"Out of the night, when the full moon is bright, comes a horseman known
as Zorro. This bold renegade carves a Z with his blade, a Z that stands
for Zorro. Zorro, the fox so cunning and free. Zorro, who makes the
sign of the Z."
Zorro...
Zorro...
Zorro...
These lyrics were
ingrained in the memories of a generation of baby boomers who regularly
watched the Disney television series. Airing in 1957, the lyrics and
imagery of Zorro rearing on his horse, Tornado, against a lightning sky
echoing the word Zorro, created a powerful impression on the viewing
audience.
Previous generations had thrilled to the remarkable feats of the Fox:
the silent film fans of Fairbanks 1920 The Mark of Zorro; the
followers of the Republic cliffhangers of the 1930's, and the devotees
to the subtle satire of the 1940 Tyrone Power Zorro. It was the
success, however, of the Disney series that spawned a remarkable
merchandising campaign.
Character licensing was a burgeoning field in the late 1950's and the
popularity of the Fox translated into a mania that took the country by
storm. Products produced during the Disney era and subsequently have
become prized collector's items. Chalked tipped swords, costumes,
wallets, lunch boxes, and play sets were among the hundreds of products
created by Disney licensees.
A rebirth of Zorro as a classic property occurred in the early 1980's,
driven by a re-airing of the Disney series in France and the release of
Mel Simon's 1980 spoof starring George Hamilton in Zorro, the Gay
Blade. Five television series have been produced since, as well as
over 1000 worldwide licenses. The immensely popular 1998 film, The
Mask of Zorro, starring Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins,
sparked a new round of international licensed Zorro products. The
release of the sequel, The Legend of Zorro (2005), brought yet
another wave of officially licensed products for the Zorro fan to
collect and enjoy.
We welcome fans, collectors, and the curiously inclined to browse
through our collection of Zorro collectibles and memorabilia.
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