Fun+and+games+of+the+1950's


 * **Fun and Games of the 1950's**
 * Mr. Potato Head**

George Lerner of New York City invented and patented Mr. Potato Head in 1952. Lerner designed his all-plastic toy as a prize for cereal premiums. Lerner sold Mr. Potato Head to the Hassenfeld Brothers of Rhode Island, who owned Hasbro Inc., a toy company. Hasbro sold the first Mr. Potato Head with a styrofoam head as a base for the facial plug-ins. However, instructions were included that suggested the use of vegetables and fruits instead of the styrofoam. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy to be advertised on television. In 1985, he received four write-in votes in the mayoral election in Boise, Idaho. Today, Hasbro, Inc. still manufactures Mr. Potato Head. Mr.Potato head also showed up on the Toy Story's. Also wen mr. Potato head was first invented you would just get the peices and not the potato you had to use a real potato to make the faces.(Courtney Wallace) This squishy toy was actually invented as a wallpaper cleaner. The inventor’s sister, however, started letting her kindergarten students use it in crafts as an alternative to harder and messier clay. Play-Doh, now owned by Hasbro, has sold over 900 million pounds, and the exact formula remains a secret to this day, though you can. Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker were the inventors of the Play-Doh. Play-Doh is a commercial plastic modeling compound similar in texture to bread dough that has been sold as a children's toy, substitute for modeling clay, around the world for a half century. Play-Doh is still sold today. ( Courtney Wallace).
 * **Play-Doh
 * **Play-Doh


 * **Some people may have used Hula Hoops for exercise, but my friends, sisters and I used them for play. Of course we also received lots of exercise just by playing with them. some people would put them over their heads, move their hips and start the hoop whirling. Sometimes they would also whirl it on their ankles or necks. As they improved on their Hula Hoop skills they would start the hoop on their waist and then get it to move downwards to thier ankles or up to their neck without stopping. Some friends also liked playing with glass marbles. They had quite a collection in a marble bag – solid colors, transparent marbles, cats eyes and “steelies” (metal balls of both regular marble size and larger). Sometimes they played “keepsies” where you’d “shoot” your marble at an opponent’s marble and if you hit it you got to keep it. (Roksandichh)

Building toys were also fun. They didn’t have Legos, but they did have Lincoln Logs. These little wooden logs are notched on the ends so they can be fitted together in the construction of small log buildings. The Lincoln Log sets also included flat pieces for roofing. The Erector Set was another favorite building toy. Consisting of small metal beams with holes, the pieces could be assembled and bolted together into all sorts of interesting things.Spinning records on their portable kids’ record player was yet one more kid-fun activity. As they grew older rock and roll was something most friends, sisters and listened to, but as a youngster they listened to story records. (roksandichh)

An endless list of playtime. Tree's were about the best thing for me. They can easily become houses, mountains, castle's and hideouts in which to try and avoid Sunday School (but it never worked!). The other, most important, thing they became were simply tree's! I soon found myself with twigs the shape of a Colt or a bow to fight off the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham's men. Ifthey are really lucky there Dad would make them a swing! (Ewing)

As the 50's progressed I got a few of the 'larger presents'. My first bicycle was second hand, one of those with a single brake, always black and something you cleaned once a week or got your ears clipped. This subsituted the Wheelbarrow and before long the imaginery journey's of the garden were transferred to the pavement going down Bullfinch Close. Being a no through road, the barren land at the bottom became a good terminal station! (Ewing) (Children's Toys- added by **Courtright**)
 * __Children's Toys__**
 * Teddy Bear
 * Raggedy Ann Doll
 * Crayola Crayons
 * Yo-yo
 * Comic Books
 * Monopoly
 * Sorry
 * Scrabble
 * Clue
 * Silly Putty
 * Tonka Trucks
 * Barbie Doll
 * Frisbees
 * Ant Farms