4 Retro Toys That Made a Comeback

We all had that one special toy growing up. You loved your Barbie, your best friend loved her Easy-Bake oven, and your brother had a G.I. Joe; action figure. Your toys held a very special place in your heart.

Have you ever told your grandchildren about the toys you played with as a kid that you wish were still around today? Turns out, there’s still a demand for the classics. Toy manufacturers have brought back popular ‘classic’ toys to meet current demands. Now you can share some of your favorite classic toys with your grandkids.

Some of the toys have been revamped, while others hold onto their classic look. These toys all have one thing in common—providing hours of fun. Let’s take a look at some of  the best toy comebacks.

Do you remember the Spirograph you had as a kid that helped you make beautiful artwork in geometric shapes and patterns? It’s made a long awaited comeback.

When the Spirograph hit the market in 1965 it was a huge success. You and your friends loved taking your artistic game to the next level.

In 1990, Spirograph was discontinued due to low interested. With baby boomers now becoming grandparents, Kahootz saw an opportunity to remarket the toy with Hasbro’s permission. You can now share your favorite drawing tool with your grandkids.

The Chatter Phone was a toy phone that had eyes that rolled up and down, a wide-grinning mouth and a ringing rotary dial. Introduced in 1961, the toy became Fisher Price’s; best-selling product through the ‘60s and ‘70s. The noisemaking buttons and dials inspired children to mimic their parents’ actions on the phone. Most importantly, it inspired them to learn to speak.

After appearing in the 2010 animated film Toy Story 3, sales of the Chatter Phone toy skyrocketed. It is currently available as an authentic reproduction with square rosy cheeks or modernized in a sleek new design.

Etch A Sketch; hit shelves near the peak of the Baby Boom in July of 1960. Etch A Sketch let you discover the magical world of creativity through pencil-free drawing. You were able to create any drawings you wanted by turning the knobs on either side of the screen. If you didn’t like your drawing, give it a shake and it’d magically erase!  

In 2010, modern day toy advances caused the Etch A Sketch to take a back seat. Art inspired apps for tablets took over and conventional drawing was becoming a thing of the past.

Mitt Romney is to thank for the Etch A Sketch comeback. In March of 2012, Romney made a statement on his campaign strategy referencing the toy.

“It’s like an Etch A Sketch—you can kind of shake it up, and we start all over again.”

This comment caused the toys stock to soar and for sales to go crazy.

Since 1964, the Easy-Bake Oven has been a favorite of little bakers everywhere. The mini toy oven taught children the basics of cooking while giving them a sense of independence. Kids were able to bake their own goodies at any time instead of having to ask mom.

In 2007, Hasbro issued a recall for the Easy-Bake ovens. The company received reports of children getting their hands or fingers caught in the front-loading doors and receiving burns. They advised parents to not let children under the age of 8 use the oven. The recall made parents wary of the Easy-Bake Oven for a few years.

Due to this recall, Hasbro gave the mini oven its first major overhaul in 48 years. The new design was a huge success and gave the toy a big comeback. Not only did they fix the safety concerns, but the oven got a modernized look as well.

Everything that was old is new again. With these retro toys’ comeback, you will fondly remember your childhood while watching the next generation play with them.

In a world that values virtual reality and cutting-edge technology, retro toys allow you to bond with your grandchildren. Playing with these toys together allows you to share your fondest memories while creating new ones. Pick up an Etch A Sketch before your next visit – you’ll be amazed how quickly you’ll remember playing with it.

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