Many collectors consider the 1950’s to be the golden era of toys. These toys came at an amazing time in history. America had survived the Great Depression and was recovering from the shock of World War II. This decade saw the formation of NASA and the popularization of television. A far cry from the video games of today, the toys of the 1950’s were made for children whose only distraction was their imagination. Below are three toys from the 1950’s that continue to capture the hearts of children and children-at-heart.

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The Barbie Doll. The 1950’s saw the introduction of the blonde bombshell with an iconic woman named Marilyn Monroe and an iconic doll named Barbie. Barbie made her first appearance in 1959. She was named after her inventor Ruth Handler’s daughter Barbara, but traces her origins to a German doll aimed at more mature audiences. Barbie made her debut in a black and white striped swimsuit and blonde ponytail. Since those early days, it is estimated that over a billion Barbies have been sold worldwide. Those first ponytailed dolls are a collector’s dream and command prices in the thousands.
Mr. Potato Head. It is hard to believe that this charming oblong fellow arrived in the same decade as the glamorous Barbie doll, but perhaps it’s a testament to the ingenuity of the times. Mr. Potato Head actually preceded Barbie by seven years, as he was introduced in 1952. Mr. Potato Head was invented by George Lerner, the son of a poor dairy farmer. From his humble beginnings, he went on to be the first toy to be advertised on national television and was an immediate success. Mr. Potato Head acquired a wife in 1953, a family soon after, and the rest is history.

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Play-Doh. Many people are surprised to discover that Play-Doh has been getting stuck in carpets for over 50 years now. Quite the opposite of the original 70-part Mr. Potato Head and the well-formed Barbie doll, Play-Doh took the concept of toys in a totally different direction. It was invented by the McVicker brothers in 1956; a fortuitous accident as they were trying to develop a wallpaper cleaner. While Play-Doh has undergone an evolution similar to that of both Barbie and Mr. Potato Head, its propensity to harden when exposed to air makes it an unlikely collectible.

Alana Morgaine

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