Toys · 1976
Bicentennial Beats, Stretchable Heroes, and Vertical Board Games
As the United States celebrated its Bicentennial, toy store shelves radiated with colorful plastic innovations and pop-culture tie-ins. From gooey novelty concoctions to iconic TV celebrity dolls, 1976 established playtimes filled with creative, tactile wonder.
- 1976 | Action Figure | Kenner
Stretch Armstrong
Filled with viscous corn syrup gel, this muscular blonde figure could be pulled to extreme lengths and slowly shrink back to his original shape.
- 1976 | Novelty Toy | Mattel
Slime
Packaged inside a miniature plastic garbage can, this gooey green compound delivered delightfully squishy, cold tactile fun to kids everywhere.
- 1976 | Fashion Doll | Mego
Cher Fashion Doll
Outselling Barbie during the holiday season, this glamorous celebrity doll featured Bob Mackie designer outfits modeled after the famous variety show star.
- 1976 | Board Game | Milton Bradley
Connect Four
Players raced to line up four red or yellow discs in a vertical grid, creating a simple yet addictively strategic head-to-head game.
- 1976 | Sci-Fi Figures | Mego
Micronauts
Featuring futuristic chrome heads and interchangeable magnetic limbs, these small action figures brought Japanese toy design to American kids.
- 1976 | Action Figure | Kenner
Jaime Sommers: The Bionic Woman
Based on the hit television series, this popular fashion-action figure featured a simulated bionic ear sound effect and removable arm skin modules.
- 1976 | Board Game | Gabriel Toys
Othello
Promoted with the famous slogan 'A minute to learn... a lifetime to master!', this black-and-white disc flipping game swept across family game tables.
- 1976 | Building Set | LEGO Group
LEGO Hospital (Set 363)
Complete with a yellow ambulance and medical staff, this iconic set highlighted LEGO's expanding town themes prior to the modern minifigure era.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?