Editing Stretch Armstrong

{{About|the toy|other things named after it|Stretch Armstrong (disambiguation)}}
{{Short description|Action figure notable for its ability to stretch several feet}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox Toy
|name      = Stretch Armstrong
|image     = [[File:Stretch Armstrong toy.jpg|250px]]
|type      = [[Action figure]]
|inventor  = Jesse D. Horowitz
|country   = [[United States]]
|company   = [[Kenner Products|Kenner]], [[Denys Fisher]], and [[Hasbro]]
|from      = 1976
|to        = 1997, 2016–present
|materials = [[Plastic]], [[rubber]] and [[gel]]
|website   =
|slogan    =
}}
'''Stretch Armstrong''' is a large, gel-filled [[action figure]] that was first sold in 1976 by [[Kenner Products|Kenner]].<ref name=Clark>{{cite book |last=Clark |first=Eric |title=The Real Toy Story: Inside the Ruthless Battle for America's Youngest Consumers |year=2007 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn=978-0-7432-4765-8 |pages=44–45}}</ref>  

It looks like a short muscular man with [[blond hair]] wearing black trunks, but can be stretched from its normal size of about {{convert|15|in|cm}} to {{convert|4|to|5|ft|cm|spell=in}}.

The doll is made of latex rubber filled with a proprietary gelled substance similar to corn syrup, which allows it to retain shape for a short time before shrinking to its original shape.

Tears can be fixed with an adhesive bandage, according to an instruction booklet included with the box.

In 2016, at the New York Toy Fair, [[Hasbro]] announced the return of the Stretch Armstrong toy in its original 1976 design.

In 2015, Hasbro gave the license for Stretch Armstrong to Character Options, which began releasing new products in 2016. <ref>{{cite web|title=Hasbro Showcases Global Franchises at Brand Licensing Europe 2015 |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151013005586/en/Hasbro-Showcases-Global-Franchises-at-Brand-Licensing-Europe-2015 |website=BusinessWire|date=October 13, 2015|access-date=February 6, 2025|language=en}}</ref> In 2023, Character Options announced plans to expand the brand until 2024. The plans included launching the original toy under the name "The Original Stretch Armstrong" and creating a "Stretch" brand to create crossover products with brands such as [[Star Wars]] and [[Transformers]]. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartsock |first=Bug |date=2023-04-13 |title=Hasbro and Character Options’ Stretch Armstrong Expands to U.S. Market |url=https://toybook.com/stretch-armstrong-us/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=The Toy Book |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2025, Basic Fun! acquired a license from Hasbro to manufacture and distribute products based on Stretch Armstrong and Vac-Man, including classic and reimagined versions of the characters, as well as partnering with other entertainment brands to launch new licensed products inspired by the Stretch Armstrong toy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Ellen |date=2025-02-24 |title=‘Newstalgia’ Stretches Fresh Life Out of Old Toys with New Stretch Armstrong Line |url=https://toybook.com/basic-fun-hasbro-stretch-armstrong/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=The Toy Book |language=en-US}}</ref>

==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.

==Adaptations==
===Cancelled film===
In 1994, [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] obtained the film rights to the character, with [[Caravan Pictures]] producing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frook |first=John Evan |date=1994-04-25 |title=Disney flick pick quite a 'Stretch' |url=https://variety.com/1994/film/news/disney-flick-pick-quite-a-stretch-120459/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Several scripts were written, including an early version family comedy written by Greg Erb, a co-writer at Disney. The script which cast [[Tim Allen]] in the role of Stretch Armstrong as a "kind of single dad who is a research scientist" and is "stretched too thin" trying to balance his work and family life before he inadvertently accidentally takes one of his experimental serums giving himself "stretchy powers". A later version from screenwriter Michael Kalesniko was created and it was set in [[San Francisco]]. It was about a somewhat socially awkward nobody beset with troubles trying to venture out his failing personal life. He is then genetically modified with stretching abilities after a failed nuclear fusion experiment and must use his newfound abilities to solve the tragedy that has befallen his family. Among the actors who were considered for the role was [[Danny DeVito]], who refused to do the film if the script made any jokes about his height. Several other writers, such as [[Mike Werb]] and [[Michael Colleary]], provided rewrites, and [[Peter Care]] was attached to direct,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/1999/film/news/new-pic-a-stretch-for-brit-helmer-care-1117490253/|title= New pic a 'Stretch' for Brit helmer Care|date= January 14, 1999|access-date= April 1, 2022|first= Chris|last= Petrikin|work= Variety|archive-date= April 1, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220401162641/https://variety.com/1999/film/news/new-pic-a-stretch-for-brit-helmer-care-1117490253/|url-status= live}}</ref> but due to lack of time on the rights, both ideas from Disney were scrapped and the rights were bought up by [[Hasbro]].<ref name="MentalFloss">{{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/69454/hollywoods-repeated-inexplicable-attempts-stretch-armstrong-movie/|title=Hollywood's Repeated, Inexplicable Attempts at a 'Stretch Armstrong' Movie|date=October 6, 2015|publisher=[[Mental Floss]]|access-date=January 12, 2016|archive-date=December 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209232451/http://mentalfloss.com/article/69454/hollywoods-repeated-inexplicable-attempts-stretch-armstrong-movie|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2008, [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] signed a deal with Hasbro to create another film based on Stretch Armstrong from a screenplay written by [[Nicholas Stoller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1641407/20100611/id_1995812.jhtml|title='Stretch Armstrong' Writer 'Gets' Taylor Lautner Obsession|date=June 11, 2010|publisher=[[MTV]]|access-date=June 13, 2010|archive-date=June 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613061329/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1641407/20100611/id_1995812.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It was announced from the studios co-chairman [[Donna Langley]] that [[Taylor Lautner]] would star as Armstrong and that the film would be in [[3-D film|3-D]]. She stated that "with Lautner's success energy and athleticism he is a perfect fit to a unlikely hero." Producer [[Brian Grazer]] stated "Stretch Armstrong is a character I have wanted to see on screen for a long time ... It’s a story about a guy stretching ... the limits of what is possible to become all that he can be."<ref name="/Film">{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/02/stretch-armstrong-movie-gets-april-2011-release-date/|title=Stretch Armstrong Movie Gets April 2011 Release Date|date=June 2, 2009|publisher=[[/Film]]|access-date=February 7, 2010|archive-date=February 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203044811/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/02/stretch-armstrong-movie-gets-april-2011-release-date/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Universal Casts Taylor Lautner in Stretch Armstrong 3D! Seriously. Read more: Universal Casts Taylor Lautner in Stretch Armstrong 3D. Seriously.|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2010/02/05/universal-casts-taylor-lautner-in-stretch-armstrong-3d-seriously/|date=February 5, 2010|publisher=[[/Film]]|author=Russ Fischer|access-date=February 6, 2010|archive-date=February 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209082246/http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/02/05/universal-casts-taylor-lautner-in-stretch-armstrong-3d-seriously/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Another script was being made by writer [[Steve Oedekerk]]  introducing the character in the form of an uptight spy who stumbles across a stretching formula, which he takes and now must adjust to his newfound abilities when fighting crime and in his everyday life.

Two years later, after the excitement drummed up by the Studios ideas for the character,  [[Relativity Media]] announced that they had picked up the film after it was dropped by Universal and set a new release date of April 11, 2014.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://deadline.com/2012/01/relativity-picks-up-hasbros-stretch-armstrong-pic-sets-april-2014-release-222825/ | title=Universal Drops Hasbro's Stretch Armstrong Film, Taylor Lautner Out As Star, Relativity Picks Up For April 2014 Release | date=June 28, 2012 | access-date=July 6, 2010 | author=Nikki Finke | archive-date=January 31, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131124554/http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/relativity-picks-up-hasbros-stretch-armstrong-pic-sets-april-2014-release/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Planning to make the film more serious than originally intended by Universal, Relativity hired ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' writer Dean Georgaris to write a new script,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/relativity-hasbro-find-stretch-scribe-1118053008/ |title=Relativity, Hasbro find 'Stretch' scribe |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621141831/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053008?refCatId=13 |url-status=live }}</ref> dropped Lautner, and hired Breck Eisner to direct.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=92715|title=Breck Eisner Confirmed to Direct Stretch Armstrong|date=July 19, 2012|work=Comingsoon.com|access-date=July 19, 2012|archive-date=July 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720063244/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=92715|url-status=live}}</ref>
The film origin story was going to introduce an overwhelmed high schooler and the life-or-death consequences he was going to face after undergoing a transformation granting him superhuman abilities. Production was scheduled to start filming on May 15, 2013, in [[Montreal]] but by October 2013, both the studio and Hasbro had abandoned the film to work on other projects.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/relativity-abandons-stretch-armstrong-movie-648060 |title=Relativity Abandons 'Stretch Armstrong' Movie |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 12, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411041806/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/relativity-abandons-stretch-armstrong-movie-648060 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Television===
{{Main|Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters}}
After four attempted films for Stretch Armstrong, Hasbro Studios made a deal with the video streaming service website [[Netflix]]  where the property was picked up for a full 26-episode animated series, making it the first deal between the company and the streaming service. This superhero action/comedy animated series followed a teenager named Jake Armstrong and his two best friends as they go into action after being exposed to an experimental chemical making them ''[[Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters]]''—a team of stretchable superheroes who must work together and embark on a series of adventures. The series debuted on Netflix on November 17, 2017.<ref>Spangler, Todd. (January 28, 2016). [https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/netflix-stretch-armstrong-hasbro-studios-1201690855/ Netflix Orders ‘Stretch Armstrong’ Series From Hasbro Studios] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911072735/https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/netflix-stretch-armstrong-hasbro-studios-1201690855/ |date=September 11, 2017 }}. Access on January 28, 2016.</ref>

The series was developed by Kevin Burke, [[Victor Cook]], and [[Chris "Doc" Wyatt]]. Burke and Wyatt also wrote a tie-in comic book for [[IDW Publishing]].<ref name="comic">{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/idw-hasbro-partner-stretch-armstrong-comic-book-1036373 |title=IDW, Hasbro Partner for ''Stretch Armstrong'' Comic Book (Exclusive) |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=September 7, 2017 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Eldridge Industries]] |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126050716/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/idw-hasbro-partner-stretch-armstrong-comic-book-1036373 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first 13 episodes of the 26-episode first season were released on [[Netflix]] on November 17, 2017.

===Comics===
A similar concept with Stretch as a superhero was also shown in a one-off comic produced by Hasbro in 2011 dubbed ''Unit:E''; there, the descendant of Acroyear and a Biotron (both from ''[[Micronauts]]'') and Synergy (from ''[[Jem (TV series)|Jem]]''; here an alien artificial intelligence) conducted [[reconnaissance]] on heroes from Earth and beyond (including characters from ''[[G.I. Joe]]'', ''[[Transformers]]'', ''[[M.A.S.K. (franchise)|MASK]]'', ''Battleship Galaxies'', ''[[Action Man]]'', and even ''[[Candy Land]]'') to help fight against Baron Karza (the enemy of the Micronauts).

In September 2017, [[IDW Publishing]] announced a new comic book based on the Netflix series ''Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters'' for January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/idw-hasbro-partner-stretch-armstrong-comic-book-1036373|title=IDW, Hasbro Partner For 'Stretch Armstrong' Comic Book (Exclusive)|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=September 7, 2017|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908030754/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/idw-hasbro-partner-stretch-armstrong-comic-book-1036373|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Video game===
In 2018, a video game called ''Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout'' was released on Netflix. The game involves Jake Armstrong, Ricardo and Nathan stopping villains from rampaging through Charter City.<ref name="Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout">{{Cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80135585|title=Stretch Armstrong: The Breakout &#124; Netflix Official Site|website=Netflix|access-date=2020-06-03|archive-date=July 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703023848/https://www.netflix.com/title/80135585|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|qid=Q36508917|id=tt1379164}}

{{Hasbro}}

[[Category:Products introduced in 1976]]
[[Category:Action figures]]
[[Category:Fictional characters who can stretch themselves]]
[[Category:Toy characters]]
[[Category:1970s toys]]
[[Category:1990s toys]]
[[Category:Hasbro products]]
[[Category:1980s toys]]