The term “action figure” was coined by the collectors of G.I. Joe first released in February 2nd, 1964.
Posted on 09/14/2012 7:06:46 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Visitors to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis' website have picked G.I. Joe as the top toy of the past century followed by Transformers and Lego blocks.
Museum officials picked their top 100 toys of the past 100 years and more than 24,000 votes were cast online to narrow the list down the top 20, which was topped by G.I. Joe, Transformers, Lego blocks, Barbie and the View-Master.
The list also included the bicycle, Cabbage Patch Kids, Crayons, Play-Doh, Monopoly, Raggedy Ann, Spirograph, Etch A Sketch, Little Golden Books, Hot Wheels, Lincoln Logs, Candyland, Roller Skates, Silly Putty and Mr. Potato Head.
"The feedback and support from the public for this initiative has been extraordinary," said Jeffrey Patchen, president and chief executive officer of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. "The stories people have shared about intergenerational learning, family traditions and memories has been heartwarming and life-changing in some cases. Toys are a powerful tool for exploration and imagination as we learn and grow. They foster many shared memories across generations and, as was represented in the voting and story sharing for 100 Toys, across cultures as we read stories submitted from Germany, Canada, Australia and Israel."
The term “action figure” was coined by the collectors of G.I. Joe first released in February 2nd, 1964.
Sorry it’s the Hot Wheel for me...coolest toy I ever owned. (Besides my 1987 Fender American Strat and my F150)
We had quite a collection of the original GI Joes — the large ones. I don’t remember what I did with them (probably went to the Goodwill) but I wish I’d kept them. They’d be worth something today. We lived in Berkeley, and there was only one little boy whose parents would allow him to play with those dolls with my son.
We also had a huge collection of Johny and Jane West — Barbie-sized dolls with plastic clothes and horses, barns, etc — even a buffalo — that all 4 kids played with. That way the girls could be in the game.
Yo Joe!
When my Dad saw these he said “boys do not play with dolls” he was in the military for 37 years.
(It was the only way mom could get me to eat my veggies)
GI Joe and BB guns kept me busy for many hours during the summers out in the woods...
I recall having at one time six GI Joes, all with the plastic hair (no fuzzie/no Kung-fu Grip), my first GI Joe was actually Black.
Spent many an hour recreating scenes from the TV show Combat. Unfortunately with them being so large I couldn’t get away with digging foxholes or breastworks. Simply used large river stones.... I even had the Mercury -7 spacecraft... what I wouldn’t give to have some of those things back...
Dolls are for girls.
Daisy BB-gun or an Erector Set or StingRay Bike are what real boys wanted when I was a kid.
If I had to vote among the toys listed, I’d give the nod to Lincoln Logs.
Have’nt seen a dogtag with the notch in it for quite a while.
No Erector Set...electric trains...cap pistols...”spaldeens”?
But then again, this nation voted for Obama so I kinda understand.
EBay is your friend. (Maybe)
As far as I can tell the notch passed out of use circa 1975. I guess it was bothering the volunteers.
"The cow says 'shazooooooooo!'"
"Where?? Where does the cow say that???"
THEY ARE ACTION FIGURES!
Opps, sorry, that I what I had to tell my dad when he'd make fun of my Godzilla toys.
My dad just didn't want me to be a big Pansy, so when I was old enough he got let me use his Favorite toy when he was a kid.
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