Baby boomers say that toys had a golden era in the 1960s. Many of the toys introduced in that decade remain popular and are still available on toy shelves around the world. Back then, toy manufacturers made electronic toys in any way they could. Following Batman‘s huge success in 1966, when Batman-themed toys flew off the shelves, toymakers rushed to create anything Batman-related. Today, it is expected that a toy will be themed after something from the movies, TV, or other forms of media, but that phenomenon first began in the 1960s!
G.I. Joe (1964)
This was the year of the monsters, with grotesque, fantastic, and sinister figures appearing on toy shelves and becoming an instant hit. They were made of plastic and included Frankenstein and Dracula. They appeared in video games and even liquid bath soap dispensers labeled “Scare You Clean.”
Parents, predictably, complained about the trend. So, dolls went back to their more traditional ways. G.I. Joe, which was not yet popular since it was released in 1964. As Christmas approached, the high-fashion doll Barbie was being supplanted by Skipper, Barbie’s little sister.
