Toys · 1973
Stunt Cycles, Parody Stickers, and Mechanical Dolls
In 1973, playroom floors buzzed with high-speed friction toys and groundbreaking mechanical dolls that mimicked real life. Children collected irreverent trading card stickers while family game nights were transformed by fast-paced word puzzles and innovative building sets.
- Doll / Kenner
Baby Alive
Kenner introduced a revolutionary doll that ingested food packet mixtures and drank water, shocking and delighting children by realistically wetting her diaper.
- Action Figure & Vehicle / Ideal
Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
Capitalizing on the legendary daredevil's fame, Ideal released a gyro-powered toy motorcycle that launched the posable stuntman over homemade ramps at high speeds.
- Trading Cards / Topps
Wacky Packages Series 1
Topps unleashed a wildly popular line of satirical sticker cards that parodied everyday household product brands, becoming an instant playground collecting obsession.
- Board Game / Parker Brothers
Boggle
Invented by Allan Turoff and published by Parker Brothers, this fast-paced word game challenged players to spot hidden words in a grid of sixteen letter cubes before time ran out.
- Action Figures / Mego Corp
Mego World's Greatest Super Heroes
Mego expanded its line of eight-inch articulated action figures with cloth costumes, bringing iconic Marvel and DC comic book heroes to toy store shelves.
- Craft Kit / K & B Innovations
Shrinky Dinks
Invented by two Wisconsin mothers, these flexible sheets of polystyrene plastic could be colored, cut out, and baked in a kitchen oven to shrink into hard plastic charms.
- Building Set / LEGO
LEGO Main Street (Set 371)
LEGO released a detailed town street scene featuring brick-built storefronts, vintage vehicles, and early precursor figures that expanded open-ended construction play.
- Vehicle Set / Kenner
SSP Smash-Up Derby
Kenner's high-friction Super Sonic Power rip-cord cars allowed kids to crash plastic pickup trucks into each other, sending doors and hoods flying upon impact.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?