ToyLanta 2019 is less than two weeks away, and your PopCulteer will be there with bells on. To help get everyone excited about the South’s biggest toy show, I’m finally getting around to editing and posting some of the panels from last year’s show. Tonight we have a real winner.

Greg Autore is a noted toy designer with a career spanning more than two decades of work for Hasbro, Mattel and others. As one of the freelance designers contributing to the GI Joe Classic Collection line in the late 190s, Greg was responsible for many of the more interesting Adventure-themed sets.

At this panel appearance from the 2018 ToyLanta, in March of 2018, Greg shows off several prototypes for very cool action figures, many of which did not make it to toy store shelves. He pulls back the curtain and reveals many of the secrets of the toy industry. It’s more than an hour of fascinating toys that should have been, filled with lots of great behind-the-scenes stories of how the toy business works.

Greg tells more tales of his days making toys at his website, Twelve Inch Treasures. Check it out and sign up for updates on his new posts.

Greg will also make a return appearance at ToyLanta 2019, March 8-10 at The Marriott Century Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He promises to show off even more really cool toys from his personal archives.

Like I said, Mr. and Mrs. PopCulteer will be there, and we’d like to see a record-breaking crowd taking in all the toys, panels, guest artists, and other cool happenings at this annual show that benefits the Cody Lane Memorial Toy & Diorama Museum. I do have to apologize for taking almost a year to get these panels edited and posted. As some of you may remember, health issues since 2016 have put a serious dent in my video work.  However, I am working hard to play catch-up.

Look for more videos later this week.