Nerf ball

 

Launched in 1970, the foam ball was billed as the "world's first official indoor ball." How safe was it? Well, marketing promised, "You can't damage lamps or break windows. You can't hurt babies or old people." No wonder it sold around 4 million in its first year.

Weebles

 

Habro's Playskool line had already given the world Mr. Potato Head two decades earlier, and in 1971 it turned to another kitchen staple for its next sensation: eggs. The Weebles, thankfully, were not so fragile. If anything, Weebles' success was due to how simple, safe and durable they were in the hands of little ones.

The skateboard

 

Skateboarding had seemingly come and gone, cresting and washing out with the surfing trend in the early 1960s. Then, in 1972, Frank Nasworthy invented his Cadillac Wheels, durable urethane wheels for modern boards. It opened up possibilities with riding. By 1975, the year this pictured "Black Knight" popped up in a catalog, the sport was hot as ever and a permanent part of American culture.

Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle

 

Ideal Toys debuted its popular line of tiny toy bikes in 1973, the year the celebrity stuntman made a lucky 13 jumps on his Harley, including an epic leap over 13 vans to start the year. Well, he crashed once, not that that stopped him or slowed the sales of his merchandising.

Magna Doodle

 

Tyco sold millions of these art pads, first released in 1974, a decade and a half after the introduction of The Ohio Art Company's Etch A Sketch. Which did you prefer?

Pet Rock

 

The ultimate fad, this novelty blew up in the middle of 1975. By Christmas, despite solid sales, the trend was essentially dying. Not that inventor Gary Dahl was likely upset. He had sold over a million stones for four bucks a pop by that point.

Pong

 

It's hard to believe that home video game consoles are as old as the Pet Rock. Yet we remember video games before they had cartridges. You bought a home console and it played one game, and that was enough of a marvel. In 1974, an Atari engineer suggested a home version of its popular arcade cabinet Pong that could connect to a television set. A year later, Atari presented Home Pong to Sears in its Chicago skyscraper, and the retail giant ordered 150,000 units for the upcoming holiday season. The consoles were first branded with Sears' Tele-Games name.

Image: wishbookweb

Stretch Armstrong

 

Kenner launched Strech in 1976 and stopped manufacturing the ultra-elastic hero in 1980. Fun fact: He was filled with corn syrup. Hopefully, none of you found that out the hard way.

Micronauts

 

Before Transformers, there were Micronauts. Mego premiered its articulated action figures in 1976, but they had their moment in 1977, perhaps thanks to the sci-fi mania sweeping the globe post–Star Wars. Mego famously passed on the license to sell Star Wars toys, but perhaps the company found some relief when Marvel Comics launched a Micronauts title. All this hype would not prevent Mego for going under in the early-'80s.

Mattel Electronic Football

 

The Atari 2600 was the revolution of 1977, launched in September of that year. As brilliant as that home gaming system was, the price was steep to play — $199, about $800 in today's cash. Mattel's 9-volt-powered handheld device was a rudimentary representation of football, merely red rectangles on a black field, but far cheaper at $29.95. That put it in more hands. In many ways, it paved the way for the Game Boy and iPhone apps.

Simon and Speak & Spell

 

Simon, Milton Bradley's memorization game, was an improved design of an idea that had been around for years. Texas Instruments's Speak & Spell, on the other hand, planted the seeds of computing in the brains of small ones. The robotic voices was so cool. Collector's note: You know you have an original if it has the raised buttons. Both hit the shelves in 1978.

Star Wars Toys

 

Though the film changed pop culture in 1977, the tie-in toys were surprisingly slow to hit shelves (especially by today's standards). Demand was so high in 1977 that Kenner — who won the license after Mego passed, as mentioned above — instead sold certificates redeemable for four figures. The line was expanded in 1978, and raked in cash, but rabid demand made Luke and his gang hard-to-get. By 1979, as you can see from this ad, the options had increased, ready for the hands of children who were awaiting Empire Strikes Back. Oh, how some things never change.

SEE MORE: 10 MOST WANTED CHRISTMAS TOYS OF THE 1960S

 

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