JIM SWEARINGEN, RENOWNED KENNER 'STAR WARS' TOY DESIGNER, APPEARING AT ICCC 2022

Jim Swearingen was the principal conceptual designer for Kenner's line of Star Wars toys — the vintage toy line we seek, covet, and celebrate at ICCC events! We are pleased to announce that Swearingen will once again appear at ICCC this April to engage with collectors, meet fans, and tell more stories about his legacy in the vintage toy business.

In 1976, Swearingen was working in Kenner's preliminary design group when his boss, Dave Okada, came in with a script and some photographs from a new movie called “Star Wars.” Jim took the script home and read it. The next day he insisted Okada lock himself in his office and read it. "We have to do this," he told him. "We have to make these toys." From 1976-79, Star Wars became Swearingen's baby.

The success of Kenner's "Star Wars" toys eventually shifted the entire toy industry's focus toward thinking small. Until then, action figures were foot-long dolls like vintage G.I. Joe. Kenner's 3 3/4-inch Lukes and Leias stemmed from the UC designer's mock-ups, the size of which were based upon what he rummaged from the company toy bin.

Besides "Star Wars," Swearingen contributed to many popular product lines while with Kenner, including PlayDoh, Spirograph, Baby Alive, Care Bears, and Strawberry Shortcake. He then spent 15 years doing contract work making licensed products from movies such as "Alien," "Jurassic Park," "Men in Black," "Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man's Chest."

We are pleased to host Swearingen at ICCC 2022! ICCC 2022 will be held April 29-May 1, at the Sheraton Music City resort in Nashville, TN. Tickets are on sale now.