Collector Spotlight: Stan & Mardi Timm
Mardi Timm and her husband Stan collect novelties. Here, Mardi provides insight into their vast collection and explains the historical significance of collecting.
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MoonDreamers from Hasbro (1986)
The MoonDreamers dolls were based on characters from the children’s animated television series of the same name. The series aired in conjunction with My Little Pony in 1986.
Garbage Pail Kids were known as The Snotlings in Italy.
We all used to collect baseball cards that came with bubble gum. You could never get the smell of gum off your cards, but you kept your Yankees cards pristine.
– Penny Marshall
The Henry Ford – Dearborn, Michigan
The Henry Ford offers a virtual learning series to encourage curiosity and promote play while the museum is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
LEGO YouTube Channel
The official LEGO YouTube channel is packed with inspiring ideas and entertaining videos to keep LEGO enthusiasts of all ages dreaming and building.
V&A Museum of Childhood – London, England
While the V&A Museum of Childhood is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, it offers online archives and play-oriented activities
Collector Spotlight: Tim Smith
Tim Smith collects Micro Machines. Here, he tells Toy Tales about his collection and how it served as a catalyst to his new book, Micro But Many.
Casino Yahtzee from Milton Bradley (1986)
“Take a gamble on Casino Yahtzee!”.
Hasbro reports that over 50 million Yahtzee games are sold each year.
When times are tough, doing what you’d do in a game—powering up, finding allies, and beating the bad guys—is a supremely powerful response.
– Jane McGonigal
The Epic Marvel Podcast
The Epic Marvel Podcast examines the world of Marvel’s imprint publication, Epic Comics, that ran from 1982 to 1996.
The Friday Five: Brian Volk-Weiss
Brian Volk-Weiss, creator of the Netflix docuseries The Toys That Made Us, talks about his new series, A Toy Store Near You, and reflects on some of his favourite vintage toys.
Totally Troll from Playmates (2001)
Enjoy this classic commercial for Totally Troll dolls from Playmates.
Ideal Novelty and Toy Company created the first-ever Superman doll in 1940.
In this drawing we just let our imagination run wild. We visualized Superman toys, games, and a radio show – that was before TV – and Superman movies.
– Joe Shuster
Quicksand from Parker Brothers (1989)
Quicksand pits would-be adventurers against each other in an effort to be the first player to successfully navigate a jungle and return to camp.
Diefenbunker – Ottawa, Ontario
Although temporarily closed due to COVID-19, Diefenbunker, a museum dedicated to preserving Canada’s Cold War history, offers a “museum at home” experience for people of all ages.