Toy Tales Weekly: American Girl, Monopoly, Tom and Jerry, and more
American Girl has introduced Joss Kendrick, its first doll with hearing loss and 7 other things we wanted to share this week.
Donald Franklin Duncan Sr.: Breakaway Entrepreneur
With a keen eye and mind for business, Donald Franklin Duncan Sr. brought yo-yos to the masses and inspired a new pop-culture craze.
Ottawa is the first Canadian city to have an officially licensed Monopoly game.
It should be noted that the games of children are not games, and must be considered as their most serious actions.
– Michel de Montaigne
Top 10 Toy Tales Articles of 2019
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.
Contack from Parker Brothers (1939)
Contack from Parker Brothers challenges two to seven players to use strategy and math skills to create winning combinations of colours and numbers.
The Great American Dollhouse Museum – Danville, Kentucky
Located in Danville, Kentucky, the Great American Dollhouse Museum showcases more than 200 antique and artisan dollhouses, room boxes and buildings. The site is housed in a 6,000 square foot historic building originally constructed in 1939 and the site of a former National Guard Armory.
Toy Tales Weekly: Stern Pinball, ThunderCats, Chilled LEGO, and more
Chicago-based Stern Pinball has released a Stranger Things pinball machine and 7 other things we wanted to share this week.
Ohio Art Company
Originally a picture-frame manufacturing business in 1908, Ohio Art Company took risks, diversified, and flourished thanks in part to the success of the now-iconic Etch A Sketch.
Mystery Maze from Marx (1976)
Released in 1976 from Marx, Mystery Maze was advertised as “the inscrutable game of skill and luck.”
Happy Holidays from Toy Tales!
May your holiday season be all wrapped up with cheer and filled with celebration for the new year.
Harry Potter Knitting Magic: The Official Harry Potter Knitting Pattern Book
Social knitting groups can now imbue their needles with some Harry Potter magic thanks to the release of Harry Potter Knitting Magic: The Official Harry Potter Knitting Pattern Book.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Seaview Submarine Set from Remco (1965)
Released in 1965 by Remco, the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Seaview Submarine Set was a direct tie-in to the Irwin Allan produced science fiction TV series of the same name that ran from 1964-68.
BabyLand General Hospital – Cleveland, Georgia
BabyLand General Hospital is equal parts museum, toy store, and performance theatre dedicated to pop culture royalty, the Cabbage Patch Kids.
Toy Tales Weekly: AI Dungeon, Twin Peaks, Converse x Batman, and more
Infinite text adventure AI Dungeon is now available on iOS and Android and 7 other things we wanted to share this week.
The Friday Five: Nick Collins
Nick Collins’ Blockbuster-inspired basement video store and personal VHS collection has turned into a full-time pursuit. Here, he shares the origin of his unlikely hobby.