GHOSTS
OF CHRISTMAS PAST - a time machine through years gone ... is the
third in my series of books about vintage toys. This book is chalk
full of pictures of those great toys from the 1960, 1970's and
early 1980's. The photos will bring back many memories of those
old department store Christmas catalogue wish books. This is a
MUST HAVE for any and all who fondly remembers the 60's and 70's
toy era. Full of pictures and interesting facts it will be a pleasure
to read and bring back many fun filled days as a youth. The 60's
saw the toy market dominated by ten major players. Names that
bring back memories of fantastic and imaginative toys are Marx,
Ideal, Mattel and Remco. Those and many more companies like Transogram
and Kenner, Gilbert and Eldon all made their mark. For children
growing up during that turbulent post-baby boom era the media
attack through television and radio had an ever-changing influence.
Slick media advertising brought change and wealth to the few fortunate
toy companies, the winners gained wealth beyond belief while the
losers were relegated to discount purgatory at the "fine
and dime". Saturday morning commercials jammed the airwaves
both live action and cartoons. Land of the Giants, Time Tunnel,
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Lost in Space. Who could forget
GI Joe, Malibu Barbie, Sizzlers, Hot wheels, Crash-up Durby, SSP's,
Kurplunk and the Easy Bake Oven. Parents inundated with persistent
begs, pleads and pouts from the new powerhouse consumers, the
kids, wanted it all. The Malibu apartment and 747 Jumbo Barbie
Jet, Jamie Sommers, Steve Austin, Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman
and the original Charlie's Angels. Read about it all here, the
ups and downs of the movie stars, the toys, see the wish books
and be a child again. Thirty-five years have passed since television
advertising came into its own and those children, "baby boomers"
are now nearing there forth decade. We have grown up but not outgrown
our fascination with our childhood playthings. The toys of this
era were fanciful and hold memories of a simpler time. They rarely
spoke, changed colour and didn't operate by way of sophisticated
computer chips. To the new generation they seem archaic but they
mark for us, the post baby boomers a special time in our lives
and our innocent childhoods.
