The Smurfs merchandising
[2] For a while advertisers used Smurfs to promote Renault, National Benzole and BP garages and—in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand at least—the figurines were given away when petrol (gasoline) was purchased.
The lead paint scare was brought about by a group of people in the marketing department of National Benzole who decided to outsource some smurf figurines to be made in Hong Kong instead of Europe, just four or five different lines.
An article in The Times dated 4 October 1978 said that tests by the Department of Health showed there was no significant risk, so National Benzole then resumed sales of smurf figures from garage forecourts within the UK.
[citation needed] Many people do not realise that the Smurf figurines given away with the petrol promotions actually still continue in production today.
Over the decades, many singles and albums of Smurf music have been released in different countries and languages, sometimes very successfully, with millions of copies sold.
The best known is the single The Smurf Song and its accompanying album, created by Dutch musician Pierre Kartner who sings under the alias Father Abraham, which reached the #1 position in 16 countries.
In 1984, the Smurfs began appearing in North American theme parks owned by Kings Entertainment Corporation.
People would ride in a boat around the world of the Smurfs celebrating the seasons of winter, autumn, summer and spring.
Kings Dominion The earlier "Land of the Dooz" mine train attraction became "Smurf Mountain".
Smurf Island was eventually closed, and later demolished to make space for the "Borg Assimilator", a Star Trek themed flying roller coaster, opened in 2004.
It featured "Smurf Village", a walk-through attraction which portrayed life in the titular setting, as well as Gargamel's house.
The Gargamel section frightened children so much that the park had to eventually open the emergency exit for families who wished to bypass it.
Typical midway and carnival games were also featured attractions, but modified to fit the Smurf theme.
First designed within the extant halls of Sacilor's Laminoir by the Leisure division HHCP Architects in Maitland, Florida, the theme park was named "The New World of the Smurfs", or "Le Nouveau Monde des Schtroumpfs".
Designed as a UNICEF advertisement, and with the approval of the family of the Smurfs' late creator Peyo, the 25-second episode was shown on the national evening news after the 9pm timeslot to avoid children seeing it.
Hundreds of white plastic Smurfs, just 20 cm (7.9 in) high, will be scattered in selected European cities for children to decorate.
The plastic Smurfs will be laid down overnight - waiting at the bus stop, playing around the fountain, at the schoolyard – and kids will be able to pick them up in the morning.
According to Guinness world records the largest collection of smurf memorabilia can be found in Ripon Wisconsin and is owned by Gerda Scheuers.
