And the Winners Are...
If you ask an avid baseball fan, he will tell you that the Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, New York. Local colleges, including the University of Idaho, have halls of fame to honor student athletes, and the Spokane Arena has the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.
So, you’re thinking, tell me something I don’t know. Okay, there’s a Santa Claus Hall of Fame in Santa Claus, Indiana, a Croquet Hall of Fame in West Palm Beach, Florida, and a Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Have I caught your interest? I hope so, as I’m going to tell you about a hall of fame that celebrates special mementos of our childhoods – toys!
In 1998, 11 toys were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. This initial class included Barbie, Crayola crayons, Legos, marbles, Monopoly, and six other "classic" toys. In 1999, six more toys were added, including Duncan yo-yos and hula hoops. From 2000 to 2014, 39 more toys were added. The selection criteria is based on icon-status, longevity, discovery and innovation.
But wait, you say. What about 2015? I have breaking news. Out of 12 finalists, the winners are: the classic puppet, the game of Twister and the Super Soaker. (Sorry, coloring book. Maybe next year.)
Puppets appeared thousands of years ago and have played a role in nearly every culture. My childhood puppets include Sherry Lewis’ Lambchop and Ed Sullivan’s Topo Gigio. Teachers and parents appreciate a child’s willingness to listen to a puppet. (Thanks, Elmo!)
Twister entered the toy market in a cloud of controversy. Sears Roebuck and Company refused to offer Twister in its 1966 catalog as it felt the game was too racy. However, after Johnny Carson and actress Eva Gabor played the game during a Tonight Show broadcast, sales exceeded three million in 1967.
The Super Soaker is an "oops" example. A nuclear engineer was inventing a new heat pump using water vapor. He hooked the nozzle up to his bathroom faucet. A steady stream of water shot across the room. (Sorry, dear!) He added a PVC pipe and an empty soda bottle, and, after a few modifications, the Super Soaker was born.
Is your inner kid wondering what other toys are in the National Toy Hall of Fame? You can get the complete list at www.museumofplay.org. and see them, and more toys, at The Strong Museum in Rochester, New York.
