Spirit of America Bookstore

Nostalgic  Toys,  Dolls  &  Games

links Toys Dept. Dolls Dept. Games & Puzzles Dept. Video Games Dept.   Pinball Games Dept. works about toys & games movies & TV, other media image gallery

It seems that everybody has nostalgia for the toys and games from the homes and streets and playgrounds of their childhood.
It is part of the culture and a huge portion of each nation's G.D.P.

L i n k s
'toy' entry at Wikipedia
Toy Industry Association [est. 1916]
The Strong Museum of Play [opened 1982] in Rochester, NY

Toy Industry Association 'Century of Toys List' [2003]
Toy Industry Hall of Fame {people} entry at Wikipedia
National Toy Hall of Fame® {toys & games} [est. 1998] at the Strong Museum

International Toy Library Association [est. 1990] is based in Belgium
toy library entry at Wikipedia
U.S.A. Toy Library Association [est. 1984] is based in Evanston, Illinois
Toy Libraries Australia [est. 1977] - over 280 toy libraries

browse the Toys & Games Dept. at Amazon

Toys & Games Section on Spirit of America Bookstore's Robots & Cyborgs Pages

Toys Department

Chevrolet Corvette® [1953-2003]
Corvette® 50th Anniversery

Corvette® Section on Spirit of America's
Automobile Brands Nostalgia Page

A.C. Gilbert & Company began selling Erector® Sets in 1911
official website • Erector Set™ entry at Wikipedia
BB's 'Erector® Sets' fansite

A.C. Gilbert [1884-1961]
A.C. Gilbert entry at Wikipedia
A.C. Gilbert biography [new 10/2002]
ACGilbert biopic "The Man Who Saved Christmas" [2002]

Frisbee®
Frederick Morrison & Warren Franscioni created the Pipco Flying-Saucer plastic flying disc in 1948, which was later
marketed as the 'Pluto Platter' (1955); Wham-O bought the rights in 1958 and trademarked the toy as the Frisbee®.
flying disc entry at Wikipedia
Frisbee History In A Nutshell

	"The Complete Book of Frisbee: The History of The Sport & The First Official Price Guide" [1998] by Victor A. Malafronte, Edited by F. Davis Johnson American Trends Publng 8½x5½ pb [5/98] out of print/used
	"Flat Flip Flies Straight!: True Origins of The Frisbee" [2006] by Fred Morrison & Phil Kennedy Wormhole Publrs pb [2006] out of print/used

                    
Lego™ Blocks®
Production began in August 1949 of plastic Lego™ Blocks® construction toys at Lego A/S [est. 1932] in Billund, Denmark; the modern block was patented
in 1958; since invading the United States in the Sixties, playing with Lego materials has become as American as any other children's construction game.
The larger Lego Duplo™ Blocks® line for younger kids was introduced in 1969.

"Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers" animated video release [Tinseltown Toons Feb 2010]

"Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu" CGI animated TV series [Cartoon Network since 2011]

"Lego: The Piece of Resistance" [Warner Bros./Village Roadshow Feb 2014]
Announced 11/2012: Story of the 3-D animated film centers on a regular everyday little Lego figure who is mistaken for a MasterBuilder and suddenly
becomes part of a group on a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing everything together; featuring the voices of Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks,
Chris Pratt, Will Arnett, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie • latest info at IMDb

"The LEGO™ Batman Movie" [Warner Animation Group Feb 2017?]
Announced 10/2014: Story of the animated film has Batman defending the city of Gotham from evil Joker; things are not going well, so self-centered loner Batman may have to seek help and learn to work with others; directed by Chris McKay, written by Seth Grahame-Smith, featuring the voices of Will Arnett, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, Mariah Carey, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis {as The Joker}, Susan Bennett • latest info at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia
watch official trailers online at YouTube: 3/2016 Wayne Manor teaser trailer #1 [2:01] • 3/2016 Batcave teaser trailer #2 [2:16]

	LEGOland Park Resorts [est. 1968] Awesome Awaits! operated by Merlin Entertainments Group of U.K. there are eight non-USA LEGOland Park Resorts: Denmark, Dubai, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Windsor, UK - and three in the U.S.A.: in Carlsbad, California, in Winter Haven, Florida, and in Goshen, New York (west of Woodbury) • official website • entry at Wikipedia
	LEGOland Discovery Centers [est. 2007] The Ultimate Indoor LEGO Playland operated by Merlin Entertainments Group of U.K. six locations in Europe, six locations in Asia, two in Australia, one in Türkiye, one in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and 13 locations in U.S.A. • official website • entry at Wikipedia

Bricks & Minifigs® [chain est. 2010]
Bricks & Minifigs® established itself in 2010 as the first LEGO® resale franchise; 'Bricks & Minifigs® is your
one-stop aftermarket LEGO® shop!'; 80+ locations in USA, also in Canada & Japan
corporate office: 45 Blackmarsh Road, St. John South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
franchise office: 225 W. 520 North Street in Orem, Utah

"The Brick Bible"
really confusing!: official websites by Elbe Spurling, books by Brendan Powell Smith

"The Brick Bible: The Complete Set" [2013] by Brendan Powell Smith "The Scriptures in LEGO from Genesis to Revelation" • WARNING: the LEGO work is deft but biased, and Amazon reviewers complain that atheist author delivers a sadistic anti-Xian message Skyhorse Publng 11x8½ slipcover hardcover set [10/2013] for $29.95 "The Brick Bible: A New Spin On The Old Testament" [2011] by Brendan Powell Smith stories from Genesis thru Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings & Chronicles Kindle Edition from Skyhorse Publng [10/2011] for $13.99 Skyhorse Publng 11x8½ pb [10/2011] for $7.40 Skyhorse Publng 11x8½ hardcover [10/2011] for $39.21 "The Brick Bible: The New Testament - A New Spin On The Story of Jesus" [2012] by Brendan Powell Smith stories from The Gospels, Acts of The Apostles, and Revelation Kindle Edition from Skyhorse Publng [10/2012] for $13.99 Skyhorse Publng 11x8½ pb [10/2012] for $19.95

"The Complete Brick Bible for Kids: Six Classic Bible Stories" [ages 3-5; 2015] by Brendan Powell Smith the six stories are: Noah and his ark, David against Goliath, Daniel and the lions, Joseph and the Pharaoh, Jonah and the whale, The Nativity of Jesus • WARNING: the LEGO work is deft but biased, and Amazon reviewers complain that atheist author delivers a sadistic anti-Xian message Kindle Edition from Sky Pony [10/2015] for $9.99 Sky Pony 9x9 slipcover pb set [9/2015] for $13.24 Sky Pony 9x9 hardcover [10/2015] for $9.49

"‘Tis The Season For Treason! #MarALego" [Dec 2022] satirical TV ad for "MarALego: Search and Seizure Edition" shown on Jimmy Kimmels' late night show on A.B.C. watch 12/2022 fake ad [1:25] online at YouTube

Lincoln Logs®

The last Wednesday in March is National Little Red Wagon Day, sponsored by Radio Flyer wagons [est. 1917].

     
Revell, Inc. was founded in 1943 in Venice, California; after making plastic toys for many years, their first accurately-scaled hobby kit was produced in 1953; financial troubles began with the slot-car racing fad in the 1960s; purchase by a French firm in 1980 was followed by further financial troubles due to competition from video games; the company was merged with also- failing Monogram Models in 1986, and is now headquartered in Illinois.
official Revell/Monogram website • entry at Wikipedia

	"Remembering Revell Model Kits" [2002] by Thomas Graham over 500 color photographs; very detailed listings of kits, including 2008 collector values Schiffer Publng 3rd edition 11x8½ pb [7/2008] for $22.98
	"Monogram Models" [2002] by Thomas Graham covers 1945 to 1986; over 300 color photographs; very detailed listings of kits, including latest collector values Schiffer Publng 2nd edition pb [1/2013] for $19.79 Schiffer Publng 11x8¾ pb [7/2008] for $23.39

Spirit of America Bookstore's Scale Model & Toy Trains Page
top of page • model railroad links • manufacturers • retailers • groups • reading material & videos •
about scales & gauges • garden railroads • large scale / live steam • image gallery

Spirit of America Bookstore's Lionel Trains® Page

Tonka® Trucks

Dolls & Action Figures Department

"Dolls: Pleasures and Treasures" [1963] by Antonia Fraser 140 illustrations in color and b&w Littlehampton Book Services 9½x8 hardcover [6/73] for $14.65 G.P. Putnam's Sons 8½x8 hardcover [1963] out of print/used

Mattel's Barbie™ & Friends [introduced 1959, Ken in 1961]
official Barbie™ website
Barbie™ entry at Wikipedia

"Barbie: The Movie" [Mattel Films/Warner Bros. Pictures July 2023]  

Filmed in Hertfordshire & London, England, UK; plot details are being kept secret, although one rumor has there being multiple Kens and multiple Barbies! (5/2022) Co-produced by & starring Margot Robbie {as Barbie}; co-written & directed by Greta Gerwig; co-written by Noah Baumbach; also starring Ryan Gosling {as Ken}, Emma Mackey, Kate McKinnon, Nicola Coughlan, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Ncuti Gatwa, Ritu Arya, Alexandra Shipp, Emerald Fennell, Jamie Demetriou, Rhea Perlman, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Ariana Greenblatt, Connor Swindells, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Sharon Rooney, Ana Cruz Kayne; rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • full credits at IMDb • official movie site not found (6/2022) • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 4/2022 First Look promo: Margot Robbie 'Barbie' Movie [0:57] at YouTube watch 5/2022 SluurpTV Live Action Margot Robbie 'Barbie' Movie Teaser Concept Trailer [1:42] at YouTube watch 8/2022 Margot Robbie 'Barbie' Movie '2001' Trailer [1:14] at YouTube watch 4/2023 'Barbie' Movie teaser trailer #2 [1:44] at YouTube

Mattel's Barbie™ & Friends Page at Spirit of America Bookstore  

top of page  •  short history  •  Original Barbie™  •  variations  •  other characters  •  works about Barbie™  •  movies & TV  •

stageplays, other media  •  merchandise  •  image gallery  •  Mattel, Inc.  •  links

Beanie Babies [launched 11/1991 by Ty Warner, Inc.; 2.0 launched 1/2008]
http://www.ty.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beanie_Babies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beanie_Babies_2.0
http://www.beaniepedia.com/ Beanie Babies online database

"The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and The Dark Side of Cute" [3/2015] by Zac Bissonnette
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Beanie-Baby-Bubble-Delusion/dp/1591846021/

Cabbage Patch Kids [launched 1978, renamed 1982]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage_Patch_Kids

G.I. Joe® [launched in 1964 by Hasbro]
G.I. Joe® WebRing

official Raggedy Ann & Andy books site at Simon & Schuster
Raggedy Ann entry at Wikipedia
Raggedy Land [est. 1998] website
Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum [1999-2009] in Arcola, IL {now online only}
vintage-style Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls available at Vermont Country Store

"Raggedy Ann and Andy" [in development since 2014]
Announced 7/2012: Puppeteer & actor Kevin Clash was set to produce a feature film of the classic dolls in their own musical comedy
per a deal with The Gotham Group, but then he got caught in a sex scandal • latest info at IMDb

Games & Puzzles Department
article "A People’s History of Board Games" in Aug 2019 Yes! Magazine

		"Murder On A Train" Murder Mystery Dinner Party Game [date unknown] from D'Avekki Studios, Ltd. & Murderous Decisions designed for 6-14 players aged 18 & older, takes 2-3 hours to play; box contains host guide, 14 character sheets, whodunit slips, question menu, 14 invitations Murder Mystery Store 6½x8¾x1 inch [circa 2014] for $29.99
		Murder Mystery Flexi Party "Murder At The Manor" Dinner Party Game [2019] designed for 6-14/20 players aged 18 & older, takes 2-3 hours to play; box contains host guide, 14/20 character sheets, whodunit slips, question menu, 14/20 invitations D'Avekki Studios, Ltd. 6¼x8¾x½-inch box [2024] for $29.99 D'Avekki Studios, Ltd. Deluxe Edition 7¼x9x1-inch box [2024] for $35.00 D'Avekki Studios, Ltd. 6½x8¾x¾-inch box [9/2019] for $37.40
		"Bullets On Broadway: An Opening Night To Die For" Murder Mystery Game [2020] designed for 3-20 players aged 13 & older, takes 1-2 hours to play; optional virtual or in-person play; box contains host guide, 20 character booklets, whodunit slips, question menu, 20 invitations D'Avekki Studios, Ltd. box [3/2020] for $36.99

Cootie [1948] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_of_Cootie
Mr. Potato Head [1949/1952] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Potato_Head
Parcheesi game available at Vermont Country Store
vintage Tiddly Winks game available at Vermont Country Store

"Camelot: Battle Game of Knights and Men" board game [launched 1888, renamed 1930, discontinued 1968] Once-popular board game has nothing to do with King Arthur and is instead a nifty war strategy game • W.C.F. game history page • game entry at Wikipedia Parker Bros. game set in 11¾x17½" box [1961] out of prodn/used World Camelot Federation [est. 1999] preserving the board game of 1930-68

Elizabeth Magie of Brentwood, MD created The Landlord's Game in 1904 (not successful); renamed & redesigned
(around Atlantic City, New Jersey) by Charles Darrow in early 1930s in Philadelphia; rights sold to Parker Brothers in 1935.
The game is now sold in over 110 countries around the world in 40 different languages.

info now on Spirit of America Bookstore's Monopoly™ Game Page
top of page • links • geographical gamesets • branded gamesets • works about Monopoly™ • movies, plays, other media • image gallery

TESA Collective (Toolbox for Education & Social Action) [est. 2011]
TESA Collective is a worker-owned publisher in Massachusetts that makes board games where you can be a hero or a rebel, a cat or a dog, insightful or ridiculous.
http://www.TESAcollective.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TESA_Collective

Ä         Ä

TESA Collective products are not sold on Amazon (2024).

"Beautiful Trouble: A Strategy Card Deck"
http://store.tesacollective.com/products/beautiful-trouble-strategy-card-deck

"Community Garden: The Board Game"
http://store.tesacollective.com/products/community-garden-the-board-game

"Co-opoly: The Game of Co-operatives"
Co-opoly is a board game that teaches players the ins and outs of negotiating a Cooperative business.[4]
http://store.tesacollective.com/products/co-opoly-the-game-of-co-operatives
"Co-opoly Education Kit"
http://store.tesacollective.com/products/co-opoly-education-kit

"Good Dog, Bad Zombie" - sold out
http://store.tesacollective.com/products/good-dog-bad-zombie

"Rise Up: The Game of People and Power"
players build a social movement and take on an oppressive system
http://store.tesacollective.com/products/rise-up out of stock

"Space Cats Fight Fascism: The Board Game" [launched 5/2018] from TESA Collective; players must band together to free the galaxy for all species and defeat the fascist Rat Pack before it grows too powerful game review at Board Game Geek website Space Cats game at TESA website for $32 "Space Cats Fight Fascism Expansion: Secret Meowssions" game expansion pack at TESA website for $19 - out of stock 2024

"STRIKE! The Game of Worker Rebellion"
http://store.TESAcollective.com/products/strike-the-game-of-worker-rebellion
Collective and Jobs with Justice funded a labor organizing game on Kickstarter. , players grow their ranks, mobilize workers, and organize strikes around their city. The campaign for the game ran during a union drive at Kickstarter.

Pinball Games Dept.

Video Games Dept.
"Work is for people who can't play video games." — Jillian Wiebe, player of 'Donkey Kong'

IGDB: The Internet Games Database - the guiding star in your world of gaming [est. 2015]
is operated by Twitch [est. 6/2011] video game live streaming

Just a few days after this section was started in August 2022, it became large enough to cut to its own page, and was then reorganized.

top of page   Ä    short history   Ä    links   Ä    general books   Ä    general videos   Ä    a few important people   Ä    companies   Ä   

selected video games   Ä    selected hardware   Ä    other media   Ä    image gallery

Works About Toys & Games
Toys & Games Section on Spirit of America Bookstore's Robots & Cyborgs Pages

¨            ¨

	"A History of Toys" [1966] by Antonia Fraser Spring Books 10¾x8¾ hardcover [1972] out of print/many used Delacorte Press 10¾x8¾ hardcover [10/66] out of print/used Littlehampton Book Services hardcover [10/66] out of print/used
	"Folk Toys Around The World and How To Make Them" [1972] by Joan Joseph, Illustrated by Mel Furukawa MacMillan Publng 9x7 hardcover [10/72] for $16.95 Atheneum 9x7 hardcover [10/72] out of print/used
	"Toys & Prices: 35,000 Toys - 100,000 Values" [orig 1992] Edited by Mark Bellomo F+W/Krause 20th edition 9¼x6¼ pb [4/2015] for $15.63 F+W/Krause Publns 19th edition 9x6 pb [5/2013] out of print/used
	"Toys!: Amazing Stories Behind Some Great Inventions" [grades 4-6; 2000] by Don Wulffson, Illustrated by Laurie Keller Kindle Edition from Henry Holt/Macmillan [12/2014] for $7.80 Square Fish 7¾x5¼ pb [12/2014] for $6.98 Henry Holt BFYR 9¼x6½ hardcover [7/2000] for $10.49
	"Toys A to Z: A Guide and Dictionary For Collectors, Antique Dealers and Enthusiasts" [2001] by Mark Rich Krause Publns 9x6 pb [3/2001] for $12.00

"Funny Face! An Amusing History of Potato Heads, Block Heads, and Magic Whiskers, A History and Value Guide"
Paperback – May 1, 2002 by Mark Rich (Author), Jeff Potocsnak (Author)
https://www.amazon.com/Funny-Amusing-History-Potato-Whiskers/dp/0873494180/

"The Game Makers: The Story of Parker Brothers, From Tiddledy Winks To Trivial Pursuit" [11/2003] by Philip E. Orbanes
http://www.amazon.com/The-Game-Makers-Brothers-Tiddledy/dp/1591392691/

	"The History of Toys: From Spinning Tops To Robots" [2006] by Deborah Jaffe Sutton Publng, Ltd. pb [2006] out of print/used The History Press 10x7 hardcover [9/2006] out of print/used
	"Classic Toys of The National Toy Hall of Fame: Celebrating The Greatest Toys of All Time!" [2009] by Scott G. Eberle, VP at The Strong National Museum of Play Running Press 12½x9¼ hardcover [9/2009] for $9.99
	"Toy Collectors Price Guide, 2018" This slim paperback (112 pages) is published in the U.K. and covers British toy brands Warners Group Publns 11¾x8½ pb [11/2017] for $14.16

Movies & Television,  Other  Media

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Story_(franchise)

Image  Gallery

here on the Nostalgic Toys, Dolls, and Games Page at Spirit of America Bookstore

top of page • links • Toys Dept. • Dolls Dept. • Games & Puzzles Dept. • Pinball Games Dept. • Video Games Dept. • works about toys & games •

movies & TV, other media • image gallery

Spirit of America Bookstore's Scale Model & Toy Trains Page
Spirit of America Bookstore's Monopoly™ Game Page
Spirit of America Bookstore's "Thomas the Tank Engine" Books & Toys & TV Pages

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