Toy Titan #1 is the toymakers’ Bensch: Christopher Bensch of The Strong Museum of Play
Welcome to the inaugural installment of the TOY TITANS interview series! It is a pleasure to serve as your tour guide throughout the playful jaunt. Expect to hop, skip, jump, and alight on milestones from several storied careers. To suggest a jolly giant for future spotlights, then please dispatch your pitch(es) to marlene@pinkpoodleproductions.com.
Our first Toy Titan is equal parts historian, collector, communicator and kid-at-heart. First, let’s set the scene.
Once upon a time, and nestled within northeastern thickets of the USA, just past Hansel and Gretel’s cottage and Barbie’s Dreamhouse, sat the Taj Mahal of playthings. Actually, it still sits there and constantly expands like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The benevolent king is Christopher Bensch, Vice President of Collections, and the castle is The Strong Museum of Play.
Perhaps the above appears hyperbolic, but it is thoroughly thought-through and based on conclusions from an interview of 30+ year Strong Museum stalwart Bensch. Below are the questions and colorful responses (paraphrased in some spots) from Christopher himself.
GLOBAL TOY NEWS: How did you begin your career in the toy business?
