970s version. Evil X-ray Wretch Armstrong is only 7 inches tall whereas Stretch X-ray was over 12 inches tall.
Adaptations
[
edit
]
Cancelled film
[
edit
]
In 1994,
Walt Disney Studios
obtained the film rights to the character. Several scripts were written, including an early version family comedy written by Greg Erb, a co-writer at Disney. The script which cast
Tim Allen
in the role of Stretch Armstrong as a "kind of single dad who is a research scientist" and is "stretched too thin" trying to balance his work and family life before he inadvertently accidentally takes one of his experimental serums giving himself "stretchy powers". A later version from screenwriter Michael Kalesniko was created and it was set in
San Francisco
. It was about a somewhat socially awkward nobody beset with troubles trying to venture out his failing personal life and is genetically modified with stretching abilities after a failed nuclear fusion experiment and must use his newfound abilities to solve the tragedy that has befallen his family. Among the actors who were considered for the role was
Danny DeVito
, who refused to do the film if the script made any jokes about his height. Several other writers, such as
Mike Werb
and
Michael Colleary
, provided rewrites, and
Peter Care
was attached to direct,
[8]
but due to lack of time on the rights, both ideas from Disney were scrapped and the rights were bought up by
Hasbro
.
[9]
In 2008,
Universal Studios
signed a deal with Hasbro to create another film based on Stretch Armstrong from a screenplay written by
Nicholas Stoller
.
[10]
It was announced from the studios co-chairman
Donna Langley
that
Taylor Lautner
would star as Armstrong and that the film would be in
3-D
. She stated that "with Lautner's success energy and athleticism he is a perfect fit to a unlikely hero." Producer
Brian Grazer
stated "Stretch Armstrong is a character I have wanted to see on screen for a long time ... It’s a story about a guy stretching ... the limits of what is possible to become all that he can be."
[11]
[12]
Another script was being made by writer
Steve Oedekerk
introducing the character in the form of an uptight spy who stumbles across a stretching formula, which he takes and now must adjust to his newfound abilities when fighting crime and in his everyday life.
Two years later, after the excitement drummed up by the Studios ideas for the character,
Relativity Media
announced that they had picked up the film after it was dropped by Universal and set a new release date of April 11, 2014.
[13]
Planning to make the film more serious than originally intended by Universal, Relativity hired
The Manchurian Candidate
writer Dean Georgaris to write a new script,
[14]
dropped Lautner, and hired Breck Eisner to direct.
[15]
The film origin story was going to introduce an overwhelmed high schooler and the life-or-death consequences he was going to face after undergoing a transformation granting him superhuman abilities. Production was scheduled to start filming on May 15, 2013, in
Montreal
but by October 2013, both the studio and Hasbro had abandoned the film to work on other projects.
[16]
Television
[
edit
]
After four attempted films for Stretch Armstrong, Hasbro Studios made a deal with the video streaming service website
Netflix
where the property was picked up for a full 26-episode animated series, making it the first deal between the company and the streaming service. This superhero action/comedy animated series followed a teenager named Jake Armstrong and his two best friends as they go into action after being exposed to an experimental chemical making them
Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters
?a team of stretchable superheroes who must work together and embark on a series of adventures. The series debuted on Netflix on November 17, 2017.
[17]
The series was developed by Kevin Burke,
Victor Cook
, and
Chris "Doc" Wyatt
. Burke and Wyatt also wrote a tie-in comic book for
IDW Publishing
.
[18]
The first 13 episodes of the 26-episode first season were released on
Netflix
on November 17, 2017.
Comics
[
edit
]
A similar concept with Stretch as a superhero was also shown in a one-off comic produced by Hasbro in 2011 dubbed
Unit:E
; there, the descendant of Acroyear and a Biotron (both from
Micronauts
) and Synergy (from
Jem
; here an alien artificial intelligence) conducted reconnaissance on heroes from Earth and beyond (including characters from
G.I. Joe
,
Transformers
,
MASK
,
Battleship Galaxies
,
Action Man
, and even
Candy Land
) to help fight against Baron Karza (the enemy of the Micronauts).
In September 2017,
IDW Publishing
announced a new comic book based on the Netflix series
Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters
for January 2018.
[19]
Video game
[
edit
]
In 2018, a video game called
Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout
was released on Netflix. The game involves Jake Armstrong, Ricardo and Nathan stopping villains from rampaging through Charter City.
[20]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Clark, Eric (2007).
The Real Toy Story: Inside the Ruthless Battle for America's Youngest Consumers
.
Simon & Schuster
. pp. 44?45.
ISBN
978-0-7432-4765-8
.
- ^
Horowitz, Jesse D. (October 17, 1974). "Stretch man idea".
Idea Book
.
- ^
a
b
c
Cimino, John (Summer 2018). "The Legends and Lore of the Incredible Hulk, Stretch Armstrong, and the Mego Elastic Superheroes".
RetroFan
(1).
TwoMorrows Publishing
: 9?13.
- ^
a
b
Katz, David A.
"Chemistry in the Toy Store"
(PDF)
. chymist.com.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on June 25, 2011
. Retrieved
March 29,
2011
.
- ^
Stretch Armstrong World
Archived
September 5, 2008, at the
Wayback Machine
(retrieved January 23, 2012)
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
Estimated Stretches Left in Existence
Archived
January 29, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
, Stretch Armstrong World (retrieved January 23, 2012)
- ^
DeBrosse, Jim (September 1, 1995). "S-T-R-E-T-C-H-ING THE MARKET SHARE".
Dayton Daily News
. pp. 1C.
- ^
Petrikin, Chris (January 14, 1999).
"New pic a 'Stretch' for Brit helmer Care"
.
Variety
.
Archived
from the original on April 1, 2022
. Retrieved
April 1,
2022
.
- ^
"Hollywood's Repeated, Inexplicable Attempts at a 'Stretch Armstrong' Movie"
.
Mental Floss
. October 6, 2015.
Archived
from the original on December 9, 2015
. Retrieved
January 12,
2016
.
- ^
"
'Stretch Armstrong' Writer 'Gets' Taylor Lautner Obsession"
.
MTV
. June 11, 2010.
Archived
from the original on June 13, 2010
. Retrieved
June 13,
2010
.
- ^
"Stretch Armstrong Movie Gets April 2011 Release Date"
.
/Film
. June 2, 2009.
Archived
from the original on February 3, 2010
. Retrieved
February 7,
2010
.
- ^
Russ Fischer (February 5, 2010).
"Universal Casts Taylor Lautner in Stretch Armstrong 3D! Seriously. Read more: Universal Casts Taylor Lautner in Stretch Armstrong 3D. Seriously"
.
/Film
.
Archived
from the original on February 9, 2010
. Retrieved
February 6,
2010
.
- ^
Nikki Finke (June 28, 2012).
"Universal Drops Hasbro's Stretch Armstrong Film, Taylor Lautner Out As Star, Relativity Picks Up For April 2014 Release"
.
Archived
from the original on January 31, 2012
. Retrieved
July 6,
2010
.
- ^
"Relativity, Hasbro find 'Stretch' scribe"
.
Archived
from the original on June 21, 2012
. Retrieved
April 17,
2020
.
- ^
"Breck Eisner Confirmed to Direct Stretch Armstrong"
.
Comingsoon.com
. July 19, 2012.
Archived
from the original on July 20, 2012
. Retrieved
July 19,
2012
.
- ^
"Relativity Abandons 'Stretch Armstrong' Movie"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
. October 12, 2013.
Archived
from the original on April 11, 2020
. Retrieved
April 17,
2020
.
- ^
Spangler, Todd. (January 28, 2016).
Netflix Orders ‘Stretch Armstrong’ Series From Hasbro Studios
Archived
September 11, 2017, at the
Wayback Machine
. Access on January 28, 2016.
- ^
McMillan, Graeme (September 7, 2017).
"IDW, Hasbro Partner for
Stretch Armstrong
Comic Book (Exclusive)"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
.
Eldridge Industries
.
Archived
from the original on January 26, 2021
. Retrieved
April 17,
2020
.
- ^
"IDW, Hasbro Partner For 'Stretch Armstrong' Comic Book (Exclusive)"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
. September 7, 2017.
Archived
from the original on September 8, 2017
. Retrieved
September 8,
2017
.
- ^
"Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout | Netflix Official Site"
.
Netflix
.
Archived
from the original on July 3, 2022
. Retrieved
June 3,
2020
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
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Intellectual
properties
currently
managed
by Hasbro
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Distributed
worldwide
by Hasbro
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Subsidiaries
and brands
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Other media
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Conventions
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See also
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- 1
(U.S. and Canada)
- 2
(except Japan and parts of Asia)
- 3
(except U.S., UK, France and Germany)
- 4
(except Japan)
- 5
(except Japan and parts of Asia)
|