Vintage Toys & Games

Released in 1974 by Marx, Frenzy has all the attributes worthy of its name. Patience, a steady hand, and fast reflexes are paramount to success.

In 1969, Hasbro released Astrolite, a psychedelic building set that combined the creativity of building-toys like LEGO with the eye appeal of Lite Brite.

The appealing mental challenge of the SOMA cube lies in its contradiction: while re-assembling the cube appears to be an easy task, in reality, the undertaking is complex.

As part of its continued expansion of the Nerf product line, Parker Brothers released Nerf Wrist Flyers in 1982.

Released in 1968 by Ideal, the Swack! game teases audiences to “Take the cheese with care…do you dare?”

Released in 1977 from Gabriel, Chutes Away challenged players ages six and up to save the day as the pilot of a Coast Guard land and sea rescue plane.

A year-end top 10 list of the most popular articles on Toy Tales based on readership statistics and engagement through various social media channels.

Tiny marshmallows and gum drops were the house specialty at Transogram’s Kandy Kitchen.

In 1962, Remco released Showboat, a replica river steamship and theater that included four pre-packaged plays with detailed set design.

Released in 1971, Ideal’s Shaker Maker allowed children to create their own toy figures using a special powder called “Magic Mix.”

Our annual Holiday Gift Guide offers gift ideas for the play enthusiasts in your life. Whether it’s a rousing board game or quiet time spent with a puzzle, we share some of our favourite finds from the past year. And, hey, there’s nothing wrong with buying something for yourself. This year has not been easy; you deserve a treat. Permission granted!

Released in 1972 by Mattel, the Barbie Beauty Center combined two childhood favourites: Barbie and dress-up play.

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

The Bowl-A-Tron 300 Automatic Bowling Game from Hasbro brought the fun of bowling into homes. Released in 1962, the sizeable tabletop game was touted for its “in-home bowling realism.”

The Wooly Willy Magnetic Drawing set proves the wisdom of the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, with more than 75 million sold since 1955.

The 2020 inductees to the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong Museum in Rochester, NY were announced on November 5. Baby Nancy, Sidewalk Chalk, and Jenga receive the honour.

Released in 1972 by Kenner, the Blythe dolls were a line of fashion dolls and accessories created by Allison Katzman, a toy designer at Marvin Glass and Associates.

Released in 1968 from Ideal, the Zeroids were a set of three motorized robots from the planet Zero: Zerak, Zobor, Zintar. Later, a fourth robot named Zogg was added to the line.