`TOY STORY' SUCCESS

Take one newfangled space man. Add to a gunless cowboy, a delicate porcelain beauty who has lost her sheep, a know-it-all pig bank, and an insecure dinosaur and you have a few of the unique characters that make up the latest Walt Disney movie, "Toy Story."

Toss in Slinky the Dog and Mr. Potato Head, and you have most of the major characters in "Toy Story," which debuted over the Thanksgiving weekend as the nation's No. 1 movie, featuring toys that come to life when their young owner leaves the room.

Not only did the movie spark the greatest holiday weekend in movie box office history -- $39.1 million in earnings, from 2,457 locations ($15,902 per location) -- but the computer-animated comedy has resulted in a national want-list for the toys involved.

Heading the lead characters are Woody, the loose-limbed cowboy and Buzz Lightyear, a Mr. Universe space man, who share a toy chest with a variety of old-fashioned toys, from a Barrel of Monkeys to Slinky the Dog to Bo Peep.

Youngsters everywhere have been introduced to the toy line that goes with the movie.

A miniature "Toy Story" character is inserted into each "Kids Meal" sold at Burger King Restaurants, and character puppets are available at the fast-food restaurant for $1.99, with each combo sandwich sold.

"The interest in these toys is unbelievable," said Ken Augustyne, director of operations for Drury restaurants. "It keeps us busy restocking them."

But MidAmerica Hotels Inc. of Cape Girardeau, which owns 19 Burger Kings, ordered high on the toys, noted Augustyne. "So far, we've managed to keep up with the demand."

And the demand has been big, adds Augustyne. "Our restaurant business has increased greatly because of the "Toy Story" movie. A number of the toys included in the "Kids Meal" include Rex the Dinosaur, Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm the piggy bank, and a car. among others.

Augustyne has been in Kennett the past few days, preparing to open the 19th Burger King in the MidAmerica Hotel group. Following the Saturday opening, the company has 19 Burger King restaurants, in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, Northern Arkansas and Western Kentucky.

"We've introduced a number of toys from Walt Disney movies," said Augustyne, mentioning toys from other animated movies. "'Toy Story' toys will rank right up there with those from 'Pocahontas' and 'Lion King.'"

At the Toys R Us stores, special sections for the toys are being established.

"We'll have a special section as soon as we receive the inventory for it," said Mark Edwards, department head of floor sales at Toys R Us at 210 Silver Springs Road here.

"We've had some of the toys already and they're selling really well.

One Los Angeles Toys R Us store, which had created a special "Toy Story" section, was cleaned out early on Thanksgiving Day and has had to reorder.

"Toy Story" toys have already climbed into the "10 Hottest Toys" list compiled by Venture Stores Inc. and the Toy Manufacturers of America Inc., along with such toy notables as "Star Wars" and "Batman Forever" action figures and "Pocahontas" toys and Barbie Dolls.

Meanwhile, crowds continue to swarm into the "Toy Story" movie, and as it turns out, many adults are attending the movie, not only to accompany the youngsters, but alone.

The movie is showing locally at Town Plaza Cinema, 2154 William.

Movie theater operators had worried whether parents would go to "Toy Story" with their children or just drop them off at the curb.

The attraction for adults, it seems, are the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who do the speaking for Woody and Buzz.

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Roads at a Glance

By The Associated Press

The National Highway System bill approved by Congress will channel millions of dollars in federal road money to 4,484 miles of highway in Missouri, most of them secondary roads. State officials will decide how and when the funds will be spent.

ROUTE LD ENDPOINTS

U.S.

71 LD Iowa border to Arkansas border

U.S.

36 LD Hannibal to St. Joseph

U.S.

59 LD St. Joseph to Kansas border

State

92-10 LD I-29 to Richmond

State

13 LD Richmond to Springfield

State

7 LD I-71 to I-35

State

7 LD I-71 to State 5

State

5 LD Lebanon to Camdenton

U.S.

50 LD I-44 to Lee's Summit

U.S.

54 LD Louisiana to Kansas border

U.S.

65 LD Ridgedale to Princeton

U.S.

136 LD Princeton to I-35

U.S.

60 LD Sikeston to Springfield

U.S.

60 LD Springfield to Monett

State

37 LD Monett to Arkansas border

U.S.

63 LD Thayer to Iowa border

U.S.

67 LD Arkansas border to Festus

U.S.

412 LD I-55 to Arkansas border

State

34 LD Jackson to U.S. 60

State

72 LD Jackson to Fredericktown

State

8 LD U.S. 67 to I-44

State

100 LD I-44 to St. Louis

U.S.

61 LD I-70 to Wayland

U.S.

24 LD Taylor to Quincy, Ill.

State

19 LD U.S. 61 to I-70