Many favorite toys in the 1970s introduced elements of surprise and wonder.
The Most Popular Toys from the 1970s
Baby Alive
If you were a child in 1973 when Hasbro introduced Baby Alive, chances are you were curious and wanted one of your own. This little miracle baby doll did just about everything a real baby did. She ate, drank and yes, wet and pooped her diaper. By the mid-1970s, Baby Alive was in great demand. In future versions, Hasbro even gave Baby Alive a voice. The popular toy is still available today in a variety of intriguing selections, including dolls that crawl and sneeze.
Big Wheels
Shown to be safer than traditional tricycles, the ubiquitous Big Wheels taught a generation of kids motor skills. The toy came out in 1969 and was extremely popular throughout the 1970s and beyond as kids all over the country learned to ride a bike. Over the years, there have been a few manufacturers of Big Wheels, which continue to be a kid and parent favorite.
NERF Ball
An instant hit because you could play with the toy in the house, the NERF Ball was introduced in 1970 by Parker Brothers. Made of non-expanding recreational foam (NERF), the ultra-lightweight ball was deemed safe for indoor play. Advertising promised that users couldn’t damage lamps, windows or hurt babies. The NERF football became one of the best-selling toys of the 1970s. Today, NERF products are made by Hasbro and are still selling strong.
Pet Rock
Invented by advertising copywriter Gary Dahl, the pet rock fad peaked in the middle of 1975 and was fading by early the following year. The novelty product consisted of a rock in a cardboard carrying case accompanied by the manual, “The Care and Training of Your Pet Rock.” Dahl became a millionaire almost overnight selling the kitschy product, the allure of which was the humor inherent in owning a “pet” rock, rather than the rock itself.
Shrinky Dinks
Invented as a Boy Scout project, Shrinky Dinks were first sold in a Wisconsin shopping mall in 1973. These thin pieces of plastic were made to decorate and cut out and bake in the oven. Heating them caused the material to shrink and become hard and thick. Mesmerizing young children with their transformation, Shrinky Dinks were wildly popular throughout the 1970s and into the mid-1980s and are still available today.
Speak & Spell
Using innovative technology at the time, Texas Instruments introduced the Speak & Spell educational toy at the 1978 Consumer Electronics Show. The gadget used DSP (digital signal processing) and synthetic speech to teach spelling and pronunciation of words. Users would touch words or letter combinations to hear how to speak and spell the words. The gadget, which appealed to parents and children, was available in seven languages until the late 1990s, at which time it gave way to more advanced electronic reading toys.
Star Wars Action Figures
In the wake of the blockbuster hit Star Wars in 1977, toy company Kenner began frantically producing movie-related toys. When they released four action figures in 1978, sales skyrocketed. Kids loved having their very own replicas of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and R2-D2. These were followed by more characters. The Star Wars action figures sold well until 1985 and then again in the late-1990s when more movies were released. The popular toys continue to be produced while original 1978 Star Wars figures are collector’s items worth thousands of dollars today.
Stretch Armstrong
When it came to unbreakable toys, Stretch Armstrong was the star. You could pull, bend and twist this action figure toy with no consequences. In fact, he was so stretchy that his limbs could be pulled to four times their natural length and then return to normal size. Stretch was a popular toy throughout the 1970s until 1980. He was relaunched in the 1990s for a time and then made another comeback in 2017. He’s still in production today. A mint condition vintage Stretch in the box can get you up to $2,500 today.
Toss-Across Tic-Tac-Toe
A more active form of tic-tac-toe, Toss-Across was a hit when it entered the toy market in 1969 and continued to be popular throughout the 1970s and even today. The game gives players the opportunity to mark Xs and Os by tossing small beanbags into the tic-tac-toe grid from a distance. Whichever player or team lobs three Xs or Os in any direction wins the game. Mattel manufactures the still popular game.
Weebles
If you listened to toy commercials in the 1970s, you likely had the jingle, “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down” running around in your head. These egg-shaped characters made by Romper Room, the television show, consisted of families, including the pet dog. With their oval design that didn’t allow for falling and durable nature, Weebles were a hit for parents, who liked their children playing with bright-colored toys that moved but didn’t break. Weebles are still made by Hasbro. Some vintage Weebles from the 1970s can be worth $100 or more. Next, the 15 Best Fidget Toys for Kids and Adults
