Flip Through Time: The Enchantment of Christmas Catalogues

Christmas catalogues were a child’s primary source for discovering the latest toys and served as portals to a world of play. Browse a selection of Christmas catalogues from the 1940s through 1990s.

Shake Bingo from Schaper (1969)

Released by Schaper in 1969, Shake Bingo delivered the anticipation and excitement of the game of chance into the homes of game enthusiasts.

Fizzies Fountain from Hasbro (1960)

In 1960, Hasbro released Fizzies Fountain, a tabletop playset that mimicked a real carbonated soda fountain, complete with the fizz.

Polly Pocket from RoseArt (1994)

Published by RoseArt in 1994, the Polly Pocket party game appealed to fans of the tiny Polly Pocket toys created by Chris Wiggs and first released by Bluebird Toys in 1989.

Cassette Movie Projector from Kenner (1973)

For budding cinephiles in the 1960s & ’70s, Kenner rolled out a whole host of toys for watching movies and cartoons of popular characters of the day. One of the more short-lived and quirky toy lines was the Cassette Movie Projector.

Put and Take from Schaper (1956)

Released in 1956 by Schaper, the family-friendly Put and Take game allows players to spin and win.

2023 Holiday Gift Guide

The annual Toy Tales Holiday Gift Guide features contemporary gifts inspired by classic toys and games.

What Does the Cow Say? Farming Board Games

Nicolas Ricketts of The Strong explores three tabletop games that capture the essence of farm life in a family-friendly manner.

Live-n-Learn Play Boot from Matchbox (1977)

Released in 1977 from Matchbox, the Live-n-Learn Play Boot was a playset that encouraged children to create scenarios for a family that lived in a colourful and cozy plastic boot.

Don’t Dump the Daisy from Ideal (1970)

Straight out of 1970, Don’t Dump the Daisy is an action/dexterity game from Ideal.

Barnstormer from Marx (1975)

Barnstormer players compete to build a flight tower one block at a time in the unpredictable flight path of a circling biplane.

Pandamonium from Milton Bradley (1983)

Released in 1983 from Milton Bradley, the Pandamonium board game gathered an embarrassment of pandas competing to be the first bear to reach the Pyramid of Power.