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Tickle Me Elmo appeared innocuously in holiday catalogs from many retailers.

Here's a link to the 1996 J.C. Penney catalog, also in our collection ⤵️
archive.org/details/sear...

#HolidayGifts #ToyHistory

Alt text: A 1996 J.C. Penney catalog page showing a variety of toys: Talking Farmer Ernie, Talking Big Bird, Hungry Cookie Monster, Tickle Me Elmo, Baby Tweety, Baby Bugs Bunny, a bear family playset with two cubs and a carry case, a small patterned toy suitcase, a Hasbro Aerial Action Batman with parachute, and a plush set of dalmatian puppies.

Page 490 of a 1996 Sears Wishbook from Canada. Children play with various Sesame Street-themed toys, notably the Tickle Me Elmo doll, as well as a playhouse, vehicles, stacking blocks, and musical instruments, displayed with product descriptions and prices.

December 20, 2025 at 4:01 PM

RetroRobby

@retrorobbyreviews.bsky.social

In the 1980s huh? The more you know and interesting history of inspiration!!! #toyhistory #kooshball #interesting

July 2, 2026 at 2:51 PM

Llano (LL pronounced like a Y)

@femmefromtheblock.bsky.social

Stopped by #bricksandminifgs Canby, OR again and they had a new Scala 1997 display! Didn’t seem like they were for sale, but I love how they arranged them!

I’d love to have a couple of the dolls at some point and I adore that old salmon color.

#lego #afol #toyhistory

March 1, 2025 at 6:12 PM

Peteris Skorovs

@peteris.skorovs.com

#OnThisDay in 1979, U.S. #DesignPatent D253,711 was issued to G. Christiansen and J. Knudsen for the iconic “Toy figure”, better known as the #LEGO minifigure!
This little yellow guy revolutionized play and has starred in billions of adventures since.
#OTD #PatentHistory #Minifigure #ToyHistory

U.S. Design Patent No. D253711 "Toy figure".

December 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM

Sailor Gamer

@sailorgamer.bsky.social

History of #Barbie Vintage Era 1959 Documentary PART1. Watch the full documentary here: youtu.be/rqAgolDoPCU
#Barbie67 #67YearsofBarbie #Happy67thBirthdayBarbie #YouCanBeAnything #BarbieHistory #VintageBarbie #1959Barbie #BarbieCollector #BarbieDoll #BarbieEra #BarbieDocumentary #ToyHistory

April 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM

Hectic Gifts

@hecticgifts.bsky.social

NEW Mattel - UNO Mattel 75th Anniversary Edition Card Game

ow.ly/LACy50UaLX7

#New #HecticGifts #Mattel #UNO #M75 #MattelSeventyFifthAnniversary #LimitedEdition #CardGame #Collectible #GameNight #ToyHistory #CardGame #FamilyFun #FreeShipping #AustraliaWide #FastShipping

January 3, 2025 at 8:00 AM

Peteris Skorovs

@peteris.skorovs.com

On this day in 1963, Arthur Melin, co-founder of Wham-O, received US Patent No. 3,079,728 for “Hoop toy”, the legendary Hula Hoop.
This simple plastic ring ignited a global frenzy, mixing playtime with hip-swaying exercise.
#OnThisDay #OTD #PatentHistory #Patents #HulaHoop #ToyHistory

March 5, 2026 at 9:15 AM

Archaeology News Online Magazine

@archaeologynews.bsky.social

4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

More information: archaeologymag.com/2025/05/4500...

#archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #ToyHistory #babyrattle #bronzeage

June 11, 2025 at 7:15 PM

Retro Obsessed

@retroobsessed.bsky.social

Ever wonder how Pet Rocks became such a big thing?

#PetRocks #RetroToys #70sFads #PopCultureHistory #ToyHistory #MillionDollarIdea #GaryDahl

July 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM

TUMBLEWEIRD

@tumbleweird.bsky.social

Space Playsets: Their History, Evolution, and Development … and a Rebirth, But as What? (steven woolfolk)

tumbleweird.org/space-playsets-history-evolution/

By: Steven Woolfolk

Narrated by Matt Davies - Voiceover Artist
mattdaviesvoiceover.com

#ToyHistory #RetroToys #vintagetoys #ClassicToys

Space playsets: Their history, evolution, and future

"Today, most of the major toy manufacturers are selling playsets, typically based on movies and TV series."

tumbleweird.org

March 6, 2025 at 4:49 PM

Untold Daily

@untolddaily.bsky.social

On this day in 1959, Barbie was introduced at the American Toy Fair. #OTD #Barbie #ToyHistory

March 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM

The Padawan Collector

@padawancollector.bsky.social

This vintage teddy bear has the saddest of stories behind its record breaking auction sale.
#teddybears #vintagetoys #toyhistory

November 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM

Untold Daily

@untolddaily.bsky.social

On this day in 1957, the Wham-O Company produced the first Frisbee. #OTD #Frisbee #ToyHistory

January 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM

Space Feed

@spacefeed.bsky.social

Mr. Potato Head was the very first toy ever advertised on television #ToyHistory #Nostalgia

#Exoplanets #MindBlown #NASA #Astronomy #DidYouKnow

March 24, 2026 at 9:17 PM

Space Feed

@spacefeed.bsky.social

Mr. Potato Head was the very first toy ever advertised on television #ToyHistory #Nostalgia

What do you think?

#ScienceFacts #NASA #JamesWebb

March 27, 2026 at 12:47 PM

Space Feed

@spacefeed.bsky.social

Mr. Potato Head was the very first toy ever advertised on television #ToyHistory #Nostalgia

Does this surprise you?

#FunFact #Artemis #NASA

May 12, 2026 at 3:23 PM

Space Feed

@spacefeed.bsky.social

Mr. Potato Head was the very first toy ever advertised on television #ToyHistory #Nostalgia

True or false?

#MindBlown #Mars #NASA

April 7, 2026 at 8:10 AM

Space Feed

@spacefeed.bsky.social

Mr. Potato Head was the very first toy ever advertised on television #ToyHistory #Nostalgia

Mind blown yet?

#WeirdFacts #Artemis #DidYouKnow #BlackHole

April 23, 2026 at 2:46 AM