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Monsters Xmax (Old Titan Quest Version) will increase the number of monsters in the main campaign by 2, 3, 4, or more. Fighting more monsters at once is really fun, and can be a lot more challenging. For me it brings back good memories of the Act II tombs in Diablo 2 that were packed to the brim with skeletons.
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14 shot at Las Vegas hookah parlor; 1 death and 2 critical Getty Images Wouldn’t it be convenient to wrap up the year with straightforward shopping advice? Alas, the retail landscape is still chaotic. So it’s hard to tell which products (if any) will be listed at an affordable price point this month.If you’re looking for the short answer as to what’s worth your dough, consider opting for gift cards and discount cookies. If you’re game for the longer, more complicated answer, read on.Inflation, logjams and holiday shoppingLike every year, retailers are tripping over themselves to promote holiday bargains. But, as you weigh discounts, keep in mind that base prices may be higher than usual. Just look at what the Consumer Price Index tells us. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics uses CPI to track average changes in the prices consumers pay for goods and services. Prices for all tracked products and services increased by 6.2% from October 2020 to October 2021, . That’s the largest 12-month increase since 1990.1920: Raggedy Ann doll 1920: Raggedy Ann doll Original estimated retail price: $1Originally a book character, Raggedy Ann was created by a prolific . By 1920, two signature handmade dolls—Raggedy Ann and her brother, Raggedy Andy—were sold alongside the book. The result was a meteoric success on all fronts. Many myths , which is quite fitting given the character’s storybook origins. Randen Pederson // Flickr1921: Lincoln Logs 1921: Lincoln Logs Original estimated retail price: 50 cents to $1John Lloyd Wright, son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented Lincoln Logs after noticing a foundation of interlocking beams on a Tokyo hotel that his father had designed. The earliest Lincoln Logs used redwood and various colors for the roof. To this day, it’s not clear whether the name itself was actually inspired by Abraham Lincoln, or whether it was due to Frank’s original middle name: Lincoln. The Strong - National Museum of Play1922: Tinkertoy 1922: Tinkertoy Original estimated retail price: 59 centsComprising various wheels, rods, and pulleys, the original Tinkertoys came in a fun mailing tube, garnering even more distinction. After an initially slow rollout, the creative construction set would appear under nearly every Christmas tree in America by the 1920s. Mike Mozart // Flickr1923: A. C. Gilbert chemistry sets 1923: A. C. Gilbert chemistry sets Original estimated retail price: $1.50 to $10In a rather stunning example of how times have changed, magician A. C. Gilbert’s wildly popular chemistry sets that were introduced this year included , among their components. The 1923 version , and decades would pass before unisex sets were introduced to the market. The Strong - National Museum of Play1924: Erector Set 1924: Erector Set Original estimated retail price: $1 to $10Conceived in 1911 by A. C. Gilbert during a train ride from Connecticut to New York City, Erector Set was the . It was also the only construction toy of its time to on special units, which contributed to its allure. The earliest incarnations focused on skyscrapers, but Erector Set was redesigned in 1924 to incorporate everything from trains to Ferris wheels. Meanwhile, the name was so catchy that it’s now commonly used as a generic term for home construction sets.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1925: Teddy bear 1925: Teddy bear Original estimated retail price: 79 centsThe was inspired by former President Teddy Roosevelt himself. It began when a political cartoonist depicted Roosevelt refusing to shoot a black bear that had been tied to a tree by his expedition team. Upon seeing the cartoon in The Washington Post, a candy shop owner named Morris Michtom—who also made stuffed animals with his wife, Rose—got the idea to create a stuffed bear and name it after the famous incident. With Roosevelt’s permission, Michtom put two “Teddy’s Bears” (as they were originally called) in his shop window, and the rest is history. Pxhere1926: Crayola Crayons 1926: Crayola Crayons Original estimated retail price: 5 centsThe word “Crayola” represents a combination of the French words for “chalk” and “oily,” which makes perfect sense given that crayons are small waxy sticks . Upon its debut in 1903, a box of crayons comprised only eight colors, but by the time Binney & Smith purchased the brand in 1926, that number rose up to 22. Kurt Baty // Wikimedia Commons1927: Radio Flyer wagon 1927: Radio Flyer wagon Original estimated retail price: $2.99Italian inventor Antonio Pasin had no idea his wooden wagons would be so popular among American kids. To keep up with demand, he took cues from the auto industry and began using stamped steel to mass produce the wagons in 1927. In the process, he , honoring his fixation with both flight and radio. The Strong - National Museum of Play1928: Yo-yo 1928: Yo-yo Original estimated retail price: 5 centsWith origins going all the way , yo-yos became ubiquitous in America after a Filipino immigrant named Pedro Flores partnered with the toy manufacturer D.F. Duncan Sr. to start mass-producing them to the tune of 300,000 units a day. Fueled by publicity from the likes of , kids engaged in yo-yo contests across the country, making the “wonder toy” a veritable sensation. The Strong - National Museum of Play1929: Pop-up book 1929: Pop-up book Original estimated retail price: not availableBelieve it or not, the first pop-up book dates back to a 14th-century Catalan mystic who to visually demonstrate his philosophical treatises. Today’s pop-up books are more directly tied to 1929’s “Daily Express Children’s Annual No. 1,” published by Louis Giraud and Theodore Brown. Known at the time as a “movable,” Giraud and Brown’s book introduced a handy flap that, when pulled, prompted cardboard models to spring up.You may also like: Kim Viljanen // Wikimedia Commons1930: Mickey Mouse doll 1930: Mickey Mouse doll Original estimated retail price: not availableIn 1928, Disney unveiled a short animated film called “Steamboat Willie,” and audiences everywhere fell in love with a mouse named Mickey. To capitalize on Mickey’s meteoric popularity, Disney to create the first stuffed Mickey doll in 1930. Disney couldn’t keep up with demand, and moms at home began sewing their own dolls as an alternative. The Strong - National Museum of Play1931: Finger paint 1931: Finger paint Original estimated retail price: not availableAmerican educator Ruth Faison Shaw was visiting Italy when she created finger paint. Her motivation was not just to teach kids about art or provide them with a fun activity, but to help them mentally as well. In fact, Shaw believed that embracing messiness through fingerpainting . aaron gilson // Flickr1932: Sock monkey 1932: Sock monkey Original estimated retail price: 10 centsIn 1932, the Nelson Knitting Company added a patented Rockford red heel to their popular line of socks to distinguish their product from imitators. Inspired by the new detail (and short on cash during the Depression), crafty mothers at home began converting worn-out Rockford socks into monkey puppets for their kids to play with. Once Nelson Knitting Company got word, they obliged by with every subsequent pair of socks. Ryan Poplin // Flickr1933: Marx wind-up toys 1933: Marx wind-up toys Original estimated retail price: 25 centsLike so many other businesses, toy companies were hit hard during the Depression years. However, Louis Marx & Company thrived. Bolstered by the belief that behind every successful toy were six core qualities—familiarity, surprise, skill, play, value comprehensibility, and sturdiness—Marx by anticipating trends and keeping manufacturing costs down. The company’s wind-up toys were particularly popular in the 1930s and beyond. Paulus // Wikimedia Commons1934: Buck Rogers Disintegrator Pistol 1934: Buck Rogers Disintegrator Pistol Original estimated retail price: 50 centsStraight out of an Amazing Stories comic book, the Buck Rogers Disintegrator Pistol was the . Touted as the 25th-century weapon of choice for Rogers himself, the gun made an unmistakable zapping sound when you pulled the trigger.You may also like: CGP Grey // Wikimedia Commons1935: Shirley Temple doll 1935: Shirley Temple doll Original estimated retail price: not availableWith a film career that began at four years old, Shirley Temple was a worldwide sensation by the mid-1930s. Along with her success came a slew of merchandising opportunities, including dolls, dishes, and apparel. While Temple retired from film in 1950 at 22, the for decades. Pixnio1936: Balsa wood models 1936: Balsa wood models Original estimated retail price: 10 cents to $1Kids were going absolutely crazy over aeronautical toys in the wake of Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic, and Balsa Model Fighter Planes duly heeded the call. Made by Paul K. Guillow, who operated out of his , these model planes were easy to assemble and made out of cheap bamboo wood, making them an affordable gift for kids during the Depression era. Zach Vesoulis // Wikimedia Commons1937: Monopoly 1937: Monopoly Original estimated retail price: $2The world’s most famous board game almost didn’t come to be. According to legend, Parker Brothers when it was pitched to them by creator Charles Darrow in 1933. And in 1936, Parker Brothers founder George S. Parker ordered a halt in production but changed his mind soon after. William Warby // Flickr1938: Microscope Set 1938: Microscope Set Original estimated retail price: Not availableAs a toy company that had already mastered the home kit experience, A. C. Gilbert started selling its Microscope Set for kids in the 1930s. Each surprisingly functional microscope offered three levels of magnification, while the for kids to inspect up close. Ryan Somma // Flickr1939: View-Master 1939: View-Master Original estimated retail price: $2During a trip to the Oregon Caves in 1938, Harold Graves, president of Sawyer’s Photographic Services, saw a man named William Gruber in hopes of one day making 3D colored slides. The two men struck a deal and View-Master was the result, going to market in 1939. When America entered World War II a few years later, the U.S. government purchased millions of special View-Master reels and on how to spot planes and boats within shooting range.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1940: Red Ryder BB Gun 1940: Red Ryder BB Gun Original estimated retail price: $5Perhaps the most famous BB gun of all time, the Red Ryder BB Gun was modeled after Winchester rifles and . Naturally, most folks know it today as the toy the young narrator of “A Christmas Story” pines after, only to be told repeatedly that he’ll shoot his eye out. Mike Mozart // Flickr1941: Beach ball 1941: Beach ball Original estimated retail price: 5 centsThe perfect accessory for any water-based activity, the inflatable beach ball was supposedly invented by a California man named Jonathon DeLonge. While most current-day beach balls are fairly big, the original could . mfrascella // Flickr1942: Little Golden Books 1942: Little Golden Books Original estimated retail price: 25 centsLittle Golden Books was launched in 1942 as a series of children’s books that were low in cost but big on story. The series offered the perfect . For the initial run, Simon & Schuster released only 12 titles that . Suffice to say, the series only expanded from there. Rossano aka Bud Care // Flickr1943: Little green army men 1943: Little green army men Original estimated retail price: 5 centsStarting in the late 1930s, Bergen Toy and Novelty Co. began selling plastic toy army men to a nation of energetic young boys. Molded in various wartime poses, the pint-sized soldiers had pods at their feet to keep them upright. The toys were supremely popular at the height of WWII, and to this day it’s the with the tiny plastic soldier concept. JWPhotowerks // Flickr1944: Soap bubbles and bubble blowers 1944: Soap bubbles and bubble blowers Original estimated retail price: 10 centsNowadays, we might be wary of a company named Chemtoy. But parents in the early 1940s had no problem purchasing bottles of the company’s soapy solution to give children a new favorite pastime: blowing bubbles. Just like today, most of the kids back then for the activity.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1945: Slinky 1945: Slinky Original estimated retail price: $1Mechanical engineer Richard James was busy devising a spring in 1943 to steady boat equipment at sea. That’s when he knocked some prototypes to the ground and . That was enough to give James and his wife the idea for a new novelty toy: the Slinky. Two years later, they delivered their first order to Gimbels Department Store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With Christmas right around the corner, 400 slinkies sold instantly—followed by 250 million more over the next seven decades. The Strong - National Museum of Play1946: Lionel Trains 1946: Lionel Trains Original estimated retail price: $30Lionel Trains ads promised to make “a boy feel like a man and a man feel like a boy.” Marketing, painstaking authenticity, and the ability to make trains go various speeds made Lionel Trains the brand of choice among children, collectors, and train enthusiasts nationwide. The company started in the early 1900s, slumped during the Depression, and then halted production during WWII. The year 1946 marked the company’s and kicked off a major resurgence in popularity. The Strong - National Museum of Play1947: Tonka Trucks 1947: Tonka Trucks Original estimated retail price: $1Named after Lake Minnetonka, Tonka Trucks was founded by three Minnesotans who were going into business in garden equipment manufacturing. But when they bought out a competitor and inadvertently wound up with , they looked at making toys. Soon enough, the digger—along with a functional crane and clam—sold 37,000 units. The men ditched garden tools altogether and refocused their attention entirely on toy work vehicles for kids. Uberprutser // Wikimedia Commons1948: Toy Piano 1948: Toy Piano Original estimated retail price: $8Contrary to most modern toy pianos, which are relatively small and plastic, 1940s toy pianos were much bulkier and finished with materials like walnut. In 1948, toy pianos received some extra special public attention after experimental composer John Cage used one to perform his “.” The Strong - National Museum of Play1949: Clue 1949: Clue Original estimated retail price: $3Was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick? Or maybe Professor Plum in the study with a dagger? The only way to find out was to play the game of Clue. Developed during WWII by a British solicitor, the board game was patented under the name Cluedo in 1947, and then sold in North America under the name Clue starting in 1949. The board game remains so popular that it even .You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1950: Magic 8 Ball 1950: Magic 8 Ball Original estimated retail price: not availableThe Magic 8 Ball was inspired by the Syco-Seer, a cylindrical crystal ball with two dice inside of it. The item was created by Albert Carter, the . Along with his brother-in-law Abe Bookman, Carter unsuccessfully marketed several incarnations of the Syco-Seer before passing away in 1948. Bookman to the one we see today. The Strong - National Museum of Play1951: Colorforms 1951: Colorforms Original estimated retail price: 25 centsArt students Harry and Patricia Kislevitz liked to experiment with art . As a result, they turned their attention in 1951 to a relatively new medium: colorful vinyl. Soon enough the art students had created Colorforms, which could cling to smooth surfaces and be reused countless times. Kids adored them—and being able to afford paint was never an issue again. The Strong - National Museum of Play1952: Mr. Potato Head 1952: Mr. Potato Head Original estimated retail price: 98 centsHoping to get kids to eat the foods they didn’t like, inventor George Lerner developed a set of face parts that could be used to personify spuds and vegetables. The face parts were initially included as . In 1952, the concept was purchased by the Hassenfield brothers, who formed Hasbro Toys. Mr. Potato Head was thus born, soon followed by Mrs. Potato Head and a range of other characters. The Strong - National Museum of Play1953: Model Car 1953: Model Car Original estimated retail price: $1-$2Toy cars in the 1920s were neither toys nor collectibles. The micro-sized models were . By the 1950s, however, they’d become a hobby among young boys and older men alike. Most model cars were made of materials like tin, steel, and die-cast zinc—although by the 1950s many in the U.S. were being made with plastic, as well. Pixabay1954: Scrabble 1954: Scrabble Original estimated retail price: $2An out-of-work architect named Alfred M. Butts created a game during the Depression where lettered tiles were assigned points on a crossword puzzle-style grid. Butts came up with names for the game like CrissCross Words and Lexiko before licensing the idea to James Brunot, . Sales were fairly abysmal at first, but by 1954 a company named Selchow & Righter owned the rights which were sold to Hasbro and marketed with great success.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1955: Silly Putty 1955: Silly Putty Original estimated retail price: $1No one’s certain who invented Silly Putty, but nearly all agree the strange material was invented by accident. The story goes that during WWII, the U.S. government commissioned some chemists to create a synthetic rubber substitute. That resulted in a strange material , and therefore of no discernible use. The government’s loss was the toy industry’s gain, however; and by 1955, small plastic eggs filled with Silly Putty were aimed squarely at the youth market with wildly successful results. And while a whole dollar might seem high for Silly Putty circa 1955, what’s even more astounding is that the price has never really changed over the course of 60 years. The Strong - National Museum of Play1956: Play-Doh 1956: Play-Doh Original estimated retail price: 99 cents for fourAfter hearing from teachers that kids were turned off by the rigidity of modeling clay, a man named Joe McVicker began to schools as a substitute material. By 1956, that substitute had a name all its own: Play-Doh. The product has been a grade-school staple ever since. The Strong - National Museum of Play1957: Water balloons 1957: Water balloons Original estimated retail price: 10 centsLike so many iconic products, water balloons resulted from pure happenstance. They came about when a British man named Edgar Ellington tried inventing a . As the sock began to leak water, Ellington angrily tossed it onto a table and watched it burst. That’s when he got a much better idea. His subsequent water balloons (dubbed “water grenades”) were selling like crazy by the late 1950s. Kim Hansen // Wikimedia Commons1958: Hula Hoop 1958: Hula Hoop Original estimated retail price: $1.98Hula Hoops arrived after an Australian named version of the bamboo hoops Aussie kids were spinning around their waists. Tolmer sold the design to American toy company Wham-O, which named it the “Hula Hoop” in honor of Hawaiian dance moves. To create buzz, Wham-O gave the toy away for free to kids in Southern California and got it featured on “The Dinah Shore Show.” As a result of the inventive marketing campaign, the Hula Hoop became a huge sensation. Twenty-five million units . The Strong - National Museum of Play1959: Barbie 1959: Barbie Original estimated retail price: $3Ruth Handler created the first Barbie as a 3D alternative to the . Barbie remains the most iconic doll of all time. Naturally, that meteoric , namely from feminists who thought Barbie’s curvy physique and penchant for teen fashion set a bad example for young girls. Agreeing to a point, toy company Mattel went to great lengths over the years to establish Barbie as a symbol of inclusion and female empowerment, giving her varying ethnicities, careers, and styles.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1960: Etch A Sketch 1960: Etch A Sketch Original estimated retail price: $2.99Originally known as L’Ecran Magique—which translates to “magic screen”—Etch A Sketch was the brainchild of . Cassagnes shopped his product for a year without having much luck until the Ohio Art Company decided to spend $25,000 on the licensing rights. The toy was renamed in the process. After some , the Etch A Sketch shot to the top of Santa wish lists all around the country by 1960. The Strong - National Museum of Play1961: Slip ’N Slide 1961: Slip ’N Slide Original estimated retail price: $8.95 per box of sixAs one might expect, the Slip ’N Slide has relatively dangerous origins. In 1960, an upholsterer by the name of Robert D. Carrier came home to find his son and his son’s friends sliding down the . Drawing on his work with synthetic fabrics, Carrier created a plastic slide for kids to put down over hard surfaces for a slicker (and presumably safer) experience. The Strong - National Museum of Play1962: Chatter Telephone 1962: Chatter Telephone Original estimated retail price: $1.42The Chatter Telephone was created after Ernest Thornell spotted his daughter dragging their phone around the house like a pet. That gave him the idea to add wheels, followed by assorted noise-making buttons. The Chatter Telephone was originally made of wood, but today’s model is . Museum of Hartlepool // Wikimedia Commons1963: Easy-Bake Oven 1963: Easy-Bake Oven Original estimated retail price: $15A small, working oven for kids might sound like a brilliant idea (and time has proven that it is), but the Easy-Bake Oven invoked some upon its 1963 debut. To address those worries, toy company Kenner installed two 100-watt bulbs as a heating source to reduce the chance of burns. The Strong - National Museum of Play1964: G.I. Joe 1964: G.I. Joe Original estimated retail price: $1.95While Barbie was being marketed to young girls, in 1964 Hasbro gave boys a savage war hero named G.I. Joe. The company attempted to keep the word “doll” out of the G.I. Joe lexicon, . While G.I. Joe would eventually undergo (and ), his outsized masculinity remains intact to this day.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1965: Wham-O Frisbee 1965: Wham-O Frisbee Original estimated retail price: 79 centsAccording to legend, the Frisbee’s origins date back to the late 19th century when New England college students tossed pie plates to one another . But it wasn’t until 1948 that Walter Morrison and Warren Franscioni began selling their plastic “Flying Saucers” or “Pluto Platters” at county fairs. Toy company Wham-O caught word of the discs and bought the rights in 1955, renaming them Frisbees. By the mid-’60s, Wham-O Frisbees were ubiquitous in backyards and college campuses. The Strong - National Museum of Play1966: Twister 1966: Twister Original estimated retail price: not availableBoard game manufacturer Milton Bradley was initially nervous about marketing Twister, worried the game’s frisky undertones might blemish the company’s upright reputation. Despite these reservations, the company put Twister on the shelves in 1965 to little fanfare. It wasn’t until Johnny Carson that teens saw the potential. Twister has been a cornerstone of youth culture ever since. The Strong - National Museum of Play1967: Lite-Brite 1967: Lite-Brite Original estimated retail price: $10Lite-Brite comprised a back-lit grid covered by black sheets of paper. By poking holes in the paper, young boys and girls could form patterns and images. Later editions would include pre-patterned images of . thomas ambridge // Wikimedia Commons1968: Hot Wheels 1968: Hot Wheels Original estimated retail price: 59 centsMattel co-founder Elliot Handler (whose wife Ruth invented Barbie) set out to create a new toy that would be as appealing to boys as Barbie was to girls. The result was a muscular, American take on die-cast English Matchbox cars. Dubbed Hot Wheels, the initial 1968 line-up offered 16 hot rods rife with color and metal. The Strong - National Museum of Play1969: Lego building sets 1969: Lego building sets Original estimated retail price: 10 to 30 cents per brickDerived from two Danish words meaning “play well,” Lego is not just the top toy from the year you were born, but the . What began in 1949 as a set of interlocking red and white blocks had become a veritable cultural phenom by the late 1960s, complete with its own .You may also like: Alan Chia // Wikimedia Commons1970: Nerf ball 1970: Nerf ball Original estimated retail price: $2Made of “non-expanding recreational foam” and the Nerf ball was an instant smash for Parker Brothers. Over 4 million units sold in the first year alone. Similar products soon followed; eventually, the Nerf football in Nerf’s lineup. The Strong - National Museum of Play1971: Weebles 1971: Weebles Original estimated retail price: $6.58Weebles were a family of egg-shaped plastic figurines distinguished by bright colors and kinetic, . Bolstered by the catchphrase “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down,” the toys were a must-have among young kids in the early to mid-1970s. The Strong - National Museum of Play1972: Uno 1972: Uno Original estimated retail price: not availableMerle Robbins, a , was convinced he could improve upon the game of Crazy Eights. The result was Uno, which Robbins initially sold through local businesses and his own barbershop. Robbins licensed the rights in 1972 to a funeral parlor owner in Illinois, who took Uno onto the national stage with spectacular success. The Strong - National Museum of Play1973: Shrinky Dinks 1973: Shrinky Dinks Original estimated retail price: not availableShrinky Dinks—thin sheets of decorated plastic that shrunk down and hardened after baking inside an oven—were marketed as pure magic upon their debut in 1973. Of course, the real explanation was polystyrene plastic, which hosts polymer chains that . The Strong - National Museum of Play1974: Skateboard 1974: Skateboard Original estimated retail price: $20 to $60Skateboarding began in 1958 when people attached roller skate wheels to a board in order to “sidewalk surf.” It wasn’t until the early 1970s, and the to smooth out an otherwise bumpy ride, that skateboards found their enduring stride.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1975: The Pet Rock 1975: The Pet Rock Original estimated retail price: $3.95Gary Ross Dahl supposedly thought up a pet rock , imagining the ideal pet as one that made no mess and required no effort. Pair that idea with clever marketing and lucky timing, and you end up with arguably the most famous, most useless product in the history of America. Indeed, even decades later the pet rock stands as both a tribute to and mockery of the perennial wonders of capitalism. The Strong - National Museum of Play1976: Stretch Armstrong 1976: Stretch Armstrong Original estimated retail price: $5You could pull, twist, throw, beat, and bend Stretch Armstrong, . Made from a proprietary blend of plastic, rubber, and gel, the iconic figurine could stretch his limbs up to four times their normal size. Alex Beattie // Wikimedia Commons1977: Atari 2600 Game System 1977: Atari 2600 Game System Original estimated retail price: $199.99The Atari 2600 was absolutely crucial to the development of gaming. The product offered streamlined playability and a slew of great titles like “Frogger,” “Pac-Man,” and “Space Invaders.” The console , but it was arguably the earliest, most important catalyst for what would eventually become the home gaming revolution. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons1978: Star Wars action figures 1978: Star Wars action figures Original estimated retail price: $3 and up“Star Wars” today is the bar by which all other franchises currently aspire. But the movie’s initial success in 1977 , including the toy industry. To account for the sudden demand in merchandise, toy company Kenner hastily released a series of . However, as soon as the 3.75-inch action figures of Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia hit the shelves in 1978, Star Wars merchandise became as popular as the film itself. The Strong - National Museum of Play1979: Simon 1979: Simon Original estimated retail price: $24.95Having , it’s fitting that Ralph Baer took conceptual cues from an Atari arcade game called “Touch Me” when creating . The electronic toy, which tested your memory by playing color patterns you then had to playback in sequence, was unveiled at . It was thereafter a staple in just about every suburban toy chest in America.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1980: Rubik’s Cube hits the shelves 1980: Rubik’s Cube hits the shelves Original estimated retail price: $1.99Hungarian designer Erno Rubik designed a . By 1980, Rubik’s nifty contraption was in the hands of Ideal Toy & Novelty Company, which renamed it Rubik’s Cube. The puzzle was an instant success, selling 100 million units within the first two years alone. In the time since, a peripheral sphere of competitions, books, and imitators has emerged. The Strong - National Museum of Play1981: He-Man action figures 1981: He-Man action figures Original estimated retail price: $4.99He-Man and the Masters of the Universe were introduced in 1981 as a that could throw punches with a pull-and-release mechanism. In an additional show of strength, each Masters of the Universe action figure was nearly two inches larger than Kenner’s Star Wars and Hasbro’s G.I. Joe action figures. The Strong - National Museum of Play1982: My Little Pony 1982: My Little Pony Original estimated retail price: $3 and upGiving Barbie a literal run for her money this year was Hasbro’s My Little Pony, a range of small, vinyl horses with long, bright, and groomable hair. Each pony also came with an adorable name and a . The Strong - National Museum of Play1983: Cabbage Patch Kids 1983: Cabbage Patch Kids Original estimated retail price: $40Defined by their doughy bodies and large, round heads, Cabbage Patch Kids took the world by storm after appearing on a TV show called “Real People” in 1980. That storm turned into a full-blown monsoon by 1983 as desperate parents shoved, scratched, grabbed, elbowed, and punched their way down the toy aisle in hopes of snagging the popular doll before Christmas. Known as the the incident would later “Jingle All the Way,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad. The Strong - National Museum of Play1984: Transformers 1984: Transformers Original estimated retail price: $4 and upThe Transformers legacy began in 1984 when Hasbro introduced a range of action figures adapted from that could shape-shift from robotic aliens into motor vehicles. Along with the toy launch, came an epic backstory and a supporting line of comic books. The Transformers world would only continue to grow with TV shows, games, blockbuster films, and even cereal boxes all entering the fold.You may also like: Pete Slater // Flickr1985: Teddy Ruxpin 1985: Teddy Ruxpin Original estimated retail price: $69.99A former Disney Imagineer named Ken Forsse created the cuddly, animatronic teddy bear that could read bedtime stories. Using the same technology that Disney used for animatronic theme park attractions, Forsse equipped the top-selling bear with a cassette tape and moving facial features. Even with the somewhat hefty price tag, Teddy Ruxpin was the best-selling toy of 1985 and 1986. The Strong - National Museum of Play1986: Nintendo Entertainment System 1986: Nintendo Entertainment System Original estimated retail price: $199.99The Atari craze had slowed by the mid-’80s to a point where home gaming consoles seemed to be on the brink of extinction in the U.S. That didn’t stop Japan’s Nintendo from trying to penetrate the American market in 1985. To incentivize retailers, Nintendo’s North American division , while the units that didn’t sell could be returned. The gamble didn’t exactly pay off, but it got the ball rolling enough to keep the game system afloat until the release of “Super Mario Bros” in 1986. Video games have been a benchmark of American culture ever since. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons1987: Jenga 1987: Jenga Original estimated retail price: $12Jenga involves removing blocks from a tower one at a time until said tower topples over. The addictive game debuted in 1983 but took a few years to catch on. According to legend, entrepreneur Robert Grebler—who’s largely responsible for bringing the game to North America—holds the record for the . The Strong - National Museum of Play1988: Troll Dolls 1988: Troll Dolls Original estimated retail price: $2 and upDerived from Scandinavian folklore, Troll Dolls were created out of wood in the late 1950s by a Danish fisherman named Thomas Dam. American toy companies wasted no time ripping off the concept with a plastic variant that rode a wave of popularity in the 1960s. Troll Dolls then and early ’90s as an indispensable toy for kids and work-cubicle decoration for adults. The Strong - National Museum of Play1989: Game Boy 1989: Game Boy Original estimated retail price: $89.99While not the birth of mobile gaming, Nintendo Game Boy arguably remains its biggest step forward. The 8-bit handheld console offered an approachable design, a bunch of great games, and a level of convenience that pretty much speaks for itself. As a follow-up to NES and a revolution unto itself, Game Boy was an instant home run.You may also like: William Warby // Flickr1990: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures 1990: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures Original estimated retail price: $3.99 and upThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rose to fame on the back of a massively popular animated series about witty crime fighters with a appetite for New York pizza. By the time their , the turtles had utterly conquered the youth market with best-selling toys and box office numbers to show for it. The Strong - National Museum of Play1991: Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1991: Super Nintendo Entertainment System Original estimated retail price: $199.99Marking a big step up from NES in essentially every department, Super Nintendo duly maintained a masterful grip on the video game console sphere. However, this time around the brand faced stiffer competition in the form of competing 32-bit console Sega Genesis. The first ” had officially begun. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons1992: Talkboy 1992: Talkboy Original estimated retail price: $29.99The Talkboy made its grand debut in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” as a handheld recording device used by the movie’s young prankster, Kevin McCallister. A retail version was released on the same day as the movie, and thousands of far less effective pranks presumably ensued. The product was so popular that several spin-off versions were created, including Talkgirl and Talkboy FX Plus. Onetwo1 // Wikimedia Commons1993: Super Soaker 1993: Super Soaker Original estimated retail price: $10 to $50When not helping NASA with their Galileo Mission to Jupiter, the nuclear engineer Dr. Lonnie Johnson was home working on a heat pump that could use . When the pump sent a stream of water across the room, Johnson pivoted toward creating a high-powered water blaster instead. He built a prototype out of PVC pipe and an empty soda bottle he called the Power Drencher, which used an air pressure chamber to pump water from a reservoir. After a few necessary tweaks, the Super Soaker was born. The Strong - National Museum of Play1994: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 1994: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Original estimated retail price: $10As part of the Fox Kids afternoon TV block, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” in 1993 blasted their way into the cultural stratosphere one live-action showdown at a time. Given such immediate success, merchandising (and a 1995 movie) was an easy decision. Like so many great toys and franchises, the Power Rangers receded from the spotlight only to triumphantly return years later.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1995: Beanie Babies 1995: Beanie Babies Original estimated retail price: $5 and upWhy exactly did small, inexpensive, bead-filled animals in the mid- to late-’90s? Barring the basic principles of supply and demand, the phenomenon will likely remain a mystery—as will the fact that rare Beanie Babies still routinely fetch thousands of dollars on the resale market. The Strong - National Museum of Play1996: Tickle Me Elmo 1996: Tickle Me Elmo Original estimated retail price: $29.99Tyco Toys cashed in on Elmo’s infectious laugh by giving the popular Sesame Street character a doll of its own in 1996. What they didn’t anticipate were the hysteric levels of demand after the toy sold out in the midst of the holiday shopping season. During the shoppers and engaged in physical battle all in the name of the Christmas spirit. The Strong - National Museum of Play1997: Tamagotchi 1997: Tamagotchi Original estimated retail price: $17.99Before cell phones, teens and pre-teens were . To be fair, if left alone Tamagotchi would starve and die; so a consistent level of attention was more or less mandatory. The Strong - National Museum of Play1998: Furby 1998: Furby Original estimated retail price: $35Like some adorable descendant of Gizmo from the “Gremlins” movies, Hasbro’s Furby charmed his way into millions of homes after a 1998 debut. While the ,” he could pick up irresistible English phrases like “I love you” in no time at all. The Strong - National Museum of Play1999: Pokémon trading cards 1999: Pokémon trading cards Original estimated retail price: $3 to $4Hailing from Japan, Pokémon began as a 1996 Game Boy game and then quickly segued into a full-blown franchise complete with TV shows, toys, and movies. But nothing seemed to stoke the masses’ furor like . Besides their collector appeal, the cards inspired an official competitive league known as Pokémon Organized Play.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play2000: PlayStation 2 2000: PlayStation 2 Original estimated retail price: $299While the original PlayStation positioned itself as a leader of the new gaming guard in the mid-1990s, it was the PlayStation 2 that cemented Sony’s status as the veritable king of home entertainment. The console took in , selling out quickly because of manufacturing delays and then fetching extremely high numbers on the secondhand market. Gaming has never been quite the same since. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons2001: Bratz Dolls 2001: Bratz Dolls Original estimated retail price: $9.99 to $22.99Scantily dressed and brimming with sass, the appropriately named Bratz dolls were for a modern audience. The initial 2001 roll-out included just four dolls, but that number rapidly grew as profits soared. A slew of movies, CDs, shows, and video games naturally followed. The Strong - National Museum of Play2002: Beyblades 2002: Beyblades Original estimated retail price: $10 and upWith roots in a Japanese Manga series, Beyblades are spinning tops that battle against one another inside a toy stadium. Their explosive success resulted in nationwide tournaments, while the manga books were developed into an anime TV series that ran for three seasons. Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt // Wikimedia Commons2003: Cranium Hullabaloo 2003: Cranium Hullabaloo Original estimated retail price: not availableCranium's Hullabaloo was ranked the #1 game of the year for 2003 by . One part Twister and one part musical chairs, the game challenges children to find their way to marked pads on the floor before the electronic caller . Hullabaloo was lauded for keeping kids active even during indoor play. CRANIUM2004: Robosapien 2004: Robosapien Original estimated retail price: $99Designed by Mark Tilden and manufactured by WowWee toys, Robosapien was a remote-controlled robot capable of vocals and 67 pre-programmed moves. In an extra-clever touch of ingenuity, Robosapien would imitate the iconic Rosebud scene from “Citizen Kane” every time you turned it off using the remote. The Strong - National Museum of Play2005: Xbox 360 2005: Xbox 360 Original estimated retail price: $399In the 21st-century console wars, Microsoft in 2005. Touting improvements on every front along with internet connectivity, Xbox 360 would sell over 77 million units over the next eight years. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons2006: Nintendo Wii 2006: Nintendo Wii Original estimated retail price: $250Nintendo burst back onto the video game scene with the release of the Nintendo Wii, delivering bubbly graphics, a personalized ecosystem, and handheld motion controllers for a friendlier and more interactive approach. and popular awards let Nintendo know they had a qualified hit on their hands. The Strong - National Museum of Play2007: Guitar Hero 2007: Guitar Hero Original estimated retail price: $90“Guitar Hero” first launched in 2005 and immediately capitalized on the interactive possibilities of modern gaming. The third installment, “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,” was not just the best-selling video game of 2007, but was reportedly the first retail . The Strong - National Museum of Play2008: WALL-E Toys 2008: WALL-E Toys Original estimated retail price: $7 and upRenowned for its sophisticated themes and stunning visuals, Disney/Pixar’s 2008 film “WALL-E” played to all ages and enraptured an audience of millions. Despite the film’s wasteland vibes, Disney quickly released tons of subsequent WALL-E merchandise that sold in large enough quantities to help actualize the film’s own dire predictions. Arthur Caranta // Flickr2009: Angry Birds 2009: Angry Birds Original estimated retail price: $5 and upFor cheap, addictive games, Angry Birds remains the franchise to beat. It debuted in 2009 and has lost little momentum since. Besides the video game itself, there’s a TV series, feature film, and a range of plush toys that have sold in the millions.You may also like: Yaniv Golan // Flickr2010: iPad 2010: iPad Original estimated retail price: $499Apple’s iPad launched in 2010 and quickly found its niche in the realm between laptops and cell phones. A million units . Indeed, the iPad became so ubiquitous so rapidly that when the NFL struck a deal with Microsoft to use its Surface tablets exclusively in 2015, announcers couldn’t help but . Brad Flickinger // Flickr2011: Skylanders 2011: Skylanders Original estimated retail price: $5 and upSkylanders brings real-life toys into the video game world using near-field communication (NFC) technology. The toys-to-life genre, and Skylanders in particular, have earned massive followings among young gamers. Mike Mozart // Flickr2012: LeapPad Explorer 2012: LeapPad Explorer Original estimated retail price: $99.99Imagine a sturdy iPad for kids with its own proprietary range of apps, and you’ve pretty much nailed the LeapPad Explorer. The popular device has origins going back to 1999 when it debuted as an interactive talking book. The Strong - National Museum of Play2013: Tekno the Robotic Puppy 2013: Tekno the Robotic Puppy Original estimated retail price: $94.99Tekno the Robotic Puppy came into the world in the year 2000 and has been selling in huge numbers ever since. In addition to heeding commands, the razor-sharp robot dog uses light sensor technology to react to its environment. It can also go to sleep on its own and perform backflips. In 2013, new color options were introduced and owners were granted the ability to . Toyloverz // Wikimedia Commons2014: Frozen dolls 2014: Frozen dolls Original estimated retail price: $10 and upThe “Frozen” theme song might say to “Let it Go,” but audiences nevertheless clung feverishly to the 2013 Disney film. A subsequent range of dolls was likewise immensely popular, taking Barbie off her mantle as the .You may also like: Mike Mozart // Flickr2015: Shopkins Toys 2015: Shopkins Toys Original estimated retail price: $5 and upShopkins is more than a range of cute, collectible plastic figurines; it’s an immersive world unto itself that includes books, cards, and videos. The line of toys was in fact so popular that an entire counterfeit industry cropped up around it, with police seizing from two Chinese manufacturers in 2015. photoswelike // Wikimedia Commons2016: Hatchimals 2016: Hatchimals Original estimated retail price: $49.99 to $59.99Hatchimals were created by James Martin after he noticed how unboxing videos on YouTube were drawing huge numbers. In turn, he conceived a robotic animal toy that would unbox, or hatch, itself. The result was Hatchimals, and the demand was so intense that the —much to the chagrin of numerous disappointed parents. The following year was looking no less remarkable for the irrefutably popular toy. Pixabay2017: Fingerlings 2017: Fingerlings Original estimated retail price: $14.99Fingerlings—the adorable, animated companions that wrap around your finger—were nearly impossible to get your hands on as the holidays approached. The craze hardly slowed down, either—its and features. WowWee2018: Don’t Step In It 2018: Don’t Step In It Original estimated retail price: $19.99With Hasbro’s “, players mold rainbow-colored clay into piles of unicorn poop, place them on the floor mat, and take several blindfolded steps determined by the spinner across the mat while trying to avoid stepping in the piles. The Toy Insider’s Jackie Breyer says Hasbro2019: Baby Shark Official Song Puppet 2019: Baby Shark Official Song Puppet Original estimated retail price: $19.99Baby Shark has been all the rage since the song exploded in 2016. Like most pop-culture crazes, the song’s colossal impact transitioned to physical products. WowWee, the makers of Fingerlings, has produced one of the hottest toys of the season in the . Not only do you kick-start the song upon moving the shark’s mouth, but you can actually control the tempo based on how fast or slow you open and close the jaws. Amazon offers three options: yellow Baby Shark, blue Daddy Shark, and pink Mommy Shark. Leon Neal // Getty Images2020: Animatronic ‘The Child’ 2020: Animatronic ‘The Child’ Original estimated retail price: $62.99He goes by many names, only some of which are correct. “The Child,” (aka “Grogu” or “Baby Yoda” (incorrect)), from ” had a major moment in pop culture history—a moment that lasted nearly two years since the “Star Wars” series release in 2019. Season two focused on the Mandalorian’s quest to return Grogu to the Jedi. This storyline gave fans exactly what they were craving—more adorable scenes with the toddling green character playing off his stoic, mysterious guardian, the Mandalorian. It also gave toy manufacturers the perfect inspiration. “The Mandalorian” toys were included on and this gave children—and let’s be serious, countless adults, too—the chance to live our their fantasies of having a Grogu of their own. Hasbro
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1920: Raggedy Ann doll 1920: Raggedy Ann doll Original estimated retail price: $1Originally a book character, Raggedy Ann was created by a prolific . By 1920, two signature handmade dolls—Raggedy Ann and her brother, Raggedy Andy—were sold alongside the book. The result was a meteoric success on all fronts. Many myths , which is quite fitting given the character’s storybook origins. Randen Pederson // Flickr1921: Lincoln Logs 1921: Lincoln Logs Original estimated retail price: 50 cents to $1John Lloyd Wright, son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented Lincoln Logs after noticing a foundation of interlocking beams on a Tokyo hotel that his father had designed. The earliest Lincoln Logs used redwood and various colors for the roof. To this day, it’s not clear whether the name itself was actually inspired by Abraham Lincoln, or whether it was due to Frank’s original middle name: Lincoln. The Strong - National Museum of Play1922: Tinkertoy 1922: Tinkertoy Original estimated retail price: 59 centsComprising various wheels, rods, and pulleys, the original Tinkertoys came in a fun mailing tube, garnering even more distinction. After an initially slow rollout, the creative construction set would appear under nearly every Christmas tree in America by the 1920s. Mike Mozart // Flickr1923: A. C. Gilbert chemistry sets 1923: A. C. Gilbert chemistry sets Original estimated retail price: $1.50 to $10In a rather stunning example of how times have changed, magician A. C. Gilbert’s wildly popular chemistry sets that were introduced this year included , among their components. The 1923 version , and decades would pass before unisex sets were introduced to the market. The Strong - National Museum of Play1924: Erector Set 1924: Erector Set Original estimated retail price: $1 to $10Conceived in 1911 by A. C. Gilbert during a train ride from Connecticut to New York City, Erector Set was the . It was also the only construction toy of its time to on special units, which contributed to its allure. The earliest incarnations focused on skyscrapers, but Erector Set was redesigned in 1924 to incorporate everything from trains to Ferris wheels. Meanwhile, the name was so catchy that it’s now commonly used as a generic term for home construction sets.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1925: Teddy bear 1925: Teddy bear Original estimated retail price: 79 centsThe was inspired by former President Teddy Roosevelt himself. It began when a political cartoonist depicted Roosevelt refusing to shoot a black bear that had been tied to a tree by his expedition team. Upon seeing the cartoon in The Washington Post, a candy shop owner named Morris Michtom—who also made stuffed animals with his wife, Rose—got the idea to create a stuffed bear and name it after the famous incident. With Roosevelt’s permission, Michtom put two “Teddy’s Bears” (as they were originally called) in his shop window, and the rest is history. Pxhere1926: Crayola Crayons 1926: Crayola Crayons Original estimated retail price: 5 centsThe word “Crayola” represents a combination of the French words for “chalk” and “oily,” which makes perfect sense given that crayons are small waxy sticks . Upon its debut in 1903, a box of crayons comprised only eight colors, but by the time Binney & Smith purchased the brand in 1926, that number rose up to 22. Kurt Baty // Wikimedia Commons1927: Radio Flyer wagon 1927: Radio Flyer wagon Original estimated retail price: $2.99Italian inventor Antonio Pasin had no idea his wooden wagons would be so popular among American kids. To keep up with demand, he took cues from the auto industry and began using stamped steel to mass produce the wagons in 1927. In the process, he , honoring his fixation with both flight and radio. The Strong - National Museum of Play1928: Yo-yo 1928: Yo-yo Original estimated retail price: 5 centsWith origins going all the way , yo-yos became ubiquitous in America after a Filipino immigrant named Pedro Flores partnered with the toy manufacturer D.F. Duncan Sr. to start mass-producing them to the tune of 300,000 units a day. Fueled by publicity from the likes of , kids engaged in yo-yo contests across the country, making the “wonder toy” a veritable sensation. The Strong - National Museum of Play1929: Pop-up book 1929: Pop-up book Original estimated retail price: not availableBelieve it or not, the first pop-up book dates back to a 14th-century Catalan mystic who to visually demonstrate his philosophical treatises. Today’s pop-up books are more directly tied to 1929’s “Daily Express Children’s Annual No. 1,” published by Louis Giraud and Theodore Brown. Known at the time as a “movable,” Giraud and Brown’s book introduced a handy flap that, when pulled, prompted cardboard models to spring up.You may also like: Kim Viljanen // Wikimedia Commons1930: Mickey Mouse doll 1930: Mickey Mouse doll Original estimated retail price: not availableIn 1928, Disney unveiled a short animated film called “Steamboat Willie,” and audiences everywhere fell in love with a mouse named Mickey. To capitalize on Mickey’s meteoric popularity, Disney to create the first stuffed Mickey doll in 1930. Disney couldn’t keep up with demand, and moms at home began sewing their own dolls as an alternative. The Strong - National Museum of Play1931: Finger paint 1931: Finger paint Original estimated retail price: not availableAmerican educator Ruth Faison Shaw was visiting Italy when she created finger paint. Her motivation was not just to teach kids about art or provide them with a fun activity, but to help them mentally as well. In fact, Shaw believed that embracing messiness through fingerpainting . aaron gilson // Flickr1932: Sock monkey 1932: Sock monkey Original estimated retail price: 10 centsIn 1932, the Nelson Knitting Company added a patented Rockford red heel to their popular line of socks to distinguish their product from imitators. Inspired by the new detail (and short on cash during the Depression), crafty mothers at home began converting worn-out Rockford socks into monkey puppets for their kids to play with. Once Nelson Knitting Company got word, they obliged by with every subsequent pair of socks. Ryan Poplin // Flickr1933: Marx wind-up toys 1933: Marx wind-up toys Original estimated retail price: 25 centsLike so many other businesses, toy companies were hit hard during the Depression years. However, Louis Marx & Company thrived. Bolstered by the belief that behind every successful toy were six core qualities—familiarity, surprise, skill, play, value comprehensibility, and sturdiness—Marx by anticipating trends and keeping manufacturing costs down. The company’s wind-up toys were particularly popular in the 1930s and beyond. Paulus // Wikimedia Commons1934: Buck Rogers Disintegrator Pistol 1934: Buck Rogers Disintegrator Pistol Original estimated retail price: 50 centsStraight out of an Amazing Stories comic book, the Buck Rogers Disintegrator Pistol was the . Touted as the 25th-century weapon of choice for Rogers himself, the gun made an unmistakable zapping sound when you pulled the trigger.You may also like: CGP Grey // Wikimedia Commons1935: Shirley Temple doll 1935: Shirley Temple doll Original estimated retail price: not availableWith a film career that began at four years old, Shirley Temple was a worldwide sensation by the mid-1930s. Along with her success came a slew of merchandising opportunities, including dolls, dishes, and apparel. While Temple retired from film in 1950 at 22, the for decades. Pixnio1936: Balsa wood models 1936: Balsa wood models Original estimated retail price: 10 cents to $1Kids were going absolutely crazy over aeronautical toys in the wake of Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic, and Balsa Model Fighter Planes duly heeded the call. Made by Paul K. Guillow, who operated out of his , these model planes were easy to assemble and made out of cheap bamboo wood, making them an affordable gift for kids during the Depression era. Zach Vesoulis // Wikimedia Commons1937: Monopoly 1937: Monopoly Original estimated retail price: $2The world’s most famous board game almost didn’t come to be. According to legend, Parker Brothers when it was pitched to them by creator Charles Darrow in 1933. And in 1936, Parker Brothers founder George S. Parker ordered a halt in production but changed his mind soon after. William Warby // Flickr1938: Microscope Set 1938: Microscope Set Original estimated retail price: Not availableAs a toy company that had already mastered the home kit experience, A. C. Gilbert started selling its Microscope Set for kids in the 1930s. Each surprisingly functional microscope offered three levels of magnification, while the for kids to inspect up close. Ryan Somma // Flickr1939: View-Master 1939: View-Master Original estimated retail price: $2During a trip to the Oregon Caves in 1938, Harold Graves, president of Sawyer’s Photographic Services, saw a man named William Gruber in hopes of one day making 3D colored slides. The two men struck a deal and View-Master was the result, going to market in 1939. When America entered World War II a few years later, the U.S. government purchased millions of special View-Master reels and on how to spot planes and boats within shooting range.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1940: Red Ryder BB Gun 1940: Red Ryder BB Gun Original estimated retail price: $5Perhaps the most famous BB gun of all time, the Red Ryder BB Gun was modeled after Winchester rifles and . Naturally, most folks know it today as the toy the young narrator of “A Christmas Story” pines after, only to be told repeatedly that he’ll shoot his eye out. Mike Mozart // Flickr1941: Beach ball 1941: Beach ball Original estimated retail price: 5 centsThe perfect accessory for any water-based activity, the inflatable beach ball was supposedly invented by a California man named Jonathon DeLonge. While most current-day beach balls are fairly big, the original could . mfrascella // Flickr1942: Little Golden Books 1942: Little Golden Books Original estimated retail price: 25 centsLittle Golden Books was launched in 1942 as a series of children’s books that were low in cost but big on story. The series offered the perfect . For the initial run, Simon & Schuster released only 12 titles that . Suffice to say, the series only expanded from there. Rossano aka Bud Care // Flickr1943: Little green army men 1943: Little green army men Original estimated retail price: 5 centsStarting in the late 1930s, Bergen Toy and Novelty Co. began selling plastic toy army men to a nation of energetic young boys. Molded in various wartime poses, the pint-sized soldiers had pods at their feet to keep them upright. The toys were supremely popular at the height of WWII, and to this day it’s the with the tiny plastic soldier concept. JWPhotowerks // Flickr1944: Soap bubbles and bubble blowers 1944: Soap bubbles and bubble blowers Original estimated retail price: 10 centsNowadays, we might be wary of a company named Chemtoy. But parents in the early 1940s had no problem purchasing bottles of the company’s soapy solution to give children a new favorite pastime: blowing bubbles. Just like today, most of the kids back then for the activity.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1945: Slinky 1945: Slinky Original estimated retail price: $1Mechanical engineer Richard James was busy devising a spring in 1943 to steady boat equipment at sea. That’s when he knocked some prototypes to the ground and . That was enough to give James and his wife the idea for a new novelty toy: the Slinky. Two years later, they delivered their first order to Gimbels Department Store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With Christmas right around the corner, 400 slinkies sold instantly—followed by 250 million more over the next seven decades. The Strong - National Museum of Play1946: Lionel Trains 1946: Lionel Trains Original estimated retail price: $30Lionel Trains ads promised to make “a boy feel like a man and a man feel like a boy.” Marketing, painstaking authenticity, and the ability to make trains go various speeds made Lionel Trains the brand of choice among children, collectors, and train enthusiasts nationwide. The company started in the early 1900s, slumped during the Depression, and then halted production during WWII. The year 1946 marked the company’s and kicked off a major resurgence in popularity. The Strong - National Museum of Play1947: Tonka Trucks 1947: Tonka Trucks Original estimated retail price: $1Named after Lake Minnetonka, Tonka Trucks was founded by three Minnesotans who were going into business in garden equipment manufacturing. But when they bought out a competitor and inadvertently wound up with , they looked at making toys. Soon enough, the digger—along with a functional crane and clam—sold 37,000 units. The men ditched garden tools altogether and refocused their attention entirely on toy work vehicles for kids. Uberprutser // Wikimedia Commons1948: Toy Piano 1948: Toy Piano Original estimated retail price: $8Contrary to most modern toy pianos, which are relatively small and plastic, 1940s toy pianos were much bulkier and finished with materials like walnut. In 1948, toy pianos received some extra special public attention after experimental composer John Cage used one to perform his “.” The Strong - National Museum of Play1949: Clue 1949: Clue Original estimated retail price: $3Was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick? Or maybe Professor Plum in the study with a dagger? The only way to find out was to play the game of Clue. Developed during WWII by a British solicitor, the board game was patented under the name Cluedo in 1947, and then sold in North America under the name Clue starting in 1949. The board game remains so popular that it even .You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1950: Magic 8 Ball 1950: Magic 8 Ball Original estimated retail price: not availableThe Magic 8 Ball was inspired by the Syco-Seer, a cylindrical crystal ball with two dice inside of it. The item was created by Albert Carter, the . Along with his brother-in-law Abe Bookman, Carter unsuccessfully marketed several incarnations of the Syco-Seer before passing away in 1948. Bookman to the one we see today. The Strong - National Museum of Play1951: Colorforms 1951: Colorforms Original estimated retail price: 25 centsArt students Harry and Patricia Kislevitz liked to experiment with art . As a result, they turned their attention in 1951 to a relatively new medium: colorful vinyl. Soon enough the art students had created Colorforms, which could cling to smooth surfaces and be reused countless times. Kids adored them—and being able to afford paint was never an issue again. The Strong - National Museum of Play1952: Mr. Potato Head 1952: Mr. Potato Head Original estimated retail price: 98 centsHoping to get kids to eat the foods they didn’t like, inventor George Lerner developed a set of face parts that could be used to personify spuds and vegetables. The face parts were initially included as . In 1952, the concept was purchased by the Hassenfield brothers, who formed Hasbro Toys. Mr. Potato Head was thus born, soon followed by Mrs. Potato Head and a range of other characters. The Strong - National Museum of Play1953: Model Car 1953: Model Car Original estimated retail price: $1-$2Toy cars in the 1920s were neither toys nor collectibles. The micro-sized models were . By the 1950s, however, they’d become a hobby among young boys and older men alike. Most model cars were made of materials like tin, steel, and die-cast zinc—although by the 1950s many in the U.S. were being made with plastic, as well. Pixabay1954: Scrabble 1954: Scrabble Original estimated retail price: $2An out-of-work architect named Alfred M. Butts created a game during the Depression where lettered tiles were assigned points on a crossword puzzle-style grid. Butts came up with names for the game like CrissCross Words and Lexiko before licensing the idea to James Brunot, . Sales were fairly abysmal at first, but by 1954 a company named Selchow & Righter owned the rights which were sold to Hasbro and marketed with great success.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1955: Silly Putty 1955: Silly Putty Original estimated retail price: $1No one’s certain who invented Silly Putty, but nearly all agree the strange material was invented by accident. The story goes that during WWII, the U.S. government commissioned some chemists to create a synthetic rubber substitute. That resulted in a strange material , and therefore of no discernible use. The government’s loss was the toy industry’s gain, however; and by 1955, small plastic eggs filled with Silly Putty were aimed squarely at the youth market with wildly successful results. And while a whole dollar might seem high for Silly Putty circa 1955, what’s even more astounding is that the price has never really changed over the course of 60 years. The Strong - National Museum of Play1956: Play-Doh 1956: Play-Doh Original estimated retail price: 99 cents for fourAfter hearing from teachers that kids were turned off by the rigidity of modeling clay, a man named Joe McVicker began to schools as a substitute material. By 1956, that substitute had a name all its own: Play-Doh. The product has been a grade-school staple ever since. The Strong - National Museum of Play1957: Water balloons 1957: Water balloons Original estimated retail price: 10 centsLike so many iconic products, water balloons resulted from pure happenstance. They came about when a British man named Edgar Ellington tried inventing a . As the sock began to leak water, Ellington angrily tossed it onto a table and watched it burst. That’s when he got a much better idea. His subsequent water balloons (dubbed “water grenades”) were selling like crazy by the late 1950s. Kim Hansen // Wikimedia Commons1958: Hula Hoop 1958: Hula Hoop Original estimated retail price: $1.98Hula Hoops arrived after an Australian named version of the bamboo hoops Aussie kids were spinning around their waists. Tolmer sold the design to American toy company Wham-O, which named it the “Hula Hoop” in honor of Hawaiian dance moves. To create buzz, Wham-O gave the toy away for free to kids in Southern California and got it featured on “The Dinah Shore Show.” As a result of the inventive marketing campaign, the Hula Hoop became a huge sensation. Twenty-five million units . The Strong - National Museum of Play1959: Barbie 1959: Barbie Original estimated retail price: $3Ruth Handler created the first Barbie as a 3D alternative to the . Barbie remains the most iconic doll of all time. Naturally, that meteoric , namely from feminists who thought Barbie’s curvy physique and penchant for teen fashion set a bad example for young girls. Agreeing to a point, toy company Mattel went to great lengths over the years to establish Barbie as a symbol of inclusion and female empowerment, giving her varying ethnicities, careers, and styles.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1960: Etch A Sketch 1960: Etch A Sketch Original estimated retail price: $2.99Originally known as L’Ecran Magique—which translates to “magic screen”—Etch A Sketch was the brainchild of . Cassagnes shopped his product for a year without having much luck until the Ohio Art Company decided to spend $25,000 on the licensing rights. The toy was renamed in the process. After some , the Etch A Sketch shot to the top of Santa wish lists all around the country by 1960. The Strong - National Museum of Play1961: Slip ’N Slide 1961: Slip ’N Slide Original estimated retail price: $8.95 per box of sixAs one might expect, the Slip ’N Slide has relatively dangerous origins. In 1960, an upholsterer by the name of Robert D. Carrier came home to find his son and his son’s friends sliding down the . Drawing on his work with synthetic fabrics, Carrier created a plastic slide for kids to put down over hard surfaces for a slicker (and presumably safer) experience. The Strong - National Museum of Play1962: Chatter Telephone 1962: Chatter Telephone Original estimated retail price: $1.42The Chatter Telephone was created after Ernest Thornell spotted his daughter dragging their phone around the house like a pet. That gave him the idea to add wheels, followed by assorted noise-making buttons. The Chatter Telephone was originally made of wood, but today’s model is . Museum of Hartlepool // Wikimedia Commons1963: Easy-Bake Oven 1963: Easy-Bake Oven Original estimated retail price: $15A small, working oven for kids might sound like a brilliant idea (and time has proven that it is), but the Easy-Bake Oven invoked some upon its 1963 debut. To address those worries, toy company Kenner installed two 100-watt bulbs as a heating source to reduce the chance of burns. The Strong - National Museum of Play1964: G.I. Joe 1964: G.I. Joe Original estimated retail price: $1.95While Barbie was being marketed to young girls, in 1964 Hasbro gave boys a savage war hero named G.I. Joe. The company attempted to keep the word “doll” out of the G.I. Joe lexicon, . While G.I. Joe would eventually undergo (and ), his outsized masculinity remains intact to this day.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1965: Wham-O Frisbee 1965: Wham-O Frisbee Original estimated retail price: 79 centsAccording to legend, the Frisbee’s origins date back to the late 19th century when New England college students tossed pie plates to one another . But it wasn’t until 1948 that Walter Morrison and Warren Franscioni began selling their plastic “Flying Saucers” or “Pluto Platters” at county fairs. Toy company Wham-O caught word of the discs and bought the rights in 1955, renaming them Frisbees. By the mid-’60s, Wham-O Frisbees were ubiquitous in backyards and college campuses. The Strong - National Museum of Play1966: Twister 1966: Twister Original estimated retail price: not availableBoard game manufacturer Milton Bradley was initially nervous about marketing Twister, worried the game’s frisky undertones might blemish the company’s upright reputation. Despite these reservations, the company put Twister on the shelves in 1965 to little fanfare. It wasn’t until Johnny Carson that teens saw the potential. Twister has been a cornerstone of youth culture ever since. The Strong - National Museum of Play1967: Lite-Brite 1967: Lite-Brite Original estimated retail price: $10Lite-Brite comprised a back-lit grid covered by black sheets of paper. By poking holes in the paper, young boys and girls could form patterns and images. Later editions would include pre-patterned images of . thomas ambridge // Wikimedia Commons1968: Hot Wheels 1968: Hot Wheels Original estimated retail price: 59 centsMattel co-founder Elliot Handler (whose wife Ruth invented Barbie) set out to create a new toy that would be as appealing to boys as Barbie was to girls. The result was a muscular, American take on die-cast English Matchbox cars. Dubbed Hot Wheels, the initial 1968 line-up offered 16 hot rods rife with color and metal. The Strong - National Museum of Play1969: Lego building sets 1969: Lego building sets Original estimated retail price: 10 to 30 cents per brickDerived from two Danish words meaning “play well,” Lego is not just the top toy from the year you were born, but the . What began in 1949 as a set of interlocking red and white blocks had become a veritable cultural phenom by the late 1960s, complete with its own .You may also like: Alan Chia // Wikimedia Commons1970: Nerf ball 1970: Nerf ball Original estimated retail price: $2Made of “non-expanding recreational foam” and the Nerf ball was an instant smash for Parker Brothers. Over 4 million units sold in the first year alone. Similar products soon followed; eventually, the Nerf football in Nerf’s lineup. The Strong - National Museum of Play1971: Weebles 1971: Weebles Original estimated retail price: $6.58Weebles were a family of egg-shaped plastic figurines distinguished by bright colors and kinetic, . Bolstered by the catchphrase “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down,” the toys were a must-have among young kids in the early to mid-1970s. The Strong - National Museum of Play1972: Uno 1972: Uno Original estimated retail price: not availableMerle Robbins, a , was convinced he could improve upon the game of Crazy Eights. The result was Uno, which Robbins initially sold through local businesses and his own barbershop. Robbins licensed the rights in 1972 to a funeral parlor owner in Illinois, who took Uno onto the national stage with spectacular success. The Strong - National Museum of Play1973: Shrinky Dinks 1973: Shrinky Dinks Original estimated retail price: not availableShrinky Dinks—thin sheets of decorated plastic that shrunk down and hardened after baking inside an oven—were marketed as pure magic upon their debut in 1973. Of course, the real explanation was polystyrene plastic, which hosts polymer chains that . The Strong - National Museum of Play1974: Skateboard 1974: Skateboard Original estimated retail price: $20 to $60Skateboarding began in 1958 when people attached roller skate wheels to a board in order to “sidewalk surf.” It wasn’t until the early 1970s, and the to smooth out an otherwise bumpy ride, that skateboards found their enduring stride.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1975: The Pet Rock 1975: The Pet Rock Original estimated retail price: $3.95Gary Ross Dahl supposedly thought up a pet rock , imagining the ideal pet as one that made no mess and required no effort. Pair that idea with clever marketing and lucky timing, and you end up with arguably the most famous, most useless product in the history of America. Indeed, even decades later the pet rock stands as both a tribute to and mockery of the perennial wonders of capitalism. The Strong - National Museum of Play1976: Stretch Armstrong 1976: Stretch Armstrong Original estimated retail price: $5You could pull, twist, throw, beat, and bend Stretch Armstrong, . Made from a proprietary blend of plastic, rubber, and gel, the iconic figurine could stretch his limbs up to four times their normal size. Alex Beattie // Wikimedia Commons1977: Atari 2600 Game System 1977: Atari 2600 Game System Original estimated retail price: $199.99The Atari 2600 was absolutely crucial to the development of gaming. The product offered streamlined playability and a slew of great titles like “Frogger,” “Pac-Man,” and “Space Invaders.” The console , but it was arguably the earliest, most important catalyst for what would eventually become the home gaming revolution. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons1978: Star Wars action figures 1978: Star Wars action figures Original estimated retail price: $3 and up“Star Wars” today is the bar by which all other franchises currently aspire. But the movie’s initial success in 1977 , including the toy industry. To account for the sudden demand in merchandise, toy company Kenner hastily released a series of . However, as soon as the 3.75-inch action figures of Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia hit the shelves in 1978, Star Wars merchandise became as popular as the film itself. The Strong - National Museum of Play1979: Simon 1979: Simon Original estimated retail price: $24.95Having , it’s fitting that Ralph Baer took conceptual cues from an Atari arcade game called “Touch Me” when creating . The electronic toy, which tested your memory by playing color patterns you then had to playback in sequence, was unveiled at . It was thereafter a staple in just about every suburban toy chest in America.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1980: Rubik’s Cube hits the shelves 1980: Rubik’s Cube hits the shelves Original estimated retail price: $1.99Hungarian designer Erno Rubik designed a . By 1980, Rubik’s nifty contraption was in the hands of Ideal Toy & Novelty Company, which renamed it Rubik’s Cube. The puzzle was an instant success, selling 100 million units within the first two years alone. In the time since, a peripheral sphere of competitions, books, and imitators has emerged. The Strong - National Museum of Play1981: He-Man action figures 1981: He-Man action figures Original estimated retail price: $4.99He-Man and the Masters of the Universe were introduced in 1981 as a that could throw punches with a pull-and-release mechanism. In an additional show of strength, each Masters of the Universe action figure was nearly two inches larger than Kenner’s Star Wars and Hasbro’s G.I. Joe action figures. The Strong - National Museum of Play1982: My Little Pony 1982: My Little Pony Original estimated retail price: $3 and upGiving Barbie a literal run for her money this year was Hasbro’s My Little Pony, a range of small, vinyl horses with long, bright, and groomable hair. Each pony also came with an adorable name and a . The Strong - National Museum of Play1983: Cabbage Patch Kids 1983: Cabbage Patch Kids Original estimated retail price: $40Defined by their doughy bodies and large, round heads, Cabbage Patch Kids took the world by storm after appearing on a TV show called “Real People” in 1980. That storm turned into a full-blown monsoon by 1983 as desperate parents shoved, scratched, grabbed, elbowed, and punched their way down the toy aisle in hopes of snagging the popular doll before Christmas. Known as the the incident would later “Jingle All the Way,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad. The Strong - National Museum of Play1984: Transformers 1984: Transformers Original estimated retail price: $4 and upThe Transformers legacy began in 1984 when Hasbro introduced a range of action figures adapted from that could shape-shift from robotic aliens into motor vehicles. Along with the toy launch, came an epic backstory and a supporting line of comic books. The Transformers world would only continue to grow with TV shows, games, blockbuster films, and even cereal boxes all entering the fold.You may also like: Pete Slater // Flickr1985: Teddy Ruxpin 1985: Teddy Ruxpin Original estimated retail price: $69.99A former Disney Imagineer named Ken Forsse created the cuddly, animatronic teddy bear that could read bedtime stories. Using the same technology that Disney used for animatronic theme park attractions, Forsse equipped the top-selling bear with a cassette tape and moving facial features. Even with the somewhat hefty price tag, Teddy Ruxpin was the best-selling toy of 1985 and 1986. The Strong - National Museum of Play1986: Nintendo Entertainment System 1986: Nintendo Entertainment System Original estimated retail price: $199.99The Atari craze had slowed by the mid-’80s to a point where home gaming consoles seemed to be on the brink of extinction in the U.S. That didn’t stop Japan’s Nintendo from trying to penetrate the American market in 1985. To incentivize retailers, Nintendo’s North American division , while the units that didn’t sell could be returned. The gamble didn’t exactly pay off, but it got the ball rolling enough to keep the game system afloat until the release of “Super Mario Bros” in 1986. Video games have been a benchmark of American culture ever since. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons1987: Jenga 1987: Jenga Original estimated retail price: $12Jenga involves removing blocks from a tower one at a time until said tower topples over. The addictive game debuted in 1983 but took a few years to catch on. According to legend, entrepreneur Robert Grebler—who’s largely responsible for bringing the game to North America—holds the record for the . The Strong - National Museum of Play1988: Troll Dolls 1988: Troll Dolls Original estimated retail price: $2 and upDerived from Scandinavian folklore, Troll Dolls were created out of wood in the late 1950s by a Danish fisherman named Thomas Dam. American toy companies wasted no time ripping off the concept with a plastic variant that rode a wave of popularity in the 1960s. Troll Dolls then and early ’90s as an indispensable toy for kids and work-cubicle decoration for adults. The Strong - National Museum of Play1989: Game Boy 1989: Game Boy Original estimated retail price: $89.99While not the birth of mobile gaming, Nintendo Game Boy arguably remains its biggest step forward. The 8-bit handheld console offered an approachable design, a bunch of great games, and a level of convenience that pretty much speaks for itself. As a follow-up to NES and a revolution unto itself, Game Boy was an instant home run.You may also like: William Warby // Flickr1990: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures 1990: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures Original estimated retail price: $3.99 and upThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rose to fame on the back of a massively popular animated series about witty crime fighters with a appetite for New York pizza. By the time their , the turtles had utterly conquered the youth market with best-selling toys and box office numbers to show for it. The Strong - National Museum of Play1991: Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1991: Super Nintendo Entertainment System Original estimated retail price: $199.99Marking a big step up from NES in essentially every department, Super Nintendo duly maintained a masterful grip on the video game console sphere. However, this time around the brand faced stiffer competition in the form of competing 32-bit console Sega Genesis. The first ” had officially begun. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons1992: Talkboy 1992: Talkboy Original estimated retail price: $29.99The Talkboy made its grand debut in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” as a handheld recording device used by the movie’s young prankster, Kevin McCallister. A retail version was released on the same day as the movie, and thousands of far less effective pranks presumably ensued. The product was so popular that several spin-off versions were created, including Talkgirl and Talkboy FX Plus. Onetwo1 // Wikimedia Commons1993: Super Soaker 1993: Super Soaker Original estimated retail price: $10 to $50When not helping NASA with their Galileo Mission to Jupiter, the nuclear engineer Dr. Lonnie Johnson was home working on a heat pump that could use . When the pump sent a stream of water across the room, Johnson pivoted toward creating a high-powered water blaster instead. He built a prototype out of PVC pipe and an empty soda bottle he called the Power Drencher, which used an air pressure chamber to pump water from a reservoir. After a few necessary tweaks, the Super Soaker was born. The Strong - National Museum of Play1994: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 1994: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Original estimated retail price: $10As part of the Fox Kids afternoon TV block, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” in 1993 blasted their way into the cultural stratosphere one live-action showdown at a time. Given such immediate success, merchandising (and a 1995 movie) was an easy decision. Like so many great toys and franchises, the Power Rangers receded from the spotlight only to triumphantly return years later.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play1995: Beanie Babies 1995: Beanie Babies Original estimated retail price: $5 and upWhy exactly did small, inexpensive, bead-filled animals in the mid- to late-’90s? Barring the basic principles of supply and demand, the phenomenon will likely remain a mystery—as will the fact that rare Beanie Babies still routinely fetch thousands of dollars on the resale market. The Strong - National Museum of Play1996: Tickle Me Elmo 1996: Tickle Me Elmo Original estimated retail price: $29.99Tyco Toys cashed in on Elmo’s infectious laugh by giving the popular Sesame Street character a doll of its own in 1996. What they didn’t anticipate were the hysteric levels of demand after the toy sold out in the midst of the holiday shopping season. During the shoppers and engaged in physical battle all in the name of the Christmas spirit. The Strong - National Museum of Play1997: Tamagotchi 1997: Tamagotchi Original estimated retail price: $17.99Before cell phones, teens and pre-teens were . To be fair, if left alone Tamagotchi would starve and die; so a consistent level of attention was more or less mandatory. The Strong - National Museum of Play1998: Furby 1998: Furby Original estimated retail price: $35Like some adorable descendant of Gizmo from the “Gremlins” movies, Hasbro’s Furby charmed his way into millions of homes after a 1998 debut. While the ,” he could pick up irresistible English phrases like “I love you” in no time at all. The Strong - National Museum of Play1999: Pokémon trading cards 1999: Pokémon trading cards Original estimated retail price: $3 to $4Hailing from Japan, Pokémon began as a 1996 Game Boy game and then quickly segued into a full-blown franchise complete with TV shows, toys, and movies. But nothing seemed to stoke the masses’ furor like . Besides their collector appeal, the cards inspired an official competitive league known as Pokémon Organized Play.You may also like: The Strong - National Museum of Play2000: PlayStation 2 2000: PlayStation 2 Original estimated retail price: $299While the original PlayStation positioned itself as a leader of the new gaming guard in the mid-1990s, it was the PlayStation 2 that cemented Sony’s status as the veritable king of home entertainment. The console took in , selling out quickly because of manufacturing delays and then fetching extremely high numbers on the secondhand market. Gaming has never been quite the same since. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons2001: Bratz Dolls 2001: Bratz Dolls Original estimated retail price: $9.99 to $22.99Scantily dressed and brimming with sass, the appropriately named Bratz dolls were for a modern audience. The initial 2001 roll-out included just four dolls, but that number rapidly grew as profits soared. A slew of movies, CDs, shows, and video games naturally followed. The Strong - National Museum of Play2002: Beyblades 2002: Beyblades Original estimated retail price: $10 and upWith roots in a Japanese Manga series, Beyblades are spinning tops that battle against one another inside a toy stadium. Their explosive success resulted in nationwide tournaments, while the manga books were developed into an anime TV series that ran for three seasons. Senior Airman Clayton Lenhardt // Wikimedia Commons2003: Cranium Hullabaloo 2003: Cranium Hullabaloo Original estimated retail price: not availableCranium's Hullabaloo was ranked the #1 game of the year for 2003 by . One part Twister and one part musical chairs, the game challenges children to find their way to marked pads on the floor before the electronic caller . Hullabaloo was lauded for keeping kids active even during indoor play. CRANIUM2004: Robosapien 2004: Robosapien Original estimated retail price: $99Designed by Mark Tilden and manufactured by WowWee toys, Robosapien was a remote-controlled robot capable of vocals and 67 pre-programmed moves. In an extra-clever touch of ingenuity, Robosapien would imitate the iconic Rosebud scene from “Citizen Kane” every time you turned it off using the remote. The Strong - National Museum of Play2005: Xbox 360 2005: Xbox 360 Original estimated retail price: $399In the 21st-century console wars, Microsoft in 2005. Touting improvements on every front along with internet connectivity, Xbox 360 would sell over 77 million units over the next eight years. Evan-Amos // Wikimedia Commons2006: Nintendo Wii 2006: Nintendo Wii Original estimated retail price: $250Nintendo burst back onto the video game scene with the release of the Nintendo Wii, delivering bubbly graphics, a personalized ecosystem, and handheld motion controllers for a friendlier and more interactive approach. and popular awards let Nintendo know they had a qualified hit on their hands. The Strong - National Museum of Play2007: Guitar Hero 2007: Guitar Hero Original estimated retail price: $90“Guitar Hero” first launched in 2005 and immediately capitalized on the interactive possibilities of modern gaming. The third installment, “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,” was not just the best-selling video game of 2007, but was reportedly the first retail . The Strong - National Museum of Play2008: WALL-E Toys 2008: WALL-E Toys Original estimated retail price: $7 and upRenowned for its sophisticated themes and stunning visuals, Disney/Pixar’s 2008 film “WALL-E” played to all ages and enraptured an audience of millions. Despite the film’s wasteland vibes, Disney quickly released tons of subsequent WALL-E merchandise that sold in large enough quantities to help actualize the film’s own dire predictions. Arthur Caranta // Flickr2009: Angry Birds 2009: Angry Birds Original estimated retail price: $5 and upFor cheap, addictive games, Angry Birds remains the franchise to beat. It debuted in 2009 and has lost little momentum since. Besides the video game itself, there’s a TV series, feature film, and a range of plush toys that have sold in the millions.You may also like: Yaniv Golan // Flickr2010: iPad 2010: iPad Original estimated retail price: $499Apple’s iPad launched in 2010 and quickly found its niche in the realm between laptops and cell phones. A million units . Indeed, the iPad became so ubiquitous so rapidly that when the NFL struck a deal with Microsoft to use its Surface tablets exclusively in 2015, announcers couldn’t help but . Brad Flickinger // Flickr2011: Skylanders 2011: Skylanders Original estimated retail price: $5 and upSkylanders brings real-life toys into the video game world using near-field communication (NFC) technology. The toys-to-life genre, and Skylanders in particular, have earned massive followings among young gamers. Mike Mozart // Flickr2012: LeapPad Explorer 2012: LeapPad Explorer Original estimated retail price: $99.99Imagine a sturdy iPad for kids with its own proprietary range of apps, and you’ve pretty much nailed the LeapPad Explorer. The popular device has origins going back to 1999 when it debuted as an interactive talking book. The Strong - National Museum of Play2013: Tekno the Robotic Puppy 2013: Tekno the Robotic Puppy Original estimated retail price: $94.99Tekno the Robotic Puppy came into the world in the year 2000 and has been selling in huge numbers ever since. In addition to heeding commands, the razor-sharp robot dog uses light sensor technology to react to its environment. It can also go to sleep on its own and perform backflips. In 2013, new color options were introduced and owners were granted the ability to . Toyloverz // Wikimedia Commons2014: Frozen dolls 2014: Frozen dolls Original estimated retail price: $10 and upThe “Frozen” theme song might say to “Let it Go,” but audiences nevertheless clung feverishly to the 2013 Disney film. A subsequent range of dolls was likewise immensely popular, taking Barbie off her mantle as the .You may also like: Mike Mozart // Flickr2015: Shopkins Toys 2015: Shopkins Toys Original estimated retail price: $5 and upShopkins is more than a range of cute, collectible plastic figurines; it’s an immersive world unto itself that includes books, cards, and videos. The line of toys was in fact so popular that an entire counterfeit industry cropped up around it, with police seizing from two Chinese manufacturers in 2015. photoswelike // Wikimedia Commons2016: Hatchimals 2016: Hatchimals Original estimated retail price: $49.99 to $59.99Hatchimals were created by James Martin after he noticed how unboxing videos on YouTube were drawing huge numbers. In turn, he conceived a robotic animal toy that would unbox, or hatch, itself. The result was Hatchimals, and the demand was so intense that the —much to the chagrin of numerous disappointed parents. The following year was looking no less remarkable for the irrefutably popular toy. Pixabay2017: Fingerlings 2017: Fingerlings Original estimated retail price: $14.99Fingerlings—the adorable, animated companions that wrap around your finger—were nearly impossible to get your hands on as the holidays approached. The craze hardly slowed down, either—its and features. WowWee2018: Don’t Step In It 2018: Don’t Step In It Original estimated retail price: $19.99With Hasbro’s “, players mold rainbow-colored clay into piles of unicorn poop, place them on the floor mat, and take several blindfolded steps determined by the spinner across the mat while trying to avoid stepping in the piles. The Toy Insider’s Jackie Breyer says Hasbro2019: Baby Shark Official Song Puppet 2019: Baby Shark Official Song Puppet Original estimated retail price: $19.99Baby Shark has been all the rage since the song exploded in 2016. Like most pop-culture crazes, the song’s colossal impact transitioned to physical products. WowWee, the makers of Fingerlings, has produced one of the hottest toys of the season in the . Not only do you kick-start the song upon moving the shark’s mouth, but you can actually control the tempo based on how fast or slow you open and close the jaws. Amazon offers three options: yellow Baby Shark, blue Daddy Shark, and pink Mommy Shark. Leon Neal // Getty Images2020: Animatronic ‘The Child’ 2020: Animatronic ‘The Child’ Original estimated retail price: $62.99He goes by many names, only some of which are correct. “The Child,” (aka “Grogu” or “Baby Yoda” (incorrect)), from ” had a major moment in pop culture history—a moment that lasted nearly two years since the “Star Wars” series release in 2019. Season two focused on the Mandalorian’s quest to return Grogu to the Jedi. This storyline gave fans exactly what they were craving—more adorable scenes with the toddling green character playing off his stoic, mysterious guardian, the Mandalorian. It also gave toy manufacturers the perfect inspiration. “The Mandalorian” toys were included on and this gave children—and let’s be serious, countless adults, too—the chance to live our their fantasies of having a Grogu of their own. Hasbro
DA: 91 PA: 56 MOZ Rank: 23
https://independenttribune.com/business/investment/personal-finance/what-to-buy-and-skip-in-december-2021/article_4ea9e872-0d90-5ad8-aaf5-216a82a146b3.html
Dec 16, 2021 . WowWee, the makers of Fingerlings, has produced one of the hottest toys of the season in the Pinkfrog Baby Shark Official Song Puppet. Not only do you kick-start the song upon moving the shark’s ...
DA: 23 PA: 35 MOZ Rank: 85
https://fremonttribune.com/entertainment/television/nebraska-toy-store-to-be-featured-on-amazon-prime-series/article_7b172ae6-60a7-53ff-bf39-d91e9831e1d6.html
Dec 25, 2021 . Original estimated retail price: $1 to $10. Conceived in 1911 by A. C. Gilbert during a train ride from Connecticut to New York City, Erector Set was the first toy ever to use a …
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https://www.pinkfrogcraftsandcards.co.uk/
The Pink Frog Crafts and Cards Angel Policy sets out the limitations and extents for the use of Pink Frog Crafts and Cards & Britannia Dies products to manufacture cards and artwork for sale.
DA: 5 PA: 26 MOZ Rank: 95
