Toys And Games

The toy market is a very competitive one and Kenner Products began its enterprise in 1947. They are responsible for some of the most well known toys ever manufactured. Today, Kenner toys are made by Hasbro, who bought the company in 1991. From the early days, the company realized the importance of marketing and advertised on television from 1958.

One of the best selling products appeared in 1966 with the Spirograph drawing toy. It soon became part of the culture and it was a unique product. The various plastic rings, triangles and gears produced patterns of intricate, geometrical symmetry. It was great fun and educational too. There were variations to the original toy, such as a travel edition, a magnetic version and a three dimensional Spirograph.

The 1970s brought another product that caught the imagination of children everywhere. Play-Doh is still popular today and is an impressive Kenner toys success story. The non-toxic, non-staining modeling substance is made from wheat flour, water, a hardening agent and other ingredients. The addition of kerosene gives the toy its distinctive aroma! Play-Doh comes in different colors and tub sizes, keeping pliable if it is kept in its sealed container. Such is the impact of this product; there is a National Play-Doh Day every September.

The most successful companies obtain the rights to popular franchises in addition to marketing their original merchandise. Kenner toys included a range of action figures and accessories for the Star Wars trilogy of films, starting with the original movie from 1977.

Television heroes are also represented in the range. Kenner toys entered a lucrative market with the license for making action figures for the hit show, Six Million Dollar Man. The character of the Bionic Man, aka Steve, was the iconic figure of the decade and the toy came with a bionic arm and the famous bionic grip. His boss, Oscar Goldman also had a figure, as did his enemy, Maskatron. There was also a line for The Bionic Woman, aka Jamie Sommers.

Another popular range was launched in the 1980s, when Kenner made a deal with DC Comics. The Kenner toys known as the Super Powers Collection were based on superheroes such as Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. The heroes were joined by villains like Lex Luthor, the Joker, the Penguin and Mr. Freeze.

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A German immigrant named Frederick Schwartz opened his first toy store in New York City in 1870. New Yorkers welcomed Fao Schwartz toys with enthusiasm and the company developed, resulting in many more stores being opened. The company was eventually scaled down and now consists of the flagship store on Fifth Avenue and one on 58th Street in Manhattan. There is also one in Las Vegas in Caesar’s Palace Shops and it was announced in October 2007 that a new store would open inside Macy’s in Chicago.

The stores are well known and attract out of town visitors. Shopping for children can be exhausting and Fao Schwartz stores provide a café and ice cream parlor for parents to re-charge their batteries and to entertain the kids. The store provided the location for the famous scene in the movie Big, in which Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia play on the 22 foot piano. In reality, professional dancers are hired to entertain the customers and dance on the piano. A break from shopping is further provided with a turn in the Motion Simulator Ride. Children will also be enthralled with the life sized stuffed animals around the store.

There is so much choice today in the toy market and Fao Schwartz toys cater for every age range and taste. There are sections for babies, toddlers and pre-school years in addition to toys and games for older children. One of the most popular areas in the store is the Harry Potter Shop. The old favorites, such as dolls, stuffed animals and Playmobil are all found here. Lego features too, including a replica of Hogwarts Castle, so familiar to Harry Potter fans.

Action figures include Harry Potter, Star Wars characters and a talking Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Other figures include sports stars, such as major league baseball players. There are also model cars and trains and radio controlled and remote controlled vehicles. Younger children enjoy Fao Schwartz toys that help their development like the block number abacus. The shiny ride on fire engine is hard to resist and the play kitchen is great for role playing.

There is a lot of interest in classic toys from the past and Fao Schwartz toys are a part of that with their retailing of marble sets and dominos. Another popular item is the Curious George Jack in the Box. Classic games are represented too with 1930s and 1950s themed Monopoly boards.

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