Editing Stretch Armstrong (section)

==History==
The Stretch Armstrong toy concept was created by Jesse D. Horowitz,<ref name= "idea book">{{cite journal| first= Jesse D. | last= Horowitz | title= Stretch man idea| journal= Idea Book | date= October 17, 1974}}</ref> the industrial designer for Kenner's [[R&D]] group. The idea was approved for development by the head of R&D, Jeep (James) Kuhn, vice president of Kenner.

The "stretch man" idea as it was called was pursued with two different bodies in mind. One was a [[rikishi|sumo wrestler]] and the other was an [[All-America#Other uses|All-American]] blond [[beefcake|hunk]]. Horowitz sculpted the models himself instead of hiring a  freelancer. The sumo man was too bulky and large, so the All-American body was cast by Kenner's model maker Richard Dobek, and the resultant resin model was taken to a latex doll manufacturer in New Jersey, where the first bodies were dipped.

Originally, springs were thought of as the way to stretch the man. However, they were thought to be too awkward and stiff, too difficult to insert and would likely pierce the skin. Kuhn, a chemical engineer, pursued a liquid sugar idea which eventually proved successful. Tremendous quantities of [[Karo (syrup)|Karo]] [[corn syrup]] were purchased from an [[A&P]] supermarket{{cn|date=July 2021}}. The syrup was boiled down to get the proper viscosity. Kuhn and Horowitz flew to Kenner's headquarters in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], and presented the concept to Bernie Loomis, Kenner's president. He loved it and a toy icon was born.

The original Stretch Armstrong figure was conceived and developed by Bill Armasmith, and was in production from 1976 until 1980.{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} [[Denys Fisher]] manufactured and released the figure in Europe, under license from Kenner.<ref name=RetFan1>{{cite journal|last=Cimino|first=John|date=Summer 2018|title=The Legends and Lore of the Incredible Hulk, Stretch Armstrong, and the Mego Elastic Superheroes|journal=RetroFan|issue=1|pages=9–13|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref> The original 1970s toy commands high prices on the secondary collectors' market, selling for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of US dollars.{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} Through storage and play, the figure could become damaged and rendered useless. There are still original Stretch Armstrongs that have survived the passing of time and are remarkably preserved through sheer luck or being stored at the correct temperature.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} The figure keeps best at room temperature.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}

Stretch Armstrong is made of [[latex rubber]] filled with gelled corn syrup, which allows it to retain shape for a short time before shrinking to its original shape.<ref name=chymist>{{cite web|last=Katz|first=David A|title=Chemistry in the Toy Store|url=http://www.chymist.com/Toystore%20part2.pdf|publisher=chymist.com|access-date=March 29, 2011|archive-date=June 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625034044/http://chymist.com/Toystore%20part2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Similar releases===
[[File:Stretch Armstrong ad.png|thumb|Stretch Armstrong ad]]
An estimated 67 different versions from [[Japan]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Australia]], and other countries released Stretch Armstrong variations between 1976 and the 1990s.<ref>[http://www.stretcharmstrongworld.com/ Stretch Armstrong World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905063103/http://www.stretcharmstrongworld.com/ |date=September 5, 2008 }} (retrieved January 23, 2012)</ref>

* Stretch X-Ray (1977), had an oversized exposed [[brain]] and an alien-looking face with a transparent form that showed its internal organs which were lungs, an intestinal system and what appears to be a heart. This version was re-released.
* Harbert Sport Mister Muscolo, 1977 Italian version of Stretch Armstrong<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld>[http://www.stretcharmstrongworld.com/photo3_5.html Estimated Stretches Left in Existence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129102253/http://www.stretcharmstrongworld.com/photo3_5.html |date=January 29, 2012 }}, Stretch Armstrong World (retrieved January 23, 2012)</ref>
* Lili Ledy El Hombre Elastico, Mexican version of Stretch Armstrong<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* [[Tsukuda]] Mr. X, Japanese version of Stretch Armstrong<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Stretch Monster, a [[List of reptilian humanoids|reptilian]] green nemesis released by Kenner in 1978
* Harbert Sport Mister Mostro, Italian version of Stretch Monster<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* [[Tsukuda]] Stretch Monster, Japanese version<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Stretch Ollie and Stretch Olivia, male and female [[octopus]]es (colored blue and pink, respectively) which had the same face shape but the only difference was their color. Kenner issued both weeks apart but Ollie was more popular.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} The [[Denys Fisher]] UK toy company issued Ollie and Olivia in smaller boxes than their American counterparts, saving on shelf space. The figures are rare to come by now.
* Denys Fisher Stretch [[The Incredible Hulk|Incredible Hulk]] (1979) This figure used the original Stretch Armstrong molds and graphics without permission, and was discontinued due to a lawsuit from Kenner in 1980.<ref name=RetFan1/>
* [[Mego Corporation|Mego]] Elastic [[Donald Duck]] (1980)<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Mego Elastic [[Mickey Mouse]] (1980)
* Mego Elastic [[Batman]]<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Mego Elastic Incredible Hulk (1979)<ref name=RetFan1/><ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Mego Elastic [[Plastic Man]] (1979)<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Kenner Stretch [[snake|Serpent]]<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Cap Toys Fetch Armstrong, Stretch Armstrong's pliable [[domestic dog|canine]] counterpart, released in the early 1990s
* Kenner/[[Hasbro]] Super Stretch [[The Mask (comics)|Mask]]<ref name=stretcharmstrongworld/>
* Cap Toys [[Vac-Man|Stretch Vac-Man]]
* ToyQuest Super Morphman
* Super Impulse [[Gumby|Gumby and Pokey Stretch]]

The last two were filled with a granular solid in place of the [[viscous liquid]] found in the other figures. A [[vacuum pump]], which attached to the heads of these figures, removed the air from within, which "froze" the toy in its stretched position.<ref name = chymist/>

Stretch Armstrong was reissued in the 1990s by Cap Toys, with a canine [[sidekick]], "Fetch Armstrong".<ref name=Clark /><ref>{{cite news |last=DeBrosse |first=Jim |title=S-T-R-E-T-C-H-ING THE MARKET SHARE |work=[[Dayton Daily News]] |date=September 1, 1995 |pages=1C}}</ref> The reissue stretch Armstrong had a more comical exaggerated face (a huge genial smile) and had on a vanity T-shirt and shorts. This new reissue figure was introduced in 1993 and 1994 version exist with slightly different art work. He also has an evil brother named Evil X-ray Wretch Armstrong who has a skull face, sports a [[Mohawk hairstyle|mohawk]], and also stretches. Wretch Armstrong seems to be a redesigned, smaller remake of Stretch X-Ray but in reality looks nothing like the 1970s version. Evil X-ray Wretch Armstrong is only 7 inches tall whereas Stretch X-ray was over 12 inches tall.