LJN

Jack Friedman founded LJN in 1967{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1990 |title=Kirk: LJN |page=E2 |work=The Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/155071337/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913083122/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/155071337/ |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} using funds from his employer Norman J. Lewis Associates (from which the company name "LJN" is derived, being a reversal of Lewis' initials){{Cite magazine |last= |date=June 2010 |title=A Recap of Industry Headlines, Jack Friedman: July 9, 1939-May 3, 2010 |url=https://issuu.com/anbmedia/docs/tfejune10/12 |access-date=March 30, 2022 |magazine=Toys and Family Entertainment, Vol.5, No. 7, June 2010 |publisher=aNb Media, Inc.}} after seeing the sale figures of Mattel and Milton Bradley Company increase.{{Cite news |date=September 15, 1982 |title=Business People; Head of LJN Toys Sees Succss Through 'E.T.' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/15/business/business-people-head-of-lnj-toys-sees-success-through-et.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320041219/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/15/business/business-people-head-of-lnj-toys-sees-success-through-et.html |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} Friedman later founded THQ and Jakks Pacific after leaving LJN.{{Cite news |date=May 6, 2010 |title=Jack Friedman Dies at 70; Toy Maker |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-06-la-me-jack-friedman-20100506-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929092848/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-06-la-me-jack-friedman-20100506-story.html |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times}} LJN shifted money used for television advertising to instead purchase licenses to make toys based on television shows.{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1976 |title=Toy Companies Using TV Shows As Advertising |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725192/corpus-christi-caller-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316070419/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725192/corpus-christi-caller-times/ |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=Corpus Christi Caller-Times |page=32 |via=Newspapers.com}} The first toyline by LJN based on a television show was for Emergency!{{Cite news |date=February 19, 1985 |title=Toy Industry Game: Licensing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921155/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319063335/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921155/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |work=The Boston Globe |page=64 |via=Newspapers.com}} The highest amount the company paid for a license by 1982 was $250,000.

LJN purchased the license to make toys based on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for $25,000 due to other companies declining the option, including Kenner Products and Ideal Toy Company, and sold over $16–25 million worth of merchandise without the need of an advertising campaign. A doll based on Brooke Shields was released with a $2 million advertising budget and made over $12 million in 1982. LJN's revenue rose from $5 million in 1971 to $70 million in 1982 due to the E.T. and Brooke Shields toys.{{Cite news |date=December 7, 1982 |title=Buyers Are Going Bananas over Licensed Toys This Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97724972/palladium-item/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316065900/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97724972/palladium-item/ |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=Palladium-Item |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=December 8, 1982 |title=Millions to Toymakers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725035/lansing-state-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316065505/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725035/lansing-state-journal/ |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=Lansing State Journal |page=41 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=December 7, 1981 |title=Are You Ready for Doll Wars? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725159/press-and-sun-bulletin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316070157/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725159/press-and-sun-bulletin/ |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=Press & Sun-Bulletin |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=December 12, 1982 |title=E.T., Phone Your Broker |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725226/the-miami-herald/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316070835/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97725226/the-miami-herald/ |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=The Pantagraph |page=433 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2000 |title=Small Business Plays Well in Market |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97724885/the-pantagraph/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316064502/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97724885/the-pantagraph/ |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=The Pantagraph |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1984 LJN became the toy licensee of the World Wrestling Federation. The Wrestling Superstars line, which featured action figures based on WWF's roster of wrestlers, was produced from 1984 to 1989.{{Citation |title=The Toys That Made Us: "Wrestling" |date=Nov 15, 2019 |url=https://www.netflix.com/watch/80994013?source=35 |author=Brian Volk-Weiss}} LJN competed with Mattel in the toy market. The company produced the ThunderCats toyline in competition with Mattel's Masters of the Universe.{{Cite news |date=January 31, 1986 |title=Rambo and Robots Top Toy Lists for 1986 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921332/sioux-city-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319064008/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921332/sioux-city-journal/ |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |work=Sioux City Journal |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On March 26, 1985, MCA Inc. announced that it would purchase 63% of LJN's shares for $39.8 million and proposed to buy the remainder of the stock for $14.26 for each share which would increase the total value of the deal to almost $65 million.{{Cite news |date=March 27, 1985 |title=MCA Agrees to Acquire L.J.N. Toys : Entertainment Firm to Exchange Up to $39.8 Million in Stock |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-27-fi-20221-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316073228/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-27-fi-20221-story.html |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times}} However, the company failed to make a net income from 1986 to 1989, and MCA had to take a $53 million after-tax charge due to the expenses of the company before selling it to Acclaim Entertainment for $30 million in April 1990.{{Cite news |date=January 23, 1990 |title=Company News; MCA Taking Loss in Sale of Toy Unit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/23/business/company-news-mca-taking-loss-in-sale-of-toy-unit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320043118/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/23/business/company-news-mca-taking-loss-in-sale-of-toy-unit.html |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |date=July 25, 1990 |title=Acclaim Says LJN Suit Is MCA's Problem |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98045799/chicago-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321010208/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98045799/chicago-tribune/ |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=31 |via=Newspapers.com}} LJN had a revenue of $110,510,000 and a net loss of $37.3 million in 1987.{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1988 |title=MCA to Take $35-Million Charge in Quarter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98045694/the-los-angeles-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321003428/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98045694/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}} MCA received 1.2 million shares in Acclaim as part of the LJN deal. 181,000 shares were returned as part of a price adjustment agreement and the remainder was sold for around $4.3 million in 1991.{{Cite news |date=October 18, 1991 |title=MCA Sells Stake In Acclaim Inc. |page=47 |work=Newsday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition/154431251/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901172459/https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition/154431251/ |archive-date=September 1, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

LJN entered the video game industry by publishing games based on movies and television shows developed by companies including Atlus, Beam Software, and Rare for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987.{{Cite book |title=The Routledge Companion to Adaptation |date=2018 |publisher=Taylor & Francis}} The company released the LJN Video Art in 1987.{{Cite news |date=September 3, 1989 |title='Hands On' Approach to Kids' Videos |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921981/wisconsin-state-journal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319212800/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921981/wisconsin-state-journal/ |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |page=132 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=November 5, 1988 |title=Patents; Device Converts TV Set into a Coloring Book |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/05/business/patents-device-converts-tv-set-into-a-coloring-book.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319215047/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/05/business/patents-device-converts-tv-set-into-a-coloring-book.html?searchResultPosition=33 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} At least 75% of the company's $70 million in sales in 1990 came from video game sales on the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy.{{Cite news |date=March 13, 1990 |title=MCA in Pact with Acclaim |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/13/business/mca-in-pact-with-acclaim.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320042652/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/13/business/mca-in-pact-with-acclaim.html |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |date=March 13, 1990 |title=LJN |page=C2 |work=The Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/154430099/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901170656/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/154430099/ |archive-date=September 1, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

The company released a paint gun line named Gotcha! with a license from the film Gotcha!, but this line were criticized by consumer protection groups due to the danger it posed to eyes.{{Cite news |date=November 17, 1987 |title=Group Criticizes 'Gotcha!' Gun |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/11/17/Group-criticizes-Gotcha-gun/5494564123600/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316073139/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/11/17/Group-criticizes-Gotcha-gun/5494564123600/ |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=United Press International}} The toyline was financially unsuccessful, and MCA had to take a $35 million after-tax charge due to its failure and the expenses of the Coleco.{{Cite news |date=June 30, 1988 |title=Company News |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/30/business/company-news-861788.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320042236/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/30/business/company-news-861788.html |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |work=The New York Times}} The company was also criticized by police officers and Americans for Democratic Action for its Entertech line of toy water guns due to how realistic they looked; LJN changed the design of the toys after three people in the United States from ages 13 to 19 were killed as a result of police officers thinking they had actual guns, and multiple cities and states banned the sale of realistic toy guns.{{Cite news |date=August 12, 1985 |title=Realistic Toy Guns Create Worries for Police |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921885/the-record/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320041955/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921885/the-record/ |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |work=The Record |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=August 12, 1986 |title=Realistic Toy Guns Worry Police |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921889/the-record/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320042058/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97921889/the-record/ |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |work=The Record |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=June 16, 1988 |title=After 3 Deaths, Realistic Toys Are Under Fire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/16/garden/after-3-deaths-realistic-toys-are-under-fire.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320041732/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/16/garden/after-3-deaths-realistic-toys-are-under-fire.html |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |access-date=March 20, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}

Lawrence J. Kirk Jr. fired half of the company's employees as part of a cost-cutting plan during his seven months as president from 1989 to 1990. LJN attempted to acquire Buddy L during his tenure, but MCA ended the negotiations before announcing that it was selling LJN.{{Cite news |date=January 10, 1990 |title=LJN Toys rethinks game plan |page=E1 |work=The Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/155071355/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913083624/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/155071355/ |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=February 28, 1990 |title=New worlds to conquer |page=E1 |work=The Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/155071349/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913083529/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/155071349/ |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Acclaim closed LJN's toy division and shifted the company's focus to video game publishing.{{Cite news |date=July 6, 1990 |title=Acclaim and MCA Dispute Final Price in LJN Toys Deal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98045939/newsday-nassau-edition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321010251/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98045939/newsday-nassau-edition/ |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022 |work=Newsday |page=45 |via=Newspapers.com}} It fired 45 of the company's 70 employees and moved its headquarters from Lyndhurst, New Jersey to Oyster Bay, New York, the same place as Acclaim's headquarters.{{Cite news |date=March 14, 1990 |title=Acclaim Buys LJN Toys Ltd. For $30 Million |page=45 |work=Newsday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition/154430410/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901171130/https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition/154430410/ |archive-date=September 1, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=April 24, 1990 |title=LJN Toys Relocating To N.Y. |page=C3 |work=The Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/154430566/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901171350/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/154430566/ |archive-date=September 1, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=April 25, 1990 |title=45 losing jobs at LJN Toys |page=E8 |work=The Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/154430649/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901171449/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/154430649/ |archive-date=September 1, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Lawrence Kanaga filed a lawsuit on behalf of Clark Thiemann on January 31, 1990, against LJN, Nintendo, and Major League Baseball claiming that the game Major League Baseball was falsely advertised to Thiemann stating that it would allow him to simulate being a baseball team manager and Kanaga stating that the game was advertised as having all of the players, but instead only had their uniform numbers.{{Cite news |date=February 1, 1990 |title=9-Year-Old Sues over Video Baseball Game Boy Says Tape Strikes Out - Wants Nintendo, Major League to Return $40 |url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/2/1/18844093/9-year-old-sues-over-video-baseball-game-br-boy-says-tape-strikes-out-wants-nintendo-major-league-to |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319061414/https://www.deseret.com/1990/2/1/18844093/9-year-old-sues-over-video-baseball-game-br-boy-says-tape-strikes-out-wants-nintendo-major-league-to |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |work=Deseret News}} In 1991, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled LJN's Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em wrestling ring toys based on the World Wrestling Federation, which sold 1.4 million products from 1985 to 1989, due to multiple children between six and ten being injured by the toys.{{Cite news |date=November 4, 1991 |title=LJN "Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em" Wrestling Ring Toy Recalled |url=https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/1991/ljn-sling-em-fling-em-wrestling-ring-toy-recalled |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316072747/https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/1991/ljn-sling-em-fling-em-wrestling-ring-toy-recalled |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |work=U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission}}

Acclaim closed LJN in 1994, but reused the company's name for the release of Spirit of Speed 1937 in 2000.{{Cite book |last=Carlisle |first=Rodney |title=Encyclopedia of Play in Today′s Society |date=April 2, 2009 |publisher=SAGE Publishing}}{{Cite news |date=June 30, 2000 |title=Hands On: Spirit of Speed 1937 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/01/hands-on-spirit-of-speed-1937 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321010120/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/01/hands-on-spirit-of-speed-1937 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022 |work=IGN}}

{{Incomplete list|date=September 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

{{LJN video games}}

{{WWE video games}}

Category:1967 establishments in New York City

Category:1994 disestablishments in New York (state)

Category:Companies based in New York (state)

Category:Defunct toy manufacturers

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States

Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1990

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1967

Category:Toy companies of the United States

Category:Video game companies based in New York (state)

Category:Video game companies disestablished in 1994

Category:Video game companies established in 1967