ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Saturday Morning News

Shopping Day Shapes Up Well in Big Apple

Aired December 23, 2000 - 9:11 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A destination spot for last-minute Christmas shoppers may include a trip to the toy store. CNN's Deborah Feyerick has taken off her parka and has moved inside to FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue, New York.

Hello again, Deborah...

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well...

O'BRIEN: ... how's it going inside?

FEYERICK: ... hey, (inaudible), first of all, it is so much warmer in here. We wanted to tell you, FAO Schwarz is one of the most famous toy stores in all of Manhattan. They've been in business for more than 140 years. This is really the kind of place where adults feel like kids and kids just feel lucky.

Take a look at what the whole experience is. This is a robot back here. It's actually an elevator that people can ride up and down in. Obviously that's why they call it an elevator. But it is disguised in the form of a robot.

You can get any toy imaginable here. You've got a lot of different stuffed animals. As a matter of fact, their stuffed animals are just among the most creative that we've ever seen. You've got some koala bears, you've got some elephants. This is the safari section, obviously.

They've got very popular toys, among them something called the Meow Cheek (ph). Now, I have no idea what this Meow Cheek does, but I do want to tell you, this is one of the most popular toys of the season.

And with me to talk about why it's so popular is Ira Gallen, also known as Mr. Toy.

IRA GALLEN, TOY COLLECTOR: (inaudible) too much.

FEYERICK: (inaudible)...

GALLEN: Yes, that's Meow Cheek, right there. Isn't that adorable? Interactive robots. The more you play with it, the more it does, starts talking, singing, a little of everything. A CNN best bet. FEYERICK: This is like the new Furby.

GALLEN: You got it. Made by the same company, Tiger, selling through the roof, and the people, and it's a hard one to find. Hot also, 'NSynch (ph) dolls, anything you can get with 'NSynch is doing well. This is selling out at FAO also.

Jean dolls outselling Barbie in the collector's market, and check this out, the Hess toy truck, they've sold close to 2 million of these in less than six weeks, only at a Hess gas station, $18.99, batteries included, can't get any hotter than this. Parents love it. They always buy two, one to give to their kids, and one to collect because it's a collector's item.

FEYERICK: Now, what makes something popular? I mean, why does one toy just simply outsell another toy?

GALLEN: It's either promoted real well, if it's related to a movie, especially with 'NSynch, it's a group tot (ph). You have to take home a little bit of the memory of the performances and stuff like that.

FEYERICK: Now, this is an adult toy right here, because...

GALLEN: This is it, everybody remembers Caddyshack. Gemmi (ph) Industries that makes the singing Christmas tree that Jeane Moos (ph) loves to break apart every year, well, this is the Caddyshack Gopher. They've sold close to 2 million of these. This is really hot.

FEYERICK: And these two dolls, quickly, what have we got here?

GALLEN: That's Barbie, the '70s, come to their own stash, only kidding, and Frank Sinatra, the early years, when he starts losing his hair. Forty dollars, really nice collectible if you're into Frank and his music.

FEYERICK: OK, Ira...

GALLEN: Really good stuff.

FEYERICK: ... Ira Gallen, this man knows everything there needs to know about...

GALLEN: (inaudible)

FEYERICK: ... toys, yes.

If you're wondering where this music is coming from, we're going to roll around right here. This is a very famous block here at FAO Schwarz. This greets visitors the minute they walk into the store. This is what it's all about, it's all about just being happy, feeling like a kid -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Deborah, I got to ask you, do they still have that big keyboard in there that was featured in "Big"?

FEYERICK: Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

O'BRIEN: All right.

FEYERICK: It's a little, it's a little worse for wear, but they've still got it.

O'BRIEN: All right. I -- when we see you next, I want you to do "Chopsticks" on that thing, OK?

FEYERICK: I'm working on it.

O'BRIEN: All right. Thank you, we'll see you a little later. Have fun.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.