A Star Wars Pez is a Pez candy dispenser themed after the Star Wars movies, and is one of the company's most prominent merchandising deals. Approximately 100 dispensers have been released on the market from 1997[1][2] to 2023, among the many collectibles spawned by the franchise.[3]
The extreme interest of marketing executives in all things Star Wars has spawned a scholarly interest in the "materializing fantasy media" such as these Pez dispensers.[4] It has also led to several museums to feature such Stars Wars memorabilia in their exhibits and/or gift shops, as well as media attention on this fairly odd phenomenon.
In museum exhibits and gift shops
In recent years, several museums around the United States have featured Star Wars Pez in their exhibits and/or gift shops. These products are displayed and exhibited because they are classic Americana. Despite the dispensers' "popularity and cult status," the manufacturer's original factory in Austria does not give tours or sell fancifully-shaped memorabilia.[5] Only in January 2012, Star Wars dispensers are prominently displayed at the company's new North American headquarters in Orange, Connecticut. One travelogue wrote, "The company has been making the cartoonish plastic heads for 60 years now, representing everything from Star Wars to U.S. presidents to the Geico chameleon."[6]
The Clayton Historical Museum, in Clayton, California opened a new exhibit on the history of candy manufacture in January 2012 that featured these confectionery dispensers.[7]
Pez with Star Wars characters have been featured prominently in the Star Wars Museum in Maryland.[8]
Other influences
Carrie Fisher's "Princess Leia Pez dispenser" is one of the "merchandising horrors" she discusses in her one-woman show Wishful Drinking.[22]
These candy dispensers are featured prominently in the 2010 Emmy Award-winning fan film, Star Wars Uncut.[23][24]
Star Wars Pez has a gateway drug-like effect for some young collectors. One fan of Pez dispensers started her huge horde with Star Wars figurines at the age of three.[25] Another fan calls Pez dispensers generally "a gateway drug to hardcore collecting".[26] Pezheads shopping for new dispensers frequently place Star Wars first on their shopping lists.[27]
Chronology of releases
Five Star Wars Pez were released in 1997:[28]
Four Star Wars Pez were released in 1998 in advance of the May 19, 1999 premier of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace:[34]
A Jar Jar Binks Pez Hander battery operated toy was released in 1999.[39]
Three Star Wars Pez were released in 2002 for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones:[28]
In 2003 Pez released three Limited Edition Collectable Crystal Star Wars dispensers:[43]
Further reading
- Peterson, Shawn (2001). Collectors Guide to Pez: Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications, 2001.
External links
- Retro to Go: Star Wars-themed Pez dispensers
- PEZ Museum, Bay Area images of Star Wars and other Pez on Flickr
- "May the Pez be with you" and "Star Wars signed" images of Star Wars Pez (images 10 and 11 of 15) on CNet.com
References
- Nina Chertoff and Susan Kahn, "Star Wars", Celebrating Pez (Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2006), 87.^
- Pez Meets the Force: A History of Star Wars Pez Dispensers 12 June 2017^
- The Groundbreaking History Of Star Wars Toys May 22, 2015^