HOPALONG CASSIDY SWEATER (salesman sample - unused)
William Boyd was probably the first to merchandise a TV or movie character, and he did it better than anyone, until the movie Star Wars came out.
Boyd was the actor who played Hopalong Cassidy in "B" movies. When TV came along, Boyd knew that the new medium would be incredibly popular, and it would need content (just like the internet needs today.) Boyd bought the rights to the Hopalong Cassidy films, and cut them to fit in time slots for TV. He also bought the merchandising rights to Hopalong Cassidy. He used that right to the "n" th degree. He licensed the name & the likeness for hundreds of Hoppy products. Everything but the "Hopalong Cassidy kitchen sink."
In the days when a Hopalong Cassidy pocket knife would sell for 15 cents, he was making several million dollars a year on the licensing fees. He had a GOLD MINE.
Below is an unused Hopalong Cassidy sweater (salesman sample) that was one of the many licensed products from the 1950s. The item is available at TV TOY MEMORIES
There is a famous photograph of President Clinton as a boy wearing his Hoppy sweatshirt, along with his twin 6-shooters. Unfortunately, it wasn't the same sweatshirt version as this one. Little Billy Clinton loved Hopalong Cassidy, as did most other kids of that era. That's why William Boyd made so much MONEY.
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Boyd was the actor who played Hopalong Cassidy in "B" movies. When TV came along, Boyd knew that the new medium would be incredibly popular, and it would need content (just like the internet needs today.) Boyd bought the rights to the Hopalong Cassidy films, and cut them to fit in time slots for TV. He also bought the merchandising rights to Hopalong Cassidy. He used that right to the "n" th degree. He licensed the name & the likeness for hundreds of Hoppy products. Everything but the "Hopalong Cassidy kitchen sink."
In the days when a Hopalong Cassidy pocket knife would sell for 15 cents, he was making several million dollars a year on the licensing fees. He had a GOLD MINE.
Below is an unused Hopalong Cassidy sweater (salesman sample) that was one of the many licensed products from the 1950s. The item is available at TV TOY MEMORIES
There is a famous photograph of President Clinton as a boy wearing his Hoppy sweatshirt, along with his twin 6-shooters. Unfortunately, it wasn't the same sweatshirt version as this one. Little Billy Clinton loved Hopalong Cassidy, as did most other kids of that era. That's why William Boyd made so much MONEY.
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Posted by Ron D at 1/29/2010 2:59 AM 
Categories: Pop Culture, Classic TV, Hopalong Cassidy, Celebrity
Tags: William Boyd cowboy TV memorabilia 1950s memorabilia western memorabilia celebrity Hopalong Cassidy
Categories: Pop Culture, Classic TV, Hopalong Cassidy, Celebrity
Tags: William Boyd cowboy TV memorabilia 1950s memorabilia western memorabilia celebrity Hopalong Cassidy
Although TV ran Hoppy films as early as 1948, it wasn't until 1952, that Hoppy began his TV show. Of course, his merchandising began about 1950. The Lone Ranger came on TV in 1949 and while it had been on radio since 1933, the producers didn't market it like Hoppy. Hoppy was tops in his day, but Roy Rogers overtook him in the long run, lasting until the Sixties.
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