A Star Wars Pez is a Pez candy dispenser themed after the Star Wars movies, and is one of the company's most prominent merchandising deals. Approximately 100 dispensers have been released on the market from 1997[1][2] to 2023, among the many collectibles spawned by the franchise.[3]

The extreme interest of marketing executives in all things Star Wars has spawned a scholarly interest in the "materializing fantasy media" such as these Pez dispensers.[4] It has also led to several museums to feature such Stars Wars memorabilia in their exhibits and/or gift shops, as well as media attention on this fairly odd phenomenon.

In museum exhibits and gift shops

In recent years, several museums around the United States have featured Star Wars Pez in their exhibits and/or gift shops. These products are displayed and exhibited because they are classic Americana.[5] Despite the dispensers' "popularity and cult status," the manufacturer's original factory in Austria does not give tours or sell fancifully-shaped memorabilia.[6] Only in January 2012, Star Wars dispensers are prominently displayed at the company's new North American headquarters in Orange, Connecticut. One travelogue wrote, "The company has been making the cartoonish plastic heads for 60 years now, representing everything from Star Wars to U.S. presidents to the Geico chameleon."[7]

The Clayton Historical Museum, in Clayton, California opened a new exhibit on the history of candy manufacture in January 2012 that featured these confectionery dispensers.[8]

Pez with Star Wars characters have been featured prominently in the Star Wars Museum in Maryland.[9][10] The Star Wars Pez dispensers are pictured on a fan website, which describes them as "some Candy Heads from 1980."[11]

The Pacific Science Center sold Pez at a popular exhibit about Star Wars.[12]

These branded dispensers were among the "top sellers" at the gift shop at the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia, in Burlingame, California. The museum also displayed "a whole lot of Star Wars Pez,"[13] in Plexiglas displays.[6] The Burlingame "unofficial shrine" to the collectibles was unaffiliated with Pez Candy, Inc.,[5] and the manufacturer sued the Burlingame museum in 2009 for copyright infringement.[14][15] There was a notorious, giant Pez sculpture of C-3PO and Chewbacca locked in a slash fiction kiss.[15][16] The museum closed in 2019.[17][18]

Another Pez museum in Easton, Pennsylvania also has featured prominently their obligatory Star Wars memorabilia,[19] ("Of course, we had to include the Star Wars Pez Dispensers"), including an oversize Darth Vader figurine.[20] This museum closed to the public in 2012.[21]


Other influences

Carrie Fisher's "Princess Leia Pez dispenser" is one of the "merchandising horrors" she discusses in her one-woman show Wishful Drinking.[22]

These candy dispensers are featured prominently in the 2010 Emmy Award-winning fan film, Star Wars Uncut.[23][24]

Star Wars Pez has a gateway drug-like effect for some young collectors. One fan of Pez dispensers started her huge horde with Star Wars figurines at the age of three.[25] Another fan calls Pez dispensers generally "a gateway drug to hardcore collecting".[26] Pezheads shopping for new dispensers frequently place Star Wars first on their shopping lists.[27]

Chronology of releases

Five Star Wars Pez were released in 1997:[28]


Four Star Wars Pez were released in 1998 in advance of the May 19, 1999 premier of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace:[34]


A Jar Jar Binks Pez Hander battery operated toy was released in 1999.[39]


Three Star Wars Pez were released in 2002 for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones:[28]


In 2003 Pez released three Limited Edition Collectable Crystal Star Wars dispensers:[43]


14 Giant Pez were released in 2005 to commemorate Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith:[28]


Pez also released five standard-size dispensers in 2005[28] for the Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith movie release:


Walmart released an exclusive limited edition gift set in 2005 containing nine Star Wars Pez dispensers previously available individually.[49] That same year, Pez also released the same nine dispensers in a special numbered limited edition set.[50]


For the 2009 animated release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film) Pez released three dispensers:[28]


Pez released two dispensers in 2012 for the 3D release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace:[28]


Two Star Wars Pez were released in 2013:


Four limited edition crystal Star Wars Pez were released in 2015 as a gift tin:[58]


Only one individual Star Wars dispenser was released in 2015:


In 2016 a Rogue One gift tin was released containing four dispensers:[60]


From 2016 - 2017 seven individual Star Wars Pez were released for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Rogue One:[28]


In 2017 a Millennium Falcon gift tin was released containing four dispensers:[68]


For the 2018 theatrical release of Solo: A Star Wars Story a gift tin containing four Star Wars dispensers was released:[69]


A giant BB-8 was also released in 2018.[70]


In 2019 to celebrate the premier of The Mandalorian, Pez partnered with Funko to produce seven Star Wars dispensers akin to the Pop! Vinyl line of figures:


For the 2019 holiday season a limited edition gift tin (of which "only 75,000 tins" were produced) with four dispensers was released for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker:[78]


For the 2019 theatrical release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker four dispensers were released:


Pez released six new Star Wars dispensers in 2020:


In 2021 Pez released the first two Star Wars Pez Clips, a new short-base format "to take on the go."[88] These were sold in a 2-pack including:


During November 2022 Pez released six new Star Wars dispensers including a gift tin to coincide with the debut of The Mandalorian (Star Wars character) and Grogu at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, in Disneyland Park.[89]


October 2023 marked 100 years of Disney, and Pez released several collectable tins of platinum dispensers for the 100th anniversary celebration.[93] The Disney 100 Star Wars tin[94] includes:


For the 2023 debut of Ahsoka (TV series), three Star Wars dispensers were released:

  • Ahsoka (second version, updated design)[95]
  • Chewbacca (fourth version, updated design, lighter brown)[96]
  • R2-D2 (second version, updated design, dark blue base)[97]

References

  1. ↑ Nina Chertoff and Susan Kahn, "Star Wars", Celebrating Pez (Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2006), 87.
  2. 1 2 "Pez Meets the Force: A History of Star Wars Pez Dispensers". 12 June 2017.
  3. ↑ "The Groundbreaking History Of Star Wars Toys". May 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ Dou, Cookie (February 1, 2012). "Q&A: Turning Fantasy (Media) into Reality with Professor Bob Rehak". Swarthmore Daily Gazette. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Kiger, Patrick (n.d.). "How Pez Works". How Stuff works website. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Asturias, Corinne (March 13–19, 2003). "Rite of Pez-age: Museum of Pez Memorabilia". Metro (San Jose, California newspaper). Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  7. ↑ Karge, Anthony (January 29, 2012). "Road Trip: Pez's New Visitor Center: Check out the just-opened visitor center at the U.S. headquarters in Orange". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  8. ↑ Hartlove, Denisen (January 9, 2012). "Clayton is sweet on candy exhibit". Clayton Pioneer. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ Matt Lake, Mark Moran, and Mark Sceurman, Weird Maryland, p. 137, 138 (2006 Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.), ISBN 978-1-4027-3906-4, found at Maryland at Google Books. Accessed February 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ "The Star Toys Museum, Inc". Reader's Advice. n.d. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Star Wars Museum, images from April 2009". April 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  12. ↑ "A Parent's Review: "Star Wars" exhibit at Pacific Science Center". March 23, 2011.
  13. ↑ Terdiman, Daniel (November 15, 2007). "Savoring Pez's sweet history". CNet News. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  14. ↑ Doctor Popular (July 1, 2009). "Pez Suing Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia". Laughing Squid website. Retrieved February 2, 2012. Original source available at Archives of Inside Bay Area.
  15. 1 2 Xeni Jardin (July 6, 2009). "Pez Candy Inc sues Museum of Pez Memorabilia for copyright infringement". BoingBoing website. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  16. ↑ Beale, Scott (July 6, 2009). "C-3PO & Chewbacca, Together At Last". Laughing Squid website. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  17. ↑ https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32124-d265152-r687122780-Burlingame_Museum_of_Pez_Memorabilia-Burlingame_California.html
  18. ↑ "Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia - Burlingame, CA".
  19. ↑ "CColorful PEZ museum captures Crayola crowd in Pennsylvania". New Haven Register. January 4, 2004. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  20. ↑ Beale, Scott (November 2007). "Easton Museum of Pez August 15, 2007". Project Absurd website. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Easton, Pennsylvania: Easton Museum of PEZ (Gone)".
  22. ↑ ""Keep in mind though, I'm a PEZ dispenser and I'm in the abnormal Psychology textbook. Who says you can't have it all?"". April 3, 2017.
  23. ↑ Acuna, Kirtsen (January 27, 2012). "Here's What 'Star Wars' Would Look Like If Made By Fans". Business Insider. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  24. ↑ Juan F. Marcelo (January 24, 2012). "Nueva versión de Star Wars IV creata (in Spanish) por los aficionados de la saga". Tuexperto.com Internet. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  25. ↑ Ripley, Dan (November 20, 2010). "Collectors converge at Children's Museum". Dan Ripkley's Antique Helper. Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  26. ↑ "A Collection a Day #54 – Pez dispensers," posting of August 2, 2010. Found at Cool and Colelcted blog. Accessed February 3, 2012.
  27. ↑ Andre Pope, post, "South Carolina's Largest Garage Sale", July 23, 2010. Found at The Digitel Myrtle Beach. Accessed February 3, 2012.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Pez Meets the Force: A history of Star Wars Pez Dispensers". 12 June 2017.
  29. ↑ "Darth Vader".
  30. ↑ "Yoda".
  31. ↑ "Chewbacca".
  32. ↑ "C3PO".
  33. ↑ "Stormtrooper".
  34. ↑ "May the Pez Be with You Chewy on This: 'Star Wars' Characters to Land at Candy Store Near You", Seattle Post-Intelligencer (April 7, 1999).
  35. ↑ "Luke Skywalker".
  36. ↑ "Princess Leia".
  37. ↑ "Ewok".
  38. ↑ "Boba Fett".
  39. ↑ "Jar Jar Binks Pez Machine! - Jedi News". 7 May 2015.
  40. ↑ "Jango Fett".
  41. ↑ "Clone Trooper".
  42. ↑ "R2-D2".
  43. ↑ "Star Wars Limited Edition".
  44. ↑ "Emperor Palpatine".
  45. ↑ "General Grevious".
  46. ↑ "Death Star".
  47. ↑ "Chewbacca".
  48. ↑ "Emperor Palpatine Glowing".
  49. ↑ "Walmart Gift Set".
  50. ↑ "Star Wars Gift Set".
  51. ↑ "Obi Wan Kenobi".
  52. ↑ "Anakin Skywalker".
  53. ↑ "Ahsoka".
  54. ↑ "Darth Maul".
  55. ↑ "Yoda".
  56. ↑ "Boba Fett".
  57. ↑ "Giant Darth Vader".
  58. ↑ "Star Wars Gift Tin".
  59. ↑ "Darth Vader".
  60. ↑ "Rogue One Star Wars Set".
  61. ↑ "BB-8".
  62. ↑ "Stormtrooper".
  63. ↑ "Kylo Ren".
  64. ↑ "Porg".
  65. ↑ "Praetorian Guard".
  66. ↑ "Rey".
  67. ↑ "Stormtrooper Executioner".
  68. ↑ "Millennium Falcon Gift Tin".
  69. ↑ "Star Wars Han Solo Gift Tin".
  70. ↑ "Giant BB-8".
  71. ↑ "Boba Fett Holiday - Funko POP+PEZ".
  72. ↑ "Boba Fett - Funko POP+PEZ".
  73. ↑ "Bossk - Funko POP+PEZ".
  74. ↑ "Logray - Funko POP+PEZ".
  75. ↑ "Lando - Funko POP+PEZ".
  76. ↑ "Ponda Baba - Funko POP+PEZ".
  77. ↑ "Snaggle Tooth - Funko POP+PEZ".
  78. ↑ "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Limited Edition 4pc Gift Tin".
  79. ↑ "Droid".
  80. ↑ "Rey Episode 9".
  81. ↑ "Kylo Ren".
  82. ↑ "Sith Trooper".
  83. ↑ "Giant Darth Vader PEZ 40th Anniversary Empire Strikes Back".
  84. ↑ "The Mandalorian™ Pez gift set".
  85. ↑ "The Child (Baby Yoda)".
  86. ↑ "The Mandalorian".
  87. ↑ "The Mandalorian™ Funko POP+PEZ Gift Set".
  88. ↑ "The Mandalorian™ PEZ Clips".
  89. ↑ "The Mandalorian and Grogu Have Landed at Disneyland".
  90. ↑ "Boba Fett".
  91. ↑ "Star Wars: The Mandalorian Grogu Gift Tin".
  92. ↑ "Walmart Exclusive! Two new Christmas PEZ Baby Yoda".
  93. ↑ "Disney – Celebrating 100 Years of Wonder".
  94. ↑ "Disney 100 Star Wars PEZ Gift Tin".
  95. ↑ "Ahsoka".
  96. ↑ "Chewbacca".
  97. ↑ "R2-D2".

Further reading

  • Peterson, Shawn (2001). Collectors Guide to Pez: Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications, 2001.
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