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Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
Not to the same degree they are today. Most memoribilia was given away. Today it's sold as product and licensed on boxes of soup and cereal.
Look for old Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote, Foghorn Leghorn Memorabilia. There was little merchandising when they first came out. The licensing boom happened in the 80s.
In the 90s it grew to ridiculous amounts. Nickolodeon Consumer Products makes a very good portion of MTV's income.
Besides my current job, I had friends who's fathers worked at Hanna Barbara and Warner Bros. Cartoons as my background information.
In the past decade I made friends with the director of The Howdy Doody show and she recounts similar tales.
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I agree there is more merchandising today - but you know, if someone had been smart enough back in the day, there would have been a lot more then, also. Nevertheless, Superman and Bugs Bunny lunch boxes and such have been around for ever.
I'm sure there are some creators who did it "for the love of animation" - but I'd wager most were out to make a buck, like most people and businesses are.
Because something is modern or has merchandising attached to it does not make it bad. Some people may dislike the ubiquitous Dora, but the show itself is pretty positive fare. As are Blue's Clues, Thomas, Hi-5 and several other pre-school shows.