Say Uncle
Online toy shop eToys Inc. included a little humor in the papers it filed last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an upcoming stock offering.
Throughout the documents, company founder and President Edward (Toby) Lenk was referred to as “Uncle of the Board.” It was not a typo.
Lenk couldn’t talk about the playful references because the Santa Monica-based company is in the midst of a quiet period related to the stock offering.
But it’s said that “Uncle Toby” was the entrepreneur’s nickname well before the prospectus was written. So when it came time to choose titles, uncle just sounded more appropriate than chairman.
In fact, if the SEC approves the stock offering, Lenk can afford to call himself anything he wants. With an 8 percent stake in the company, he could soon be worth $90 million.
Party Time
At first glance, last week’s Spring Internet World ’99 at the L.A. Convention Center looked more like a carnival than a hard-core tech event.
Product demonstrations were called “performances.” Martinis, fruit smoothies and espresso drinks were offered at some company booths.
There were even raffles with high-end prizes like Palm Pilots, Nintendo game systems, a 1999 Harley-Davidson “Fat Boy” motorcycle, and drum roll please a Porsche Boxster.
Crowds of people swamped the booths that offered the prizes, throwing business cards into fish bowls and boxes and then walking away.
“Who knows and who cares what these guys make?” said one contest hopeful. “I just want that sweet car.”
Could Mickey Be Next?
The U.S. Postal Service has high hopes for its new Daffy Duck stamp, which debuted last week at a ceremony in Hollywood.
Already, 427 million stamps have been printed the highest single printing ever of a postage stamp.
Too bad for Warner Bros. that it won’t receive any royalties. “Nobody gets royalties from a government entity,” said Postal Service spokesman Dave Mazer.
Wonder if that explains why Mickey Mouse arguably the most popular of all cartoon characters has yet to appear on a stamp?
Word is that postal officials once talked with Walt Disney Co. about putting Mickey on a stamp but the discussions went nowhere. That’s not surprising, given Disney’s reputation for fiercely controlling its trademark characters.
Maybe Disney should reconsider. “It’s an honor and privilege (to be) on a stamp,” Mazer said.
Loquacious Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda may not be the manager of the Dodgers anymore, but his reputation for being somewhat, well, voluble lives on.
At the recent opening of the Dodger Experience museum, Don Newcombe, team director of community relations, arrived just in time to make a quick speech. But first he wanted to make sure Lasorda, now a Dodger vice president, was finished with his comments.
Newcombe looked over at Lasorda and asked, “Are you waiting to get to the microphone?”
Lasorda said no.
“I’m glad for that,” said the visibly relieved Newcombe.
