Henry Orenstein (1923–2021), toy developer who helped launch Transformers
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1 min readHenry Orenstein was a holocaust survivor and successful toy developer who helped launch Transformers.
- Died:Wednesday, December 15, 2021. (Who else died on December 15?)
- Details of death:Died at the age of 98.
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Toy Entrepreneur
Henry Orenstein was a successful toy developer who is credited with helping launch the very popular Transformers by arranging a deal between Hasbro and the Japanese toy company Takara. Born in Poland, he and his brother survived various concentration camps during the Holocaust, coming to America in 1947. He started Topper Toys, a successful toy manufacturer that was known for the Johnny Lightning model cars and Suzy Cute dolls. He was also a world class professional poker player who was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2008. He developed an innovation that allowed TV viewers to see poker players’ hole cards via glass-filled cutouts in the table, with cameras below. This became frequently used on televised poker competitions including “Poker Superstars” and “National Heads-Up Poker Championship.”
Tributes to Henry Orenstein
Full obituary: The New York Times
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