Raving Toy Maniac

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2012 -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6: FIRST DRIVE-IN THEATER

Profile America - Wednesday, June 6th. A major pop culture phenomenon began on this day in 1933. With the automobile increasingly reshaping the American landscape, Richard Hollingshead opened the nation's first drive-in movie theater in Camden, New Jersey. Soon, drive-in movies became a fixture across the country and a popular place for teenage dating. Some even had heaters to go along with the speakers, so they could stay open through the winter. Drive-ins reached their peak in the 1950s. There were nearly 21,000 movie theaters then, and more than 4,000 of them were drive-ins. Now, there are nearly 4,900 movie theaters around the country - most of them with multiple screens - while there are fewer than 270 drive-ins remaining in operation. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at http://www.census.gov.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 301

The Expendables Minimates Are On a Mini-Mission!

June 2012 - Hitting comic stores this week is the first set of Minimates based on the action-movie franchise to end all franchises, The Expendables! With Lee Christmas, Hale Caesar, Mr. Church and Tool, these 2-inch collectible action figures are ready to engage in covert operations... on your desk! They come packed with an arsenal of weaponry, and thanks to their small size they should be able to get in and out of your cubicle without anybody noticing, causing a minimal of collateral damage. (Sorry, your stapler is fragged.)

Look for the set in stores on Wednesday, and look for the Toys "R" Us-exclusive set -- featuring Barney Ross, Trent Mauser, James Munroe and Paine -- to hit soon. In the meantime, check out these pictures of the toys in action!

June 5, 2012 - Toy2R rings in summertime with this sexy new 5 Inch Mini Qee Bear from artist Popil Art (http://www.popilart.com/) entitled "GIRLS."

Working as an illustrator for various magazines the artist is now experiencing true artist fame with art exhibitions and now a designer art toy.

WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS PARTNERS WITH WETA WORKSHOP FOR COLLECTIBLES FROM THE UPCOMING HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FILMS, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY AND THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN

- New merchandise slated for October 2012 -

WELLINGTON, New Zealand and Burbank, CA – June 05, 2012 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Weta Workshop announced today a partnership under which the innovative design company will develop and market a wide range of authentic prop replicas, collectibles and merchandise based on the upcoming films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The licensing agreement grants Weta access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for the two films. The first products in the collection will be unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con at the Weta booth (#3513B) in July 2012, along with a limited number of exclusive pieces that will be available for purchase.

June 4, 2012 - It's almost that time of year again... the time of year when Diamond Select Toys hops on a plane across the country to attend the biggest pop-culture convention in America! San Diego's Comic-Con International 2012 will run from July 12-15, and DST will have a ton of fun events for you to attend, including a Minimates panel, a Battle Beasts signing, our Build-a-Minimate station and some cool, cool giveaways. But this year will also be a huge year for DST's exclusive toys! In partnership with Diamond Comics Distributors and the Previews catalog, DST will have the following exclusive items available for sale at their booth this year, and there's something for everyone!

AVX: Avengers Vs. X-Men Marvel Minimates Box Set

June 4, 2012 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer Urban-Collector has several new items of interest to collectors:

This week we are featuring new pre-orders from Avengers, Dark Knight Rises and The Big Bang Theory!

Featured Pre-Orders

• Men in Black MIB 3 Standard Issue Sidearm Prop Replica
• Deadpool Action Statue Bowen Designs

Toys"R"Us and DreamWorks Animation Unveil Global Exclusive "World of Madagascar" Brand

Toys"R"Us In-Store and Online Boutiques Celebrate Launch of New 3D Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted in Theaters on June 8, 2012

WAYNE, N.J. and GLENDALE, Calif., June 1, 2012 -- Toys"R"Us and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. today unveiled "World of Madagascar," a new brand featuring toys based on characters from all three Madagascar films, now available exclusively at Toys"R"Us online and in store locations around the world. Coinciding with the launch of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, which arrives in theaters on June 8, Toys"R"Us is showcasing the "World of Madagascar" in Toys"R"Us stores throughout the United States during the month of June. Highlighted in the boutique are exclusive toys from Fisher-Price®, as well as a full range of lifestyle products inspired by the beloved Madagascar franchise.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Reveals Guardians of Middle-earth, an Authentic Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Game for Console Systems

Debuting Exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network in Fall 2012

BURBANK, Calif. -- May 30, 2012 -- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announces Guardians of Middle-earth, a new multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Monolith Productions, set to debut in fall 2012 exclusively for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®Network. The game will feature tie-ins to the upcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey motion picture, directed by Peter Jackson and a production of New Line Cinema and MGM.

Philadelphia - June 1, 2012 - At Philly Comic Con, Kasual Friday revealed 3 new characters from their upcoming 3" stylized figure line.

Shown for the 1st time were MGM's Army of Darkness ASH and CLUBBER LANG along with King Features Syndicate's THE PHANTOM. These figures will remain on display at Philadelphia Comic Con, Friday and Saturday at the StylinOnline.com booth. Figures will be available Spring 2013.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and The LEGO Group Rebuild Middle-earth Brick by Brick with LEGO® The Lord of the Rings™

Join the Fellowship and Experience the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy As Never Before in the Latest Family-Friendly LEGO® Videogame Adventure

BURBANK, Calif. -- June 01, 2012 -- Explore Middle-earth in an epic and thrilling LEGO videogame adventure for the entire family! Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and The LEGO Group today announced LEGO® The Lord of the Rings™, the latest addition to the wildly successful LEGO videogame series that brings to life the legendary fantasy saga by J.R.R. Tolkien. The game will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 system, the Wii™ system, the Nintendo DS™ hand-held system, the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system, PlayStation®Vita system and PC in fall 2012.