On January 23, 1957, Walter Morrison, inventor of the Frisbee, sold the rights to his invention to the Wham-O! toy company, paving the way for one of the most popular toys of all time. But the Frisbee is just one example of many iconic toys from the 1950s.
Before flying drones, smartphones, or video games, children played with real toys! Fueled by their imaginations (and the ingenuity of manufacturers), children in the 1950s enjoyed toys and gadgets that would become staples in homes around the world.
Do you remember these classics?
Toy robots
Inspired by the film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), toy manufacturers rushed to create all kinds of toy robots. The first to achieve huge success was Robert the Robot, launched in 1954 and heavily featured in the Sears Christmas catalog that same year. Unlike traditional metal robots, Robert had a plastic body, and with a cable-connected remote control, children could make him move forward or backward, turn him on, or even make him talk: "I am Robert Robot, the mechanical man."
Although largely forgotten today, Robert was so popular that he appeared on T-shirts and was even celebrated in song.
Toy robots have continued to evolve over the decades, with characters like R2-D2, the Transformers, and Voltron. While modern versions often incorporate actual robotic features, the charm of the simple plastic toys of the 1950s remains etched in the memories of those who loved them.
The Slinky
Invented in 1943 by Richard James, the Slinky was simply the most fun toy imaginable with a metal spring. Thanks to gravity and children's imaginations, it was fascinating to watch it skip down the stairs. Both captivating and soothing, the Slinky gained popularity in the 1950s, but its famous advertising jingle didn't appear until 1962.
Mr. Potato Head
Did you know that Mr. Potato Head Was the first toy to be promoted on television? Invented in 1949 by George Lerner and manufactured by Hasbro from 1952, this toy allowed children to put funny faces on potatoes... literally!
Originally, children used real potatoes to attach plastic eyes, noses, and mouths. However, parental complaints about rotting vegetables prompted Hasbro to include plastic bodies in sets starting in 1964.
The Hula Hoop
Another Wham-O! hit, the Hula Hoop was invented by Richard Knerr and Arthur Melin, inspired after seeing Australian children spinning bamboo hoops around their waists. Mass-produced and launched in 1958, this must-have was a hit from the start, appealing to both children and adults looking for a fun physical activity.
Play-Doh Modeling Clay
Originally, Play-Doh was not a toy, but a wallpaper cleaner manufactured in Cincinnati in the 1930s. It wasn't until 1955 that it was reformulated and marketed as a play item.
Soft, colorful, and easy to handle, Play-Doh was a precursor to the slimy, moldable products that dominate toy store shelves today. This non-toxic product is one of the toy industry's happiest accidents. It was in 1956, when it was redesigned for children, that it truly found its calling.
Barbie and her friends
At the very end of the decade, Mattel officially launched Barbie at the American International Toy Fair in New York in 1959. Created by Ruth Handler (and named after her daughter Barbara), the doll was an immediate success, with more than 300,000 sold in the first year, thanks in part to a partnership with the Mickey Mouse Club.
With the introduction of Ken in 1960, followed by countless accessories and friends, Barbie quickly became the most popular doll line in history, remaining a staple for children... even after the release of a blockbuster movie in 2023.
The 1950s were a remarkable decade for toys, ushering in many iconic pieces that continue to inspire children and nostalgia seekers. Have you played with any of these classics?
Children's Toys Store >>
0 comments