Since urban areas have been in existence, city kids have played with whatever was handy and creatively invented games with nothing more than found items and a little ingenuity. Among early street games is Kick The Can, played since the turn of the century and very popular during the Great Depression since all that

One of the simplest toys ever, the Hula Hoop itself was first produced and marketed in 1957. But it was singer Georgia Gibbs’ appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that kicked off the craze. On September 6, 1958, she performed “The Hula Hoop Song”. It was her last hit, and by the end of the

That pic you see is of my Dad, circa 1977 I believe, with one of the iconic kids’ products of my generation. Yep, when I was growing up, I knew at least a dozen kids who all had that same, huge football-shaped toy chest, and three decades plus later, I’m not ashamed to say that

I like scary things. Always have, since as far back as I can remember. I’m sure for a time this caused some consternation for my parents—like the time I was 12 and they caught me taking horror novels out of the adult section of the library using a modified library card (I’ll share that one

From Fisher-Price’s Classic Retro Toy Series comes a 1971 reproduction music box. The appearance is very much the same, but this newly-made version follows current product standards. Included are five discs, which play a total of 10 songs,  including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Farmer in the Dell and London Bridge. Tots can still wind

In the 1950s Smethport Specialty Company produced magnetic and metal toys, along with military components. Brothers Donald and James Herzog worked for the Pennsylvania company when, in 1955, James realized the dust from grinding magnets could be used as a drawing tool. Soon after he filed to patent the first Wooly Willy magnetic drawing kit.

This Magic Cymbal Monkey Toy is a remake of an old classic. Battery operated, he clangs his cymbals as he hops around and chirps. Many different cymbal monkeys have been made since the 1950s. The original – called the Musical Jolly Chimp – was made by Japanese company Daishin C.K. during the ’50s, ’60s and

Here’s a 1946 page from Popular Science spotlighting the Slinky toy. It’s always interesting to read vintage copy: Given an initial shove, “Slinky” eerily and deliberately flip-flops end over end down a flight of steps. It is simply a spring, but it does stunts that made R. P. James, Philadelphia engineer, think of converting it

There are few who can whistle real music through their noses. For the rest of us, there’s the nose flute – also called a nose whistle or a Humanatone. This single-piece instrument relies on rhythmic breathing through the nose while maintaining or fluctuating the opening of the mouth. This simple, classic gem isn’t to be

Who could resist these Marx Toys friction toys featuring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck? These toys date to the 1950s-1960s. The toys stand about 4″ high and use a German-made friction motor. Friction toys are driven by springs – the spring is wound when the wheels are pushed backwards across a high-friction surface (like carpet