JAMES R. BECKER, Founder of Anjar, 2018 TOY FAIR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE & 2011 TAGIE Award Winner
JAMES R. BECKER, Founder of Anjar, 2018 TOY FAIR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE & 2011 TAGIE Award Winner
JAMES R. BECKER, Founder of Anjar, 2018 TOY FAIR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE & 2011 TAGIE Award Winner

JAMES R. BECKER, Founder of Anjar, 2018 TOY FAIR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE & 2011 TAGIE Award Winner

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ANJAR CO. LLC

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JAMES R. BECKER, Founder of Anjar - TRIBUTES

  • 2018 Toy Industry Hall of Fame Inductee
  • 2011 TAGIE Award Winner
  • Inventor & Designer of the Year Winner 

James R. Becker (Jan. 27, 1921 - Aug. 11, 2011) Hall of Fame Bio 2018

For over 55 years, Jim Becker developed and licensed products in the Toy Industry, helping to create global licensing as we know it today. By developing and licensing merchandise from a TV Show, Jim helped spawn the $250 billion Licensing Industry. Many of the products licensed by Jim became well-known household names, including some still sold today.

In 1975, Becker licensed Othello to Gabriel Industries for the U.S. market and, subsequently, to dozens of companies worldwide outside of Japan.  Anjar Co., founded by Jim Becker in 1969, is well-known for having been instrumental in marketing, licensing, selling, promoting, distributing and popularizing OTHELLO branded products in the U.S. and around the world outside of Japan since 1975, and developing or licensing other familiar products globally including: GUMBY & POKEY, BARREL OF MONKEYS, DISAPPEARING MAGIC BABY BOTTLE, NERF PING PONG, BATTLE DOME, GO FOR BROKE, SLIDERS, GOT A MINUTE WORD GAME, FLIPSIDERS, GOOPS, SHIRT POCKET GAMES, BABY GET WELL and hundreds more, many of which have sold millions of pieces! In 1977, Jim organized the first annual World Othello Championship.  Today, Othello Associations exist in over 30 different countries. Othello has been recognized as one of the 'Classic Toys and Games of the 20th Century' still in production, and is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Parents' Choice Classic Toy Award and Games Magazine's Hall of Fame. In 2005, in recognition of Jim's lifetime achievements, Jim was the recipient of the International Designers & Inventors of Toys Award and, in 2011, Jim was the recipient of a TAGIE Award In Memoriam at ChiTAG.

Jim represented manufacturers and inventors to develop and represent their ideas for licensing around the world. Jim began his career as a salesman, driving his showroom (a converted trailer) throughout the Northeast.  Prior to founding Anjar in 1969, Jim was at Lakeside Toys, where he developed an innovative product that became a well-known brand, still marketed today. Based on the popular Gumby cartoon, and working with its creator Art Clokey, Jim developed Gumby and Pokey Bendy toys which were an instant success.  The Bendy brand line of toys was extended to include a multitude of popular licenses and sizes, including the Green Hornet, Popeye and The Lone Ranger.  some of Jim's other product licensing and development credits include Battle Dome (winner of the Duracell Game of the Year), the Disappearing Magic Milk Bottle, Nerf Ping Pong, Barbie 'Really Works' Activity Toys, Flipsiders, Breaking Point, Betsy McCall Fashion Designer Set, Perquackey, Grabbin Dragons, and more than 500 other toys and games.

Jim used his experience, charisma, sense of humor and the strength of his personal relationships to create Anjar, one of the most successful product development and licensing companies in the world.  The toys and games he developed and licensed touched the lives of many people.

 

2018 JRB HALL OF FAME VIDEO

 https://youtu.be/1DEZ6y_A1VI

Here are Jim's video and bio from the 2011 TAGIES.