Can You Name These Popular Classic American Toys?

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name These Popular Classic American Toys?
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About This Quiz

Mr. Potato Head has come a long way since Hasbro first manufactured and produced the popular kids toy in 1952. But, did you know that originally, the toy only consisted of the accessories - eyes, hair, hands, nose, etc.? It was meant to be stuck into a potato. (For parents across the country, you could probably figure out how much they appreciated having to clean up the results.) The 1952 Mr. Potato Head also marked the first time a kids toy was advertised on television. By 1953, Mr. Potato Head had a partner in Mrs. Potato Head, and by the '60s the potato was done away with and replaced with the plastic we all know so well. Thirty years later, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head hit the big screen in the movie franchise "Toy Story."

This is just one  story of thousands of toys you loved as a kid - many of those toys your own children will fondly remember playing with when they are adults too. How well do you remember the toys you played with decades ago? Could you figure out which is an Etch-a-Sketch? Do you remember Lite Brite? How many hours did you spend looking at cards on your Viewmaster? How many times did you try to stretch Stretch Armstrong to his breaking point? 

These are the toys you grew up with, but how many can you identify from an image? Take this quiz and stroll down memory lane!

Rubik's Cube
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
Nerf
Lego
Little People
Rubik's Cube
Called the Magic Cube when it was first invented in 1974, this six-sided colorful cube has been stumping people of all ages for decades. In just the first 35 years since its invention, more than 350 million Rubik's Cubes made their way into the hands of eager buyers.
Slinky
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Slinky
In 1943, a mechanical engineer watching a dropped tension spring developed the idea for the Slinky. After his wife picked the name off the dictionary, they sold out of their first run in minutes when they debuted the toy at Gimbel's Department Store in Philadelphia.
Playmobil
Weebles
Silly Putty
Hoola Hoop
youtube
Can you name this classic toy?
Stretch Armstrong
Wonder Wheel
Hula Hoop
Made of a plastic alloy called Marlex, the Hula Hoop came out in 1957. More than 25 million units were sold in just the first two months.
Cyr Hoop

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Yo Yo Ball
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Can you name this classic toy?
Hey-Hey
Yo-Yo
Yo-Yos have been around since the ancient Greeks, but they got a major upgrade in the 1930s with the addition of a loop around the axle -- which allowed the toy to "sleep" and perform more complex tricks. Advanced versions in the '80s toyed with ball bearings for even more flexibility.
Joy Buzzer
Slinky
Jacks
n/a
Can you name this classic toy?
Frisbee
Jacks
Jacks is one of the oldest games of all time, and there's archaeological evidence that Cro-Magnon kids played their own version with rocks and bones. The game is also known as knucklebones because ancient Egyptian kids played jacks with sheep knuckles. Today, most sets consist of metal jacks and a rubber bouncing ball.
Joes
Simon
Red Ryder BB Guns
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Can you name this classic toy?
Red Ryder BB Gun
You'll shoot your eye out! The Red Ryder BB Gun is more than just a toy from "A Christmas Story." It's a real and very popular BB gun model introduced by Daisy in the 1940s. It was modeled after the classic Winchester, which was found in every great cowboy movie of the era.
Steve McQueen Side Arm
Roy Rogers Ruff 'N Tumble Trigger
John Wayne Lil' Tikes Rifle

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Green Army Men
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
Barrel of Monkeys
Mr. Potato Head
Stretch Armstrong
Army Men
In the 19th century, wealthy children played with large metal army figures made from metal or lead. By the 1930s, manufacturers figured out how to make these small soldiers out of plastic to reach a much wider range of customers.
Play Dough
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
Potato Paste
Magna Doodle
Play-Doh
Play-Doh started as a wallpaper cleaner until someone realized it was much more pleasant to play with than stiff modeling clay. The product got its name in 1956, and expanded to a line of eight different colors in the '80s.
Colorforms
Tonka Trucks
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Matchbox Cars
Tonka Truck
Made from pressed steel, Tonka sold more than 37,000 trucks the first year they introduced this classic toy in the 1940s. The company is named for Lake Minnetonka in the state of Minnesota, where the trucks were invented.
Koosh
Trolls

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Easy Bake Oven
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
Easy Bake Oven
Inspired by the classic NYC pretzel cart, the Easy-Bake Oven came out in the 1960s. Kids who had the patience to bake using the heat of an incandescent bulb were rewarded with a warm and gooey mini-treat.
Lite-Brite
Little People
View-Master_with_Reel
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
View Master
The View Master came out at the 1939 World's Fair, and was basically a hand-held version of the classic stereoscope. The toy really took off thanks to Disney character licensing in the 1950s.
Lite-Brite
Bright Views
Magna Doodle
What Matchbox Car would you be? 2
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Can you name this classic toy?
Micro Machines
Matchbox Car
When Matchbox Cars came out in the '50s, the diecast models came in tiny boxes that resembled a matchbox. In the '80s, the company switched to plastic and more contemporary blister-pack packaging.
Mini Riders
Nano Car

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Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
n/a
Can you name this classic toy?
Rootin' Tootin' Robots
Mash 'em Smash 'em Robots
Fighting Electronic Men
Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots
Manufacturers have been making Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots since 1954 when the Red Rocker took on the Blue Bomber in a battle to the death. The toy now has a slightly different construction, resulting in the lack of that classic buzzing sound that older players may remember.
Monkey
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Can you name this classic toy?
Barrel of Monkeys
Kids have been playing with the Barrel of Monkeys toy since 1965. Consisting of 12 plastic monkeys with long, looped arms, the goal is to link as many monkeys as possible before the chain breaks.
Tub of Tigers
Barrel of Bees
Box of Baboons
Stretch Armstrong
youtube
Can you name this classic toy?
Stretch Armstrong
Want to know what's inside Stretch Armstrong? The classic toy is filled with boiled corn syrup! Thanks to its latex skin and gel interior, the toy can stretch as much as five feet.
Limber Larry
Lyle the Limber
Stretchy Sam

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Speak & Spell
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Etch-A-Sketch
Magna Doodle
Speak and Spell
Before computers, phones and tablets, kids had limited access to educational technology. The Speak and Spell was revolutionary when it came along in 1978 -- from calculator company T.I. -- and was essentially an early computer that taught kids to spell and pronounce hundreds of words.
Teddy Ruxpin
Simon
n/a
Can you name this classic toy?
Simon
Simon was an electronic memory game introduced in 1978. Players had to memorize patterns of flashing red, green, blue and yellow lights and repeat them until their memory failed.
Steven
Sarah
Peg
Polly Pocket
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Molly Mockup
Polly Pocket
Polly Pocket combined kids fascination with tiny toys and girls' love for makeup into one extremely popular toy. Designed to resemble makeup compacts, the sets came with small dolls, and many had removable clothes and plenty of accessories to keep kids busy on the go.
Polly Parrot
Dolly Decor

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Cabbage patch
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Veggie Patch Dolls
Cabbage Leaf Babes
Baldie Babies
Cabbage Patch Kids
When Cabbage Patch Kids came out, the whole concept of buying a toy doll went out the window. Instead, you adopted a kid from the Babyland General Hospital. Kids spent much of the '80s clamoring for these round-cheeked toys.
Jack In The Box
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Can you name this classic toy?
Charlie in the Box
Junior in the Box
Jack in the Box
The Jack in the Box dates back to around the 14th century, when a devil would pop out rather than a clown. Most modern Jack in the Boxes operate to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel."
Sam in the Box
Troll Dolls
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Can you name this classic toy?
Troll Dolls
Introduced in 1959 as Good Luck Trolls, the troll was a hugely popular toy in the '60s. Early versions had wool hair and glass eyes, while later ones were mass-produced using several varieties of plastic and synthetics.
G.I. Joe
Barbie
My Little Pony

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Slip and Slide
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Slip 'n Slide
Let's face it -- not every family can afford a pool. For families without their own backyard oasis, the Slip 'n Slide offered a simple and affordable way to keep kids cool and entertained. This strip of vinyl simply attached to a garden hose for hours of wet fun.
Splash and Dash
Drench and Dash
Laugh 'n Lounge
Lite-Brite
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Magna Doodle
Easy-Bake Oven
Lite-Brite
Introduced in 1967, the Lite-Brite was a light box with colorful pegs, which allowed kids to create illuminated designs. Some used templates to "trace" images, while others went free form with plain sheets of black paper.
Hot Wheels
etch a sketch
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Magnet Master
View-Master
Lite-Brite
Etch-A-Sketch
When Etch-A-Sketch was invented in 1959, none of the big toy companies cared. By 1960, it had become the most popular toy of the holiday season. The toy is still made the same way it always was -- with two knobs used to control static charges and create pictures.

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Glo Worm
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Glo Worm
Kids who were afraid of the dark could lose the nightlight after the Glo Worm came out in 1982. The toy was so popular that the late '80s saw an entire range of Glo Friends to go along with the original sleepy-eyed worm.
Mr. Glow
Glowing George
Light-Up Larry
My Little Pony
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Lovely Little Horses
Donkey Damsels
Cutie Cows
My Little Pony
Introduced in 1981, My Little Pony was an '80s phenomenon. Kids played with ponies, identified by the designs on their flanks, and the luckiest kids arranged the horses in the Pony Paradise Estate.
Koosh Balls
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Can you name this classic toy?
Whoosh
Katch-It
Wonder Ball
Koosh
Tired of watching his kids struggle to catch traditional balls, an inventor-father came up with the Koosh in 1986. It's made from tons of rubber filaments around a rubber core, making it more friendly for little fingers. The Koosh even got its own Archie Comic series in 1991.

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Mr. Potato Head
The Movie DB
Can you name this classic toy?
Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head originally came with pieces kids could use with an actual potato. A styrofoam head option came out in the '50s, and the modern plastic version was introduced in 1964.
Senor Potato
Mr. Rutabaga
Pumpkin Man
Whiffle_ball
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
Koosh Ball
Wiffle Ball
The Wiffle Ball came out in 1953. The lightweight ball with holes was not only easier to pitch, it was also much less likely than a standard baseball to break a window or leave a bruise.
Whoosh Ball
Nerf Ball
Barbie
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Chatty Cathy
Charming Cindy
Barbie Doll
Ruth Handler came up with the idea for the Barbie doll while watching her daughter play with paper dolls. Introduced in 1959, Barbie is not just a fashion icon, but has also held well over 75 jobs since that time.
Beautiful Bella

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Chatty Cathy Doll
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Talkative Tammy
Silent Sarah
Chatty Cathy
Second in popularity only to the Barbie doll, Chatty Cathy was a doll with a pull-string that allowed her to utter one of 11 random phrases.
Silly Sadie
G.I. Joe
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
G.I. Joe
Go Joe! Inspired by the G.I.'s of World War II, G.I. Joe action figures -- no, not dolls -- came out in 1964. They were originally almost a foot tall, but were shrunk down to just 4 inches when they were re-released in the 1980s.
Soldier Sam
Commander Cool
Lieutenant Larry
Hot Wheels
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Muscle Machines
Cool Cars
Speedy Racers
Hot Wheels
Mattel invented Hot Wheels to keep up with the uber-popular Matchbox cars of the '60s. The company hired a top designer from Chevrolet to create toys inspired by hot muscle cars of the time.

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Magna_Doodle
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
Artisto Magneto
Etch-A-Sketch
Doodle a Design
Magna Doodle
Magna Doodle featured similar technology to the Etch-A-Sketch, which had come out two decades earlier. With a stylus and stamps kids can use to create designs on a magnetic board, the toy has sold 40 million units and counting.
Care Bears
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Care Bears
These cuddly bears started as greeting card designs in 1981 before someone realized they would make a great toy starting in 1983. An '80s cartoon told the story of the lovable bears and their adventures in the land of Care-A-Lot.
Love Bears
Panda Pals
Polar Cubs
Teddy Ruxpin
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Marty McFly
Brian the Bear
Tommy Ripkin
Teddy Ruxpin
The best-selling toy in the mid-'80s was none other than Teddy Ruxpin. This animatronic bear could play audio cassettes, tell stories and actually move his mouth and eyes.

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Snoopy Snow Cone
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Snoopy Shaved Ice Grinder
Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
Like the Easy-Bake Oven, the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine made playtime delicious. Using a hand crank, kids could shave ice cubes down into shaved slivers, then add syrup for a snowball treat.
Snoopy Snack-lovers Paradise
Snoopy Sweet Treat Machine
What does the magic 8-ball say about your problem? 2
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Magic 8 Ball
Who would have predicted that this fortune telling toy would still be selling well more than half a century after it was introduced? The 20-sided die floats in water and offers answers to your most burning questions.
Ask the Orb
Magic 9 Ball
Signs Point to Yes
Lego Construction Set
YouTube
Can you name this classic toy?
Blocko
LEGO Blocks
Invented in 1949 by a Danish carpenter, the original LEGO blocks came in only red and white. Since then, the company has made more than 50 bricks for every single person on the planet.
Smart Blocks
Build and Break

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Silly Putty
youtube
Can you name this classic toy?
Silly Putty
During WWII, engineers in the U.S. were desperate to create a material that could be used as a synthetic rubber. Enter Silly Putty, which became a popular toy for kids starting in the '50s.
Play-Doh
Goofy Gum
Silly Slime
Lincoln_logs
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
Tinker Toys
Lincoln Logs
Lincoln Logs might have the coolest story of any toy on this list. Introduced in 1924, they were invented by John Lloyd Wright -- son of iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright -- who drew inspiration from his father's work when coming up with the wooden toys.
Washington Widgets
Sticks and Bricks
frisbee
n/a
Can you name this classic toy?
Flopee
Lipsee
Frisbee
In the 19th century, New England college students played with metal pie plates, but it wasn't until the 1940s that someone made a similar disc from plastic and gave it its well-known name.
Dipsee

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Playmobil
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
LEGO
Playmobil
Invented in Germany in the 1970s, Playmobil features small figures -- known as klickies, plus a variety of play sets. The company that created Playmobil was in another trade many decades ago -- making decorative fittings for caskets!
Perfect People
Imagination Ingots
Nerf Football
Shutterstock
Can you name this classic toy?
Wiffle Ball
Koosh Ball
Nerf Football
Parents could breathe easy in 1969 when Nerf introduced the first ball safe for indoor play. Made from soft foam, the ball was much less likely than other balls to damage property. The iconic Nerf football came out in 1972.
Waffle Ball
Tinkertoys
Wiki commons
Can you name this classic toy?
Tinkertoys
Just a few years after the old-school Meccano building sets came out, manufacturers introduced Tinkertoys in 1914. These kits of wooden spools and sticks encouraged kids to build. Modern versions are available in both plastic and classic wood construction.
Lincoln Logs
Meccano Set
Erector Set

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