Happy National Playing Card Collection Day!
Jim Henson’s puppet magic explored, Choose Your Own Adventure grows up, Doctor Who gets a Christmas special after all, and more
Six intriguing articles related to toys, games, and nostalgia that have hit the news this week.
Snakes in the Grass from Kohner (1969)
Released by Kohner in 1969, Snakes in the Grass combined dexterity, speed, and hand-eye coordination in a race to collect a clutch of snake eggs.
Superman Playcase from Ideal (1973)
Released by Ideal in 1973, the Superman Playcase presented environments and a cast of characters familiar to fans of the classic superhero and his adventures.
Ryan Cobham, Kenner Super Powers
Ryan Cobham collects Kenner Super Powers figures. In this Collector Spotlight, he explains the vital role of research and knowledge in collecting and why nostalgia continues to fuel his passion for the iconic line.
James Fishburne, Forest Lawn Museum
James Fishburne is Director at Forest Lawn Museum. In this edition of The Friday Five, James discusses the personal and creative relationship between Walt Disney and Forest Lawn founder Hubert Eaton, and the California Visionaries: The Lives and Legacies of Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton exhibit it inspired.
Cadaco
Explore the 75-year history of Cadaco, the American game company behind Tripoley, All-Star Baseball, and generations of inventive tabletop play.
Atari x Activision Collection from Atari
Atari and Activision unite to re-release some of the Atari 2600 console’s most iconic games with the Atari x Activision Collection.
Motorized Home Workshop from Kenner (1962)
A 1962 brochure from Kenner for the Motorized Home Workshop, a battery-powered woodworking set featuring seven miniature power tools.
Why You Should Keep Provenance and Purchase Records
Documenting provenance can preserve the history behind your vintage toys. Here are four tips for keeping purchase records and important details together.
Founded in 1979 by former Atari programmers David Crane, Larry Kaplan, Alan Miller, and Bob Whitehead, Activision was the first third-party video game developer and publisher for home consoles.
At the founding of the company, videogames were largely considered a fad. We certainly knew better."
— David Crane
Sears Pike’s Peak Hill Climb from Lionel (1964)
Lionel’s Pike’s Peak Hill Climb brought tag-team racing to the tabletop with four cars tackling 22 feet of mountainous HO track.
Cardboard Box Dollhouse
Gather a few simple supplies–no power tools required–to build this charming cardboard box dollhouse.
Hoppity Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck from SUN (1970s)
“Fast or slow; you can give it all you’ve got.”
