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10 toys then and now 10/24/2005 |
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The toys below are the ones the company picked for extra ads and promotions in hopes they'd "wow" people the most and get them talking. "We call them our "driver' items," said Laurie Oravec, company spokeswoman. "They tend to drive retail traffic to our section of the toy store." Holiday Hits - 2005:
1. Read With Me DVD! Kid-styled remote control with interactive DVDs of classic storybooks, such as "Green Eggs & Ham," with questions and games. $35. 2. Pixter Multi-Media. A hand-held art toy with small computer screen that lets kids draw and piece together cartoons with clips from "SpongeBob SquarePants" and other shows. $80. 3. Knows Your Name. Elmo and Winnie the Pooh dolls that can be programmed to say child's name, favorite foods and do a birthday countdown. 4. Star Station. A camera with changeable lenses, microphone and song cartridge that plugs into the TV so kids can watch themselves sing and dance on the screen. $60. 5. Shout Elmo. The fuzzy red Elmo doll can throw his hands up and sing the "Shout" song. $30. 6. Tumble Time Tigger. The plush tiger does cartwheels and talks. $40. 7. Dora's Talking Kitchen. A play kitchen with blender and radio that can talk kids through recipes. $80. 8. ESPN Shot Block Basketball. An indoor basketball hoop that keeps score and has sportscaster commentary. $70. 9. Power Wheels Cadillac Escalade. A kid-sized car has a toy CD player, cup holder and reverse. $300. 10. Baby Gymtastics Play Wall. Standing plastic panels have a peek-a-boo curtain, hanging ball, lights and sounds. $55. Fisher-Price's toymaking has followed a digital electronic spike ever since 1980 when the first toys with lights and sounds debuted in time for the holidays - a space shuttle that made blast off noises was one of them. "Back then it was truly sort of a "wow,' " said Oravec. "The fact that it had lights and sounds was a big source of excitement. Now we have plush toys that can be programmed. It's the difference between generations, really." While the company didn't choose an official top 10 in 1980, Oravec compiled the list below by going through old toy catalogs and picking the toys that seemed to best fit the Fisher-Price's "wow" factor for the time. Most toys were not electronic.
1. Bath Activity Center. A little snail, scoop, dolphin dial for the side of the tub. 2. Fisher-Price Marching Band. A drum, cymbals, tambourine and harmonica. 3. Roly Raccoon. A creature who waddled with a spinning ball in his paws when pulled. 4. Little Red Riding Wagon. A ride-on toy that could convert into a pull wagon. 5. The Woodseys Store. Plush finger puppet mice who ran a grocery in a tree trunk. 6. Play Family Fire Station. A toy with "Little People" firefighters and Dalmatian. 7. Play Family Car & Camper. A toy set with pop-up tent, boat and picnic table. 8. Trucks. Highway Dump Truck, Dozer Loader and Rodeo Rig. 9. Baby Soft Sounds. An electronic baby doll that cooed and cried for attention. 10. Adventure People Alpha Probe. An electronic space shuttle with lights and noises. - Michelle Kearns
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