The first yo-yo company was opened in Santa Barbara, California, by a Filipino immigrant in 1928. But they have been documented to be around since 440 BC. But did you know that Syrians had a superstitious belief that yo-yos caused a drought? Yo-yos were banned in Syria in 1933 because many locals believed they were …
Transformers was a Hasbro toy line and cartoon series that debuted in 1984 and quickly became one of the best-selling toys. Transformers inspired an animated film in 1986, numerous future toy lines, and a series of live-action films. But did you know how Hasbro came up with Transformers Toys? Hasbro executives went to the Tokyo …
The guillotine was particularly designed to carry out executions efficiently. It consisted of a tall frame with a weighted blade that was suspended at the top. But did you know that the device was so popular in the 1970s that toy replicas were made for children to play with? The Guillotine was so famous in …
Hello Kitty is one of the world’s most recognizable and enduring cartoon characters, but even the most devoted fans have a lot to learn about the adorable icon. Did you know how the founding company Sanrio started? Sanrio, the company behind the Hello Kitty brand, began selling silk in the 1960s. When they first started …
Death Row Records is a label based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1991 by The D.O.C., Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey. Back then, the label made a name by releasing multi-platinum hip-hop albums by West Coast-based artists such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and Tupac. Death Row …
The Transformers series is an American film franchise that was based on an animated series of the same name that was released in the 1980s. Michael Bay directed the first five of the films of the series. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set to come out in 2023, and has fans excited. But back …
Why Was Optimus Prime Resurrected in the Transformers Movie? Read More »
Gary Dahl, an advertising executive created the Pet Rock collectible in 1975. These were basically smooth stones acquired from the city of Rosarito, Mexico, and were marketed like live pets. Odd as it seemed, this toy was all the rager in 1975 but did you know how much it cost? The Pet Rocks sold about …
In the 1990s and early 2000s, a crime spree targeting fast-food chains started from the Bay Area to Massachusetts. The burglar called himself the Roofman. His nickname explained how he broke into the restaurants. But did you know where he would hide after committing his crimes? Former US Army Reservist Jeffery Allen Manchester, “The Roofman,” …
The Super Soaker was very popular for so many years that it garnered The World’s Best Selling Toy title with almost $1 billion in sales. While Hasbro owns the Super Soaker and Nerf brand, these toys were invented by Lonnie Johnson. But did you know he was underpaid royalties for the toy and several other …
Did Hasbro Pay Sufficient Royalties to the Inventor of the “Super Soaker”? Read More »
The Christmas season usually sparks a flurry of emotions, with gift-giving at its forefront. But did you know that the fictional British bear was initially conceived as gifts for Christmas? The Paddington Bear toy was first designed in 1972 by Shirley Clarkson. She made it as a Christmas gift to her children Joanna and Jeremy …
