The Electric Company ran on PBS from 1971-77 with Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno & Bill Cosby — and actually worked as a reading tool for millions of kids.
1970s Playskool toys like Dressy Bessy, Tyke Bike & Alphie didn’t happen by accident — here’s the story behind the brand that taught a generation through play.
The Hoppity Hop was just an inflated ball with a handle — and it sold 300,000 units in months. Here’s the history behind one of the ’60s biggest toy crazes.
The Toys R Us catalog was serious business for 80s kids. Flip through the 1986 Out of this World Toy Book and holiday catalogs from ’87 and ’88.
The range of 1950s board games surprises people — cold war strategy to Candy Land. See the vintage ads and box art from a prolific decade of family game night.
Vintage baby gear from the 1950s shows how boom-era families used folding cribs, walkers and playpens to save space and time.
With these vintage Disneyland tickets, visitors could enjoy their choice of dozens of Disneyland rides and attractions in Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Adventureland.
The eighties had a unique flair, not just in music and movies, but also in footwear! As these dozens of 80s kids shoes show, the options back then were as diverse as the culture that influenced them.
Here, see a dozen old-fashioned classic board games that are freshly-made, but look just like you remember… or, at least, pretty close.
The official photos with Santa – once called ‘sitting on Santa’s lap’ – has been around for generations. Here’s a look back at this Christmas ritual!
Dive into the nostalgia of 80s toys! From Transformers to Strawberry Shortcake, explore the iconic playthings that made the 1980s a decade of fun.
In the 1974 Rankin-Bass holiday spectacle, The Year Without a Santa Claus, the unforgettable Heat Miser & Snow Miser captured imaginations with their signature musical showdown. See it here!
These cheap vintage Halloween masks & costumes proved that when you spent a couple bucks to get ready for trick-or-treating, you got what you paid for. But the kids? They loved it.
See what 1960s boys’ clothes looked like in real life with vintage photos and catalog finds showing how kids dressed for school, play and special occasions.
Discover how footed sleepers in the 1950s were pajamas designed for warmth, comfort and a little independence.
See dozens of authentic 1960s dresses for girls, from smocked skirts to mod A-lines and sailor styles, all straight from vintage catalogs and ads.
When Baby Boomers were babies, everyday life for young families was shaped by postwar optimism, shifting expectations and the growing influence of expert parenting advice.
Discover old-fashioned activities for kids from the ’60s that still inspire fun, creativity and imagination today — no screens required.
Discover how Free to Be… You and Me brought big stars, bold ideas and timeless songs together to inspire a generation of kids in the 1970s.
Some of the most iconic 80s school supplies have been revitalized for a new generation (assuming they ever went away in the first place). Here are some of our sentimental faves that you can buy new even now!
Look years back at teachers, students and old school classrooms from more than a century ago, and see what education was like back then.
Remember these vintage above-ground pools – the kind that were big enough to actually swim in, but that you didn’t need to dig a big hole for?
A slumber party brought chaos, candy and confessions to countless American homes — the loudest and most legendary way to grow up.
50 years ago, the coolest vintage banana seat bikes for kids also had bright colors, high handlebars and slick rear tires. Check ’em out here!
Old playgrounds were risky, thrilling and full of sharp edges — see how kids from the past played hard and (mostly) survived.
BMX bikes from the 70s and 80s brought speed, stunts and serious fun — take a look back at the bikes that made every kid feel like a champ.
If you were a mid-century suburban kid you likely had a tubular metal swing set like one of these! Check out this nostalgia trip back to the backyards of your childhood.
Discover the history of San Francisco’s Sutro Baths, the stunning Victorian swimming complex that mixed ocean pools, museums, and seaside adventure.
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father was a TV sitcom about a widower and his son, Eddie that debuted in 1969. The memorable theme song was by Harry Nilsson.
We found a treasure trove of letters to Santa dating back to the 1930s (and they are adorable!). Come see what kids were asking for back in the day.
Here’s how to craft creative salt dough ornaments for Christmas! It’s easy to stir up a batch, and makes getting into the holiday spirit extra fun.
Look back at these 70s outfits for girls and relive the polyester & bell bottoms, plaids & dots, florals & stripes, denim & corduroy, gingham & seersucker and much more.
Remember having fun in vintage playhouses & forts like these? Take a look back at some of these retro play structures through the decades, from the ’50s through the ’80s!
If you think there couldn’t be much that’s changed about vintage baby bottles in the past 100 years or so, you may be surprised. Here’s a look!
100 years ago, public swimming pools were vital for summer survival The charm of vintage public swimming pools from the early 1900s transports us back
Vintage lunch boxes from the mid-century are a very specific, quirky slice of Americana. Featuring fanciful designs, lunch boxes back then featured everything from scenes
Revisit the ABC Afterschool Special episodes that shaped our childhood! We’ve listed every one of the vintage TV movies, along with photos and dozens of promos and full-length videos.
Do you remember any of these 1970s Valentine’s Day cards? Here’s an assortment of the options available for the classroom Valentine’s exchange!
Why do so many people love vintage Snoopy stickers? ‘You’d be astounded at the enthusiasm of Peanuts collectors,’ said cartoonist Charles Schulz.
Check out this fascinating collection of 1970s Christmas photos and magazine clips, showcasing the unique holiday spirit and trends of the era.
Old toys collectively reflect the fun & creativity that drove playtime way back when, and we have collected dozens of photo examples for your nostalgic enjoyment!
These fun vintage mechanical rides – including the ubiquitous coin-operated horse – made millions of kids smile.
Explore the history and enduring appeal of Wonder Horses, the iconic ride-on spring rocking horse toys that galloped into the hearts of children from the 1950s to the 1980s!
They weren’t all that safe (most proved to fail crash tests), but these retro baby car seats from the 1960s, 70s and 80s were among the first on the market with child passenger safety in mind.
With 3D lenticular printing on the covers and full-color stop-motion animation-like illustrations, these vintage Puppet Storybooks were irresistible to kids!
When teddy bears hit the market, the craze for these soft, comforting companions was instant and universal. Here’s a look back at the remarkable history of the teddy bear, and see lots of adorable versions through the years.
These little vintage plastic wading pools were the perfect size to help introduce babies and children to water fun in the safety of their own shallow kiddie pools!
The Raggedy Ann doll, in her humble glory, has stood the test of time. Let’s take a look back at her history!
Released in 1985, The Goonies didn’t just entertain Generation Xers – the movie left an indelible imprint on pop culture, turning into a touchstone for many growing up in the era.
Making a splash in 1970, Avon Small World dolls weren’t your ordinary collectibles. See what made them so extra special!
Barbie wasn’t just a doll – she had an empire! Look back at vintage Barbie play sets, complete with friends and family, fabulous dollhouses, pools, pets… and lots and lots of fashionable vintage Barbie clothes.
Millions know ‘Say, Say, Oh Playmate’ – also known as ‘Playmate’ – but few today know much about the rhyming song & hand clapping game. Find out more here!
Sesame Street started in 1969 as a daily TV show for preschoolers, featuring a street filled with puppets and humans who told stories, sang and danced. But it became so much more than just a television program!
Let’s reminisce for a minute about Hawaiian Punch, the iconic red beverage that has a history as rich as its flavor. The original product first
After using AI photography tools, these vintage clown pictures looked so much more lifelike than before (those eyes!), and details that were easily overlooked before became obvious. See some before and afters here!
If you were a kid during the 70s & 80s, be prepared for a wave of nostalgia from this collection of vintage Mattel toys for little kids, including See n Say & those little yellow shopping carts!
Though the neon blaze of vintage Lisa Frank has somewhat dimmed since the heady days of the 90s, it holds a soft spot in the hearts of many who grew up then.
Take a look back at these vintage Lego toys from the 20th century!
Feast your eyes on and wax nostalgic for these vintage and discontinued Lunchables. Which was your favorite?
Remember when every kid you knew couldn’t get enough of the literary phenomenon known as the Choose Your Own Adventure books? Take a look back, and see lots of old covers here!
This collection of vintage Girl Scout uniforms, badges and insignia represents a century of tradition, friendship and — most of all — girl power.
Take a look back at dozens of the most popular (and delicious) candy from the 70s – including several you can’t get anymore!
Remember the joy of opening a fresh set of these magic markers and felt-tip pens? Here are some retro brands you might remember!
‘Suzy Homemaker’ was the name of a vintage line of toy appliances that encouraged girls to play by cleaning and cooking… just like mom!
Disneyland in the 1980s was one of the ultimate vacation destinations for people of all ages. See some of the maps and materials they were using to promote their attractions — old and new!
These vintage Thermos ads from the 1950s, 60s and 70s feature designs so iconic, you might find the ones you used to have!
Introduced in the late 1970s, Underoos were a popular brand of colorful children’s underwear featuring characters from popular franchises like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Star Wars.
Cabbage Patch Kids were a popular line of dolls created by American art student and illustrator Xavier Roberts in the late 1970s. By the time
It’s incredible to see how awesome — in size, in design, in popularity — old-fashioned indoor swimming pools could be. Here, take a look at 10 gorgeous pools from days gone by!
Hot on the heels of the flower child era, back in 1974, Mattel introduced a set of toys that were sort of the anti-Barbie: The Sunshine Family dolls.
Before gummy vitamins existed, there were several other chewable supplements for kids – but none was more iconic than Flintstones vitamins.
While it’s not unusual today for a child’s growing up to be well-documented, a chronological series of vintage baby pictures like these were a rare advantage in the early 20th century!
Some hardware stores in the 70s used to stock tons of great toys and Christmas gifts for kids – like dolls and trucks, bikes and ride-on horses, car sets and craft kits. Take a look!
The chance to take a trip through the aisles of Toys R Us in the 1990s is over forever, but you can join us in reminiscing with this collection of the toys and games kids wanted back then!
How exactly did they repair antique dolls back in the 1950s and before – in the days before toys and dolls were made of plastic? Here’s a look at what went into doll construction and restoration!
Over the years and across the miles, a tricycle has been a rite of pedaling passage for generations of toddlers and preschoolers. Check out our collection of vintage pictures of old trikes
A bouncy new baby is wonderful – but quite a burden, too! In the early 20th century, baby window cages like these were promoted as making babies more fun since they were easier to care for.
Look back at adorable vintage 1950s nursery decor and furniture from the 50s, plus get advice from interior decorators about old-school baby bedrooms.
Anyone obsessed with vintage Strawberry Shortcake probably dreamed of these pieces of sugary sweet delight featuring their favorite gal – dolls and toys, of course, but also bedding, wallpaper, roller skates and more.
Called ‘the world’s greatest toy catalog,’ vintage FAO Schwarz toy catalogs like this gives you a peek at what children of all ages loved to play with back in the sixties.
When you were a kid, there was nothing else like the joy of old-fashioned treehouses or forts: a little getaway that you built (maybe with some help) that could be a clubhouse or castle or spaceship or simply a place for a little peace and quiet.
Follow us backward through time, and check out dozens of the old roller skates that were so well-loved in the heyday of roller skating!
Remember these classic Fisher-Price preschool toys, like the vintage corn popper, colorful xylophone, music box TV and chatter telephone?
Today’s toddlers ride in style in the sleek and racy, brightly-colored, low-slung plastic numbers like the vintage Big Wheel from Marx – that whiz, spin, skid, slide, race and even roar.
When it came to parenting the ’40s, were moms too easy on their kids? Was being a parent harder than the generation before? Here’s what people said in 1940.
What better use to make of those big, clumsy cartons that once held ar new refrigerator or range? Make a fun toyland for the kids with these creative DIY cardboard box fort & playhouse ideas!
Have a look back at these cute vintage Fisher-Price dollhouses from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s! Take a look at how they changed over the years, and see which one you remember best.
Step back in time to see antique baby carriage designs, from wicker bassinets to ornate Victorian prams.
Take a look back at these adorable antique baby portraits from the 1800s, captured in these pictures on cabinet cards, cartes des visite, and other antique photographic prints from long ago.
Take a look at more than 40 of the cute vintage plush toys and sweet stuffed animals that millions of kids cuddled back in the ’80s.
Compared to now, teenage girls in the 1950s had a lot of strict rules and etiquette considerations – and the consequences of falling short in certain areas could have a pretty considerable effect on her life. Here’s a look at the kind of messaging teens got back then.
These vintage play tunnels were mini passageways that kids could crawl through, play in, or even sleep inside. Here’s a look back at a few!
See some of the dozens of the most popular vintage board games from the ’30s & ’40s, including Camelot, Ro-Nock-O, Crow Hunt, Senet and more old-fashioned fun.
Retro pool toys like these plastic inflatables made summer twice as fun when you could float and play and create pretend worlds right in the swimming pool!
Here are just a few of the toys you could find at a Woolworth’s store in the ’50s – the old discount retailer that seemed to sell just about everything!
Pull the ring and hear her talk: See the 1960s talking dolls, from Chatty Cathy to Mrs. Beasley, that ruled toy chests for a decade.
Leave it to the kids if you want an honest opinion of TV’s effect on family life (1955) by Jack Cluett – June 1955 When
This vintage playhouse from the ’60s is a real house, with a Dutch front door and hearts and flowers dormers and a white picket fence.
