Who can forget the thrill we experienced of getting a new toy? Whether it was the trendy toy that year and really big deal or whether it was a dime store cheapie, there was nothing quite like it. Kids always love to play, but toys have changed quite a bit over the years. Here are 50 years of the most popular toys from 1930 to 1980.
1930 Charlotte Clark Mickey Mouse Doll
The small stuffed dolls were designed and produced by Charlotte Clark and her staff after the Walt Disney short “Steamboat Willie” was released to great accord. In true 1930s fashion, when demand exceeded production, patterns for mothers to make a Mickey for their children were released by Clark! What followed in the years after was a slew of merchandise on everything from notepads to watches to socks and everything in between.
1931 Finger Paint
Look at those wonderful polka dot smocks to keep the paint off their dresses. Before 1931, the concept of finger-painting was not well-known.
1952 Mr. Potato Head
The original, as we all know, were facial features that got plugged into a real potato. This toy swept the nation and in 1964 the plastic spud was introduced: no more mashing mom’s taters before they were cooked or rotting veggies with faces.
1959 Barbie
One of the most popular toys ever designed, Barbie changed the game for doll manufacturers and gave little girls a chance to experiment with fashion.
The ’60s were an exciting time for kids. New toys were being developed all the time and TV showed us what was on offer like never before. We had new electronic devices, brighter colors, and a huge number of characters to choose from. The kinds of toys available were becoming more diverse, as evidenced by the pocket-sized Hot Wheels and the plug-in Lite Brite.
1974 Holly Hobbie
This character started out as a drawing for American Greetings, inspired by the traditional quilt character of Sunbonnet Sue. Once the doll was made, Holly Hobbie toys became some of the most popular for American girls. You can see her image on a ring below, but there were endless merchandising options with the beloved character. Everything from Easy Bake Ovens to alarm clocks to piggy banks could be bought with her patchwork image on them.
1978 Hungry Hungry Hippos
1979 Atari
This was the game that changed how kids spend their time. While it was pricey and not every home had one, the video game console would become the way many kids and teens (and adults) spend their Saturday afternoons.
And one more for good measure!
1980 Rubik’s Cube
