The 1950s shelf
1950s things worth remembering.
Chrome diners, drive-ins, and rock and roll.
27 catalogued finds
LEGO Bricks
“plastic building bricks”
Yahtzee
“five dice cup game”
Barbie Doll
“fashion doll with outfits”
Frisbee
“flying disc toy”
Silly Putty
“egg container putty”
Hula Hoop
“hip spinning hoop”
Magic 8 Ball
“black fortune ball”
Play-Doh
“squishy modeling clay”
Mr. Potato Head
“plastic potato face”
Wiffle Ball
“The perforated plastic ball that made backyard baseball safe for windows — its wild curveballs turned every driveway into a stadium.”
Sidewalk Chalk
“Fat sticks of colored chalk that turned every driveway into a canvas for hopscotch grids, masterpieces, and four-square courts.”
Water Balloons
“Thin balloons filled at the garden hose, tied with wet fingers, and thrown at siblings — the definitive summer ambush weapon.”
Risk
“world conquest board game”
Pez Dispenser
“candy flip head dispenser”
Gumby Bendable Toy
“gumby bendable toy”
Tin Toy Submarine
“tin toy submarine”
Corn Popper Toy
“corn popper toy”
Model Train Set HO
“model train set ho”
Classic Cap Pistol
“classic cap pistol”
Water Pistol Toy
“water pistol toy”
Hot Tamales
“cinnamon chewy candy box”
Charleston Chew
“frozen candy bar smash trick”
Vinyl Record Player
“turntable record player”
Matchbox Cars
“small die-cast cars”
Diamond Kite
“A paper-and-stick diamond on a string that taught every kid the physics of wind, patience, and untangling line from trees.”
Cox Control-Line Airplane
“A real gas-engine airplane on control lines — you stood in the middle, spun until you were dizzy, and flew an actual screaming motor in circles.”
Ant Farm
“ants in glass case”