Posted on 09/28/2005 5:58:42 PM PDT by pissant
For many of us, being a child was no picnic. Without the resources to take opulent family vacations, we instead spent our youthful summers painting fences, mowing the lawn, weeding gardens, washing the dogs, cleaning our rooms and picking berries to earn a pocketful of change.
When School started back up in September, the joy of seeing our friends again was quickly doused by the 2 hours of homework each night (Parochial School..ya know).
But the one thing we could rely on to put that spring back in our little feet was the trunk full of TOYS. Yes, those magical toys. Here at the Pissant Institute for Toy History and Youth (PITHY) we've compiled the definitive list of the coolest toys with which we pleasantly whiled away our precious free time. Sorry girls, none of your toys made the list (though a little Pissant did cut the hair off of his sister's Barbie).
Top 7 Childhood Toys
7. Major Matt Mason
The astronaut doll. With space helmut and rocket capsule! Inspired by NASA (or was it David Bowie?)
6. Stretch Armstrong
A goo filled, stretchable man. Good exercise, but the real joy was cutting him open to see what was inside...
5. Little Green Army Men
Countless hours setting up the armies for the ferocious rubber band wars with your brother.
4. Radio Flyer Wagon
The best part was loading 2 into the wagon and heading down a hill, only to realize how poorly they steered!
3. Legos
You could build some pretty nifty forts for your Little Green Army Men
2. Hot Wheels
Oh, the pride from having the fastest car in the neigborhood. Unfortunately, the orange track pieces made a fine whip for mom to beat us with!!
1. Tonka Toys
From the Road Grader to the Steam Shovel. Playing in the dirt and mud was every boys favorite pastime!
Cool link. Thanks!
P.S. Is Two Dogs Bleeping my new Indian name?
Your sister must've been a better cook than my sister. I remember my sister making a "cake" on her Easy Bake Oven. She probably had played in the mudpile beforehand, and hadn't washed her hands. Anyway, she proudly placed before our father this rock-hard, brown little lump that was supposed to be a "cake." Our mother shot him this look that said, "Eat it or else." He ate it! I guess the same "parent love" that enables mothers to eat burnt toast and undercooked eggs on mother's day enabled him to eat that cake. LOL!
Slinky, barbie dolls, bike, roller skates, Skeeter (card game), crayons and coloring books, brick blocks (similiar to Legos - have forgotten the name), jump rope.
Silly Putty, Easy Bake Oven, books, books and more books.
Speaking of Transformers. . . They were just a rip-off of an earlier idea.
I refer to my "Man from U.N.C.L.E. Official Spy Kit."
It contained many items that transformed into a completely different item with just the push of a button.
A briefcase that transformed into a sub-machine gun.
A camera that transformed into a 9-MM pistol.
Along with many other items that slip my feeble brain. (It was so long ago you see.)
I'm not too sure but I think it also contained a wallet that transformed into a pair of handcuffs.
Y'all are bringing back memories. Rocking horse, doll house, cap guns, cowboy and indian costumes, balloons, chalk for hopscotch.
And no, I'm not gonna call you that from now on. Takes too much energy to type it all. Although your dumb screen name is too stinking long, too. Be pithy, man.
Whadjou mean about my childhood, anyhow?
I think my husband still has a pair of those. : )
If he does, its your fault.
No doubt. I'm the kind of medicine that makes you choke.
I'm stepping away from that one.
You are smarter than I thought.
Gumby
Etch-a-Sketch
Going back a little but Erector Sets, Matchbox Cars (before Hot Wheels), Tyco Trains, Slot Cars, and the indispensible bicycle all work, too.
Life size blow up Barbie....
This is going back a few years: A Roy Rogers double holster cap gun set. It was top of the line, complete with all the accessories. Money was tight in my family at that time, and I'm sure my parents had to do without something to buy it for me.
I was a lab rat for my little sister's Easy Bake Oven...When they first came out and (IIRC) used a 100 watt bulb.
Yeah? But can you cook me up some bacon and some beans? Go out to the car and change the tire, wash my socks and sew my old blue jeans? Also, can you fill my pipe and then go fetch my slippers and then pour me up another pot of tea? Then put an other log on the fire and come and tell me why you're leaving me.
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