Official Kids Mag

By Rhonda Baber-Crone Official Kids Mag Wondering what kids put on their lists in days gone by? Here are some of the most popular toys in history! Some are still around today. Ask your parents or grandparents if they remember the others! 1. 1910s – the teddy bear This timeless, lovable toy made its first appearance around 1902, thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt. On a hunting trip in Mississippi, Roosevelt refused to shoot a defenseless black bear. The story became somewhat famous, and a Brooklyn shopkeeper named Morris Mitcom and his wife created a stuffed fabric "Teddy's Bear" and placed it in their shop widow. The cute bear sparked interest from customers just as a toy company in Germany started making stuffed bears of their own. A U.S. manufacturer bought the bears in bulk, and the toy became known as the "teddy" bear in 1906. Other companies made their own versions, and the craze has continued for over a century. 2. 1920s – Yo-Yo People of all ages probably had a yo-yo as a child. The ancient invention traced back to China circa 1000 B.C., has remained a popular classic. Historians aren't sure of the exact date and origin, but the spinning-disk-on-a-string classic had definitely been around before 1928 when Pedro Flores began manufacturing the yo-yo in the United States, calling it by its Filipino name. Flores ended up selling the company to a competitor, Don Duncan. Duncan developed a clever promotion, yo-yo trick contests, that made the toy popular. 3. 1930s – shirley temple doll In 1934, this adorable, ginger-haired doll was born, just at the time the hit movie "Bright Eyes" starring America's favorite child star, Shirley Temple, was released. A six year-old singer and dancer, Temple's endearing personality, shiny curls and dimples helped Americans forget the stresses of the Great Depression. The company, the Ideal Toy and Novelty Company, priced the doll at $3 to $5, which was considered expensive at the time. They made $45 million in sales over the next seven years. Afterward, the dolls became collectors' items and an original sold for more than $1500 on eBay in 2010. 4. 1940s – slinky Now typically just a stocking stuffer, this cheap, fun little toy made its debut for Christmas 1945 at the top of kids' Christmas lists. Mechanical engineer Richard James invented the toy when he knocked over some ship springs he was working on, which "walked" instead of falling. James then created a machine that coiled 80 feet of the wire into a 2-inch spiral, and his wife named it "Slinky." During the Christmas shopping season, Gimbels Department Store in Philidelphia did demonstrations for shoppers, and the first 400 Slinkys there sold within minutes. About 80 years later, more than 300 million have sold worldwide and the Slinky (and its catchy jingle) remains a popular toy. 5. 1950s – mr. Potato Head This still-popular toy began as a way to get kids to eat their vegetables. Inventor George Lerner originally created a bunch of silly face parts for kids to stick onto real vegetables like potatoes or beets. He sold the idea to future founders of Hasbro, Inc., the Hassenfield brothers, in 1952. It started as a Styrofoam head with 28 plastic facial and body parts, and later upgraded to a plastic head. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy to be advertised in a TV commercial, complete with a catchphrase, "Can I have that? I want that!" The toy generated $4 million in sales after just one year. 6. 1960s – barbie Doll Inspired by her daughter's paper dolls to invent something more realistic, Ruth Handler, founder of Mattel, Inc., invented the first adult doll for children in 1959. The 11.5-inch, 7 ¼ pound doll was named Barbie after Handler's daughter, Barbara. Basing it on a German-made doll named Bild Lilli, Barbie Doll debuted at the American Toy Fair in New York City, and over 300,000 were sold at $3 each. Over the years, Mattel would release over 125 new versions including a nurse, a firefighter, an astronaut, a director, a scientist and a president. Today, a mint condition "#1" Barbie Doll collector's item can be worth $27,000. Dear santa… The most popular toys by the decade 42 • December 2020 • OfficialKidsmag.com

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