Toy of the Week Archives : The Retro Network

Toy Spotlight: Raspberry Tart and Rhubarb Monkey

One day when I got off the bus in kindergarten, my mom was waiting for me in the car with my brother strapped into his car seat. It was March of 1983 and we had

Toy Spotlight: Aladdin Toys

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose this toy/these toys? This isn’t just one toy, it’s a whole bunch of toys in two formats: Barbie style fashion doll and (mostly) plush animals. Aladdin was my favorite of

Toy Spotlight: Search for The White Ranger

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose this toy? I chose the White Ranger for two reasons: 1. It’s a story about looking for a popular toy for a child at Christmastime. 2. The recent tragic passing

Toy of the Week: California Ken

Karen Flieger

Over the summer, I wrote an article about the first Ken(s) I received, Roller Skating Ken. I also wrote about how those first Ken dolls

Toy of the Week: Mr. Sketch Scented Markers

Karen Flieger

If the 1980s had to be summed up with one specific sense, it would be scent. From Strawberry Shortcake dolls to Scratch and Sniff stickers and anything from Yankee Candle or Bath and Body Works,

Toy of The Week: Cody the Coca Cola Plush Critter

Karen Flieger

The selection for this article is inspired by my one of the prizes from my entry in the TRN Summer Camp program earlier this summer: a metal lunch box filled with penny candy. The winners

Toy of the Week: Roller Skating Ken (Mattel, 1981)

Karen Flieger

Growing up as a girl in the 1980’s, Barbie and her friends were a major portion of my childhood. Barbie was (and still is) present at birthday parties, on Christmas morning, every Saturday morning, after

Toy and Event of the Week: Plush Dale and our Family Vacation to Walt Disney World

Karen Flieger

Why did I choose this toy and event? Originally, I chose this Dale plush for my Toys of the Week series to coincide with the Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers movie which premiered on Disney

Toy of the Week: Yappy (Yorkshire Terrier) by Ty

Karen Flieger

It’s a popular thing these days for pet owners to celebrate their “Gotcha Day”, the day they obtained their beloved pet by posting pictures of their pet online. Our Yorkies were not our first pets.

Toy of the Week: LOL Surprise B.B. Moonlight

Karen Flieger

This week, I’m taking a little bit of a different angle and going with a doll from a current toy line that reminded me of some things from when I was a young child combined

Toy of the Week: My Favorite Fairytale Collection Alice from Alice in Wonderland

Karen Flieger

Why did I choose this toy? Last Saturday was International Tea Day. Whenever I think of tea, I think of tea parties. When I think of tea parties, I think of Alice in Wonderland. Interesting fact

Toy of the Week: New Kids on the Block Hanging Loose Jordan Knight Doll

Karen Flieger

Why did I choose this toy? I chose this doll in honor of Jordan Knight’s birthday earlier this week. Also, New Kids on the Block just started their latest “Mixtape Tour” with special guests En

Toy of the Week: Han Solo (Star Wars Collector Series)

Karen Flieger

Next week, pop culture will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of Star Wars. The franchise marked a major turning point in pop culture on multiple fronts from cinema to toy marketing. My mom used to

Toy of the Week: Rainbow Brite

Karen Flieger

As I’ve mentioned in a few of my previous articles, many popular toy franchises of the 1980’s originated as greeting card characters. Rainbow Brite is no exception. However, instead of being a member of the

Toy of the Week: Le Clic Camera

Karen Flieger

I can hear the hobby and professional photographers gasping for breath. No worries. I know a camera isn’t technically a toy. LeClic cameras were so much more than a camera and because I used mine

Toy of the Week: Lamb Chop

Karen Flieger

When I picked Hubert the Harris Bank Lion earlier this month, I knew I wanted to end the month with a lamb or sheep related toy. My mom told me that I used to have

Toy of the Week: Catra (Princess of Power)

Karen Flieger

So far, I’ve profiled two toys I still have (Rose Petal and Medley) and one I had when I was little, but gave away as a teenager (Hubert the Harris Bank Lion). This week, I