Toys In The 1950’s

Burgess Bryant

The Baby Boom!

• Families Pop up everywhere• They have expendable income• What do they do?

Move to the Suburbs!

!@$%!&#!@&

Now that kids are in the suburbs…what do they do!?

Golly Gee! Now that I live in the suburbs, what ever will I do for fun?

Later that night while the family sits around their brand new T.V a commercial comes on…

TOYS!

GEE WIZ! Can I get some of those neato toys?!

Why yes you can Billy! In fact, I think you kids have been good enough that you all get toys!

For You Billy…

• A Mr. Potato Head Set!

For little Sally…

• A Barbie!

And For Little Tommy…

SILLY PUTTY!

Kids in the 1950s

• Life in the suburbs was much different than the city– Not as much to do– Confined to a smaller, more recluse area– To satisfy kids lust for adventure and fun, parents

got them toys

Toys

• Many simple toys were invented in the 50’s that would satisfy children

• Toys such as– Barbie Dolls, Matchbox Cars, the Frisbee, Silly Putty

and Play Doh, Mr. Potato Head, Hopalong Cassidy Guns, the Hoola Hoop, Slinky, army men, legos (etc.)

• Were advertised through television through programs that children liked to watch– Roy Rogers

Toys and the Perceived Role of the Family

• Girls played with Barbies and other dolls– Barbies showed girls what a woman should be, a

house wife– Baby dolls taught girls how to take care of babies• Betsy Wetsy

• Boys played with army men and Legos– More sophisticated toys were offered to boys that

had more teaching potential• Led boys to become the main provider

Post War Prosperity

• Allowed parents to buy toys for their children– This allowed further research into toys, making

more toys to be invented and sold

Impact of the Television

• Allowed advertisers to reach children• Also preached conformity– Made it seem like every kid had one of a certain

toy

Consumerism

• Made families want to show their wealth by having the latest toys– Families had the money so why not spend it

Hey Kids! Guess who’s wealthy!

US!

Works cited

• http://www.catalogs.com/info/games/toys-from-the-1950s.html– Matt Horvath: Info Guru, Catalogs.com

• http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade50.html– Becky Bradley, Lonestar College-Kingwood

• http://www.loti.com/toys_from_the_50s.htm– Rewind the Fifties