“Chi Chi has a great presence. He’s one of the strongest and most easily recognized characters in the gay community,” Ted LeVine, manager of licensing and business development at Topco, told XBiz. “The combination of his persona with our distribution and manufacturing resources is ideal. The response so far has been stellar.”
The Collexxxion’s Rascal Video line is based on Rascal films and includes items such as the Billy Butt Club, originally seen in Rascal Video’s “Hole Patrol.” Rascal toys will be sold as stand-alone items and bundled with the company’s videos. The line also features moldings of exclusive Rascal talents Johnny Hazzard and Eddie Stone, among others.
The Live and Raw toy line draws inspiration from LaRue’s website, LiveandRaw.com. Branded with the Live and Raw logo and colors, it’s “a basic toy line with all the traditional gay man’s favorite sex toys — everything the guys use on the site, from butt plugs to penis extenders,” said LeVine.
Rounding out the Collexxxion is Chi Chi’s Play Things, a novelty line that plays on LaRue’s persona as an entertainer. The first Play Thing item, Chi Chi’s Safer Sex Kit, is being co-sponsored by the Gay Man’s Health Crisis in New York.
The launch parties kick off Jan. 28 at Hustler Hollywood Los Angeles with Fubar house DJ Matt Daddy and the Fubar go-go dancers providing the entertainment. The festivities continue on Jan. 29 at Hustler Hollywood San Diego with Montage house DJ Bryan Pruett and the Montage go-go dancers.
Rascal Video stars Johnny Hazzard, Eddie Stone and Brandon Lee will accompany LaRue at the Hustler parties to help hand out gift baskets of the new novelties.
All products from Chi Chi LaRue's ColleXXXion are available online at Channel1Releasing and will begin shipping to preferred retailers throughout the spring.