History of Toys and Games

To paraphrase a Five Man Electrical Band song, "Toys, toys, everywhere a toy!" Hosted by John Ritter and produced for the History Channel, this video features more toys than FAO Schwarz. Toys are serious business. The toy industry rakes in $21 billion annually in the U.S. alone, and child psychologists point to the importance of toys in the development of youngsters. Toys mirror our culture from our grandest accomplishments (model airplanes) to our most primitive instincts (toy soldiers). While toys have been around since before recorded history, only recently have toys been available to all but the rich. The dizzying array of antique toys and trivia featured here will undoubtedly fascinate kids of all ages. Did you know that PlayDoh is nothing more than colored wallpaper cleaner? That every two seconds a Barbie doll is sold? That $2.5 trillion in Monopoly money has been printed since the game's creation during the Depression? In addition, the program dispels some common misconceptions about toys: for instance, many people assume that toys are quickly manufactured using the latest technology, but that's not always the case, as a segment here on the three-week long assembly of a single Madame Alexander doll proves. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (V. Elliott)