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Each week, .we are pleased to share British toy industry commentator, John Baulch’s “Friday Blog.” John Baulch, the Publisher of Toy World, is an outstanding source of knowledge and wit about the British toy industry. John has worked in the toy industry on several trade magazines over the past 40 years, culminating in the launch of his own publication – Toy World – 11 years … [Read more...] about Innocent until proven guilty …it’s the Friday Blog!

Over the last two years, commentators have expressed much angst about the supply chain’s tenuousness and the potential demise of global trade. It is easy to say why. We have all had to deal with a snarled supply chain, Covid shutdowns, traveler quarantines, a war in Europe, a collapse in Russian trade, a ship blocking the Suez Canal, containers falling overboard, inflation, … [Read more...] about Global Trade and the Supply Chain Prove Their Strength

Children play on the sidewalk on the Lower East Side of New York City; Library of Congress.“Where there are kids, there is play.” Iona Opie “The setting of boundaries is always a political act.” Edward J. Blakely and Mary Gail Snyder “We begin with the child when he is three years old. As soon as he begins to think he gets a little flag put in his hand.”  Dr Robert LEY, … [Read more...] about The Battle over Street Play in New York City (1910-1930)

Bucking a streaming slowdown that has recently bedeviled Hollywood, Disney+ added 14.4 million subscribers in the most recent quarter, about 45 percent more than Wall Street had expected and lifting Disney’s portfolio of streaming services to 221 million subscribers worldwide, edging ahead of Netflix for the first time. “Disney Profit Jumps 50 Percent, and Streaming Subscribers … [Read more...] about Quotes with my Coffee #8: Disney Passes Netflix, Pokemon Kids are Now Parents, and Supply Chain Easing

I came upon a Hedgehog and a Lion Pull Toy, and I wanted to share them with you. Don’t you love that Hedgehog? It’s whimsical, charming, and has a timeless appeal despite dating back to 1150 B.C.E. They were discovered in Iran at the Susa Acropolis and are on view in the Louvre in Paris. … [Read more...] about Break Time: 3,000 Year-Old Hedgehog Pull Toy

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE … [Read more...] about Toys R Us Macy’s Opens Stores – Here are there locations

Screenshot of Instagram user hellicty_merriman post, 2022, courtesy of the author. I’m always on the lookout for play in everyday social media trends and breaking news headlines. When these spaces intersect, great examples emerge and illustrate the complex meaning and cultural function of play and playthings in our daily lives. Take as example: protesting crowds gathered … [Read more...] about What Do American Girl Dolls Say About Us?

The Spielwarenmesse, the world’s largest toy show, is coming back in 2023. Here is a look back at the last show to take place pre-Covid. Date:1 – 5 February 2023 Opening hours:Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Venue: Messezentrum Nürnberg (Nuremberg Exhibition Center)Messezentrum 190471 Nuremberg, Germany … [Read more...] about This Was The Spielwarenmesse 2020

In 1962, Kenner released a toy musical instrument called the Banjo-Matic. According to ads from the time, the toy allowed a child to “play real banjo music.” And by “play”, Kenner meant that a child could enjoy the Banjo-Matic’s ability to self-play a variety of canned musical numbers. The ability to experience the joy of automated banjo picking was facilitated through the … [Read more...] about When the Grass is Blue: The Banjo-Matic from Kenner