RIP Bernard Loomis
 

Bernard Loomis, a legendary toy industry figure, passed away from heart disease on Friday at the age of 82 (registration required). Loomis was instrumental in tying toys to TV programming; his first attempt to bring a "Hot Wheels" cartoon to TV in 1969 failed, but he eventually succeeded with a Strawberry Shortcake animated program in 1980, which paved the way for the multiple animated toy shows that followed.