When most Americans think of the Smurfs, they think of the 80's. It comes
as quite a surprise when they learn that the Smurfs are over 40 years old
and are still very much a part of children's lives just about everywhere
*except* in the United States!
The Smurfs were created by Pierre Culliford (1928-1992), a Belgian artist
from Brussels who went by the nickname "Peyo." They made their debut in a
1958 cartoon and were an instant hit. The first molded PVC figurines
appeared in 1965, and are still being made today by the Schleich Co. in
Germany. Smurf figurines first appeared in the UK in 1978 when National Gas
used them to promote service stations. A year later, they made their U.S.
debut.
After observing his daughter's fascination with the little blue figurines,
NBC president Fred Silverman bought the rights to the Smurfs and turned them
into one of the most successful cartoons ever. The first episode aired
September 12, 1981 and was the first introduction to the Smurf characters
for many American children. Soon the craze was in full swing and Smurf
merchandise flourished. Most popular of all were the Schleich PVC
figurines.
By 1989 the series was losing steam. In an attempt to save the nearly
decade-old show, the producers had the Smurfs leaving Smurf Village to visit
various times and locations. Fans were not pleased! The show was cancelled
after that season, ending August 25, 1990. Smurfs disappeared from American
culture even as they continued to delight children and adults elsewhere
around the world.
Ten years later these now-grown children of the 80's discovered the
Internet, and with it they learned that the Smurfs had not disappeared as
they had thought - they were still being made! Smurf collecting, always a
popular hobby outside the US, has enjoyed increasing popularity here in the
US.
Prices for Mint figurines run from $4-$5 for current production figurines to
several hundred dollars for the rarest promotional figurines which were
produced in limited quantities for short periods. Recently, three Smurf PVC
prototypes were sold on eBay Germany for approximately $2,500, $2,585 and
$2,687, setting new records for Smurf figurines! The premier Internet
resource for Smurf collectors is www.MushroomVillage.com
