Top 10 Toys We Loved in the 1950s

In the 1950s, a time of post-war reconstruction and booming prosperity, children’s toys were a source of endless fascination and delight. These toys, though seemingly basic by today’s standards, had a captivating appeal that defined the childhoods of an entire generation. The simplicity of these toys was their charm – they didn’t require complex electronics or virtual reality; they were instruments of pure imagination and unadulterated entertainment.

#1 Key & Lock Skates Although these skates were a little trickier to use than current skates, once you get the hang of them, you can move around pretty well! And when you did, how nice was it?

Enough to write a song about it!

This is how it went:

I recently bought a new set of roller skates.

You have received a new key.

I believe we should get together and try them if…

#2 The Original Yahtzee

Although this popular, family-friendly dice game was first released in the late 1940s, it wasn’t until 1956 that Edwin Lowe, the game’s developer, began promoting it nationally. In 1973, the game and marketing rights were acquired by Milton Bradley, bringing it into the current era. Did he play? We loved yelling “YAHTZEE!”

#3 Teen Travel Purse: Girls seem to own everything these days, including bags, purses, cases, and wallets! When the Miner Company released this little girls-only travel bag in the 1950s, we were overjoyed because we really wanted to feel grown-up. And we made sure it was full even though we didn’t need half of what we put in there!

#4 Marble Bag: Although some of you played structured games with your marbles, mostly we just carried them because we thought they were so pretty. We also may have emptied them once on the kitchen floor to see how far they would spread. I’m sorry Mom!

#5 The First Easy Bake Oven: Okay, so this one didn’t come out until 1963, but we still wanted to add it to the list because our sister (and we!) absolutely adored it. We wanted to do anything that made us feel like adults, much like in a teenage travel bag, and this allowed us to actually MAKE food that we could eat! Forget staged dinners and tea parties!

#6 Antique Riding Horse: My brother and I weren’t particularly heavy when we were little, so we used to tell him to let the horse go! I swear it was like being in a rodeo! However, it was pleasant. Everything was different then! Have you ever ridden one of these?

#7 Hula Hoops: It’s amazing to think that the Hula Hoop wasn’t invented until 1958.

When we got ours, we sure loved it.

As with other toys, we used this one in spurts. We despised it, loved it, forgot it, and then loved it again. It’s one of those things that you can enjoy coming back to again and again. even right now!

#8 Pull-A-Tune: This device was ingeniously invented by whoever made it. It was rolled up and had a rope so it HAD to accompany us everywhere. Of course, we could pick it up and carry it. Even though I don’t think I ever learned a song on it, I still enjoyed it!

#9 ViewMaster: The first Viewmaster was released in 1939 and changed in the 1950s to become more of a toy than the “stereoscopic tour” you see above. It was the first thing we owned (besides the kaleidoscope of course!) that really sparked our imaginations and kind of transported us!

#10 Slinky Dog: Great! Even though the slinkies were already amazing, this one always made my day because it was part of walking the dog. Since a lot of kids don’t know what a slinky is, we were excited to see Slinky Dog in Toy Story!

The 1950s brought us some timeless and popular toys that were simpler but held a special place in our hearts. When we think about these toys now, they may seem basic compared to today’s technology-based toys, yet they hold immense value in our childhood memories. From key skates to the beloved game of Yahtzee, the Teen Travel Purse, marble bags, and the iconic Easy Bake Oven, each toy had a unique charm and brought joy in its own way.

When we think back to these toys and the joy they brought us, we wonder if today’s children would appreciate and enjoy them as much as we do. These toys weren’t just toys; they were a gateway to imagination, creativity, and hours of laughter-filled fun.

Whether it was the playful Hula Hoops or the gorgeous ViewMaster that transported us to magical worlds, each toy had a meaning that transcended generations. While some toys have evolved, such as the ViewMaster, which has moved from its stereoscopic origins to a toy that encourages imaginative adventures, the essence remains.

Slinky Dog from Toy Story serves as a nostalgic reminder of the classic Slinky, a simple toy that provides endless fascination when walking up the stairs. These toys may seem modest compared to today’s flashy gadgets, but they represent an era of innocence and simple pleasures, encouraging creativity and imaginative play.

Our childhood favorites may have been basic, but they played a monumental role in shaping our memories and teaching us the value of fun, laughter, and creativity. These timeless classics will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who grew up and cherished them in the 1950s.