Interview Transcript
Otto Kuhni
- Interviewed and lovingly written by Susan Kuhni Newman, daughter of Otto Kuhni (finished February 3, 2015)
I was born at home in Provo, Utah to Catherine Johnson and Paul Kuhni on October 8, 1927. A midwife took care of my mother and me during the birthing. The cost was twenty-five dollars and only part of it went to the midwife. I was the fourth of five children. First was Paul J., then Katheryn, Connie, myself, and last came Louise, whom I nicknamed Lousy as we grew up. As a kid I didn't like foods to touch on the plate so I pouted and wouldn't eat. Kathy liked salads and Dad liked desserts and so they traded and I was a cookie thief. I loved peanut butter cookies! I got sick from them once I guess because I ate so many and didn't eat them for 20 years.
I vaguely remember the depression. In our family we didn't have a lot of money. However a lot of people were much worse off. Dad being a school teacher at least had work so we did pretty well considering the times. Being a child I'm sure I didn't realize how my father struggled with a family of five kids. We didn't have lots of toys, but we had enough and were probably better off for it (we certainly weren't spoiled), and we, I'm sure, appreciated what we had as it meant more to us. We went to movies, did board games and, played cards, camping trips and radio programs which included mysteries, comedies and music. I don't remember when we got our first television. We were very close and I do feel I had a good family life. We had parties, picnics, and get togethers visited grandparents and the holidays were always special as a family.
I was born at home in Provo, Utah to Catherine Johnson and Paul Kuhni on October 8, 1927. A midwife took care of my mother and me during the birthing. The cost was twenty-five dollars and only part of it went to the midwife. I was the fourth of five children. First was Paul J., then Katheryn, Connie, myself, and last came Louise, whom I nicknamed Lousy as we grew up. As a kid I didn't like foods to touch on the plate so I pouted and wouldn't eat. Kathy liked salads and Dad liked desserts and so they traded and I was a cookie thief. I loved peanut butter cookies! I got sick from them once I guess because I ate so many and didn't eat them for 20 years.
I vaguely remember the depression. In our family we didn't have a lot of money. However a lot of people were much worse off. Dad being a school teacher at least had work so we did pretty well considering the times. Being a child I'm sure I didn't realize how my father struggled with a family of five kids. We didn't have lots of toys, but we had enough and were probably better off for it (we certainly weren't spoiled), and we, I'm sure, appreciated what we had as it meant more to us. We went to movies, did board games and, played cards, camping trips and radio programs which included mysteries, comedies and music. I don't remember when we got our first television. We were very close and I do feel I had a good family life. We had parties, picnics, and get togethers visited grandparents and the holidays were always special as a family.
Otto Kuhni's Parents
We moved from Provo to Heber, then to Copperton, then Midvale, back to Copperton, then to Bingham, and finally to Sandy. I attended elementary school to 8th grade in Copperton, 9th grade at Sandy Junior High and 10th School. In elementary I was very small and feisty and kind of a troublemaker so I got in a lot of fights with bigger kids. So my Mom made me re-do 4th grade so I would catch up size wise, which I was really upset about. But then I really breezed through the 4th grade. I took art classes from my Dad in the 7th and 8th grade in junior high. He always gave me C term grade even though I was better than the others. I would always get finished with what he assigned first and then just sat and looked around, which irritated my Dad. So he and I got mad at each other some. During my earlier life I had lots of part time jobs. I did some babysitting for one of my Dads school teacher friends. I worked in the beet fields, thinned them in summer and topped them in fall for 3 years while in high school. the last year of high school I worked in the sugar factory in West Jordan in the warehouse. I also worked at Kennecott Copper on the track gang one summer. I worked in a small rock wool plant in Sandy. I had a job cleaning bank interiors washing walls, windows, waxing floors, etc. I worked at Union Pacific train station in salt lake washing windows of the coaches, also icing and cleaning the interiors. My favorite job of all though was working at the small airport across the street from Hogan Dairy in West Jordan. I learned all about restoring and repairing airplanes. I'm sure there were some more jobs but for now that seems to be most of them. During the war around 1942 Or 1943, I earned enough money for a used Victory bike ($20.00). The color was black and it was made of a minimum of strategic materials. I really liked it.
Otto Kuhni
The friends I remember most from junior high and high school were Curtiss Wright, Marvin Wright (not related) Kenneth Mead, and Noel Ferguson. There were lots of others but I spent less time with them. I did take mechanical drawing in high school, which helped me later on with jobs. I went to dances, and at the Senior Hop and Prom I played in the dance band. It was our own band. Several of us put together this group: 3 saxes, 1 played tenor sax and clarinet, 2 trumpets, piano and drums. We practiced a lot and got pretty darn good so we were asked to play school dances, weddings, parties, etc. We had a great time.
Thinking of dating, the first girl I really took notice of was in junior high and her name was Cleo Bollinger. She was very pretty but I was too shy too even talk to her, let alone ask her to go for a soda or go to a movie. But I got a little better and in high school, even though still quite shy I did date about an average amount. I got my first car in high school and it was a 1929 Ford Essex 4 door sedan. I paid 50 bucks and it lasted about 5 months and the engine blew up! Gasoline was about 17 or 18 cents a gallon back then. when I look back its hard to believe!
During World War II, I got a draft notice for the army but was deferred until the end of the year to finish high school. I graduated in 1946 from Jordan high School in Sandy, Utah. I liked school, but could have done a bit better had I worked a little harder, as it was I had a B+ average. After I graduated I joined the Navy in 1946. I can remember all of the yelling and carrying on of the boys going off to war on the Union Pacific train at that time. I did boot training in San Diego. I worked in the engineering department at a Naval Air Base in Panama. I worked as a draftsman and my only training was that one year of mechanical drawing in high school. While I was in the Navy my Mother wrote to me everyday and I wrote back almost everyday. In Panama, while there I got a skin fungus in the jungle that caused problems for me and I was unable to work on airplanes which I had enjoyed doing, when I returned home because of the bad skin irritations I got when I inhaled fumes from the planes.
I was in the Navy about fifteen months when the war ended so the service offered early discharge, and I took it. I was discharged in Jacksonville, Florida. I remember when the war ended it was pandemonium. People were shouting, horns were honking. Everyone was so joyful and the elation would be impossible to measure.
Thinking of dating, the first girl I really took notice of was in junior high and her name was Cleo Bollinger. She was very pretty but I was too shy too even talk to her, let alone ask her to go for a soda or go to a movie. But I got a little better and in high school, even though still quite shy I did date about an average amount. I got my first car in high school and it was a 1929 Ford Essex 4 door sedan. I paid 50 bucks and it lasted about 5 months and the engine blew up! Gasoline was about 17 or 18 cents a gallon back then. when I look back its hard to believe!
During World War II, I got a draft notice for the army but was deferred until the end of the year to finish high school. I graduated in 1946 from Jordan high School in Sandy, Utah. I liked school, but could have done a bit better had I worked a little harder, as it was I had a B+ average. After I graduated I joined the Navy in 1946. I can remember all of the yelling and carrying on of the boys going off to war on the Union Pacific train at that time. I did boot training in San Diego. I worked in the engineering department at a Naval Air Base in Panama. I worked as a draftsman and my only training was that one year of mechanical drawing in high school. While I was in the Navy my Mother wrote to me everyday and I wrote back almost everyday. In Panama, while there I got a skin fungus in the jungle that caused problems for me and I was unable to work on airplanes which I had enjoyed doing, when I returned home because of the bad skin irritations I got when I inhaled fumes from the planes.
I was in the Navy about fifteen months when the war ended so the service offered early discharge, and I took it. I was discharged in Jacksonville, Florida. I remember when the war ended it was pandemonium. People were shouting, horns were honking. Everyone was so joyful and the elation would be impossible to measure.
A Model Built by Otto Kuhni
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A Model Built by Otto Kuhni
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I actually learned to fly before I drove. While my brother Paul was in the service in the 1940's, he paid for me to take flying lessons at $7.50 per one half hour. I got my private pilot license and flew a 40 horsepower J2 Piper Cub with no brakes. I flew before I went in the service and then for a time after I got out, then stopped flying. But building and flying model airplanes was an important thing in my life when I was a kid, and later as an adult.
Just out of the Navy I planned to start University of Utah going for art major. I said I would take a mechanical drawing job in the 5220 club program at 20 dollars per week for 52 weeks. They found me a job after just one week with the Bureau of Reclamation from 1947-1949 and that was my first big job. I drew topographical and location maps for reclamation projects, dams access roads aquaducts, etc. I also did pen and ink drawings for a friend at night and made $1800 per year. Then I worked in a couple of art departments at Clowe's and Auerbach's in Salt Lake.
While living in Salt Lake, I met and married Ruth Gillespie and a daughter Susan was born. Ruth and I were together about 2 years, then I divorced. While still in Salt Lake I met Starling and we married. I think I must have been about twenty-five or six, and after working as an artist I felt there would be more opportunity in Los Angeles so we moved there. We had a daughter, Pam, and we stayed together about 5 years, then divorced.
After a time I met and married Leslae. We had a son Chris, and a few years later adopted another boy we named Adam. Leslae and I were married many years.
I had no formal art school. I would say I worked for several art studios and learned as an apprentice for about 5 or 6 years, then freelanced for the rest of my career.
Just out of the Navy I planned to start University of Utah going for art major. I said I would take a mechanical drawing job in the 5220 club program at 20 dollars per week for 52 weeks. They found me a job after just one week with the Bureau of Reclamation from 1947-1949 and that was my first big job. I drew topographical and location maps for reclamation projects, dams access roads aquaducts, etc. I also did pen and ink drawings for a friend at night and made $1800 per year. Then I worked in a couple of art departments at Clowe's and Auerbach's in Salt Lake.
While living in Salt Lake, I met and married Ruth Gillespie and a daughter Susan was born. Ruth and I were together about 2 years, then I divorced. While still in Salt Lake I met Starling and we married. I think I must have been about twenty-five or six, and after working as an artist I felt there would be more opportunity in Los Angeles so we moved there. We had a daughter, Pam, and we stayed together about 5 years, then divorced.
After a time I met and married Leslae. We had a son Chris, and a few years later adopted another boy we named Adam. Leslae and I were married many years.
I had no formal art school. I would say I worked for several art studios and learned as an apprentice for about 5 or 6 years, then freelanced for the rest of my career.
Volkswagon "Pink Beach Bomb" by Otto Kuhni
Some of the agencies I worked for were Foote Cone and Belding, J Walter Thompson, Gray Advertising and Hixson Jorgensen. Others were Mattel, Max Factor, Lockheed, Tyco of New York, Douglas, Northrup, Lear, Garrett Aviation, Playtime New York and Cox Manufacturing. Some of these were direct clients. Looking back at my career choice I am happy I did what I id and don't think there is anything ton n more satisfaction from as a life's endeavor.
Our home has been in Sherman Oaks, California for many years and the only thing we changed is adding on a studio that I was able to work from home in. I have enjoyed living in L.A. for so many years, although I would not rule out making some sort of move in the future. I've never traveled much at all. I really don't enjoy it. Maybe I would if I did it more. So I've never been to Europe or on a cruise. I really liked driving, and we would drive to Salt Lake City, Utah from time to time to see family. Since I love to drive, especially stick shifts, I have had quite a few cars. I have a 1999 silver Honda hatchback now. I've had lots of fun cars-5 little Honda 600's, Corvair, 3 Porsche's, 2 MG's, Carmen Gia, VW bug. Other cars include a Buick Skylark, VW station wagon, Honda station wagon, Volvo station wagon, Ford Falcon station wagon. Then these go way back: 1929 Ford Essex, 1936 Ford coupe, 1949 Ford coupe and a 1950 Ford convertible.
Down here in L.A. the differences in the seasons isn't much, but they are all nice. I think spring is my favorite as everything becomes born again, new flowers, fresh green leaves, lawns, happy birds, etc. and my energy level seems to zoom. My favorite time of day is a tossup between morning and evening.
My health is generally very good except the heart problem which seems to be under control. Then there is the back problem- oh well it does seem to be improving. I walk, do sit-ups, do an exercise to strengthen my back muscles. I've never had any surgery. Even still have my tonsils and no broken bones. I have been very lucky! Back before my heart problem, when I could eat anything, I liked Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, etc. I sure loved a good cheeseburger, hot dog, Reuben sandwich (all kinds of sandwiches), when I could have them.
Our home has been in Sherman Oaks, California for many years and the only thing we changed is adding on a studio that I was able to work from home in. I have enjoyed living in L.A. for so many years, although I would not rule out making some sort of move in the future. I've never traveled much at all. I really don't enjoy it. Maybe I would if I did it more. So I've never been to Europe or on a cruise. I really liked driving, and we would drive to Salt Lake City, Utah from time to time to see family. Since I love to drive, especially stick shifts, I have had quite a few cars. I have a 1999 silver Honda hatchback now. I've had lots of fun cars-5 little Honda 600's, Corvair, 3 Porsche's, 2 MG's, Carmen Gia, VW bug. Other cars include a Buick Skylark, VW station wagon, Honda station wagon, Volvo station wagon, Ford Falcon station wagon. Then these go way back: 1929 Ford Essex, 1936 Ford coupe, 1949 Ford coupe and a 1950 Ford convertible.
Down here in L.A. the differences in the seasons isn't much, but they are all nice. I think spring is my favorite as everything becomes born again, new flowers, fresh green leaves, lawns, happy birds, etc. and my energy level seems to zoom. My favorite time of day is a tossup between morning and evening.
My health is generally very good except the heart problem which seems to be under control. Then there is the back problem- oh well it does seem to be improving. I walk, do sit-ups, do an exercise to strengthen my back muscles. I've never had any surgery. Even still have my tonsils and no broken bones. I have been very lucky! Back before my heart problem, when I could eat anything, I liked Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, etc. I sure loved a good cheeseburger, hot dog, Reuben sandwich (all kinds of sandwiches), when I could have them.
Otto Kuhni Hot Wheels car and its packaging artwork
I have so many favorite artists I could fill a book and I get something from all of them. I enjoy music, jazz, classical, baroque, renaissance, some of the old pop tunes and songs. I don't like most show tunes and I don't care much for Broadway musicals. I have always loved building and flying model airplanes, playing and listening to music, and for some time I read every chance I get, (mysteries, history, aviation books, all kinds of magazines, etc.). I played the clarinet and tenor sax. I have belonged to three different airplane clubs and have thought about joining the California Art Club.
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Otto Kuhni and some of his model planes, which he enjoyed to build and fly
Over the years Leslae and I and the boys had so many rescue dogs. To list some: 5 chihuahuas, 3 scotties, 1 dachshund, 2 mini poodles, 1 Yorkshire terrier, 1 west highland terrier, 1 bearded collie, 3 mini Schnauzers, 1 standard Schnauzer. I'm sure there were more pure breed dogs and of course a bunch of mutts. We did have a lot of dogs!
Looking back I do remember the big name bands, and I spent endless hours listening to them and went to see them when ever I could. Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, Stan Kenton, Claude Thornhill, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, Arty Shaw to name some. I danced some but I really enjoyed listening and concentrating on the music. I guess it was because I played the same kind of music. We used to go to hear those bands play. Leslae and I liked theater and concerts. I still go to museums and art galleries. I am retired and I love it. For a period of time I did some work but only doing things I like. I am a Republican.
I vaguely remember the depression. I remember World War 2, especially the start. I remember we were living in Bingham, Utah when I heard about Pearl Harbor. All during the war there were news reports, movies, news reels, newspapers, gas rationing and some foods, etc., I was at home in Sandy, Utah when Roosevelt died just before the war ended. Then the Korean War. I was waiting to pick up an illustration job at an advertising agency in downtown Los Angeles when President Kennedy was assassinated. Then his brother Robert Kennedy shot, Martin Luther King, and of course I remember the Vietnam War. I really think President Reagan was the best president during my life.
Looking back I do remember the big name bands, and I spent endless hours listening to them and went to see them when ever I could. Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, Stan Kenton, Claude Thornhill, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, Arty Shaw to name some. I danced some but I really enjoyed listening and concentrating on the music. I guess it was because I played the same kind of music. We used to go to hear those bands play. Leslae and I liked theater and concerts. I still go to museums and art galleries. I am retired and I love it. For a period of time I did some work but only doing things I like. I am a Republican.
I vaguely remember the depression. I remember World War 2, especially the start. I remember we were living in Bingham, Utah when I heard about Pearl Harbor. All during the war there were news reports, movies, news reels, newspapers, gas rationing and some foods, etc., I was at home in Sandy, Utah when Roosevelt died just before the war ended. Then the Korean War. I was waiting to pick up an illustration job at an advertising agency in downtown Los Angeles when President Kennedy was assassinated. Then his brother Robert Kennedy shot, Martin Luther King, and of course I remember the Vietnam War. I really think President Reagan was the best president during my life.
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A series of airplane paintings by Otto Kuhni
Chris was 51 when he passed away. Adam is 49, Pam is 62 and Susan is 65. Leslae passed away 16 years ago in 1999.
I would say that I am a doer on most things however, I'll admit a tendency to put some things off. Deadlines in my work motivated me a great deal. I would say that I'm a reasonably patient person. Being a artist professionally I spent most of my waking hours alone in my studio. The work was satisfying I enjoyed it tremendously. But at this point in my life, I realize that I paid a huge price. I didn't spend enough time with family and friends. Now being alone has become a way of life for me. I see friends occasionally.
We've gone through an astonishing change in my lifetime of 87 years so far and I think about it constantly. I would have liked to have had a better balance between family, work and friends. I would have wanted to be more active in the church. Sometimes I wonder if I should have left Salt Lake to come to Los Angeles. I think the people who influenced me the most in my life were probably my mother and Leslae.
To my kids, their kids and their kids. Whatever you do in life remember that your family and friends are the most important. Always try to do your best in everything you do. Get as much education as possible. Try to choose a career doing what you really enjoy and try to keep a good balance between your work and family. Say your prayers nightly.
I would say that I am a doer on most things however, I'll admit a tendency to put some things off. Deadlines in my work motivated me a great deal. I would say that I'm a reasonably patient person. Being a artist professionally I spent most of my waking hours alone in my studio. The work was satisfying I enjoyed it tremendously. But at this point in my life, I realize that I paid a huge price. I didn't spend enough time with family and friends. Now being alone has become a way of life for me. I see friends occasionally.
We've gone through an astonishing change in my lifetime of 87 years so far and I think about it constantly. I would have liked to have had a better balance between family, work and friends. I would have wanted to be more active in the church. Sometimes I wonder if I should have left Salt Lake to come to Los Angeles. I think the people who influenced me the most in my life were probably my mother and Leslae.
To my kids, their kids and their kids. Whatever you do in life remember that your family and friends are the most important. Always try to do your best in everything you do. Get as much education as possible. Try to choose a career doing what you really enjoy and try to keep a good balance between your work and family. Say your prayers nightly.
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Hot Wheels paintings by Otto Kuhni
Addendum to Otto Johnson Kuhni History
"Some Extra Stories"
When I was 5 or 6 years old and we lived in Midvale. I nearly drowned playing in an irrigation ditch on Center Street across the street from the house we lived in. The head gate was in and the water was up really high in the ditch and under the double driveway where we were playing. I swam underneath and came up and water was just a couple inches from the top. I swallowed a lot of water and was real scared but I got out from under fine.
Another time when I was about 8 or 9 years old, our family was up at the Shady Rest Resort near Heber on the Weber river camping out. We were with some friends and our parents were cooking. I was always kind of a dare-devil and not a - great swimmer and he dared me to swim across the river where it was deep and wide. He said don't be chicken. So I started swimming, went under and started going downstream. I was really scared and panicked. My friend jumped in and saved me edging me toward shore.
The third time I nearly drowned was as an adult. I was 32 years old. My friends and I did a lot of body surfing. One friend and I went to the beach for a long lunch to body surf. The waves were really strange and it was apparently a riptide and we barely made it swimming back to shore. We were so exhausted we just collapsed on the beach and laid there for about five minutes. We were both of having the same thoughts that we were so lucky to have gotten out. It was so scary.
After getting out of the Navy in 1946-47, I saved my money and bought a Ford Coupe. I fixed it up but it had bad shocks. I used to go ice skating on ponds and- one Saturday morning met with a friend on a pond in Sandy near Jordan High School. There was snow on the road and there was a washboard patch of road that I hit and it turned the car sideways and rolled on the roadside in the soft dirt a couple of times. I wasn't really hurt except for a cut on my forehead from a skate blade but the car was totaled. A farmer saw the accident, said the car turned over two and a half times. I remember everything being in slow motion and seeing the ground rushing up to the car in the window but it was really the car turning over.
In 1954-55 I had a new Volkswagon Beetle. Starling and I were having some problems and we rode together to Utah where she stayed with her parents and I stayed with mine. Going home to California, a horse ran out in front of my car. I hit it a glancing blow and broke the horse's leg. I looked in the rearview mirror and watched as the horse went down and the car directly behind me hit the horse directly on. It killed the horse and totaled the other person's car. The Volkswagon wasn't wasn't damaged much except for the fender and I wasn't hurt at all. It was another very scary experience that I felt very lucky to come out of unhurt. At 75 years of age, I have never broken a bone. (knock on wood).
Festival of Trees in Salt Lake City Utah featured a tree totally decorated with Hot Wheels cars and memorabilia and some of the boxes had been signed Otto Kuhni. It was so wonderful for Susan to be there and take some pictures of it. It was donated to the Festival and auctioned of to highest bidder. All money collected from donated items goes to Primary Children's Hospital. I'm sure this one went for a lot!
Another time when I was about 8 or 9 years old, our family was up at the Shady Rest Resort near Heber on the Weber river camping out. We were with some friends and our parents were cooking. I was always kind of a dare-devil and not a - great swimmer and he dared me to swim across the river where it was deep and wide. He said don't be chicken. So I started swimming, went under and started going downstream. I was really scared and panicked. My friend jumped in and saved me edging me toward shore.
The third time I nearly drowned was as an adult. I was 32 years old. My friends and I did a lot of body surfing. One friend and I went to the beach for a long lunch to body surf. The waves were really strange and it was apparently a riptide and we barely made it swimming back to shore. We were so exhausted we just collapsed on the beach and laid there for about five minutes. We were both of having the same thoughts that we were so lucky to have gotten out. It was so scary.
After getting out of the Navy in 1946-47, I saved my money and bought a Ford Coupe. I fixed it up but it had bad shocks. I used to go ice skating on ponds and- one Saturday morning met with a friend on a pond in Sandy near Jordan High School. There was snow on the road and there was a washboard patch of road that I hit and it turned the car sideways and rolled on the roadside in the soft dirt a couple of times. I wasn't really hurt except for a cut on my forehead from a skate blade but the car was totaled. A farmer saw the accident, said the car turned over two and a half times. I remember everything being in slow motion and seeing the ground rushing up to the car in the window but it was really the car turning over.
In 1954-55 I had a new Volkswagon Beetle. Starling and I were having some problems and we rode together to Utah where she stayed with her parents and I stayed with mine. Going home to California, a horse ran out in front of my car. I hit it a glancing blow and broke the horse's leg. I looked in the rearview mirror and watched as the horse went down and the car directly behind me hit the horse directly on. It killed the horse and totaled the other person's car. The Volkswagon wasn't wasn't damaged much except for the fender and I wasn't hurt at all. It was another very scary experience that I felt very lucky to come out of unhurt. At 75 years of age, I have never broken a bone. (knock on wood).
Festival of Trees in Salt Lake City Utah featured a tree totally decorated with Hot Wheels cars and memorabilia and some of the boxes had been signed Otto Kuhni. It was so wonderful for Susan to be there and take some pictures of it. It was donated to the Festival and auctioned of to highest bidder. All money collected from donated items goes to Primary Children's Hospital. I'm sure this one went for a lot!
Otto Kuhni and Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels Christmas Display
I did work for Mattel for many years on many art projects, Hot Wheels being a big one.
In 1967 it all began, the Hot Wheels Phenomenon and my involvement. First, art for blister card, collector buttons, modest play sets, accessory packages for track, curves, jumps, loops and double loops, etc.
1968, 1969 and 1970 were busy years. Larger play sets, Jump and Parachute, 180 Degree Curve, Rod Runner, Trestle, Bridge, Speedometer Sets 1 & 2, Dual Eliminator, Speed Test, Road Trials, Finish Victory, Staging Gate, Tuneup Tower, Hot Wheels Injector, Hill, Supercharger Double and Single, Speed Shop, Service Station, Talking Garage, etc. Also there was art for many Collector Cases, some to hold 24, 36, 48, 72 cars and a number of smaller cases. In addition, there was, it seemed a never ending number of buttons, blister cards and lots of cars to appear on packages for cross sell. A word about Blister Cards. I did many of them especially the early variety. There were generic, and some were specific.
The Heavyweights, Workhorses Flying Colors and Mega Force (both later cards) Super Chrome, Hi Rakers, many more, but I simply entered them in my job book as a new blister card.
The 70's and 80's I did a tremendous amount of art for Mattel. I worked on many different toy packages. However most of it was Hot Wheels. Here are some of the projects. Hot Shots, Flying Colors, Baja Beast, Cutoff Canyon, Super Chrome Loop, Quick Change, Thrill Drivers, Turbocharger, Toss Up, Criss Cross Finish, Scorchers, Master Caster, Wipe Out, Photo Finish, Great American Truck Race, Twin Booster, Double Scare, Spin Out, The Hot Ones, Dixie Challenge Spin Out, Jump Masters, Spiral Speedway, Crack Ups, Race Way, Flip Flop Cars, Snake mountain, Dynamite Bridge, Leaping' Demons, Stuntz Ratz, Loop and Splash, Color Magic Cars, Flip Over Cars, Crash Cars, and it goes on and on. More Blister Cards, Car Cases, Gift Sets and cars, cars and more cars. There were so many projects, too many to enumerate entirely.
In 1967 it all began, the Hot Wheels Phenomenon and my involvement. First, art for blister card, collector buttons, modest play sets, accessory packages for track, curves, jumps, loops and double loops, etc.
1968, 1969 and 1970 were busy years. Larger play sets, Jump and Parachute, 180 Degree Curve, Rod Runner, Trestle, Bridge, Speedometer Sets 1 & 2, Dual Eliminator, Speed Test, Road Trials, Finish Victory, Staging Gate, Tuneup Tower, Hot Wheels Injector, Hill, Supercharger Double and Single, Speed Shop, Service Station, Talking Garage, etc. Also there was art for many Collector Cases, some to hold 24, 36, 48, 72 cars and a number of smaller cases. In addition, there was, it seemed a never ending number of buttons, blister cards and lots of cars to appear on packages for cross sell. A word about Blister Cards. I did many of them especially the early variety. There were generic, and some were specific.
The Heavyweights, Workhorses Flying Colors and Mega Force (both later cards) Super Chrome, Hi Rakers, many more, but I simply entered them in my job book as a new blister card.
The 70's and 80's I did a tremendous amount of art for Mattel. I worked on many different toy packages. However most of it was Hot Wheels. Here are some of the projects. Hot Shots, Flying Colors, Baja Beast, Cutoff Canyon, Super Chrome Loop, Quick Change, Thrill Drivers, Turbocharger, Toss Up, Criss Cross Finish, Scorchers, Master Caster, Wipe Out, Photo Finish, Great American Truck Race, Twin Booster, Double Scare, Spin Out, The Hot Ones, Dixie Challenge Spin Out, Jump Masters, Spiral Speedway, Crack Ups, Race Way, Flip Flop Cars, Snake mountain, Dynamite Bridge, Leaping' Demons, Stuntz Ratz, Loop and Splash, Color Magic Cars, Flip Over Cars, Crash Cars, and it goes on and on. More Blister Cards, Car Cases, Gift Sets and cars, cars and more cars. There were so many projects, too many to enumerate entirely.
The "Custom Otto" 40th Hot Wheels Anniversary
As a short follow-up, over the span of twenty-five years, I completed more than eight hundred projects for Mattel.
Some of the jobs, a high percentage, required multiple illustrations, some as many as from two or three, to a dozen. That translates to well over a couple thousand individual pieces of artwork. While this was happening I'm also doing freelance work for Lockheed, McDonald Douglas, Hughes, JPL, Max Factor, J. Walter Thompson, L. M. Cox, Challenge Publications, Graphic Films, Entex, etc.
During a period of years when I wasn't working for Mattel, I did work for Galoob, Tyco, and Playtime.
NOW, can you believe, as they say, what goes around comes around, I'm back doing Hot Wheels and it's COOL!
During the time I went back and started doing Hot Wheels again Mattel decided to bring out The Lost Redline for which I originally in 1968 created the illustration of a cool "California Custom" car which was never produced. For the 40 year Hot Wheels Anniversary they decided to use that one, produced it and named it the
"Custom Otto" which for me is really gratifying and COOL!
Some of the jobs, a high percentage, required multiple illustrations, some as many as from two or three, to a dozen. That translates to well over a couple thousand individual pieces of artwork. While this was happening I'm also doing freelance work for Lockheed, McDonald Douglas, Hughes, JPL, Max Factor, J. Walter Thompson, L. M. Cox, Challenge Publications, Graphic Films, Entex, etc.
During a period of years when I wasn't working for Mattel, I did work for Galoob, Tyco, and Playtime.
NOW, can you believe, as they say, what goes around comes around, I'm back doing Hot Wheels and it's COOL!
During the time I went back and started doing Hot Wheels again Mattel decided to bring out The Lost Redline for which I originally in 1968 created the illustration of a cool "California Custom" car which was never produced. For the 40 year Hot Wheels Anniversary they decided to use that one, produced it and named it the
"Custom Otto" which for me is really gratifying and COOL!