Wednesday, December 30, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


ANSWER TO LAST QUIZ (#45)-T...
Xavier was working his way through college in 1977 and designed a kids toy in an attempt to earn extra money. In 1983, low inventory in some stores led to riots. $2 billion worth of these toys were sold in 1984 at about $40/each.
THIS FAMOUS TOY IS 'CABBAGE PATCH' DOLLS...

TODAY'S QUIZ (#46-T)...
In 1993, toy inventor H. Ty Warner began to market a toy designed to be inexpensive so that a child could purchase them. He began with 9 separate designs and they were not an instant success. Ty decided to stop making them in 1999. The line became a phenomenon in the late 90s when these toys became both a fad and a collectible. However, consumer demand made Ty Warner change his mind. He continues to run Ty Inc. and design new models to this day.
NAME THIS TOY...

Monday, December 28, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


TODAY'S QUIZ #34-T...
In 1959, Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr begin to market a toy, after getting the idea from schoolchildren in Australia playing with a bamboo toy for exercise. This was a toy that was probably used as long ago as 1000 B.C. in Egypt, and, later, in ancient Greece and Rome.
In the first 6 months of sales, 20 million of these toys were sold for $1.98/each. Japan once banned the use of this toy in public for being "indecent."
THE ANSWER...THE 'HULA HOOP'

TODAY'S TOY QUIZ #45-T...
Xavier was working his way through college in 1977 and designed a kids toy in an attempt to earn extra money. These toys were made by hand as opposed to most mass-marketed toys. Although more than 3 million of the toys were first produced, supply could not keep up with the demand. This toy became one of the biggest fads in kids toy history. In 1983, low inventory in some stores led to riots. $2 billion worth of these toys were sold in 1984 at about $40/each.
NAME THIS KIDS TOY...

Saturday, December 26, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


LAST QUIZ...#33-T
Ruth Handler watched her kids play with many of their toys and noticed that most were based on little babies. During a trip to Europe with her son, Kenneth, and her daughter, Barbara, she came across an exciting German toy based on a popular comic strip character appearing in a German newspaper. She bought 3 of these toys and brought them back to the U.S.
Today, these toys are sold in over 150 countries at the rate of 1 every second!
ANSWER...THE BARBIE DOLL (Yes, 'Barbie' and 'Ken' were named after her kids)

TODAY'S QUIZ...
In 1959, Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr begin to market a toy, after getting the idea from a friend who saw schoolchildren in Australia playing with a bamboo toy for exercise. This was a toy that was probably used as long ago as 1000 B.C. in Egypt, and, later, in ancient Greece and Rome.
In the first 6 months of sales, 20 million of these toys were sold for $1.98/each. Japan once banned the use of this toy in public for being "indecent."
NAME TODAY'S TOY...

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


ANSWER TO LAST QUIZ... #32-T
In 1947, a group of Minnesota teachers realized their attempt to make and sell garden tools was failing. They decided to use their extra materials to make toys in a small schoolhouse basement. Over a half-century and 250 million toys later, this company uses more than 119,000 pounds of yellow paint and 5.1 million pounds of sheet metal to make these toys.
NAME THIS TOY COMPANY... TONKA TOYS

TODAY'S QUIZ...#33-T
Ruth Handler watched her kids play with many of their toys and noticed that most were based on little babies. During a trip to Europe with her son, Kenneth, and her daughter, Barbara she came across an exciting German toy based on a popular comic strip character appearing in a German newspaper. She bought 3 of these toys and brought them back to the U.S.
Handler re-designed the toy (with the help of engineer Jack Ryan) and exhibited her toy at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. The sales of her new toy hit 350,000 in its first year.
Today, these toys are sold in over 150 countries at the rate of 1 every second!
NAME THIS INCREDIBLY POPULAR CHRISTMAS TOY...

Monday, December 21, 2009

History of Chritmas Toys...


LAST QUIZ...#31-T
This hugely successful kid's toy entered the U.S. market in 1956 as a wallpaper cleaner. After seeing nursery school children using it as a toy, it was marketed to the toy market. This innovative product made Joe McVicker a millionaire before his 27th birthday. Between 1955 - 2005 it sold over 2 billion units. It's 1970's TV commercial was voted one of the 'top 100 best commercials' by 'Advertising Age.' It is sold in over 75 countries and sells over 95 million units/year.
THE ANSWER IS ... Play-doh

TODAY'S QUIZ... #32-T
In 1947, a group of Minnesota teachers realized their attempt to make and sell garden tools was failing. They decided to use their extra materials to make toys in a small schoolhouse basement. With a staff of just a half dozen people, they turned out a total of 37,000 toys in two designs in their first year. They name their company after a nearby lake, which means "great" in Sioux.
The company was founded on the premise that a toy should be durable and provide the child with as much play value as possible. Over a half-century and 250 million toys later, this company uses more than 119,000 pounds of yellow paint and 5.1 million pounds of sheet metal to make these toys.
NAME THIS TOY COMPANY...

Saturday, December 19, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


ANSWER TO LAST QUIZ...
This toy was invented and developed by Brooklyn-born George Lerner in 1949 and was marketed with its main part missing for .98 cents each. This famous toy was the first toy ever advertised on TV ... has starred in the movie 'Toy Story 2' ... has starred in its own comic strip ... and has been inducted into 'The Toy Hall of Fame.'
NAME THIS FAMOUS KIDS TOY...THE 'PEZ DISPENSER'

TODAY'S QUIZ...#31-T
This hugely successful kid's toy entered the U.S. market in 1956 as a wallpaper cleaner. After seeing nursery school children using it as a toy, it was marketed to the toy market. This innovative product made Joe McVicker a millionaire before his 27th birthday. Between 1955 - 2005 it sold over 2 billion units. It's 1970's TV commercial was voted one of the 'top 100 best commercials' by 'Advertising Age.' It is sold in over 75 countries and sells over 95 million units/year.
NAME THIS FAMOUS TOY...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


ANSWER TO LAST QUIZ...In 1952, Edward Haas brought his product from Vienna, Austria to the U.S. Today, it sells over 3 billion/year and is sold in over 60 countries. A whole Seinfeld episode was based on this product.
THE ANSWER IS THE PEZ DISPENSER

TODAY'S QUIZ...
This toy was invented and developed by Brooklyn-born George Lerner in 1949. The Hasbro Company bought the rights to the toy in 1952 for $7,000.00.
The toy was marketed with its main part missing for .98 cents each. This famous toy was the first toy ever advertised on TV ... has starred in the movie 'Toy Story 2' ... has starred in its own comic strip ... and has been inducted into The Toy Hall of Fame.
NAME THIS FAMOUS KIDS TOY

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


The answer from last quiz...What famous toy was invented during World War II when navy engineer Richard James discovers that a torsion spring will "walk" end over end when knocked over. The toys are still made in Hollidaysburg, Pa. on the same eight machines that James began with over 60 years ago.
The answer is 'The Slinky!'

The new toy quiz...

In 1952, Edward Haas brought his product from Vienna, Austria to the U.S. It was originally unsuccessful but after he made a few design changes to his toy (including adding the characters of Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse), his sales really took off. Today, it sells over 3 billion/year and is sold in over 60 countries. A whole Seinfeld episode was based on this product.

Name this famous product...

Saturday, December 12, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


PREVIOUS CHRISTMAS TOY QUIZ...What toy did Donald Duncan popularize after he saw it demonstrated in Los Angeles and then bought the toy company?...
ANSWER...
THE DUNCAN YO-YO


NEW CHRISTMAS TOY QUIZ...
During World War II while searching for a suspension device to ease rough sailing on battleships, navy engineer Richard James discovers that a torsion spring will "walk" end over end when knocked over. James brought the discovery home to his wife, who named the new toy. If the toys sold since 1945 were stretched end to end would wrap around the world 128 times. The toys are still made in Hollidaysburg, Pa. on the same eight machines that James began with over 60 years ago.

NAME THIS VERY POPULAR TOY...

Friday, December 11, 2009

Mean bunny

History of Christmas toys...


In 1929 Donald Duncan sees a toy being demonstrated in Los Angeles. He was so impressed by this toy that he bought the rights to the toy company for $25,000, and 30 years later, sales of his toys reach $25 million. At its peak, his company produced 3,600 toys/hour. In 1968, Abbie Hoffman was cited for contempt of Congress for using this toy in an effort to entertain the 'House Subcommittee on Un-American Activities' that was investigating Hoffman. Richard Nixon made headlines when he used this toy on stage at the opening of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1974.

Duncan had to declared bankruptcy after losing a supreme court case over the patent on the name of his toy. He died in an automobile accident in 1971.

Can you name the famous toy?

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas card (P.C. version)...


After consultation with my attorney, I have decided that if I wanted to remain 'politically correct,' this would be the Christmas message I would have to send out this year...

THE MODERN DAY HOLIDAY GREETING CARD

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious low carbon footprint, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, low saturated fat, smoke free, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of all other faiths and minorities or those who choose not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms - This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual applications of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of any subsequent holiday greetings, whichever comes first, and the warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Merry Christmas from me and my attorney.

PS. I have decided against it. I'll just say...

MAY YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Toys of Christmas...


John Lloyd Wright, the son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright invented a very popular Christmas toy in 1916. He was inspired by the way that his father designed the earthquake-proof 'Imperial Hotel' in Tokyo, Japan.

These toys were long a favorite of proponents of educational toys and were among the first toys to be promoted on a television show, 1953’s 'Pioneer Playhouse'. The ads targeted affluent parents, who were most likely to own a television set and to buy educational toys.

Name the very popular toy.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

History of Christmas Toys...


Alfred Carlton Gilbert was possibly the most talented man of the 20th Century. Born in Oregon in 1884, he won an Olympic Gold Medal in the pole vault and married in 1908, then graduated from Yale Medical School the following year. Rather than practice medicine, he co-founded Mysto Corporation in Connecticut to build and sell magic kits. With a $5,000 loan, he began selling a brand of kids toys. In 1918, he was known as "The man who saved Christmas!" His highly successful toy has sold over 35 million.
What toy did he invent?