Must-Have Christmas Gifts

It seems there’s always a new, must-have toy or gadget released for Christmas. In the past 10 years we’ve crazed over TiVo, the iPod and even toys as comical as Furbie and Tickle-Me-Elmo. Here’s a further look back at our Christmas obsessions.

1902: Inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation efforts, the Teddy

Bear came into being. It was one of the first stuffed toys.

1903: Crayons were first developed in Europe. They quickly made their way to the

U.S. where a box of eight Crayola Crayons retailed for 5 cents.

1910: Joshua Lionel Cowen tried to make an electric train at age 7, but it exploded.

Years later, his efforts were successful and the Lionel train was born. It cost $6

and consisted of an electric flatcar and 30 feet of track.

1930: Alfred Butts created a game that utilized chance and skill. Called Lexiko, then

Criss Cross Words, it was sold to James Brunot, who renamed it “Scrabble,” a

real word meaning “to grope frantically.”

1932: The modern Yo-Yo was patented by Donald Duncan.

1934: Monopoly was created by Charles Darrow, a Pennsylvania engineer. Parker

Brothers turned it down for being too complicated, but later bought it in 1935.

1943: The year of the Slinky, which is still enjoyed by kids and adults.

1959: Barbie dolls were created by Elliot Handler, the founder of Mattel. About half

of American girls have owned at least one.

1960: The year of the Etch-a-Sketch.

1965: GI Joe. Followed by action figures in 1977 .

1970: Pong. Though others worked on a similar game, Nolan Bushnell patented

Pong, which was the first video game.

1979: Trivial Pursuit dominated the board game industry.

1993: Beanie Babies were introduced.

December 2008 Newsletter