80s
Big Trak
November of 1979 was the moment the future finally arrived in the American living room. When the holidays arrived a month later, many American children (mostly boys) were treated to the toy of their dreams, CONTINUE READING…
Toys
90s
Looking Back at the Dick Tracy Toy Line
Take a trip back to 1990 when Dick Tracy ruled the movie theaters, and the Dick Tracy toy line tried to rule the store shelves. CONTINUE READING…
80s
The Fall of Hills Department Store
Or, Hills is where the toys were. Recently on the Retro Network podcast, Jason and Mickey talked about stores from their childhoods. Take a listen to Episode 10 if you haven’t already. I was CONTINUE READING…
90s Featured
The Skip-It
One toy that any kid from the 90s is likely to remember is the Skip it! Don’t remember it? Well, I’m sure you’ll remember the catchy theme song from the commercials that repeatedly played while CONTINUE READING…
Essay
WWE Memorable Moments – Series 1 (Figure 4 of 4)
Hello TRN Readers! Today I’ll be rounding out my WWE Memorable Moments Series of Posts that I started last year. It’s been fun thinking of different ideas for Wrestling Figurines, and today, we go even CONTINUE READING…
A Geekster Magazine
Toys That Had the Best Gimmicks
Toy manufacturers have been able to squeeze in all sorts of features into our GI Joe, Transformers, and He-Man figures throughout the years. Spring-loaded missiles, lights and sounds, chips, battle-damage armor are just a few CONTINUE READING…
News
TRN Toy Box: Holiday Optimus Prime
Today I’ll be reviewing the Hasbro Pulse exclusive Transformers Holiday Optimus Prime! Figure Descriptions • ROLLING THROUGH A WINTER WONDERLAND: Santa looks a little different this year! Naughty or nice, Optimus Prime is delivering holiday CONTINUE READING…
Time Capsules
Complete Scan of a Toys ‘R’ Us Sale Paper From 1987
In this time capsule, we’re taking you back to 1987 with a 16-page sale paper from Toys ‘R’ Us. We’ll let you salivate over all of the incredible toys found inside that will surely invoke CONTINUE READING…
A2
How Monopoly Helped Free POWs in World War II
Park Place, Boardwalk, and a hidden map with a secret escape route? For Allied POWs during World War II, Monopoly games came equipped with real-life “get out of jail free” cards. During World War II, CONTINUE READING…
Essay
TRN Toy Box: Transformers: The Movie Retro Figures
Due out in mid-January from HasbroPulse.com (currently sold out) and Walmart.com, Hot Rod and Starscream are also due to hit Walmart stores in January. Priced at 33.99, these retro-inspired G1 figures from the 1986 animated CONTINUE READING…
80s
Rumble in the Cabbage Patch: The Cabbage Patch Kid Craze
One of the staple toy lines of the ’80s was Coleco’s Cabbage Patch Kids line. Every girl I knew as a kid had at least one Cabbage Patch Kid. I had a few, including an CONTINUE READING…
Essay
WWE Memorable Moments – Series 1 (Figure 3 of 4)
WWE: Memorable Moments Series 1(Figure Reveal 3 of 4) Hello Everyone. It’s been a few months, but I’m back to continue my series on my fictional or hypothetical WWE Action Figure Series that highlights important CONTINUE READING…
Columns
Toy of the Week: California Ken
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 CONTINUE READING…
Columns
Toy of the Week: Mr. Sketch Scented Markers
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, CONTINUE READING…
Articles
The Spooky History of the Ouija Board
So there’s no gray-haired psychic in your town? And you can’t sneak another call into the astrology hotline without your mom noticing the long-distance charges? If you need some answers in your life, and answers CONTINUE READING…
