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INFORMATION VINE * 50 Historical Toys That You May Or May Not Remember *.
Valley of the Sun Casual Club :: WORDS , FACTS , DATES , GAMES & TRIVIA & HISTORY :: INFORMATION VINE
Page 1 of 1
INFORMATION VINE * 50 Historical Toys That You May Or May Not Remember *.
by Paul Sun 18 Feb 2024, 3:04 pm
50 Historical Toys That You May Or May Not Remember
Photo Courtesy: [AlexAntropov86/Pixabay.com]
Think back to your childhood and remember the days when you crashed action figures into each other or brushed the hair of your favorite baby doll. The nostalgia is positively overwhelming! But no worries, because toys are still a major part of our lives.
Including your favorites, there are other toys from the past that have either faded from society or evolved for our entertainment. So buckle up and join me on this exciting journey of experiencing 50 classic toys that you remember!
The Boy Chemist was the first chemistry set to ever be released in the 1930s. It had a simple premise: allow people - mostly boys - to have a toy that will allow them to engage and perform easy chemistry experiments. The toy started as a way for the Porter Chemical Company to sell legitimate chemistry sets to adults, but it didn't work out as planned.
Photo Courtesy: [Joe Mable/Wikimedia.org]
Once it was packaged to the likeness of kids, the sets started to sell. The first "chemical magic" sets were sold for a few dollars because it was being demonstrated and promoted through advertising companies. Although there have been many versions, the Boy Chemist Chemistry Set set the pace for popular kid's toys.
Did you know that the first yo-yo was created as early as 500 B.C. in Greece? It was created as a right-of-passage object for children who have come of age to play by themselves and as a present to their Gods. The original yo-yo was made of terra cotta, wood, or metal disks, and even radiated throughout Greece, Egypt, India, and China.
Photo Courtesy [Marlene/Wikimedia.org]
The first recorded yo-yo toy in the U.S. was in 1866 but didn't flourish until 1928 when a man named Donald Duncan Sr. purchased the patent and the company that was selling the toy. From there, the yo-yo was able to affordably be made and has swept the nation to this very day.
The first pop-up book was created in circa 1250 as a way for children to track holidays. It was then applied to children's books around the mid-to-late 1700s when bookseller Robert Sayer created a more modern version of it. Pop-up books started to become popular in 1929 due to their "living model" of books with movable pictures.
Photo Courtesy [Kim Viljanen/Wikimedia.org]
In the 1940s, Blue Ribbon Publishing of New York coined the phrase "pop-up book" and created mass production of inexpensive books for children. Modernly, children still see pop-up books as a fun toy because of the life-like images, as well as a fun way to learn about various childhood topics.
Mickey Mouse is a popular household name for homes with children in it, which is why the stuffed Mickey Mouse doll became so successful. In 1930, Charlotte Clark created the first-ever stuffed Mickey Mouse doll. It stood about 3 feet tall and resembled Mickey very well.
Photo Courtesy [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Disney was extremely pleased about the design and the reactions of children and parents and decided to run with it. Since then, the stuffed Mickey Mouse doll has moved into millions of homes and continues to give children pleasure from playing with one of the world's most beloved characters.
The Great Depression was a time of loss and sadness for many people, yet, Howard Monk decided to make it a bit better. In 1932, he changed the heel of a brown sock to a reddish color and stuffed it with cotton-like material. It was then knitted together and it evolved into the shape of a popular primate, thus, creating the first-ever Sock Monkey.
Photo Courtesy [Kim Scarborough/Wikimedia.org]
The Sock Monkey became the desired toy amongst young children and was even used in comic books! This toy was popular enough to travel throughout Europe and North America as part of an "arts and crafts renaissance" and remains a classic treasure in many homes today.
The A.C. Gilbert Company was a science-based company that created the first toy microscope set in 1934. It had a legitimate 3-level magnification and was seen as an impressive and in-depth toy for a kid. The parts were mechanical and the microscope had to be assembled.
Photo Courtesy [Gregory Tobias/Wikimedia.org]
Although an obtainable challenge to assemble, the microscope set had a successful initial run and was revered as one of the most sophisticated children's toys. During the late 1930s, children would look at sections of flies, fleas, and bees, and still do as this product is still available for kids throughout the world.
In 1937, the first American toy army soldiers were created to give the feel of protection and duty to the American citizens, specifically the children. They were developed by Bergen Toy & Novelty Co (Benton). In the mid-1940s, Great Britain created their own versions but sold them as individual pieces.
Photo Courtesy [Maclapessoa/Wikimedia.org]
That changed in the 1950s when Louis Marx arranged the toy soldiers in sets with multiple pieces and started selling them as a boxed unit of U.S. Army figurines. Various sets such as the "Battlegrounds" and the "U.S. Army Training Center" were created and remained an imaginative toy to play with for decades.
Remember smacking this plastic ball with all your might to watch it move slowly through the air? Well, the Beach Ball still lives on as one of the most fun toys that you may remember. It was invented by Jonathon DeLonge in 1938 and was initially the size of your hand!
Photo Courtesy [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Modernly, the beach ball comes in different sizes and typically has the design of six vinyl stripes of different colors or patterns. What's cool is that the beach ball was created for adults so that they could have fun at the beach if they decided not to enter the water!
Remember the Slinky?! It was created by Richard James in 1943 by complete accident. The metal used to "make" a slinky was actually used to keep soft equipment stable while aboard a ship. One day, James accidentally knocked over the spiral metal and watched it bounce down, and the rest is history.
Photo Courtesy {Roger McLassus/Wikimedia.org]
Slinky became a household name during Christmas of 1945 when a department store decided to sell it. To date, more than 260 million Slinky have been created and still mesmerizes us with its bouncy springs to this very day.
No child - or adult - can resist watching a bubble pass by. It was the same in 1940 when the solution was created by using soapy water with pots and pans. The company Chemtoy started the official bottling of the solution and began to sell them.
Photo Courtesy: [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Since then, many different versions have been made, as well as the addition of a straw that helps to make the perfect bubble. Fun fact! Bubbles were seen as a symbol of light and peace during the 1960s because of the hippie movement using them during their peaceful protests.
Did you know that Putty was created to be a synthetic solution to rubber? The "solid-liquid" known as Silly Putty, was a stretchable material that was created for scientific reasons at first but had no use in the science world. It then became an American classic toy because of how oozy and gooey the putty was.
Photo Courtesy [Glitch010101/Wikimedia.org]
Within three days of sales, more than 250,000 units were sold and have been a hit ever since. Silly Putty did have one use: it was taken on Apollo 8 and used to hold down tools since the only place it was functional was in space!
“Will my crush say yes when I ask them out?” Maybe you’ve asked a question and maybe you haven’t, but there is no denying that you haven’t asked the Magic 8 Ball to tell your fortune. It was invented by Albert Carter in 1946 and inspired by his mother, Mary “The Clairvoyant” Carter.
Photo Courtesy [Candace McDaniel/Stocksnap.io]
The Magic 8 Ball came to fruition as the “Syco-Seer”, a cylinder with 2 dice that became the iconic 8 Ball that you know today. In 1950, Brunswick Billiards hired the Carter team to make some Syco-Seers into pool balls for a promotional campaign, and are still used today for both fun and nostalgia.
The toy that will turn anyone into an MVP in anyone’s backyard, the original yellow Nerf ball was invented by Fred Cox, a former placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings, and Reyn Guyer, a Minnesota-based games inventor in 1969. The Parker Brothers released Nerf in 1970 and haven’t slowed down in sales to this day.
Photo Courtesy [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Today, they not only specialize in airsoft weapon technology but footballs and artillery as well. Many people have certainly used a Nerf toy in their childhood, and you can even sign up for competitive Nerf War leagues! Also, Nerf stands for Non-Expanding Recreational Football, I had no clue of this; did you?
There are very few pleasures in life that match the quality of a Super Soaker fight on a summer day. For the many people who share those happy memories, you can give thanks to NASA Scientist, Engineer, and inventor of over 100 other items, Lonnie Johnson.
Photo Courtesy [4455738/Pixy.org]
Lonnie invented the Super Soaker in 1984 while working on the Stealth Bomber program for the US Air Force. He was attempting to create a heat pump that used water instead of Freon and realized that if he used the item like a water gun instead of that it would be just as successful.
Imagine being 2 years old in the Cozy Coupe peddling like Fred Flintstone to your heart’s content. Invented by Tom Murdough and released to the public in 1979, the Little Tikes brand continued skyrocketing to icon status and remains just as popular within modern time.
Photo Courtesy [Andrew Bone/Wikimedia.org]
Children across the globe get a kick out of doing the same activities as their parents, and driving is at the top of the list. Fun fact! On May 22, 2020, Yahoo Finance reported that the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Car outsold the Ford Fiesta due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I’m not too ashamed to admit that I’ve never solved a Rubik’s Cube, and you shouldn’t be either! This addictive and complicated 3-D puzzle was invented by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik in 1974.
Photo Courtesy [Lars Karlsson/Wikimedia.org]
He created this toy for children to learn how to deal with complex problems so that when you learn how to solve them you will be more confident running into others. Standard cubes now come in a handheld size of 3 x 3 x 3 and can even reach the size of a moving box! Although a simple concept, the Rubik's Cube reigns supreme at presenting a lifelong challenge.
Furby was interactive and was one of the first forms of virtual toys available for children. They spoke their own language called “Furbish” and would learn and repeat words from its owner, becoming smarter the more you played with it. An entrepreneur by the name of Caleb Chung designed and invented the Furby and released the item to the public through Tiger Electronics in 1998.
Photo Courtesy [Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay.com]
It became one of the highest-selling toys throughout the year 2000. Furby continued to remain popular even with its decrease in sales and has survived through multiple generations, now being available through the mobile app store.
Is it possible to hear someone say “Who’s Buzz Lightyear?” The toy "Buzz Lighter" was produced by Hasbro, but ‘Toy Story’ itself is the brainchild of John Lasseter, who wrote the story with Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Joe Ranft.
Photo Courtesy [Franky13/Pixabay.com]
The movie was the first for Pixar and proved to be a success for Disney after picking up the movie and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1996. Buzz was inspired by outer space-themed games like ‘Rocket Darts’ from the 1940s and was named after Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys were first introduced in 1988 after the cartoon was so wildly successful, only to continue to skyrocket after the 1990 live-action was released. The Turtles were created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird when Peter drew a turtle posing as Bruce Lee as a joke. Back and forth “dueling” illustrations created the teenage mutant team.
Photo Courtesy [InspiredImages/Pixabay.com]
At that point, Kevin and Peter added their iconic backstory into its current success. Over the span of 40 years, the TMNT action figures have been the foundation for many of their TV series and movies, and are still being enjoyed by many generations.
Rock-a-stack was an early childhood development toy that helped train young minds in size and color, coordination, memory work, and organization. The toy has changed extraordinarily little since inception, other than initially being made with wood before becoming all plastic.
Photo Courtesy [Shypoetess/Wikimedia.org]
When released in 1960, they were around $.75 each. There was also a giant rock-a-stack that came with 10 rings instead of 6. The larger Rock-a-stacks were discontinued in 1990 due to the extra cost and materials that it took to recreate the original design but on a larger scale. That's when the standards were reduced to the popular 5 rings set up.
Radio-Controlled Cars are one of the most exciting toys of many people’s childhood. In 1966, an Italian company, Elettronica Giocattoli, created a Ferrari 250 LM, the first fully functional remote-controlled car. As the popularity for these toys grew, racing leagues would form around the globe as RC drivers would put their creations to the test against one another.
Photo Courtesy [Trevor205/Pixabay]
During the late 1980s, RC Cars would evolve over time to become available in less powerful and more kid-friendly versions, like the Sidewinder from the ’90s, which was more recreational than the professional RC cars that were used in the Italian tournaments during 1960.
Can you remember the first game you ever played on a Game Boy? Still relevant for kids and adults, Nintendo's Game Boy hit the scene in 1989. It was developed and designed by Nintendo employee Gunpei Yokoi. He wanted to create a light, durable, and affordable system that many people could enjoy. His idea worked stupendously and became an instant hit.
Photo Courtesy [William Warby/Wikimedia.org]
Since its birth, Game Boy has been continuously improved to fit the current generation, including versions such as Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy DS. All versions combined have totaled more than 200 million units across the country and are still being sold today!
Remember collecting Hot Wheels and building ramps and tracks out of random objects? Introduced by Mattel in 1968, these die-cast car models took over toy stores across America. Hot Wheels has been given credit for inspiring the imaginations of many of today’s NASCAR race car drivers and enthusiasts.
Photo Courtesy [Joost J. Bakker/Wikimedia.org]
With over 20,000 different Hot Wheels designs to currently choose from, - including trucks, SUV's and semi cargo attachments - and over 130 new designs being made each year, Hot Wheels continues to be the foundation for sport and race car cultivation, as it has been for several generations.
Since 1953, parents have stressed much less over lamps and vases if indoor baseball was played thanks to David Mullany's design of The Wiffle Ball, the safe alternative to real baseballs. With their hollow and durable plastic design, these balls would cause less wear-and-tear on children’s shoulders if they were trying to throw major league pitches.
Photo Courtesy [Kazaline/Wikimedia.org]
The Wiffle Ball started with humble beginnings. Its initial design was taped up and packaged in discarded perfume packaging. Today, the company has been consistently selling millions of Wiffle Balls a year for almost 7 decades and is a proven and positive result of trial and error.
Robot aliens, that can morph their body into a car or jet? Or a semi-truck that can summon a metal sword? How Cool! There was definitely more than meets the eye when it came to Transformers robots. Though the toy’s competition, Tonka's prime robot ‘Gobots’ appeared first and had a larger brand, it didn’t take long for Transformers to surpass it.
Photo Courtesy [Birdman_pony/Pixabay.com]
Produced by Japanese company Takara Tomy and American toy company Hasbro in 1984, these shape-shifting aliens took the world by storm. Following the toy’s development, movies, T.V. shows, video games, even cereal have all been created in the likeness of these iconic characters.
Lite Brite was the ultimate design board that started with a blank slate or a stencil to create your very own illuminated masterpiece. Released in 1967 by Hasbro, this instant classic lit up eyes everywhere as friends and families enjoyed creating artworks of light.
Photo Courtesy [Thomas Ambridge/Wikimedia.org]
As the years progressed, designs became more intricate with such notable characters as Ronald Mcdonald or Pac-Man. Fun fact: the Guinness World Record for the largest picture made with a Lite-Brite is 224 square feet, which is approximately 615,753 pegs of light! Since its inception, Lite-Brite has become a heavily valued toy and company.
Before there was UFC, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken, Rockem Sockem Robots were used to settle many friendly fights between friends. This 2-player robot boxing game required no electricity or batteries to operate, which made it an efficient toy.
Photo Courtesy [Lorie Shaull/Wikimedia.org]
Designed by Marvin Glass and released in 1964, this toy became a household name and has withstood the test of time by still being enjoyed by fans of historical toys. There have been newer versions of the toy being released as recently as the year 2000, along with its own game for the in-demand game console, PlayStation, ‘Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots Arena’.
Glow sticks were created with the science of chem-luminescence, which causes the ever-mesmerizing glowing effect created when you crack one open. Glow Sticks were invented in 1971 by Michael M. Rauhut and Laszlo J. Bollyky. Due to the nature and chemicals used to create the prototype, these devices underwent several updates and received multiple patents until it was completed in 1977.
Photo Courtesy [Blackout_Photography/Pixabay.com]
Glow Sticks picked up at an exponential rate and became immensely popular at party venues and birthday celebrations. Glow Sticks are also often used as light sources by military forces and divers for their reliability in extreme conditions without much risk to the user.
The Super Ball was invented in 1964 by chemist Norman Stingley and became another successful Wham-O product, amongst many of the company’s other popular toys. It was hard to deny the amazement of watching this ball bounce powerfully all over a house.
Photo Courtesy [Lenore Edman/Wikimedia.org]
The founder of the American Football League and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt was inspired by the Super Ball at a very young age. For that reason, Hunt decided to name the AFL-NFL championship game the “Super Bowl”, which is the largest football game in U.S. culture.
Look out sandboxes, the Tonka Truck is coming through! Tonka toys were created by Lynn Everett Baker, Avery Crounse, and Alvin Tesch in 1946, with the first model toy being a crane. The signature Steel Mighty dump truck wasn’t released until 1964.
Photo Courtesy [Uberpruster/Wikimedia.org]
For the first year of their production, the dump trucks weighed 11 pounds - after alterations - because they were made of 12-gauge steel with solid rubber tires. Over time, Tonka Trucks became a household name for construction and demolition toys. In 2001, Tonka was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame and even has 13 video games to their credit.
Who remembers Skip-it? Surely your ankles do. One of the few that promoted healthy exercise to play with it, Skip It was initially released in 1987, by inventors Avi Arad, Maggie Harvey, and Mel Kennedy. They partnered with Tiger Toys to manufacture the item, and Skip-It steadily grew commercial success through its daytime ad campaigns on networks like Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network.
Photo Courtesy [Skip It/YouTube.com]
The company continued to sell the product throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. New versions were being introduced up until 2005 when production was then slowed down due to the expanding market of technological toys and devices.
One of the most recognizable brands in pop culture today, there has never been a quiet moment for Star Wars since the 1977 motion picture debut. The franchise has grown so large that other toys have been developed around the theme of Star Wars.
Photo Courtesy [Tvargas/WIkimedia.org]
Originally the action figures started the Star Wars toy brand. They were then expanded to board games, video games, clothes, furniture, movies, and theme park attractions. The most popular Star Wars toy is the lightsaber, with the Lego Star Wars series becoming one of the most popular - and valuable - of both franchises.
During the mid-1970s, Magna Doodle made its appearance on the market and a new drawing toy craze was born. Magna Doodle is a magnetic whiteboard or a dustless chalkboard at that time. With a swift swipe of the key at the bottom, you could simply clear your work versus having to shake it or use an eraser and having to deal with the cloud of chalk.
Photo Courtesy [DoYouRemember.co/Pinterest.com]
Invented in 1974 by 4 engineers from Pilot Pen’s Research and Development team, they realized the appeal and merit that the device would have as a kid’s toy, and history was made from there.
The art of hula-hooping has been practiced since 500 BCE. After meeting with a couple from Australia, Arthur “Spud” Melin, Co-Founder of Wham-O Inc., saw the value in the idea of these swiveling toys and put a patent on it in 1958 after it was introduced to him.
Photo Courtesy [Patrick Doheny/Wikimedia.org]
The hula hoop is as timeless as the business practices that brought in its success, as about 25 million units had been sold in the first four months of its release. Still as popular today as ever, Hula hoops are considered in some cultures as art, while for others it's exercise and entertainment.
The Pogo stick was invented by George Hansberg in 1918. Originally made of wood, the first batch of Pogos were shipped from Germany to the U.S. and became rotten during the expedition. George improved the design by creating the second prototype out of metal, and their success took off once this was done in the 1920s.
Photo Courtesy [HearthSong/Pinterest.com]
By 1947, Pogo sticks had been mastered in steel and lasted longer than the previously improved version. Though Pogo sticks may not be as popular today, the love for them still exists among all ages. To pay homage, Biff Hutchison set the Guinness World Record for the highest Pogo Stick jump at 11.5 ft!
Mattel Classic Football could be considered the great-grandfather of Madden. Released in 1977 and invented by George Klose and Richard Chang, this innovative device was the first handheld gaming system within the electronic toy market. Mattel's innovation proved successful when hundreds of thousands of copies were sold within the first few months.
Photo Courtesy [Joe Haupt/Wikimedia.org]
While its predecessors came in multitudes, this electronic football game is the foundation of many of today’s digital football games. The toy caught a breath of life after it made an appearance in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. as the main character Peter Quill’s tracking device.
The Easy-Bake Oven was introduced in 1963 by Ronald Bruce Howes Sr., and this is a toy that many people can remember using as a child. The sweet smell of brownies and cake being made right in your bedroom became a solid marketing point for this toy appliance.
Photo Courtesy [Bradross63/Wikimedia.org]
Unfortunately, the toy oven was recalled in 2011 after the ban of incandescent light bulbs, which served as the product’s heating element. The bulbs sadly caused injury to some of the children that used them. This shortfall didn’t stop the company Hasbro, as they’ve created the latest version of the product that is still available today.
Some of the best summer memories consist of Slip ‘n Slides! Robert Carrier invented the Slip ’n Slide when he came home to find his son and a friend spending their afternoon slipping and sliding down their driveway with just a water hose.
Photo Courtesy [Rob Swystun/Wikimedia.org]
Amused by their ingenuity, Robert quickly created a safer and more effective prototype for the kids to enjoy. The slide evolved from a simple strip with flowing water to elaborate paths of waterfalls, ramps, and slides. All of which come crashing down in a safe splashing zone that only makes you want to run back and do it all over again.
Here we have a classic drawing toy that was invented in 1960 by André Cassagnes. This toy was admired by consumers worldwide for being one of the first doodle machines to exist. Whether you could draw The Mona Lisa or even write your name clearly, everyone was fascinated by the “shake to reset” feature of the Etch-A-Sketch.
Photo Courtesy [Etcha/Wikimedia.org]
There hasn’t been much evolution to the Etch-A-Sketch since its inception except the original face previously being made of glass and now replaced with plastic. Digital Etch-A-Sketch animators were released in the ‘80s and ‘90s which allowed you to sketch multiple frames and create a mini cartoon.
“Prepare to meet Mr. Crazy Eyes!” Before he was a movie star, Mr. Potato Head was a real potato. George Lerner invented the toy for his children on a rainy day using random knick-knacks from around the house, turning a potato into a life-like person.
Photo Courtesy [1519171/Pixy.org]
Once the idea was sold to Hasbro in 1953, they released Mr. Potato Head with a Styrofoam head that could be swapped for the kind of food you wanted. Unfortunately, this gave the toy an expiration date and the iconic plastic potato was released in 1964. The toy evolved over time until the final remodel in 1995 when Toy Story was released.
In 1964, Don Lavigne had the brilliant idea to take the concept of a doll and create the first action figure, G.I. Joe. These 12-inch flexible toys revolutionized the industry with several variations after their conception. Although starting out as a military man, the 60s were also revolutionary for its peace and love ideals and anti-war movements, causing G.I. Joe to evolve into an adventurer and not just a soldier.
Photo Courtesy [Tugera/Pixabay.com]
Through the last 6 decades, G.I. Joe has been featured with its fair share of comic books, T.V. shows, movies, and video games.
It’s safe to say that a lot of girls grew up with a Barbie doll. Barbara Millicent Roberts, aka “Barbie” was created in 1945 and released in 1959 by Ruth and Elliot Handler, the founders of Mattel. They named their creation after their daughter, Barbara.
Photo Courtesy [Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay.com
The doll was marketed as a teen fashion icon and was released based on the fashion trends for each generation. Since her release, Barbie has been a top seller among girls and is still one of the most popular dolls today. Barbie went independent in 2004 after “breaking ties” with the matching Ken doll as a part of the women’s empowerment movement.
Introduced shortly after his then-girlfriend Barbie in 1961, the Ken doll was named after Ruth and Elliot Handler’s son, Ken Carson. Ken met Barbie on the set of their first television commercial during the early 1960s. The iconic relationship has been depicted through each of their toy releases, movies, video games, comic books, and T.V. shows.
Photo Courtesy [ErikaWittlieb/Pixabay.com]
The Barbie and Ken fandom is so monumental, that some people have even gone through enhancement surgery to look like their favorite fashion icons. Though this couple parted ways back in 2004, the Ken doll continues to thrive without the stardom of Barbie.
Created in 1949 by Danish carpenter Ole Christiansen, little red and white interlocking bricks used to build structures became LEGO. LEGO gained massive success after its launch in 1958 and the franchise has continued to grow to this day. Several video games, movies, and films have been created thanks to the inspiration of this toy, being that simple blocks can become anything that you can think of when combined.
Photo Courtesy [Sonlandras/Pixabay.com]
The beauty of LEGO was that anyone could use the toy. Additionally, LEGO is said to be the “building blocks” to introducing children to architecture and engineering for many of today’s prominent professionals.
During the 1990s, bean-filled animals called Beanie Babies roamed the Earth. These cute and addicting stuffed animals are considered the first internet sensation, 2 years after their release in 1993. Invented by Ty Warner who founded the Beanie Baby company ‘Ty Inc.’, they were not only collected as toys but as financial investments due to their high demand.
Photo Courtesy [Ogutier/Pixabay.com]
The toys featured tags with the website URL along with a poem and a birthday for each Beanie Baby. Only 1.4% of Americans were using the internet currently making Ty Inc. the first business to use their website to connect and engage with customers.
1996 was the year of the character Tickle Me Elmo, as this robot version of one of the popular Sesame Street characters was released as an interactive toy that could speak and laugh when you tickle it. Tickle Me Elmo caused an uproar in demand to the point where store clerks were literally trampled by hysteric buyers.
Photo Courtesy [Leamsii/Pixabay.com]
Invented by Ron Dubren and Greg Hyman, Elmo was only the final evolution for this Tickle Me toy as it was originally designed to be a chimp. The idea was sold with the condition of featuring a favored animated character, which gave birth to the iconic tickle puppet.
The View-Master is a handheld stereoscope - like a magnifying glass for both of your eyes. Placing a paper disc with image film printed on each side projected a 3-D image effect, a practice dating back to around 1832. But just over 100 years later in 1939, Edwin Mayer had mastered this viewing toy and began releasing it to the public.
Photo Courtesy [ThePassenger/Wikimedia.org]
These paper discs gave users a chance to see parts of the world that were challenging to visit at the time with a new perspective. Discs could range from New York City to London, to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, to even Disney discs for Cinderella or Rumpelstiltskin.
Do you remember how cool you felt driving up to your Little Tikes Log Cabin in your Cozy Coupe? Little Tikes really knows how to deliver a 2-piece set as you rarely would see a kid with one and not the other.
Photo Courtesy [Christina Loizou/Pinterest]
These houses came in the form of life-size dollhouses and were released in 1989, making playing in your or your friends’ backyard that much more creative and adventurous. This playhouse is still being used to engage in home-like activities worldwide and seems to remain a popular toy amongst children until Little Tikes's next major playhouse release.
Marbles have been played with since the early 1500s in Germany and go as far back as 2500 BCE. The idea of using small balls to play with traveled throughout the world and arrived in western Europe during the 16th century.
Photo Courtesy [Couleur/Pixabay.com]
The first production run of marbles in the United States was during the 1890s in Akron, Ohio, and was created out of glass instead of stone. Now seen as collector's items, various forms of Marble games have been created, as well as the design of them changing from images on the outside to colorful swirls and colors on the inside.
The iconic "Teddy Bear" was created to pay homage to the president, Theodore Roosevelt. As the story goes, while on a bear hunting trip, a black bear was tied to a tree, and President Roosevelt was told to shoot it and chose not to.
Photo Courtesy [Profq1123/Pixabay.com]
In 1902, a political cartoonist created a satire cartoon about the event, and a candy shop owner that saw it created the Teddy Bear to honor the peace within the former president. Since then, the Teddy Bear has been sold all over the world and has become a standard gift for any occasion, as well as a personal toy that many children consider a friend.
Photo Courtesy: [AlexAntropov86/Pixabay.com]
Think back to your childhood and remember the days when you crashed action figures into each other or brushed the hair of your favorite baby doll. The nostalgia is positively overwhelming! But no worries, because toys are still a major part of our lives.
Including your favorites, there are other toys from the past that have either faded from society or evolved for our entertainment. So buckle up and join me on this exciting journey of experiencing 50 classic toys that you remember!
Chemistry Set
The Boy Chemist was the first chemistry set to ever be released in the 1930s. It had a simple premise: allow people - mostly boys - to have a toy that will allow them to engage and perform easy chemistry experiments. The toy started as a way for the Porter Chemical Company to sell legitimate chemistry sets to adults, but it didn't work out as planned.
Photo Courtesy: [Joe Mable/Wikimedia.org]
Once it was packaged to the likeness of kids, the sets started to sell. The first "chemical magic" sets were sold for a few dollars because it was being demonstrated and promoted through advertising companies. Although there have been many versions, the Boy Chemist Chemistry Set set the pace for popular kid's toys.
Yo-Yo
Did you know that the first yo-yo was created as early as 500 B.C. in Greece? It was created as a right-of-passage object for children who have come of age to play by themselves and as a present to their Gods. The original yo-yo was made of terra cotta, wood, or metal disks, and even radiated throughout Greece, Egypt, India, and China.
Photo Courtesy [Marlene/Wikimedia.org]
The first recorded yo-yo toy in the U.S. was in 1866 but didn't flourish until 1928 when a man named Donald Duncan Sr. purchased the patent and the company that was selling the toy. From there, the yo-yo was able to affordably be made and has swept the nation to this very day.
Pop-Up Book
The first pop-up book was created in circa 1250 as a way for children to track holidays. It was then applied to children's books around the mid-to-late 1700s when bookseller Robert Sayer created a more modern version of it. Pop-up books started to become popular in 1929 due to their "living model" of books with movable pictures.
Photo Courtesy [Kim Viljanen/Wikimedia.org]
In the 1940s, Blue Ribbon Publishing of New York coined the phrase "pop-up book" and created mass production of inexpensive books for children. Modernly, children still see pop-up books as a fun toy because of the life-like images, as well as a fun way to learn about various childhood topics.
Stuffed Mickey Mouse Doll
Mickey Mouse is a popular household name for homes with children in it, which is why the stuffed Mickey Mouse doll became so successful. In 1930, Charlotte Clark created the first-ever stuffed Mickey Mouse doll. It stood about 3 feet tall and resembled Mickey very well.
Photo Courtesy [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Disney was extremely pleased about the design and the reactions of children and parents and decided to run with it. Since then, the stuffed Mickey Mouse doll has moved into millions of homes and continues to give children pleasure from playing with one of the world's most beloved characters.
Sock Monkey
The Great Depression was a time of loss and sadness for many people, yet, Howard Monk decided to make it a bit better. In 1932, he changed the heel of a brown sock to a reddish color and stuffed it with cotton-like material. It was then knitted together and it evolved into the shape of a popular primate, thus, creating the first-ever Sock Monkey.
Photo Courtesy [Kim Scarborough/Wikimedia.org]
The Sock Monkey became the desired toy amongst young children and was even used in comic books! This toy was popular enough to travel throughout Europe and North America as part of an "arts and crafts renaissance" and remains a classic treasure in many homes today.
Microscope Set
The A.C. Gilbert Company was a science-based company that created the first toy microscope set in 1934. It had a legitimate 3-level magnification and was seen as an impressive and in-depth toy for a kid. The parts were mechanical and the microscope had to be assembled.
Photo Courtesy [Gregory Tobias/Wikimedia.org]
Although an obtainable challenge to assemble, the microscope set had a successful initial run and was revered as one of the most sophisticated children's toys. During the late 1930s, children would look at sections of flies, fleas, and bees, and still do as this product is still available for kids throughout the world.
Toy Army Soldiers
In 1937, the first American toy army soldiers were created to give the feel of protection and duty to the American citizens, specifically the children. They were developed by Bergen Toy & Novelty Co (Benton). In the mid-1940s, Great Britain created their own versions but sold them as individual pieces.
Photo Courtesy [Maclapessoa/Wikimedia.org]
That changed in the 1950s when Louis Marx arranged the toy soldiers in sets with multiple pieces and started selling them as a boxed unit of U.S. Army figurines. Various sets such as the "Battlegrounds" and the "U.S. Army Training Center" were created and remained an imaginative toy to play with for decades.
Beach Balls
Remember smacking this plastic ball with all your might to watch it move slowly through the air? Well, the Beach Ball still lives on as one of the most fun toys that you may remember. It was invented by Jonathon DeLonge in 1938 and was initially the size of your hand!
Photo Courtesy [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Modernly, the beach ball comes in different sizes and typically has the design of six vinyl stripes of different colors or patterns. What's cool is that the beach ball was created for adults so that they could have fun at the beach if they decided not to enter the water!
Slinky
Remember the Slinky?! It was created by Richard James in 1943 by complete accident. The metal used to "make" a slinky was actually used to keep soft equipment stable while aboard a ship. One day, James accidentally knocked over the spiral metal and watched it bounce down, and the rest is history.
Photo Courtesy {Roger McLassus/Wikimedia.org]
Slinky became a household name during Christmas of 1945 when a department store decided to sell it. To date, more than 260 million Slinky have been created and still mesmerizes us with its bouncy springs to this very day.
Bubbles
No child - or adult - can resist watching a bubble pass by. It was the same in 1940 when the solution was created by using soapy water with pots and pans. The company Chemtoy started the official bottling of the solution and began to sell them.
Photo Courtesy: [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Since then, many different versions have been made, as well as the addition of a straw that helps to make the perfect bubble. Fun fact! Bubbles were seen as a symbol of light and peace during the 1960s because of the hippie movement using them during their peaceful protests.
Silly Putty
Did you know that Putty was created to be a synthetic solution to rubber? The "solid-liquid" known as Silly Putty, was a stretchable material that was created for scientific reasons at first but had no use in the science world. It then became an American classic toy because of how oozy and gooey the putty was.
Photo Courtesy [Glitch010101/Wikimedia.org]
Within three days of sales, more than 250,000 units were sold and have been a hit ever since. Silly Putty did have one use: it was taken on Apollo 8 and used to hold down tools since the only place it was functional was in space!
Magic 8 Ball
“Will my crush say yes when I ask them out?” Maybe you’ve asked a question and maybe you haven’t, but there is no denying that you haven’t asked the Magic 8 Ball to tell your fortune. It was invented by Albert Carter in 1946 and inspired by his mother, Mary “The Clairvoyant” Carter.
Photo Courtesy [Candace McDaniel/Stocksnap.io]
The Magic 8 Ball came to fruition as the “Syco-Seer”, a cylinder with 2 dice that became the iconic 8 Ball that you know today. In 1950, Brunswick Billiards hired the Carter team to make some Syco-Seers into pool balls for a promotional campaign, and are still used today for both fun and nostalgia.
Nerf Balls
The toy that will turn anyone into an MVP in anyone’s backyard, the original yellow Nerf ball was invented by Fred Cox, a former placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings, and Reyn Guyer, a Minnesota-based games inventor in 1969. The Parker Brothers released Nerf in 1970 and haven’t slowed down in sales to this day.
Photo Courtesy [Pixabay.com/Snappygoat.com]
Today, they not only specialize in airsoft weapon technology but footballs and artillery as well. Many people have certainly used a Nerf toy in their childhood, and you can even sign up for competitive Nerf War leagues! Also, Nerf stands for Non-Expanding Recreational Football, I had no clue of this; did you?
Super Soaker
There are very few pleasures in life that match the quality of a Super Soaker fight on a summer day. For the many people who share those happy memories, you can give thanks to NASA Scientist, Engineer, and inventor of over 100 other items, Lonnie Johnson.
Photo Courtesy [4455738/Pixy.org]
Lonnie invented the Super Soaker in 1984 while working on the Stealth Bomber program for the US Air Force. He was attempting to create a heat pump that used water instead of Freon and realized that if he used the item like a water gun instead of that it would be just as successful.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Car
Imagine being 2 years old in the Cozy Coupe peddling like Fred Flintstone to your heart’s content. Invented by Tom Murdough and released to the public in 1979, the Little Tikes brand continued skyrocketing to icon status and remains just as popular within modern time.
Photo Courtesy [Andrew Bone/Wikimedia.org]
Children across the globe get a kick out of doing the same activities as their parents, and driving is at the top of the list. Fun fact! On May 22, 2020, Yahoo Finance reported that the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Car outsold the Ford Fiesta due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rubik’s Cube
I’m not too ashamed to admit that I’ve never solved a Rubik’s Cube, and you shouldn’t be either! This addictive and complicated 3-D puzzle was invented by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik in 1974.
Photo Courtesy [Lars Karlsson/Wikimedia.org]
He created this toy for children to learn how to deal with complex problems so that when you learn how to solve them you will be more confident running into others. Standard cubes now come in a handheld size of 3 x 3 x 3 and can even reach the size of a moving box! Although a simple concept, the Rubik's Cube reigns supreme at presenting a lifelong challenge.
Furby
Furby was interactive and was one of the first forms of virtual toys available for children. They spoke their own language called “Furbish” and would learn and repeat words from its owner, becoming smarter the more you played with it. An entrepreneur by the name of Caleb Chung designed and invented the Furby and released the item to the public through Tiger Electronics in 1998.
Photo Courtesy [Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay.com]
It became one of the highest-selling toys throughout the year 2000. Furby continued to remain popular even with its decrease in sales and has survived through multiple generations, now being available through the mobile app store.
Buzz Lightyear
Is it possible to hear someone say “Who’s Buzz Lightyear?” The toy "Buzz Lighter" was produced by Hasbro, but ‘Toy Story’ itself is the brainchild of John Lasseter, who wrote the story with Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Joe Ranft.
Photo Courtesy [Franky13/Pixabay.com]
The movie was the first for Pixar and proved to be a success for Disney after picking up the movie and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1996. Buzz was inspired by outer space-themed games like ‘Rocket Darts’ from the 1940s and was named after Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon.
Ninja Turtles Action Figures
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys were first introduced in 1988 after the cartoon was so wildly successful, only to continue to skyrocket after the 1990 live-action was released. The Turtles were created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird when Peter drew a turtle posing as Bruce Lee as a joke. Back and forth “dueling” illustrations created the teenage mutant team.
Photo Courtesy [InspiredImages/Pixabay.com]
At that point, Kevin and Peter added their iconic backstory into its current success. Over the span of 40 years, the TMNT action figures have been the foundation for many of their TV series and movies, and are still being enjoyed by many generations.
Rock-A-Stack
Rock-a-stack was an early childhood development toy that helped train young minds in size and color, coordination, memory work, and organization. The toy has changed extraordinarily little since inception, other than initially being made with wood before becoming all plastic.
Photo Courtesy [Shypoetess/Wikimedia.org]
When released in 1960, they were around $.75 each. There was also a giant rock-a-stack that came with 10 rings instead of 6. The larger Rock-a-stacks were discontinued in 1990 due to the extra cost and materials that it took to recreate the original design but on a larger scale. That's when the standards were reduced to the popular 5 rings set up.
RC Cars
Radio-Controlled Cars are one of the most exciting toys of many people’s childhood. In 1966, an Italian company, Elettronica Giocattoli, created a Ferrari 250 LM, the first fully functional remote-controlled car. As the popularity for these toys grew, racing leagues would form around the globe as RC drivers would put their creations to the test against one another.
Photo Courtesy [Trevor205/Pixabay]
During the late 1980s, RC Cars would evolve over time to become available in less powerful and more kid-friendly versions, like the Sidewinder from the ’90s, which was more recreational than the professional RC cars that were used in the Italian tournaments during 1960.
Game Boy
Can you remember the first game you ever played on a Game Boy? Still relevant for kids and adults, Nintendo's Game Boy hit the scene in 1989. It was developed and designed by Nintendo employee Gunpei Yokoi. He wanted to create a light, durable, and affordable system that many people could enjoy. His idea worked stupendously and became an instant hit.
Photo Courtesy [William Warby/Wikimedia.org]
Since its birth, Game Boy has been continuously improved to fit the current generation, including versions such as Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy DS. All versions combined have totaled more than 200 million units across the country and are still being sold today!
Hot Wheels
Remember collecting Hot Wheels and building ramps and tracks out of random objects? Introduced by Mattel in 1968, these die-cast car models took over toy stores across America. Hot Wheels has been given credit for inspiring the imaginations of many of today’s NASCAR race car drivers and enthusiasts.
Photo Courtesy [Joost J. Bakker/Wikimedia.org]
With over 20,000 different Hot Wheels designs to currently choose from, - including trucks, SUV's and semi cargo attachments - and over 130 new designs being made each year, Hot Wheels continues to be the foundation for sport and race car cultivation, as it has been for several generations.
Wiffle Ball
Since 1953, parents have stressed much less over lamps and vases if indoor baseball was played thanks to David Mullany's design of The Wiffle Ball, the safe alternative to real baseballs. With their hollow and durable plastic design, these balls would cause less wear-and-tear on children’s shoulders if they were trying to throw major league pitches.
Photo Courtesy [Kazaline/Wikimedia.org]
The Wiffle Ball started with humble beginnings. Its initial design was taped up and packaged in discarded perfume packaging. Today, the company has been consistently selling millions of Wiffle Balls a year for almost 7 decades and is a proven and positive result of trial and error.
Transformers
Robot aliens, that can morph their body into a car or jet? Or a semi-truck that can summon a metal sword? How Cool! There was definitely more than meets the eye when it came to Transformers robots. Though the toy’s competition, Tonka's prime robot ‘Gobots’ appeared first and had a larger brand, it didn’t take long for Transformers to surpass it.
Photo Courtesy [Birdman_pony/Pixabay.com]
Produced by Japanese company Takara Tomy and American toy company Hasbro in 1984, these shape-shifting aliens took the world by storm. Following the toy’s development, movies, T.V. shows, video games, even cereal have all been created in the likeness of these iconic characters.
Lite Brite
Lite Brite was the ultimate design board that started with a blank slate or a stencil to create your very own illuminated masterpiece. Released in 1967 by Hasbro, this instant classic lit up eyes everywhere as friends and families enjoyed creating artworks of light.
Photo Courtesy [Thomas Ambridge/Wikimedia.org]
As the years progressed, designs became more intricate with such notable characters as Ronald Mcdonald or Pac-Man. Fun fact: the Guinness World Record for the largest picture made with a Lite-Brite is 224 square feet, which is approximately 615,753 pegs of light! Since its inception, Lite-Brite has become a heavily valued toy and company.
Rockem Sockem Robots
Before there was UFC, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken, Rockem Sockem Robots were used to settle many friendly fights between friends. This 2-player robot boxing game required no electricity or batteries to operate, which made it an efficient toy.
Photo Courtesy [Lorie Shaull/Wikimedia.org]
Designed by Marvin Glass and released in 1964, this toy became a household name and has withstood the test of time by still being enjoyed by fans of historical toys. There have been newer versions of the toy being released as recently as the year 2000, along with its own game for the in-demand game console, PlayStation, ‘Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots Arena’.
Glow Sticks
Glow sticks were created with the science of chem-luminescence, which causes the ever-mesmerizing glowing effect created when you crack one open. Glow Sticks were invented in 1971 by Michael M. Rauhut and Laszlo J. Bollyky. Due to the nature and chemicals used to create the prototype, these devices underwent several updates and received multiple patents until it was completed in 1977.
Photo Courtesy [Blackout_Photography/Pixabay.com]
Glow Sticks picked up at an exponential rate and became immensely popular at party venues and birthday celebrations. Glow Sticks are also often used as light sources by military forces and divers for their reliability in extreme conditions without much risk to the user.
SuperBall
The Super Ball was invented in 1964 by chemist Norman Stingley and became another successful Wham-O product, amongst many of the company’s other popular toys. It was hard to deny the amazement of watching this ball bounce powerfully all over a house.
Photo Courtesy [Lenore Edman/Wikimedia.org]
The founder of the American Football League and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt was inspired by the Super Ball at a very young age. For that reason, Hunt decided to name the AFL-NFL championship game the “Super Bowl”, which is the largest football game in U.S. culture.
Tonka Truck
Look out sandboxes, the Tonka Truck is coming through! Tonka toys were created by Lynn Everett Baker, Avery Crounse, and Alvin Tesch in 1946, with the first model toy being a crane. The signature Steel Mighty dump truck wasn’t released until 1964.
Photo Courtesy [Uberpruster/Wikimedia.org]
For the first year of their production, the dump trucks weighed 11 pounds - after alterations - because they were made of 12-gauge steel with solid rubber tires. Over time, Tonka Trucks became a household name for construction and demolition toys. In 2001, Tonka was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame and even has 13 video games to their credit.
Skip It
Who remembers Skip-it? Surely your ankles do. One of the few that promoted healthy exercise to play with it, Skip It was initially released in 1987, by inventors Avi Arad, Maggie Harvey, and Mel Kennedy. They partnered with Tiger Toys to manufacture the item, and Skip-It steadily grew commercial success through its daytime ad campaigns on networks like Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network.
Photo Courtesy [Skip It/YouTube.com]
The company continued to sell the product throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. New versions were being introduced up until 2005 when production was then slowed down due to the expanding market of technological toys and devices.
Star Wars
One of the most recognizable brands in pop culture today, there has never been a quiet moment for Star Wars since the 1977 motion picture debut. The franchise has grown so large that other toys have been developed around the theme of Star Wars.
Photo Courtesy [Tvargas/WIkimedia.org]
Originally the action figures started the Star Wars toy brand. They were then expanded to board games, video games, clothes, furniture, movies, and theme park attractions. The most popular Star Wars toy is the lightsaber, with the Lego Star Wars series becoming one of the most popular - and valuable - of both franchises.
Magna Doodle
During the mid-1970s, Magna Doodle made its appearance on the market and a new drawing toy craze was born. Magna Doodle is a magnetic whiteboard or a dustless chalkboard at that time. With a swift swipe of the key at the bottom, you could simply clear your work versus having to shake it or use an eraser and having to deal with the cloud of chalk.
Photo Courtesy [DoYouRemember.co/Pinterest.com]
Invented in 1974 by 4 engineers from Pilot Pen’s Research and Development team, they realized the appeal and merit that the device would have as a kid’s toy, and history was made from there.
Hula Hoop
The art of hula-hooping has been practiced since 500 BCE. After meeting with a couple from Australia, Arthur “Spud” Melin, Co-Founder of Wham-O Inc., saw the value in the idea of these swiveling toys and put a patent on it in 1958 after it was introduced to him.
Photo Courtesy [Patrick Doheny/Wikimedia.org]
The hula hoop is as timeless as the business practices that brought in its success, as about 25 million units had been sold in the first four months of its release. Still as popular today as ever, Hula hoops are considered in some cultures as art, while for others it's exercise and entertainment.
Pogo Stick
The Pogo stick was invented by George Hansberg in 1918. Originally made of wood, the first batch of Pogos were shipped from Germany to the U.S. and became rotten during the expedition. George improved the design by creating the second prototype out of metal, and their success took off once this was done in the 1920s.
Photo Courtesy [HearthSong/Pinterest.com]
By 1947, Pogo sticks had been mastered in steel and lasted longer than the previously improved version. Though Pogo sticks may not be as popular today, the love for them still exists among all ages. To pay homage, Biff Hutchison set the Guinness World Record for the highest Pogo Stick jump at 11.5 ft!
Mattel Classic Football
Mattel Classic Football could be considered the great-grandfather of Madden. Released in 1977 and invented by George Klose and Richard Chang, this innovative device was the first handheld gaming system within the electronic toy market. Mattel's innovation proved successful when hundreds of thousands of copies were sold within the first few months.
Photo Courtesy [Joe Haupt/Wikimedia.org]
While its predecessors came in multitudes, this electronic football game is the foundation of many of today’s digital football games. The toy caught a breath of life after it made an appearance in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. as the main character Peter Quill’s tracking device.
Easy Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven was introduced in 1963 by Ronald Bruce Howes Sr., and this is a toy that many people can remember using as a child. The sweet smell of brownies and cake being made right in your bedroom became a solid marketing point for this toy appliance.
Photo Courtesy [Bradross63/Wikimedia.org]
Unfortunately, the toy oven was recalled in 2011 after the ban of incandescent light bulbs, which served as the product’s heating element. The bulbs sadly caused injury to some of the children that used them. This shortfall didn’t stop the company Hasbro, as they’ve created the latest version of the product that is still available today.
Slip 'n Slide
Some of the best summer memories consist of Slip ‘n Slides! Robert Carrier invented the Slip ’n Slide when he came home to find his son and a friend spending their afternoon slipping and sliding down their driveway with just a water hose.
Photo Courtesy [Rob Swystun/Wikimedia.org]
Amused by their ingenuity, Robert quickly created a safer and more effective prototype for the kids to enjoy. The slide evolved from a simple strip with flowing water to elaborate paths of waterfalls, ramps, and slides. All of which come crashing down in a safe splashing zone that only makes you want to run back and do it all over again.
Etch-A-Sketch
Here we have a classic drawing toy that was invented in 1960 by André Cassagnes. This toy was admired by consumers worldwide for being one of the first doodle machines to exist. Whether you could draw The Mona Lisa or even write your name clearly, everyone was fascinated by the “shake to reset” feature of the Etch-A-Sketch.
Photo Courtesy [Etcha/Wikimedia.org]
There hasn’t been much evolution to the Etch-A-Sketch since its inception except the original face previously being made of glass and now replaced with plastic. Digital Etch-A-Sketch animators were released in the ‘80s and ‘90s which allowed you to sketch multiple frames and create a mini cartoon.
Mr. Potato Head
“Prepare to meet Mr. Crazy Eyes!” Before he was a movie star, Mr. Potato Head was a real potato. George Lerner invented the toy for his children on a rainy day using random knick-knacks from around the house, turning a potato into a life-like person.
Photo Courtesy [1519171/Pixy.org]
Once the idea was sold to Hasbro in 1953, they released Mr. Potato Head with a Styrofoam head that could be swapped for the kind of food you wanted. Unfortunately, this gave the toy an expiration date and the iconic plastic potato was released in 1964. The toy evolved over time until the final remodel in 1995 when Toy Story was released.
G.I. Joe
In 1964, Don Lavigne had the brilliant idea to take the concept of a doll and create the first action figure, G.I. Joe. These 12-inch flexible toys revolutionized the industry with several variations after their conception. Although starting out as a military man, the 60s were also revolutionary for its peace and love ideals and anti-war movements, causing G.I. Joe to evolve into an adventurer and not just a soldier.
Photo Courtesy [Tugera/Pixabay.com]
Through the last 6 decades, G.I. Joe has been featured with its fair share of comic books, T.V. shows, movies, and video games.
Barbie Doll
It’s safe to say that a lot of girls grew up with a Barbie doll. Barbara Millicent Roberts, aka “Barbie” was created in 1945 and released in 1959 by Ruth and Elliot Handler, the founders of Mattel. They named their creation after their daughter, Barbara.
Photo Courtesy [Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay.com
The doll was marketed as a teen fashion icon and was released based on the fashion trends for each generation. Since her release, Barbie has been a top seller among girls and is still one of the most popular dolls today. Barbie went independent in 2004 after “breaking ties” with the matching Ken doll as a part of the women’s empowerment movement.
Ken Doll
Introduced shortly after his then-girlfriend Barbie in 1961, the Ken doll was named after Ruth and Elliot Handler’s son, Ken Carson. Ken met Barbie on the set of their first television commercial during the early 1960s. The iconic relationship has been depicted through each of their toy releases, movies, video games, comic books, and T.V. shows.
Photo Courtesy [ErikaWittlieb/Pixabay.com]
The Barbie and Ken fandom is so monumental, that some people have even gone through enhancement surgery to look like their favorite fashion icons. Though this couple parted ways back in 2004, the Ken doll continues to thrive without the stardom of Barbie.
LEGO
Created in 1949 by Danish carpenter Ole Christiansen, little red and white interlocking bricks used to build structures became LEGO. LEGO gained massive success after its launch in 1958 and the franchise has continued to grow to this day. Several video games, movies, and films have been created thanks to the inspiration of this toy, being that simple blocks can become anything that you can think of when combined.
Photo Courtesy [Sonlandras/Pixabay.com]
The beauty of LEGO was that anyone could use the toy. Additionally, LEGO is said to be the “building blocks” to introducing children to architecture and engineering for many of today’s prominent professionals.
Beenie Babies
During the 1990s, bean-filled animals called Beanie Babies roamed the Earth. These cute and addicting stuffed animals are considered the first internet sensation, 2 years after their release in 1993. Invented by Ty Warner who founded the Beanie Baby company ‘Ty Inc.’, they were not only collected as toys but as financial investments due to their high demand.
Photo Courtesy [Ogutier/Pixabay.com]
The toys featured tags with the website URL along with a poem and a birthday for each Beanie Baby. Only 1.4% of Americans were using the internet currently making Ty Inc. the first business to use their website to connect and engage with customers.
Tickle Me Elmo
1996 was the year of the character Tickle Me Elmo, as this robot version of one of the popular Sesame Street characters was released as an interactive toy that could speak and laugh when you tickle it. Tickle Me Elmo caused an uproar in demand to the point where store clerks were literally trampled by hysteric buyers.
Photo Courtesy [Leamsii/Pixabay.com]
Invented by Ron Dubren and Greg Hyman, Elmo was only the final evolution for this Tickle Me toy as it was originally designed to be a chimp. The idea was sold with the condition of featuring a favored animated character, which gave birth to the iconic tickle puppet.
View-Master
The View-Master is a handheld stereoscope - like a magnifying glass for both of your eyes. Placing a paper disc with image film printed on each side projected a 3-D image effect, a practice dating back to around 1832. But just over 100 years later in 1939, Edwin Mayer had mastered this viewing toy and began releasing it to the public.
Photo Courtesy [ThePassenger/Wikimedia.org]
These paper discs gave users a chance to see parts of the world that were challenging to visit at the time with a new perspective. Discs could range from New York City to London, to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, to even Disney discs for Cinderella or Rumpelstiltskin.
Little Tikes Log Cabin
Do you remember how cool you felt driving up to your Little Tikes Log Cabin in your Cozy Coupe? Little Tikes really knows how to deliver a 2-piece set as you rarely would see a kid with one and not the other.
Photo Courtesy [Christina Loizou/Pinterest]
These houses came in the form of life-size dollhouses and were released in 1989, making playing in your or your friends’ backyard that much more creative and adventurous. This playhouse is still being used to engage in home-like activities worldwide and seems to remain a popular toy amongst children until Little Tikes's next major playhouse release.
Marbles
Marbles have been played with since the early 1500s in Germany and go as far back as 2500 BCE. The idea of using small balls to play with traveled throughout the world and arrived in western Europe during the 16th century.
Photo Courtesy [Couleur/Pixabay.com]
The first production run of marbles in the United States was during the 1890s in Akron, Ohio, and was created out of glass instead of stone. Now seen as collector's items, various forms of Marble games have been created, as well as the design of them changing from images on the outside to colorful swirls and colors on the inside.
Teddy Bear
The iconic "Teddy Bear" was created to pay homage to the president, Theodore Roosevelt. As the story goes, while on a bear hunting trip, a black bear was tied to a tree, and President Roosevelt was told to shoot it and chose not to.
Photo Courtesy [Profq1123/Pixabay.com]
In 1902, a political cartoonist created a satire cartoon about the event, and a candy shop owner that saw it created the Teddy Bear to honor the peace within the former president. Since then, the Teddy Bear has been sold all over the world and has become a standard gift for any occasion, as well as a personal toy that many children consider a friend.
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