Leslie Scott
Leslie Scott turned childhood play with wooden building blocks into Jenga, a game that continues to attract board game enthusiasts of all ages almost four decades after its initial release.
Western Gun Sets from Ideal (1984)
An advertisement from 1984 for Western Gun Sets from Ideal.
PAC-MAN: The Card Game
PAC-MAN: The Card Game lets fans of the pioneering ’80s arcade game play in analog.
The Orange Years
As the documentary film The Orange Years readies for release on November 17, Toy Tales reconnects with producer, director, and writer Scott Barber about the making of this homage to the Nickelodeon network.
Wooly Willy Magnetic Toy from Smethport Specialty Co. (1955)
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.
Fisher-Price Toy Museum – Instagram
The virtual Fisher-Price Toy Museum is an online retrospective of the legendary toymaker’s objects of play.
Link Roundup: Koosh, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Toy Catalogues, and more
PlayMonster and Hasbro are bringing back the original Koosh ball and 7 other things we wanted to share this week.
Collector Spotlight: Paul Scardino
Paul Scardino holds the Guinness World Record for his collection of Funko Pop! figures. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Scardino shares details about some of his most highly prized figures and explains why it’s important to have family buy-in when it comes to establishing a large collection.
Dozzzy from Galoob (1987)
Enjoy this vintage commercial for the glow-in-the-dark Dozzzy doll from Galoob. If you think the stars of the commercial look familiar, you’re right. Child actors Keisha Knight Pulliam and Peter Costa are featured in the ad.
2020 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees
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.
It’s Kenner, It’s Fun!
– The Kenner Gooney Bird
The Easy-Bake Oven was inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2006.
Atari® Mini PONG Jr.
Here’s a great new holiday gift for the retro-gaming fan in your life: the forthcoming Atari Mini PONG Jr.
Where’s the Fun From? – Who Invented Mega Mouth?
In the latest installment from his YouTube series Where’s the Fun From?, Guest Contributor Tim Walsh tells the story of a fateful trip to a grocery store in Taiwan, led to the creation of a silly game of super-sized smiles, MEGA MOUTH!
Blythe from Kenner (1972)
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.
The Adventures of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh – New York, NY
Visitors and residents of New York City can visit Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends at Hundred Acre Wood in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The Adventures of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh is a permanent exhibit at the New York Public Library.
Link Roundup: Boglins, Play-Doh Grown Up Scents, Ben Cooper, and more
You can help make Boglins a reality again thanks to a crowdfunding campaign and 7 other things we wanted to share this week.
American Metals Specialties Corporation (AMSCO) – 1961 Catalog
In the 1950s and 1960s, AMSCO developed very detailed and realistic toys that were scaled down to a size suitable for use by children.