Founded by Jim and Mary Thornbury in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1954, Thornbury's Toys was initially a true "mom and pop" shop. After expanding a few times they outgrew the first store located at 117 Breckinridge Lane in St. Matthews and opened a new store nearby at 4101 Shelbyville Rd. in 1960. This store became headquarters. Thornbury's, incorporated in 1965, grew year after year, peaking in the mid 1980's with stores in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Ohio and Alabama. The formula for success: customer service, high "play-value" toys and bikes, and a strong management team combined with Uncle Jim's entrepreneurial and promotional flair, love of children, understanding of his customers, attention to detail, and loving family. Uncle Jim's motto was "the customer is always right". The company mascot, Thorny the monkey, who pedaled his bike day and night atop the St. Matthews store, also helped Thornbury's stand out.
Showing posts with label fireman bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fireman bill. Show all posts

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Another Very Unique Team-Up Promotion

Thornbury's teamed up with Oscar Ewing in a summer ad offering a Thorny Buck on the side of a drink carton. Simply cut out the Thorny Buck to spend at Thornbury's Toys. Oh, don't forget to first finish the carton of juice.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Another Uncle Jim Promotion-1964 Thorny Club

Cover of 1964 Thorny Club Official Members Book
You know all the characters on the Thorny Bucks pictured here, don't you?  On the bottom left, you have the one and only, Uncle Jim.  His $10.00 Thornybuck was worth a nickel.  Fireman Bill is on the $1.00 buck, Trigger Tom is on the $3.00 buck and Amy, the charming Queen of Toys out did them all on the $50.00 buck.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Fireman Bill in Thornbury's Toys Blazer


Fireman Bill was really a fireman with the St. Matthews Fire Department.  He was a very talented artist and was one of Thornbury's long-standing and devoted employees. 

Fireman Bill Presents Three Great Toys


Fireman Bill is shown in this excerpt from "1964 Thorny Club Official Members Book containing Home-viewers Games on Guess Who! and Toys Sold by Thornbury's Toys". Note in the lower right-hand corner the "Fireman Bill Drawing Set - Play "Guess Who?" at home. Everything you need to draw and trace while your friends "Guess Who?""

Saturday, January 31, 2015

The Guess Who Show Was a Local Favorite

This was the set up for the Guess Who show, which aired on WAVE-TV. The young contestants would watch Fireman Bill draw a cartoon character and as soon as they could identify the character, the child would  press the buzzer on their bike and the light would  go on.  They would then identify the character and accumulate points to win the prizes shown behind them.

A real person dressed up as Thorny the Monkey would pop out of the Thornbury's version of a "jack in the box". That's Fireman Bill with Uncle Ed Kallay who helped emcee the Guess Who show.

Uncle Jim is getting the contestants ready.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Uncle Jim with Thorny, Captain Campbell and Fireman Bill

Uncle Jim feeds Thorny the Monkey at  Thornbury's Toys.
Captain Campbell is poised to help the contestants on the Guess Who show. (late 60's)
Can you guess who Fireman Bill is drawing for the kids on the Guess Who show?