Who can forget the Clackers (69) craze in the early 70s – and who didn’t have bruised knuckles? Anyone else remember watching a Slinky (45) “walk” down a staircase? Pure magic. The metallic, springy toy seemed to have a life of its own as it gracefully tumbled from step to step.
Here’s a few of the most popular toys from each year:
1970 – Nerfball: The world’s first indoor ball, made from a soft foam material which was less destructive than any other ball.
Runners-up: Sindy, Apollo Moon Rocket, Risk board game, Talking Viewmaster
1971 – Space Hopper: a huge, orange rubber ball with handles that allow kids (and small adults) to sit on it without falling off. Great bouncy fun with kids having races around the garden.
Runners-up: Clackers, Weebles, Mastermind board game, Etch-a-Sketch
1972 –Uno card game: The object is to be first to get rid of all your cards, at which point you shout UNO.
Runners-up: Plasticraft modelling kit, Easy Bake Oven, Talky Chrissie Doll, Play-Doh fun factory
1973 – Skateboard: Skateboards weren’t new in the ’70s, but the invention of the polyurethane wheel changed the skateboarding game and made it immensely more popular. The wheel had a better grasp on pavement and provided a safer experience for the skaters.
Runners-up: Evel Knievel stunt cycle, Shrinky Dinks, Walkie Talkie sets, Baby Alive, Lone Ranger/Tonto figure
1974 – Dungeons & Dragons: The best-selling wargaming role-playing game has gone through numerous editions and changes over the years, but when it was first released, it was a small box set that included three booklets.
Runners-up: Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots, Risk board game, Magic 8 Ball, Spirograph, Twister
1975 – Pong: a two-dimensional sports game that simulates table tennis. Two opposing players control paddles by moving them vertically across the left or right side of the screen to hit a ball back and forth until one misses and scores a point. The goal is for each player to reach eleven points before the opponent.
Runners-up: Pet Rock, Othello board game, Portable Cassette Player, Monopoly
1976 – Magna Doodle: This toy uses a magnetophoretic display panel, filled with a thick, opaque white liquid containing tiny dark magnetic particles. These particles can be drawn to the drawing surface by a magnet-tipped stylus.
Runners-up: Stretch Armstrong, Micronauts, Cher doll, Pogo Stick, Peter Powell Stunt kite
1977 – Atari 2600: The Atari Video Game Computer System was a home video game console that revolutionized the gaming industry thanks to its interchangeable cartridges. People could play multiple games on one system conveniently
Runners-up: Star Wars figurines (Luke, Darth and R2D), Stretch Armstrong, The Batmobile, Portable 8-track player
1978 – Connect Four: An upgrade on noughts and crosses, this strategy game provides hours of fun for equally-matched opponents, sharpening observation and logic skills.
Runners-up: Dungeons & Dragons, Hungry Hippo, Speak & Spell, Simon Says, Matchbox Powertrack
1979 – Strawberry Shortcake: A typical rag doll, complete with freckles, a mop of red yarn curls, and dressed in a red dress with a white apron, green and white striped socks and a pink bonnet with strawberry print.
Runners-up: Millenium Falcon, Sony Walkman, Meccano Construction set, Lego Space
With grateful thanks to https://www.insider.com/most-popular-kids-toys-2017-7,
https://www.smoothradio.com/news/christmas/most-popular-christmas-presents-toys-list-years/ and
https://www.one4all.com/argos-reveals-bestselling-toys-from-the-last-45-years-how-many-do-you-remember
for their lists and detail.
JRo Author 