Toy Industry Hall of Fame
Encyclopedia
The Toy Industry Hall of Fame recognizes the contributions of toy-makers around the world. It is maintained by the Toy Industry Foundation, an arm of the Toy Industry Association
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Toy Industry Association
The Toy Industry Association is a trade association that promotes the marketing of new toys, games, and puzzles. The organization usually has trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City during February. Consumers in general are not able to attend...
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| Inducted, 1985 | |||
| 1 | Louis Marx Louis Marx Louis Marx was an American toy maker and businessman whose company, Louis Marx and Company was the largest toy company in the world in the 1950s... (1896–1982) |
Established Louis Marx and Company Louis Marx and Company Louis Marx and Company was an American toy manufacturer from 1919 to 1978. Its boxes were often imprinted with the slogan, "One of the many Marx toys, have you all of them?"-Logo and Offerings:... in 1921. By 1950, it was the world's largest toy manufacturer. Marx was also first to mass-produce mechanical toys in the U.S., and many of his early wind-ups are valued collectors’ items. |
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| 2 | Merrill L. Hassenfeld (1918–1979) |
Built Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States... into a leading manufacturer of playthings from a maker of school supplies. He started with a line of doctor and nurse kits, and air raid warden’s sets. He oversaw the development of such toys as Mr. Potato Head and G.I.Joe. |
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| 3 | Nathan Greenman (1916–1976) |
Preeminent in the business of toy wholesaling through Greeman Brothers, Inc., one of the largest toy wholesalers in the United States. | |
| 4 | Marvin Glass (1914–1974) |
In 1941, he founded the first studio for toy design - Marvin Glass and Associates Marvin Glass and Associates Marvin Glass and Associates was a toy design and engineering firm based out of Chicago, Illinois. While not a household name, Marvin Glass and his employees created some of the most successful toys and games of the 20th century. Marvin Glass and Associates is the source of many of the most... . Successful toys he brought to the marketplace include Mr. Machine and Rock-Em-Sock-Em Robots. |
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| 5 | A.C. Gilbert Alfred Carlton Gilbert Alfred Carlton Gilbert was an American inventor, athlete, toy-maker and businessman. Born in Salem, Oregon and died in Boston, Massachusetts, Gilbert is best known as the inventor of the Erector Set.-Early life:... (1884–1961) |
He created and manufactured through the A. C. Gilbert Company A. C. Gilbert Company The A. C. Gilbert Company was an American toy company, once one of the largest toy companies in the world. It is best known for introducing the Erector Set to the marketplace.... the Erector Erector Set Erector Set is the trade name of a toy construction set that is popular in the United States.It consists of collections of small metal beams with regular holes for nuts, bolts, screws, and mechanical parts such as pulleys, gears, and small electric motors.The brand name is currently used for... construction sets. It was largely due to his determined effort and skill as an organizer that the industry’s first trade association, the Toy Manufacturers of America, was established in 1916. |
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| 6 | Jerome M. Fryer (1918–1983) |
President of CBS Toys, acquired Samuel Gabriel Sons & Co. and expanded it into a major concern, adding other established names - such as Child Guidance, Creative Playthings Creative Playthings Creative Playthings was an educational toy store and catalogue that was established by Frank and Theresa Caplan in 1945. The goal of Creative Playthings was to provide simple and beautifully designed toys to promote a child’s creativity and imagination.... , Gilbert, Gym-Dandy, Hubley, Ideal, Kohner and Wonder - into what would become the CBS Toys family. |
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| 7 | Herman Fisher Herman Fisher Herman Guy Fisher , was born in Unionville Pennsylvania. He is best known as the co-founder of the famous toy brand Fisher-Price.-Biography:Herman G. Fisher was born in Unionville, Pennsylvania in 1898... (1898–1975) |
Founded the firm of Fisher-Price Fisher-Price Fisher-Price is a company that produces toys for infants and children, headquartered in East Aurora, New York. Fisher-Price has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel since 1993.-History:... and built it into the world’s largest and most respected manufacturer of preschool toys. |
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| Inducted, 1986 | |||
| 8 | Raymond P. Wagner (1932–1985) |
President of Mattel Mattel Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from... Toys (1973 to 1983). |
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| 9 | Charles S. Raizen (1892–1967) |
Owner of Transogram, best-remembered for The Little Country Doctor and Nurse Kit, inspired by Dr. Daniel Defoe. | |
| 10 | George S. Parker George Swinnerton Parker George Swinnerton Parker was an American board game inventor and industrialist who founded Geo. S. Parker Co... (1866–1952) |
Founder of Parker Brothers Parker Brothers Parker Brothers is a toy and game manufacturer and brand. Since 1883, the company has published more than 1,800 games; among their best known products are Monopoly, Cluedo , Sorry, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Ouija, Aggravation, and Probe... , created Rook and Pit, introduced jigsaw puzzles, Ping Pong and Monopoly is an industry phenomenon in itself. |
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| Inducted, 1987 | |||
| 11 |  Walt Disney Walt Disney Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O... (1901–1966) |
Walt Disney had a great affinity for toys, and happily, the industry's products depicting so many of his ingratiating characters are helping to communicate that joy and happiness. | |
| 12 | Joshua Lionel Cowen Joshua Lionel Cowen Joshua Lionel Cowen , born Joshua Lionel Cohen, was an American inventor and the cofounder of Lionel Corporation, a manufacturer of model railroads and toy trains.... (1877–1965) |
Lionel Lionel, LLC Lionel, LLC is a designer and importer of toy trains and model railroads, based in Chesterfield Township, Michigan. Its roots lie in the 1969 purchase of the Lionel product line by cereal conglomerate General Mills.... replicas that paralleled the growth and development of U.S. railroads became the classic of toy trains and accessories; even the company's catalogs and its advertisements were classics - all mirroring the genius of Cowen. |
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| Inducted, 1988 | |||
| 13 | James J. Shea, Sr. (1889–1977) |
His genius for solving complex problems yielded dramatic results for The Milton Bradley Company Milton Bradley Company The Milton Bradley Company is an American game company established by Milton Bradley in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1860. In 1920, it absorbed the game production of McLoughlin Brothers, formerly the largest game manufacturer in the United States, and in 1987, it purchased Selchow and Righter,... , which he headed for over thirty years, building it into a giant among manufacturers of games as well as other product categories. |
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| 14 | Morey W. Kasch (1907–1972) |
Founder of the M.W. Kasch Company. | |
| 15 | Walter W. Armatys | He managed the Toy Fair in New York for many years, was instrumental in setting up the TMA safety and logistics seminars, and handled organization of the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. | |
| Inducted, 1989 | |||
| 16 | Benjamin F. Michtom (1901–1980) |
Possibly the best promoter of toys ever, he structured a sales and marketing organization second to none, propelling the Ideal Toy Company Ideal Toy Company Ideal Toy Company was founded as Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in New York in 1907 by Morris and Rose Michtom after they had invented the Teddy bear in 1903. The company changed its name to Ideal Toy Company in 1938... to the forefront of the industry. One of the first to make use of licensed products; he inspired the rage for the Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia... doll more than fifty years ago. |
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| 17 | Ruth Ruth Handler Ruth Handler was an American businesswoman, born to Jewish-Polish immigrants Jacob and Ida Moskowicz, the president of the toy manufacturer Mattel Inc., and is remembered primarily for her role in marketing the Barbie doll.... and Elliot Handler |
The first toy company to advertise on television, they bought time on the "Mickey Mouse Show" and changed product marketing forever. The resulting visibility meant that for millions of children a Mattel Mattel Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from... toy defined being a youngster in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The introduction of Barbie Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.... in 1959 proved that the Handlers truly had their finger on the pulse of American society. |
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| 18 | Ole Kirk Christiansen Ole Kirk Christiansen Ole Kirk Christiansen was the 10th son of an impoverished farmer family in Jutland in western Denmark. Born in Filskov, Denmark, he trained as a carpenter and started making wooden toys in 1932 to make a living after having lost his job during the depression. In 1942 a fire broke out at the... (1891–1958) |
Founder of Lego Lego Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts... . |
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| Inducted, 1990 | |||
| 19 | Edward P. Parker (1912–1974) |
Chairman of Parker Brothers Parker Brothers Parker Brothers is a toy and game manufacturer and brand. Since 1883, the company has published more than 1,800 games; among their best known products are Monopoly, Cluedo , Sorry, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Ouija, Aggravation, and Probe... , vice president of General Mills General Mills General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green... and director and former president of Toy Manufacturers of America. |
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| 20 | Charles Lazarus (1923-) |
Founded Toys "R" Us and pioneered a new concept in the retailing of children’s toys that completely revolutionized how playthings are sold in the U.S. and many countries around the world. | |
| Inducted, 1991 | |||
| 21 | Stephen D. Hassenfeld Stephen D. Hassenfeld Stephen D. Hassenfeld was an American businessman best known for being the chairman and chief executive officer of Hasbro from 1980 until 1989... (1942–1989) |
He built Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States... into the largest toy manufacturer in the world. |
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| 22 | Henry H. Coords (1915–1995) |
He enhanced the reputation Fisher-Price Fisher-Price Fisher-Price is a company that produces toys for infants and children, headquartered in East Aurora, New York. Fisher-Price has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel since 1993.-History:... for quality and play value and presided over its transformation into an industry giant. |
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| Inducted, 1992 | |||
| 23 | Bernard Loomis Bernard Loomis Bernard Loomis was an American toy developer and marketer who introduced to some of the world's most notable brands including "Chatty Cathy", "Barbie", "Hot Wheels", "Baby Alive", and "Strawberry Shortcake", but perhaps his biggest marketing success was bringing a then-unknown film property called... (1923–2006) |
He introduced some of the world's most notable brands including "Chatty Cathy Chatty Cathy Chatty Cathy is a doll manufactured by the Mattel toy company from 1959 to 1965. The doll was first released in stores and appeared in television commercials beginning in 1960. Chatty Cathy celebrated her 50th birthday in 2010.... ", "Barbie Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.... ", "Hot Wheels Hot Wheels Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:... ", "Baby Alive Baby Alive Baby Alive is a baby doll made by Hasbro that eats, drinks and wets. Its mouth moves and is supposed to be lifelike. It was originally made and introduced by Kenner in 1973, and reintroduced by Hasbro in 2006. Today, Baby Alive is offered in Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic varieties... ", and "Strawberry Shortcake Strawberry Shortcake Strawberry Shortcake is a licensed character owned by American Greetings, originally used in greeting cards and expanded to include dolls, posters, and other products... ", but perhaps his biggest marketing success was bringing a then-unknown film property called Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year... to the toy shelves. Every toy company he worked for (Mattel Mattel Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from... , General Mills Kenner Kenner Products was a toy company founded in 1947 by three brothers, Albert, Phillip, and Joseph L. Steiner, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and was named after the street where the original corporate offices were located, which is just north of Cincinnati's Union Terminal.Kenner introduced its... , and Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States... ) became "the world's largest toy company" during his tenures in each company. |
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| 24 | Jim Henson Jim Henson James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for... (1936–1990) |
Creator of puppets - including Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Miss Piggy, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch | |
| Inducted, 1993 | |||
| 25 | [Albert Steiner (1895–1977) |
Kenner Kenner Kenner Products was a toy company founded in 1947 by three brothers, Albert, Phillip, and Joseph L. Steiner, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and was named after the street where the original corporate offices were located, which is just north of Cincinnati's Union Terminal.Kenner introduced its... created a business renowned for its toy versions of adult activities, including the Girder and Panel Building set, Give A Show Projector and Easy Bake Oven. |
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| 26 | Aaron Locker (1927-) |
As general counsel to TMA, his name became synonymous with product safety as he guided the Association through the perils of government regulation. | |
| Inducted, 1994 | |||
| 27 | Alan G. Hassenfeld Alan G. Hassenfeld Alan G. Hassenfeld was the chairman and chief executive officer of Hasbro Toys from 1989 to 2008. He was the brother of Stephen D. Hassenfeld, who preceded him in the post. Hasbro was founded as a Hassenfeld family business in 1923... (1948-) |
As chairman and chief executive, he has diversified Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States... ’s portfolio of companies and expanded international operations while initiating a singular brand of corporate activism designed to improve the lives of children. |
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| Inducted, 1995 | |||
| 28 | John W. Amerman (1932-) |
By focusing on building core products, cutting costs and reorganizing management, at Mattel Mattel Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from... he engineered a comprehensive program that turned the struggling company around in one year. |
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| Inducted, 1996 | |||
| 29 | Richard E. Grey (1934-) |
He lead Tyco Tyco Toys Tyco Toys is an American toy manufacturer. Since 1997 it has been a division of the Mattel toy company.-History:Mantua Metal Products was a Woodbury Heights, New Jersey, metalworks business founded in 1926 by John Tyler and family... through product development, acquisitions and aggressive marketing until it became the third largest U.S. toymaker. |
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| Inducted, 1997 | |||
| 30 | Sy Ziv (1925-) |
He assisting in the development of the Toys "R" Us concept and made contributions to nearly every facet of the promotional toy business. His guidance helped small companies stay in business and many manufacturers to achieve personal and corporate success. | |
| 31 | Howard Moore (1930-) |
As executive vice president and general merchandise manager at Toys "R" Us, his focus on strategic line planning, product selection and merchandising enabled toy companies to grow and flourish while contributing to the major retail success of Toys "R" Us. | |
| 32 | Thomas J. Kalinske (1944-) |
He was president of Mattel Mattel Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from... , Universal Matchbox and Sega of America Sega , usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world... . He helped Barbie Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.... and Hot Wheels Hot Wheels Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:... grow into major international brands. He led Sega to market leadership and helped establishing an industry-wide video game rating system. |
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| Inducted, 1998 | |||
| 33 | Russell L. Wenkstern (1912–2000) |
As president and CEO of Tonka Toys Tonka Tonka is an American toy company most known for its signature toy trucks and construction equipment.-History:On September 18, 1946 Mound Metalcraft was created in Mound, Minnesota with three men as partners, Lynn Everett Baker , Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. The first products produced by... , he brought the company to worldwide prominence by 1974. He turned Tonka into the largest volume manufacturer of vehicles of any type in the world, and insisted that Tonka trucks be the safest and most durable toys of their time, a tradition that continues today. |
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| 34 35 36 |
Jeffrey Breslow (1943-) Howard Morrison Howard Morrison Sir Howard Leslie Morrison, OBE, was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009 he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.-Early life:... (1932-) Rouben Terzian (1939-) |
In 1967, when they joined the legendary Marvin Glass, they began a 31-year collaboration that has led to the creation and design of some of the industry's most successful toy and game products. In 1988, Breslow Morrison Terzian and Associates was formed to continue their tradition of excellence. Their best selling products include: The Animal, Ants in the Pants, Guesstures, Brain Warp, California Roller Baby, Real Talking Bubba, Masterpiece, My Size Barbie, Casey Cartwheel, Jennie Gymnast, Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash and many more. | |
| Inducted, 1999 | |||
| 37 | Michael Goldstein (1941-) |
As leader of Toys "R" Us, he brought to the company innovative merchandising ideas, guiding its rise to the world's largest retailer of children's products. | |
| Inducted, 2000 | |||
| 38 | Fred Ertl, Jr. (1930 -) |
The Ertl Company Ertl Company The Ertl Company is an American toy company best known for its die-cast metal alloy collectible replicas of farm equipment and vehicles. The company is based in Dyersville, Iowa, home of the National Farm Toy Museum... created toy tractors. His leadership generated an industry-wide shift in the role of safety and toys, resulting in the development of the first toy safety standard. |
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| 39 | Beatrice Alexander Behrman (1895 -1990) |
She was the premier American doll maker of the 20th Century. Her memory continues to influence the Alexander Doll Company today. | |
| Inducted, 2001 | |||
| 40 | Betty James Betty James Betty M. James , was an American businessperson who came up with the name for the Slinky her husband Richard T. James invented... (1918 - 2008) |
Produced the Slinky Slinky Slinky or "Lazy Spring" is a toy consisting of a helical spring that stretches and can bounce up and down. It can perform a number of tricks, including traveling down a flight of steps end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself with the aid of gravity and its own momentum.-History:The toy was... as president and CEO of James Industries. |
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| Inducted, 2002 | |||
| 41 | David A. Miller (1932 -) |
He pioneered national and global efforts to change international opinion in favor of accepting China into the World Trade Organization and win it permanent Most Favored Nation status in the U.S. | |
| Inducted, 2003 | |||
| 42 | Antonio Pasin (1896–1990) |
By 1930, Pasin had adopted the mass production technologies of the auto industry to create the first affordable steel wagon, earning him the nickname "Little Ford". The invention of the radio and the wonder of flight inspired the wagon and company name Radio Flyer. | |
| 43 | Eddy Goldfarb | Over his long career in the toy industry, Eddy Goldfarb has put close to 800 items on the market in a variety of toy categories, and has received almost 300 patents. Some of his earliest and most successful toys have been: Yakkity Yak Teeth Chattery Teeth Chattery Teeth are a children's wind-up toy designed by Eddy Goldfarb for design company Marvin Glass and Associates. Originally called "Yakkity Yak Talking Teeth" upon release in 1949 by novelty company H. Fishlove & Co., a pair of mechanized teeth are wound up at the back, and the teeth clatter... , Busy Biddy, Merry-Go-Sip, Shark Attack, Arcade Basketball, Quiz Way, Kerplunk, Baby Beans and Lego Creator Game Lego board games Throughout the history of the Lego company, they have published many board games based around current product themes. The games were made by Rose Arts until the company was bought by the Lego Groups main competitor, MegaBloks.... , to name a few. |
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| Inducted, 2004 | |||
| 44 | Neil B. Friedman | Currently (2004) president of Fisher-Price Fisher-Price Fisher-Price is a company that produces toys for infants and children, headquartered in East Aurora, New York. Fisher-Price has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel since 1993.-History:... Brands, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel Mattel Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from... , Mr. Friedman is credited with continuing Fisher-Price’s leadership as the premiere infant and preschool manufacturer and establishing Fisher-Price as a significant force in character branded toys. |
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| 45 | George Ditomassi | President of the Milton Bradley Company Milton Bradley Company The Milton Bradley Company is an American game company established by Milton Bradley in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1860. In 1920, it absorbed the game production of McLoughlin Brothers, formerly the largest game manufacturer in the United States, and in 1987, it purchased Selchow and Righter,... and president of Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States... . |
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| 46 |  Milton Bradley Milton Bradley Milton Bradley , an American game pioneer, was credited by many with launching the board game industry in North America with Milton Bradley Company.... (1836–1911) |
Founder of Milton Bradley Milton Bradley Milton Bradley , an American game pioneer, was credited by many with launching the board game industry in North America with Milton Bradley Company.... and inventor of The Checkered Game of Life and the one-armed paper cutter. |
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| Inducted, 2005 | |||
| 47 | Lionel Weintraub (1920–1994) |
Introduced the first three-dimensional games: "Mousetrap!", "Toss Across", "Rebound", "Kerplunk", "Magic 8 Ball" and "Rubik's Cube". | |
| 48 | Reuben Klamer Reuben Klamer Reuben Klamer is an inventor of the classic Milton Bradley board game The Game Of Life. Mr. Klamer also has over 200 "to market" toys, games and inventions to his credit to date.... |
Best known as the originator and an inventor of The Game of Life The Game of Life The Game of Life, also known simply as LIFE, is a board game originally created in 1860 by Milton Bradley, as The Checkered Game of Life . The Game of Life was America's first popular parlor game... , which became part of the permanent Archives of Family Life at the Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines... in Washington, DC in 1981. |
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| Inducted, 2006 | |||
| 49 | Edwin Binney Edwin Binney Edwin Binney is best known for his invention of the Crayola crayon.In 1885, Binney took control of his father's business, Peeksill Chemical Co. While experimenting with a mixture of slate waste, cement, and talc, Binney created the first:) dustless white chalk. The invention was awarded a gold... (1866–1934) C. Harold Smith (1860–1931) |
Cousins founded Binney & Smith in 1885. In 1903, Binney & Smith introduced the first box of eight Crayola Crayola Crayola is a brand of artists' supplies manufactured by Crayola LLC, which was founded in 1885 as Binney & Smith. It is best known for its crayons... crayons, responding to teachers' need for safe and affordable wax crayons for their students. |
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| Inducted, 2007 | |||
| 50 |  George Lucas George Lucas George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones... (1944-) |
Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year... was the first entertainment franchise that brought together film, licensing and merchandising. Star Wars action figures established the 3¾-inch scale and spawned a community of passionate toy collectors setting the industry "standard" on which most major movie toy lines are based today. |
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| Inducted, 2008 | |||
| 51 | Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen was the president and CEO of LEGO between 1979 and 2004.-Biography:Kjeld was born 27 December 1947 in Billund, Denmark. His father, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen worked with his grandfather, Ole Kirk Christiansen, in the family business: LEGO. As a child, he often inspired... |
President of the Lego Group Lego Group The LEGO Group is a family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, and best known for the manufacture of Lego-brand toys.The company was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen... . |
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| Inducted, 2009 | |||
| 52 | Joan Ganz Cooney Joan Ganz Cooney Joan Ganz Cooney is an American television producer. She is one of the founders of the Children's Television Workshop , the organization famous for the creation of the children's television show Sesame Street. Cooney received her B.A... |
Co-founder of the Children's Television Workshop, now known as Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop , is a Worldwide American non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's programs that have run on public broadcasting around the world... . |
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| 53 | Jack Pressman | Founder of the Pressman Toy Corporation Pressman Toy Corporation Pressman Toy Corporation is a toy manufacturer based in New York City which was founded in 1922 by Jack Pressman. It currently focuses on family games and licensed products. Its slogan is "Games people play... . |
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| Inducted, 2010 | |||
| 54 | John Lasseter John Lasseter John Alan Lasseter is an American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is also currently the Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering.... |
Chief creative officer of Pixar Pixar Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide... and Walt Disney Animation Studios. |
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| 55 | Sam Walton Sam Walton Samuel Moore "Sam" Wallballs was a businessman, entrepreneur, and Eagle Scout born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma best known for founding the retailers Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.-Early life:... |
Founder of retailer Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... . |
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External links
Toy Industry Hall of Fame at the Toy Industry AssociationToy Industry Association
The Toy Industry Association is a trade association that promotes the marketing of new toys, games, and puzzles. The organization usually has trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City during February. Consumers in general are not able to attend...