Journey Through Christmases Past: Toy Crazes from the 1960s - 1990s

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Happy Sunday! At least for another hour or so. We are 145 days from Christmas 2026. I am in full "can't wait for fall" mode, which means the holidays aren't far behind. 

For Journey through Christmases Past, I thought it would be neat to talk about some of the toy crazes from years past.

1960s

G. I. Joe - If you wonder where the term "action figure" came from, you can look right to the G.I. Joe franchise and Hasbro. Fearing boys wouldn't play with dolls, they marketed G.I. Joe as a movable fighting man. The original figures represented four branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Check out some neat images and more information at Welcome to the Sixties by clicking here.

1970s

Speaking of action figures, did you know that George Lucas reduced his director's salary in exchange for retaining all merchandising and sequel rights? I didn't until today, because in searching for toy crazes from the 1970s, this one popped up. Lucas's move is said to have transformed movie merchandising. Check out The Toy Collectors Guide for Star Wars figures from 1977 - 1985 here. There was such a demand for these action figures that Kenner sold empty boxes with an I.O.U. for the action figures to be delivered later. Check out this article from Braithwaite here.

1980s

This is the first toy craze I remember, because I wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll. I was lucky enough to get one, though I still don't know how Aunt Jean pulled it off. These dolls were gone in minutes as soon as they hit the store. History shared an article about the craze here. This frenzy over these dolls is said to have been the first time a toy sparked violent riots and brawls. If you check YouTube, there are some videos. I guess nothing says Merry Christmas like getting into a fight over a toy.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) also came out in the 1980s. Known for saving and redefining the gaming industry, this was a must-have for every video game lover. By the early 1990s, when the NES II came out, my son sure wanted one. Check out this article from SyFy about NES here. 

1990s

There are two popular toys I recall from the 1990s: Tickle Me Elmo and the oddly shaped, colorful Furby. Of course, only one of them got temporarily banned by the NSA.

As someone who was never an Elmo fan, it blew my mind that his first appearance on Sesame Street was in 1985. He has been annoying people for over 40 years now! I was still partially working in retail when Tickle Me Elmo came out, but I don't recall our store ever getting such popular toys in. Check out this YouTube video about people trying to hunt down Tickle Me Elmo in 1996.

Though Furbies were not on my radar in the late 90s, these somewhat adorable toys with their pointy ears were designed to make them seem like actual pets. They spoke their own language, and they interacted with their owners. In this November 1998 article from the Los Angeles Times, they captured some of the tense interactions between shoppers. Not only was this toy banned by the NSA in certain places, but some parents feared the Furby was teaching their kids to swear. Does Santa need to put the Furby on the naughty list? 

What were some of your favorite toys during these decades? Do you recall any toy crazes of your younger years? 

Journey Through Christmases Past: America's Independence - Christmas 1783

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Happy Sunday! We are officially 152 days away from Christmas. It is creeping closer all the time. I've been downloading Christmas fiction in the hopes I can read more seasonal books this year. I should also check out the Christmas Podcast Directory to help me get into the spirit as quickly as possible. With my work schedule this year, I am going to need it. 

Today, Journey through Christmases Past is traveling way back to 1783, the year the War for American Independence ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed in September. 

For the first time since the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, our new country found itself at peace. Seven years beyond the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and still four years away from the Constitutional Convention, Americans were not engaging in active conflict, and the country no longer endured British occupation. The Treaty of Paris formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. 

Three days before Christmas, George Washington resigned his commission before Congress and returned to life as a private citizen, an act that signified the new country's difference from the monarchies of Europe and infused the holiday with a sense of national pride. 

Candles glowed in windows from New Hampshire to Georgia, as the young nation stepped out of the dark shadow of a hard-fought war. Modest celebrations marked the absence of military patrols and wartime restrictions. An atmosphere of relief, gratitude, and hope could be found throughout the country, where churches blended Christmas traditions with expressions of thanksgiving. And while Americans knew the future was uncertain, Christmas 1783 gave them a chance to reflect and imagine the possibilities. 

AI gave me a bit of an assist in compiling data for this article. 

Journey Through Christmases Past: History of Christmas in July

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Welcome back to Sunday! We are 166 days away from Christmas. Isn't that crazy? 

Hope July has been good to you. We are back from vacation. We spent time at some of our favorite places on the Outer Banks, The Christmas Shop & General Store in Manteo and The Christmas Mouse in Nags Head. 

Music Tree in Manteo

Peace Tree in Nags Head 

Considering we are now over halfway through the year, I thought it might be cool to talk a bit about where Christmas in July came from. 

According to Department 56, the first mention of Christmas in July is attributed to an 1892 French opera titled Werther. The phrase "Christmas in July" is mentioned by one of the characters as a group rehearses a carol in July. 

Though nowadays, Christmas in July often refers to merchant sales, that wasn't the case until after World War II. The first documented Christmas in July celebration had nothing to do with retailers. It all began at North Carolina's Keystone Camp under the watchful eye of the camp's co-founder Fannie Holt. Country Living shared all about the camp's tradition in this article. This first midsummer Christmas event featured carols, a tree, and a visit from Santa. 

In 1940, the film Christmas in July, starring Dick Powell and Ellen Drew, hit theaters in October. The film tells the story of office worker Jimmy MacDonald being tricked by some of his co-workers into believing he has won the Maxford House Coffee company's $25,000 slogan prize. Jimmy winds up with a raise and a promotion, and he and his girlfriend Betty go on a spending spree before the pranksters confess. 

Also in 1940, The Salvation Army launched its Christmas in July program focused on collecting gifts early to reach missions worldwide by December. If you Google this, you will see many area Salvation Army branches are running Christmas in July programs to support a variety of causes. 

According to Current360, the U.S. Post Office and U.S. Army and Navy officials joined forces with American advertisers and the greeting card industry to throw a Christmas in July luncheon in 1944 to promote an early Christmas mailing campaign for troops serving overseas. This encouraged advertisers to take advantage of this for their own marketing purposes. Since then, Christmas in July sales have become a regular thing for brick-and-mortar and then online retailers. 

Hallmark Channel began its Christmas in July programming in 2012. Great American Family started their Great American Christmas in 2022. 

These days, Christmas in July is a nationwide, mid‑summer celebration driven by TV networks, retailers, and travel companies, but it is great to see the many community and charity events that also take place this time of year. 

Journey through Christmas Past: Christmas with the Ingalls Family

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Happy Sunday! Hope you enjoyed your Fourth of July holiday. Now that we are into the second half of the year, it seems Christmas will be here before we know it. Are you already planning, or are you waiting until the fall? 

This coming week, Netflix will premiere its new Little House on the Prairie series, which has already been renewed for a second season. I shared the trailer and a link to an article about the new series on my Laura's Little Houses blog. You can read that here.

As Journey through Christmases Past dives into Christmas with the Ingalls family, please understand that I am away from home, so I don't have access to my materials and am taking some of this information from online sources. 

Six of the original nine books feature Christmas chapters:

• Little House in the Big Woods
• Little House on the Prairie
• On the Banks of Plum Creek
• By the Shores of Silver Lake
• The Long Winter
• These Happy Golden Years

Some moments that are memorable to me were: the Christmas with the cousins in Little House in the Big Woods; when Mr. Edwards delivers presents from Santa Claus to the Ingalls Family in Little House on the Prairie; the Ingalls family's very first Christmas in On the Banks of Plum Creek; and when the Christmas barrel arrives after the hard winter of 1880-1881 in The Long Winter. 

However, my favorite Christmastime memories from the Little House series come in These Happy Golden Years. Laura has been separated from her family as she has taken on her first teaching job. Because of the snowy, cold weather, she thought she would be stuck spending Christmas with the Brewsters. However, Almanzo shows up to take her home, despite the risks. This is the moment their relationship shifts. Then, once they are engaged, Almanzo returns to De Smet early from a trip visiting his parents with his brother Royal to surprise Laura on Christmas Eve. 

What always stood out to me about these Christmases was their simplicity and how they focused on family and friends. They played games. They ate good food. It became a time to think of others, and they felt grateful in The Long Winter for the gifts of others after a long period of being isolated by the elements. 

Christmas on the prairie was one of hope, love, and strength. It was a season to appreciate all their blessings and the joy of spending time with loved ones. 

Great American Christmas in July Starts Today!

Great American Media announced that its annual Christmas in July programming begins tonight! You can check out their movies--new and old favorites here. For more information regarding their announcment, you can visit their site.

Journey through Christmases Past: TV Dads through the Decades

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Happy Sunday! Today is the first day of summer, and there are only 187 days until Christmas! 

I will be honest. Work is leaving little time for blogging, so this week's post comes with a bit of an assist from AI. In honor of Father's Day, I wanted to share something fun about dads through the decades. Then it turned into TV dads. Enjoy reminiscing. 

Photo from a Facebook post

1950s Dad — The Classic Christmas Commander

He wore a cardigan, carved the turkey with precision, and strung lights with military-level seriousness. He read the newspaper while the kids played with new toys and made sure the tree was perfectly centered in the picture window. His gift? Something practical, like slippers or a pipe, which he accepted with a proud nod.

While this dad was before my time, I can totally see Ward Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver at work here.

Photo from IMDB

1960s Dad — The Cool, Calm, and Slightly Groovy One

He introduced color TV, insisted on tinsel one strand at a time, and played Christmas albums on the hi-fi. He might’ve assembled a bike or two, but only after “studying” the instructions with a cup of coffee. He loved a good gadget. Electric carving knife, anyone?

Do you recall the episode "Steve and the Computer" from My Three Sons? I totally see patriarch Steve Douglas in the above description.

Photo from this Facebook post

1970s Dad — The DIY Holiday Hero

This was the dad who built toys, fixed toys, and occasionally broke toys while fixing them. He hung those giant C9 bulbs that could heat a small home and drove the family around in a wood-paneled station wagon to see the neighborhood lights. His Christmas morning uniform: plaid robe, slippers, and a mug of Folgers.

Minus the plaid robe, didn't you immediately think of Mike from The Brady Bunch here?

Photo found on Christmas TV History

1980s Dad — The King of Christmas Morning Chaos

He was the master of assembling anything that required batteries, screws, or a PhD in engineering. He recorded Christmas on a giant camcorder that weighed as much as a toddler. He stayed up late wrapping gifts in paper featuring Garfield or He-Man and pretended not to hear the kids at 4:30 AM.

Steven Keaton from Family Ties, won't you please stand up and take a bow for being the dad we all wanted in the 80s.

Photo from People article

1990s Dad — The Tech-Savvy (Sort Of) Holiday Innovator

He programmed the VCR to record every holiday special, even though half of them cut off early. He helped set up the Super Nintendo, installed the new cordless phone, and proudly handed out gifts in those shiny metallic gift bags that required zero wrapping. He loved a good mall Santa photo and a trip to Blockbuster after Christmas dinner.

There were a lot of great TV dads in the 90s: Philip Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Carl Winslow from Family Matters, and Tim Taylor from Home Improvement, but my favorite is Danny Tanner from Full House. I loved the 80s, but I think the 90s is my next favorite decade.

Photo from Mainlining Christmas

2000s Dad — The Digital Christmas Dad

He downloaded Christmas music onto the family computer, burned holiday CDs, and tried to figure out the new digital camera before the big day. He assembled Razor scooters, replaced AA batteries like a champ, and documented everything on early Facebook. His favorite gift? Anything with a power cord.

Hal Wilkerson was crazy on Malcom in the Middle, but he definitely loved his kids. Do you remember the episode where Reese turns Hal into a viral sensation by posting his father's embarrassing moments online? I think he deserved coal in his stocking for that one.

Photo from IMDB

2010s Dad — The Pinterest-Project Participant

He helped hang the “rustic farmhouse” stockings, wrapped gifts with kraft paper and twine, and tried to recreate a Pinterest-worthy Christmas breakfast. He set up the Elf on the Shelf (sometimes creatively, sometimes at 11:59 PM). He FaceTimed relatives during gift opening and took 200 photos on his phone.

You have to admit that Andre "Dre" Johnson on Black-ish tries hard. He is still seeking Pops' approval. He has wild overreactions that are hilarious — like the time he set the Christmas tree on fire ("Just Christmas, Baby") and picked up his favorite daughter, then rushed off to safety, pushing one of his other kids out of the way. And he has a deep appreciation of Black history and culture, which he uses to educate his family. While he actually has a tough time navigating social media trends, that was a pretty nice tree he and his daughter put together before it burned down.

Here's to all the TV dads and real dads doing their best.

Christmas in July New Movies Coming from Hallmark Channel

Get ready, Hallmark Channel Christmas movie lovers! "Christmas in July" starts soon! All-new original holiday movies kick off with "Christmas Under Construction" on Saturday, July 4. For the complete schedule and movie information, visit Hallmark Channel's website at https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/christmas-in-july/2026-christmas-in-july-movies