JAWS exhibition surfaces in LA, Vectrex unveils limited mini console, lost iPod clickwheel games preserved, and more
Six intriguing articles related to toys, games, and nostalgia that have hit the news this week.
Tabletop Games, Vintage Toys & Games
Fascination Checkers from Remco (1962)
Released in 1962 by Remco, Fascination Checkers was a two-player twist on traditional checkers, played on a distinctive corner-and-cross game board.
Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Playset from Matchbox (1988)
Released by Matchbox in 1988, the Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Playset captured the whimsy and vibrancy of the hit television series.
Francis Turner, Louis Marx and Company
Francis Turner collects toys produced by Louis Marx and Company. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Francis explains how he came to open a museum dedicated to Marx toys and details the items in his collection that were personal to Louis Marx.
Juliet Lublin, Matt Nuccio, Pillow People
Juliet Lublin is the daughter of Pillow People creator Penny Ekstein and Matt Nuccio is president of Design Edge. In this edition of The Friday Five, Juliet and Matt discuss the return of Pillow Pillow and share how the kidult market influenced the relaunch of the beloved 1980s dolls.
Play Unites: New Toy Building Assembles Industry Powerhouses Under One Roof
The Toy Association officially cut the ribbon this week on The Toy Building, a new four-storey hub in El Segundo’s rapidly growing Toy District.
Chromatic from ModRetro
ModRetro revives the glory days of grab-and-go gaming with a second run of the Chromatic: a modern-day tribute to that legendary handheld.
The first handheld electronic game was Mattel’s Auto Race in 1976, followed closely by Football in 1977.
The Art of Acquiring: Four Considerations When Buying a Collection
Collector Jody Day offers four considerations when buying an established collection of objects.
Toy Catalogues, Vintage Advertising
65 The Year to Go Gilbert! Catalogue
Two years before The A.C. Gilbert Company closed its doors in 1967, it released 65 The Year to Go Gilbert, a catalogue showcasing its active toy lines.
A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy."
— Jane McGonigal
