Page 10 - North Haven Magazine Issue 26 Holiday 2022

by Marisa Hexter
What’s Tree?
Under
the

Popular Toys Through the Ages

ith the holiday season upon us, our lives have become much busier than usual. Between dec-
Worating, parties, and movie nights there are so many things to get done before the end of the
year. Some of it can be very stressful. For many shopping for gifts is a difficult task. But sometimes
the hardest task is the most rewarding in the end when you see the smile on the face of your family,
friends, or children when they open their presents. Shopping for children can be the trickiest of all,
especially when a new toy or game is released which is so popular it sells out in mere minutes. (Re-
member Turbo Man from Jingle All The Way with Arnold Schwarzenegger?) But what about your
memories of holidays when you were a child? What toys did you desperately hope Santa would
leave you? Through the ages, popular Christmas gifts have changed dramatically.

The idea of gift-giving at Christmas time became
popular during the Victorian era. The gifts were
practical yet enjoyable. Children of modest fam-
ilies could find fruits and nuts in their stockings, GangBusters a game from the 1980s
while upper and middle-class families could
receive toys, games, or handmade dolls under during the holiday season. Another popular
the tree. Storybooks were another popular gift item in the 1990s was Beanie Babies, not only a
for younger children. As time went on, gifts for popular gift but what many at the time believed
children became more inventive. Board games to be a collectible. Advancing into the 21st cen-
and books were just as popular. Toy soldiers tury saw toys and children’s gifts now a mixture
and magician sets were also in demand due to An old playing card deck of electronic and traditional toys. From video
World War I and popular magicians like Harry games to playing kitchens and diaries with pass-
Houdini. One popular toy invented during this The 1940s and 1950s saw a big change in how words to monster trucks, what toy was popular
time was the Erector Set by A.C. Gilbert, a North Christmas gifts, especially for children, were began changing more rapidly.
Haven resident at one time. The early 1900s saw looked at. In The Christmas Story, we see Ral-
these and so many other toys develop and then phie at a bustling department store asking Santa
flourish in popularity lasting decades. These for his dream gift, “I want an official Red Ryder,
included Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoy, and Teddy carbine action, two-hundred shot range mod-
Bears. el air rifle!” Some of the most popular toys we
know today came out of these decades. Brands
like Barbie, Fisher-Price, Mr. Potato Head,
Gumby, and matchbox cars developed toys that
are still produced and enjoyed today. The Slinky!
Because of the invention of the Television, toys
were now being developed after famous shows
like Howdy Doody and Dennis the Menace.
Dolls were now made by multiple companies to
dress up in plenty of different outfits and styles
and dollhouses were a matching gift. Doll in her Victorian/Edwardian clothes
The 1960s and 1970s saw another influx in chil- So this year, what will be the most popular gift
The Slinky! dren’s toys, though the themes stayed relatively for the children on your list? Squishmallows?
The post-war 1920s saw excess everywhere, at the same. A popular toy was the Rock ‘Em Sock Bluey? Fidget toys? The possibilities are endless,
home and in public. When the Great Depression ‘Em Robots. Board games like Operation also but the child’s thrill of receiving them has never
hit in the later part of the decade and continued proved to be a sought-after gift to put under the changed. One part of the magic of the holiday
through the 1930s, it was harder for parents to tree. Both decades saw merchandise and toys season lives in the joy a child feels when they
get their children the most popular gifts at the made after television shows and movies like Bat- open up their gifts from Santa. Whether it’s a pet
time. If a family was more well-to-do, children man, Star Wars, and Star Trek. I’m sure many of rock or a Barbie, children of all ages from all eras
could receive pedal cars or handmade dolls. Toy you remember the jingle to the advertisement have enjoyed a present or two which magically
planes and dollhouses were other popular items for Weebles! Baby Alive was an entirely new appeared under the tree overnight!
for the children as well. In chilly New England, idea and was extremely popular. Fads like the
it was common to get snow shoes, skates, or a Pet Rock may have only lasted a year, but proved
snow sled to have both practical and enjoyable to be a hot item during the holiday season.
qualities for the snowy winter months. For those
who had a difficult time during the Depression The 1980s and 1990s saw another new invention
it was not uncommon for families to go without make its way into many homes, the video game
some years but sometimes the gifts family mem- system. Nintendo released its entertainment sys-
bers did receive were handmade or food related, tem in 1985 along with popular video games like
similar to the Victorian Christmas gift-giving Super Mario Bros. Both Cabbage Patch Dolls
practices. and Care Bears proved to be hot ticket items Calling All Cars: Board game from
the 1940s/1950s
10 North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2022