80s Toys

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All that talk of California Raisins on my blog the other day got me to thinking about many of the toys I used to play with when I was a kid growing up in the 80’s.  I was a big fan of Fisher Price’s Little People back then, and I generally liked playsets of any kind.  The internet is a cool thing for many reasons, and it’s fun for stirring up nostalgia now and then.  I remembered this set of wind-up skill games they had in the 80s that were really small.  After a few minutes of google searching, I found them:  T.H.I.N.G.S. by Milton Bradley (Totally Hilarious Incredibly Neat Games of Skill – who remembers these?) .  It’s funny how most of these little toys look like just your everyday junk from China when you’re an adult, but when I was a kid, I had the Sir-Ring-a-Lot game and wanted all the rest of the T.H.I.N.G.S.

I was also really into Nerfuls after sending away for one (visor guy) in exchange for cereal UPCs.  These were little 3-piece figures  – a body, a ball for the head, and a hat or hair.  Some came with vehicles and the coolest parts were the stackable Nerfuls houses.

Legos were also really cool (still are!), and I’m thinking of getting my 5-year-old some of her own sets for Christmas this year.

Added link to Weebles Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

46 thoughts on “80s Toys”

  1. “Weebles wobble but the don’t fall down.” Nerfuls… were they associated with all things Nerf? How about the Ewok Village playset or Jabba’s Palace complete with trap door leading to the Rancor Pit; however, the trap door was on the Hutt’s stand (unlike the movie) so you had to move him and the Rancor was sold separately. And we have of course the everything old is new again category of Transformers. Lite Brite and Spirograph. Legos are the best but for your 5 year-old nerves of steel (unless that is an excuse to get some for you to create 😉 And don’t forget all things “Some assembly required” or “Batteries Not Included.”

  2. Liked Weebles too – grandma had those at her house, including the Weebles Mickey Mouse clubhouse which I remember being pretty cool. She also had this Playskool McDonald’s that was pretty neat.
    Nerfuls were produced by Parker Brothers, who had the Nerf rights at the time, but their bodies were made of vinyl, not Nerf foam.
    I remember that Jabba’s Palace looked really cool, but I didn’t have any Star Wars toys.
    Of course it’s an excuse for me to play with Legos again! No, actually, I think she’d really like them – she loves puzzles. There are lego sets for all different ages, so with a little shopping around, I think I could find one that would not frustrate her.
    batteries not included* Is that a reference to the 80’s movie?

  3. I didn’t play with too many of the toys in the 80s. My nephew had all of the Star Wars and Transformer toys. My oldest girls had weebles, Rainbow Brite, Care Bears and Legos, We really had the Legos. I don’t remember Nerfuls or T.H.I.N.G.S.

  4. WOW… I had the Mickey Mouse Weebles playset. IT WAS REALLY COOL. I was thinking more along the lines of electronic toys with the BNI addendum but you can call it a reference to the movie, if you like. I never saw it but don’t think it sounded very good… thoughts? I also thought that Jabba’s Floating Sail Barge would be a cool toy, but I don’t think it ever was made.

  5. I remember Garbage Pail Kids, Madballs, Transformers, the rubber WWF (now WWE) Wrestling Figures and Ring, Pogo Ball, Nintendo, Stretch Armstrong (was this 80s?), Little People, Balls of Lead, YoBall, Cabbage Patch Kids, Verbot, Omnibot…

  6. (split from previous post due to my comment being “spammy” according to WordPress…)

    As for Legos, my brother and I had many sets growing up. Now I have Lego Star Wars (also II) for my Gamecube.

    Can you tell my idea of a toy is a bit different from yours? 😀

    Oh yes, T.H.I.N.G.S.- I vaguely remember them. I could link to more video games here, but the entire concept of video games has to do with skill, so…

  7. Ah, yes, lots of great toys listed there… but I chose more obscure toys to describe in my blog since I didn’t want to ramble on, and on, and on…
    But I’m glad for the reminders!
    There was also My Pet Monster, or for girl toys, there were Charmkins and Sweet Secrets… too many to name!

  8. Jamiahsh – I added a link to the post just for you. This link also contains a pic of this MM phone that I didn’t remember I played with until I saw it. I must have been 2 or 3 when I had it – I love dredging up memories like this! Hubby remembers the same phone!

  9. MONCHICHI! I remember those! And like many toys of the 80’s, the tv show they made of it. I had a Monchichi and also a knock-off… now I have to look those up…

  10. Looked it up… apparently Monchichi was a tv show FIRST, then a toy? And the toys are still available (as of ’08) at Japan in Epcot!!! As if I needed another reason to cross the lake besides the best snow cones in the world!

  11. Sorry, not into the Gummi Bears at all…
    LOVED The Littles!
    Who remembers the Sat morning cartoon – Rubik’s Cube?

  12. Good grief- 39 (now 40) comments?? I think you’ll hold on to this record for a while!

    Was the Snake Rubik’s? I remember having a snake (I think it was an official version) and it didn’t say Rubik’s at all. I did have a Rubik’s Magic, and the Deluxe version as well. Did you know there is a new $150 cube that replaces the stickers with lights and touchscreens? That’s right- it doesn’t twist. You glide your fingers over the surface to “rotate” it.

  13. Comment #41: The snake I’m talking about IS Rubik’s, but I only know this from looking it up. Mine didn’t say Rubik’s on it either, and I don’t even remember opening the box or what the box looked like. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubik%27s_Snake
    Technologically advanced Rubik’s Cube doesn’t sound quite the same, but then again, I never got into the cube since it was too difficult for me as a kid. Haven’t tried it as an adult.

  14. You write that not realizing your comment in fact has two links, not one…

    I wonder if Rubik’s always owned the snake, or whether they bought out another company.

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