Hopalong Cassidy: King of the Cowboy Merchandisers (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) [Paperback]

Harry L. Rinker (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Schiffer Book for Collectors | Publication Date: March 1995

Roy Rogers may have been Republic's "King of the Cowboys," but he was lesser nobility when it came to licensed merchandise. The "King of the Cowboy Merchandisers" was Hopalong Cassidy. In the three and one-half year period beginning in late 1949 and ending after the 1952 Christmas season Hoppy rode so far ahead of the pack that his competition had to eat his dust. By early 1950s over a hundred manufacturers were producing Hopalong Cassidy licensed products. No matter where one turned, there was Hoppy. It was a Hopalong Cassidy era. Now Hoppy has found renewed interest among collectors. The support is multi-layered. Prices across the board are at record levels. Common pieces have doubled or tripled in value over the past five years. Scarcer pieces have risen ten times or more. This comprehensive new book by one America's foremost authorities on antiques in general, and Hoppy in particular, will introduce you to the various collecting categories within the wonderful world of Hoppy collectibles and allow you to cast your cares aside while leisurely strolling down nostalgia lane. Packed with useful information, it also has beautiful color photographs of most of the merchandise bearing the Hopalong Cassidy name. If you are old enough to have grown up with Hoppy, you will think "I owned one of those" or "I remember one of those." If you are not, you will be moved to say - "Wow! That's neat. I won't mind owning one."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A nationally recognized author, editor, and antiques expert, Harry Rinker resides in Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088740765X
• ISBN-13: 978-0887407659
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,065,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Happy Trails-riding down memory lane, August 21, 2000

By 

John Elsegood (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hopalong Cassidy: King of the Cowboy Merchandisers (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

Author Harry Rinker does a great job in bringing back the images of a forgotten hero, Hopalong Cassidy as portrayed by actor William Boyd. His book recaptures, vividly, the massive Hoppy merchandise of the 1950's when Boyd-a marketing genius- was a superstar to children the world over, including this Australian who, as a six year old during Boyd's Australian tour of 1954, was absolutely devastated that Hoppy didn't come west to WA. We got the Queen instead! This book, complete with lavish colour plates of the thousands of Hoppy items is not just a book for collectors of Cassidy memorabilia.Rinker's early chapters include the effect of Hoppy on him as a child, the evolution of Cassidy in novels films and television, the history of Boyd's visionary marketing skills and an interview with his widow, Grace, who is still alive some 28 years after her husband's death. The durability of the film and TV Hoppy (vastly different from novelist Clarence E Mulford's original character) lasted for 20 years thanks to Boyd fusing his own persona with that of the character. Boyd commenced in the Cassidy role in 1935, as a middle aged actor of 40( making 66 films as Cassidy over the next 13 years) and retired in 1954 as a TV and radio hero, internationally renowned. The transformation of Boyd into a hero of children is well captured by Rinker- albeit briefly- although a more detailed biography of William Boyd is long overdue. Boyd's morals,responsiblity,concern and many acts of kindness towards his youthful supporters, as Hoppy, was an example of the very best America had to offer-and America's best is very good indeed. That is why people who grew up in the middle of the 20th century will always recall with affection the black-garbed knight gallant of their childhood - Bill Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Memorabilia, January 30, 2010

By 

Neil Lesser - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hopalong Cassidy: King of the Cowboy Merchandisers (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

Hopalong Cassidy was considered to be one of the three greatest B-Western stars. This book has many beautiful pictures of his memorabilia as well as complete descriptions of the items. There is also a section on personal facts about Hoppy. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a Western Movie fan.