Toys of our Baby Boomer Childhood
Ranked #906 in Culture & Society, #22,260 overall
Who Remembers These Baby Boomer Toys?
Many of these classic toys are still being manufactured and can be enjoyed by our children or grandchildren. Maybe there is a child on your Christmas list who would enjoy a retro toy.
Erector Set a building toy.
A classic baby boomer toy for boys.
A.C Gilbert took a train trip to New York City in 1911. Looking out the window, he saw an electrical power line tower being built. He was inspired by the steel beams and created a construction kit for children which included real steel beams with holes that would accept bolts, screws, pulleys and gears. The pieces were very realistic and kids could build skyscrapers, towers and bridges. This was a premier toy for boys for 50 years. Similar to the present day Lego sets, there were yearly upgrades. Erector Motorized Racing Car
A Baby Boomer Favorite-Still popular today.
Erector Motorized Racing Car & More - 643 pc Metal Construction Set
Amazon Price: $65.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
Amazon Product Description: "The Erector Set has been a favorite toy since the early part of the 20th century. Designed for ages ten and older, the ingenious system of small parts combine in numerous ways to create an infinite number of models. As kids enjoy building with the Erector Metal Construction Set, they're learning important skills like patience, organization, coordination, and how to read directions. The Erector Metal Construction Set features a six-volt, battery-powered motor so that children can see their creations move."
Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Davy Crockett Televised Series (1956)
Davy Crockett DVD Set
Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Davy Crockett Televised Series
Coonskin Cap
Who doesn't remember this baby boomer classic?
My husband at the age of 9 went up on stage at Egelston Square Theater in Boston and sang the Davy Crockett song ("Born on a mountain top in Tennessee...") and was thrilled to win a coonskin cap.
You can have your very own coonskin cap or you can buy one for your grandkids. Click on the image or the text below to purchase.
Lionel Trains
Baby Boomer Memories
Lionel Trains Polar Express Train Set - O Gauge
Baby Boomers ~ What about a lionel train for around the Christmas tree this year?
Following the locomotive and tender are two lighted coach cars. The observation car features a new rounded observation deck. Silhouettes in the windows depict passengers, and the joyful coach car is where the kids get their fill of hot chocolate and candy. A 40" x 60" oval track completes the set.
Articulated figures with turning heads, movable arms, bendable waists and jointed knees are included. They can be posed and placed on areas of the locomotive, tender and passenger cars.
Lionel Trains Polar Express Train Set - O Gauge
Amazon Price: $249.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
# Transformer controlled forward, neutral and reverse operation
# Air whistle in tender
# Operating headlight
# Operating coupler on rear of tender
# Powerful maintenance-free motor
# Two traction tires
# Puffing smoke
# Die-cast metal locomotive body and frame
# Separately applied metal handrails
# All-new pilot and headlight lens shield
Lionel Train Commercial, James Gang set
Train set, a classic boomer toy. Did you have one set up around your Christmas Tree?
Tinker Toys
This Baby Boomer had Tinker Toys, did you?
Charles Pajeau invented tinker toys in his basement in 1914. He introduced them at the American Toy Fair that year but no one was interested. His next marketing ploy was to hire several midgets and have them play with tinker toys in a Chicago department store window. A year later one million sets of tinker toys had been sold. Tinkertoy Classic Jumbo Set
You can still buy this great classic Baby Boomer toy!
Tinkertoy Classic Jumbo Set
Amazon Price: $104.95 (as of 05/29/2012)
* Creative and educational building set comes with 102 pieces so you can build the included designs, or create new designs of your own!
* Includes 48 rods, 20 spools, 8 connector clips, 2 flags, 10 end caps, 6 couplings, 2 tubes, 1 length of string, face plate, 2 robot arms, 2 rail holders and design guide.
* All pieces, except green flags, are made of 100% real wood.
Mr. Potato Head
I liked Mr. Potato Head.
Mr. Potato Head was invented in 1949 and at that time it used real potatoes and other vegetables. It wasn't until 1964 that a plastic potato head was introduced. Mrs. Potato Head made her appearance in 1953.Here is a giant pacific octopus who loves his Mr. Potato Head.
Mr. Potato Head
A boomer toy that is still around and still inexpensive!
Playskool Mr. Potato Head
Amazon Price: $8.86 (as of 05/29/2012)
Editorial Review
He's one goofy-looking potato--but that's never been a barrier to his wide "a-peel"! In this kit, preschoolers are introduced to Mr. Potato Head, the tater extraordinaire. With just 13 pieces, the options may seem limited--but only to adults. And once kids figure out the basics of putting Mr. Potato Head together, they'll want to move on to making extraterrestrial spuds: feet where ears should be, and so on. It's oh so silly! All the pieces store in Mr. Potato Head's body, but young ones will need adult assistance to snap the storage compartment door into place. --Ava Natov
Vintage Mr. Potato Head TV Commercial
A Mr. Potato Head set only cost $2 back then.
Slinky
I bet just about all of us Boomers had a slinky.
Here is the famous Slinky along with 2 other classic Boomer toys.
The Etch A Sketch was fascinating. Lots of Boomers had an Etch A Sketch.
Slinky Hall of Fame Toy Pack
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
What if you could have a trio of America's favorite #1 classic toys all in one box? Well, look no further than the new Hall of Fame Toy Pack! This outstanding package contains the world's original metal walking spring toy the Slinky, the world's #1 original Yo-Yo the Duncan Butterfly, and the world's favorite original drawing toy the Etch A Sketch! This trio of classic toys is great for kids, or the kid in you!
Star Trek: The Original Series (Remastered) - Three Season Pack
Boomers remember Star Trek.
Star Trek: The Original Series - The Complete Series (Seasons 1-3 Bundle)
Amazon Price: $165.88 (as of 05/29/2012)
This is the original Star Trek series but it has been remastered to include special effects that could not have been done in the sixties because we didn't yet have the technology. If you are a Trekkie then you need this set in your collection!
Sixties TV Shows on DVD
More Boomer Favorites
A trip down memory lane with TV shows of the sixties.
How many of these sixties TV shows did you watch?
Betsy Wetsy
Lots of Boomer girls had a Betsy Wetsy, including me.
"Mommy" could feed Betsy Wetsy a bottle filled with water and she would wet her diaper. She was made by the Ideal Toy Company. Today she can sell for as much as $725. What Was Your Favorite Boomer Toy?
List your favorite Boomer Toy here.
Paper Dolls (of any kind)
I had a fascination with paper dolls, to the point more...2 points
Tiny Tears Doll
I didn't have one but my sister did and I always w more...1 point
Plastic Red bricks that were not legos.
I would spend hours building homes and compounds.0 points
Baby Dolls, Star Trek, MONKEES :)
Loved baby dolls when I was young. Once I hit the more...0 points
star trek ships
star trek ships more...0 points
Lincoln Logs
Probably more of a Boomer boy toy but I remember playing with them at a friend's house.
Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright who was the son of the famous architect Frank Lloyed Wright. These were miniature logs, notched on each end to facilitate the building of model log cabins. Lincoln Logs ~ Still Available!
Did you play with Lincoln Logs?
Poof Slinky Frontier Logs Building Set In Canister 114 Pieces
Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
Adults who remember hours of fun building with the classic interlocking building logs construction set and want to introduce it to their own children may be dismayed to find that many such toys are now made of plastic. Never fear, T-N-T International can't quite let go of the past either. They have made this 114-piece Frontier Building set entirely out of quality hardwood. Beautifully cut and finished, it includes all the traditional pieces--long logs, short filler logs, and roof slats. Helpfully, T-N-T has made this set to be compatible with other log sets. --Lisa Whipple
Robot
Retro Mechanical Robot
Lots of Cool Retro Robots
The young Boomer generation was just getting acquainted with Sci-Fi.
Wooly Willy
Another nostalgic Boomer toy.
I did have one of these and had a lot of fun playing with it. It was a face under plastic and there were iron filings under the plastic too. It included a magnet with which you could move the iron filings around and give Willy a beard or hair. I remember taking Wooly Willy in the car with me. You can still buy Wooly Willy!
Another Boomer classic toy.
Wooly Willy
Amazon Price: $0.64 (as of 05/29/2012)
Ant Farm
From our Boomer childhood.
I always wanted an ant farm. They looked pretty fascinating to me. I don't think my parents saw the appeal. You can still buy an ant farm today. Now you can get a green gel ant farm with a light. Cool! AntWorks Illuminated with LED Light - Green
Boomers-Your grandkids might like an ant farm.
Fascinations Antworks Illuminated with Green
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
* Self-contained space-age ant habitat
* Blue LED illuminator base illuminates habitat at night
* View ants up close with magnifying glass and extreme zoom lens
* Low-maintenance design
* Special translucent gel provides complete food and water for ants
* Includes instruction booklet with ant order form
* Ants are shipped directly to your home
Introduce your child to the miniature miracles of nature at work with this illuminated ant habitat.
Troll Doll
How many Boomers had a Troll Doll?
Hula Hoop
Was the hula hoop a toy of your Boomer Childhood?
Who could forget the hula hoop? The hula hoop was brought to market by Wham-O in 1958. It was an instant success. They are making a come back today. Great exercise! Deluxe Hoops - 24'' Diameter
Hula Hoops ~ Still here!
Pull Bouy Deluxe Hoops, 24-Inch (One Dozen)
Amazon Price: $54.44 (as of 05/29/2012)
* a great addition to your everyday workout routine
* can be used for a wide range of functions
* Special outlet purchase.
Hula Hoop by Wham-O
Play-Doh
I think most of us Boomers remember play-doh.
When Play-Doh was first invented in 1956 it was an off white color that came in a 1 1/2 pound can. By 1957 it came in red, yellow and blue. The actual formula is a secret but it is thought to contain wheat flour, kerosene and something to inhibit mold growth. It is still around today and of course, comes in many colors. Everybody loves Play-Doh
From the Baby Boomer era to the present, Play-Doh is still going strong!
Play-Doh Retro Canister
Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 05/29/2012)
Pop open this nostalgic canister and unleash a creativity explosion! Inside is a FUN FACTORY extruder, a Birthday Set, tons of tools and accessories and 20 cans of PLAY-DOH compound for taking your imagination on a shaping, cutting and molding extravaganza! Whopping canister is filled with more 20 cans of PLAY-DOH compound and more than 50 tools and accessories for endless creative molding fun! Included cake ring, 3 shape-making rails, extruder/plunger, cake decoration mold, 2-sided scoop, cake server, candle mold, 2 gift boxes, 2 plates, 2 birthday cards, FUN FACTORY extruder with 3 half molds, 2 extruder rails (10 designs) trimmer knife, activity mat, 15 cutters, 17 two-ounce cans and 3 five-ounce cans of PLAY-DOH compound. Ages 3 and up.
Newbery Award Winners of the Sixties
Boomer Classic books
Books were a big part of my Boomer Childhood. The Newbery Award winners are classics and are still enjoyed today.The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year.
1960 Medal Winner: Onion John by Joseph Krumgold
1961 Medal Winner: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
1962 Medal Winner: The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
1963 Medal Winner: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
1964 Medal Winner: It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville
1965 Medal Winner: Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska
1966 Medal Winner: I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
1967 Medal Winner: Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt
1968 Medal Winner: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
1969 Medal Winner: The High King by Lloyd Alexander
These timeless classics can be purchased on Amazon
Boomers, share these great books with your grand kids.
Barbie
Probably the premier toy for Baby Boomer girls.
OK, we have to mention Barbie. I wasn't into Barbies when I was a kid. I liked baby dolls better. When I grew up and had a family I had all boys so no Barbies in this generation. There is, however, no denying her enduring popularity. The original Barbie in 1959 cost $3. Ken, Barbie's boyfriend, was introduced in 1961. Barbie Collection
A Vintage, Boomer, Barbie Doll Collection
Chatty Cathy
Unique to the Boomer era
Chatty Cathy was introduced by Mattel in 1960. You would pull a string on her back and she would talk. She might say, "Please brush my hair." Vintage Chatty Cathys can still be found today but most of them no longer talk. The mechanism involves a rubber band and by now most of them have snapped. Vintage TV Commercial for Chatty Cathy
More about Boomer Toys
- Boomer Toys
- I have attempted to place on this site numerous toys from the 60's and early 70's and hope to add more as people send photos to me and I increase my toy collection. This site was developed to help people remember a simple time of their youth when the most pressing thing was what toy I would play with and if it was to rainy to play outside after school.
Check out these other Baby Boomer lenses
Fizzies
Another icon of boomer childhood.
Not really a toy but they were fun. Fizzies, which were introduced in 1957, were artificially sweetened with cyclamates which were banned in 1968 and Fizzies eventually fizzled. I saw them in a store recently so someone must have brought them back. Read about the history of Daisy Guns
A part of the childhood of lots of Boomer boys.
Daisy Air Rifles & BB Guns The First 100 Years
Amazon Price: $141.90 (as of 05/29/2012)
Flash back to the days of your youth and recall fond memories of your Daisy. Daisy Air Rifles and BB Guns looks back fondly on the first 100 years of Daisy BB rifles and pistols, toy and cork guns, accessories, packaging, period advertising and literature. Wacky ads and catalogs conjure grins of pure nostalgia as chapters reveal how Daisy used a combination of savvy business sense and quality products to dominate the market
More Boomer Toys
There are so many more of these boomer toys of our childhood that I couldn't possibly cover them all here. For further reading I recommend the following books. They are sure to inspire a nostalgic trip down memory lane.In the mean time remember Easy Bake Ovens, Krazy Ikes, Etch-A-Sketch, Cooties, Match Box Cars, Thumbelina Doll, Daisy Air Rifles, Tiny Tears Doll, Betsy McCall Paper Dolls, Colorforms, GI Joe, Comic Books and all the stuff you could buy out of the back of them and last but not least, the Spud Gun. When you got done playing with the potato for Mr. Potato Head you could use it for your Spud Gun.
Books about Boomer Toys
News about Boomers
- Census: After, after the baby boom
- First came the baby boom. Then came the echo. Now, Canada is experiencing the echo of the echo. For the first time in 50 years, the number of children aged four and under is increasing everywhere in Canada, according to new census data released Tuesday ...
- Baby boomers' health demands will pose challenges
- Baby boomers are starting to reach the stage in life when things start aching or stop working, when age starts to steal away progressively larger bits of physical and cognitive function. "This is on absolutely everyone's radar, without a doubt," said ...
- Baby boomers squeezing oilpatch labour outlook
- CALGARY ? The Canadian oilpatch will have to recruit almost 10000 people by 2015 just to maintain service levels as baby boomers retire and experienced personnel are recruited to warmer resource basins, said a national organization.
- Baby boomers reaching retirement age puts more pressure on pension plans
- OTTAWA - The leading edge of Canada's baby boom is turning 65. Just don't expect their pension plans to blow out the candles. Wheezing and winded from years of volatile stock markets, historically low interest rates and staggering billion-dollar ...
What were the favorite toys of your Boomer Childhood?
Did you have some of these baby boomer toys?
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guardianstar77
May 27, 2012 @ 4:03 pm | delete
- Paperdolls and jacks!!
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snazzify
Mar 9, 2012 @ 12:23 am | delete
- blessed by a squid angel :) <3
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ScrollSawChuck
Feb 5, 2012 @ 9:09 am | delete
- Your lens brings back lots of memories of the "good ole days!"
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CapGunsOnline
Aug 22, 2011 @ 4:19 pm | delete
- Ohhh my! You added all the BEST toys from my childhood. Great article!
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Brett Levy
May 24, 2011 @ 3:16 pm | delete
- There was a toy that I played with as a boy during the mid 60's which was like a mini Hula Hoop with thick rubber bands much like spokes that connected to a round rubber patch in the center. I'd put the round patch on my head or lay on my back and stretch the bands by pulling the hoop and letting it fly. Does anyone out there remember this toy and if so, what was it called and who made it? Please, this was one of my favorite toys and I can't seem to find any info on this toy.
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Jean Valentine
Jan 14, 2012 @ 11:07 am | delete
- I also had this toy and it's been driving me crazy trying to remember the name. This morning I woke up and the name Super Dooper Hooper Looper - or something like it - popped into my head. Sadly, any searches for that name came up empty. I think it was made by Wham-O. Have you found any more info.? It really is driving me nuts!
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wordstock Feb 27, 2011 @ 10:57 am | delete
- Do I have to admit that I still have most of these toys and that my grandson is as fond of them as I am. I'm not talking about my Betsy McCall or Betsy Wetsy dolls but the other items here. Maybe I need to clean house but we use these toys more often than the video games.
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rasudesign
Nov 2, 2010 @ 1:31 pm | delete
- I'm not a boomer but many of these toys were still popular when I was growing up in the 80's Fabulous lens! You have been blessed by an angel and added to my angel lensography :)
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sheilamarie Oct 4, 2010 @ 4:00 pm | delete
- Wow, this was so much fun! Blast from the past, as awelldressedbullet put it! There were things there I haven't even thought of for ages. Thanks.
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awelldressedbullet
Sep 9, 2010 @ 7:59 am | delete
- What a total blast from the past, loved it! Of course, now I really feel old LOL - Kathy
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kimmanleyort
Aug 16, 2010 @ 8:02 am | delete
- Well, I'm definitely a boomer because I remember every one of these toys. I was always fascinated with Slinkies. Thanks for this trip down memory lane. Lensrolled to Baby Boomer Music.
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Girlie
Aug 14, 2010 @ 1:21 pm | delete
- Little Kittles .....I still have two...and one litte pink shoe.
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Oosquid
Aug 10, 2010 @ 3:50 am | delete
- I remember the Davy Crockett craze alright - Davvvy, Davvvy Crockett king of the wild frontier (sorry couldn't resist that)
What, they don't use real potatoes with Mr Potato Head Anymore! Fun lens, thanks for making it.
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Carol A, San Jose, CA
Aug 9, 2010 @ 8:59 pm | delete
- My all-time favorite dolls in the 50s were the Ginny, Madame Alexander and Muffy dolls. They were 8" tall with movable arms and legs... some were even walkers. They were mostly little girl dolls... although boys were available. I had several.. and still have seven of them.
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Dot O
Jul 6, 2010 @ 11:24 am | delete
- When I was a kid three of my all-time favorite toys were my little red brick maker for the beach. It was a rectangular block about 2 x 1 inch with a yellow plunger that operated with a spring. I have been looking for one for years now with no success. I also loved my Jingle Jump and my Flinstone Building blocks.
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Tracey
Sep 12, 2010 @ 10:39 pm | delete
- I've been searching for that little brick maker myself (although I remember them to be green). I wish I had saved them. I wonder why there are none to be found.
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Jean Del Sordo
Feb 14, 2011 @ 12:23 pm | delete
- I too have been looking for one of those brick makers for years. Also with no success. If you ever find a source, let me know.
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Bea
Aug 22, 2011 @ 12:06 pm | delete
- I am looking for those brick makers too. If anyone finds one let me know...
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partybuzz
May 22, 2010 @ 7:31 pm | delete
- My favorite toy was my Tiny Tears doll, which I still have today. I loved paper dolls and I also had the Mr. Potato Head (using a real potato, not plastic), the Wooly Willy, Play Doh, and let's not forget the Hoola Hoop. I also remember having the Fizzies. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
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GuyB Apr 21, 2010 @ 5:19 pm | delete
- Yo I be a Generation X member and I loved all of these toys too. Great lens 5*
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