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An American Hero
The story of Mr. Potato Head is truly one of American ingenuity and persistence and the price of success in America. The original idea was to provide plastic parts which could stick into vegetables to make amusing characters. Initially, the idea of wasting good food made the idea unappealing but the prosperity of the 50’s soon put that aside. Mr. Potato Head was one of the first successes for the Hasbro Toy Company.
In 1952, Mr. Potato Head was the first toy marketed directly to children on TV.
On April 30, 1952, Mr Potato Head was the first toy advertised directly to children on television. Before this toy, all advertising about toys had been directed to the parents. This commercial revolutionized marketing, and caused an industrial boom. Over one million kits were sold in the first year.[2] In 1953, Mrs. Potato Head was added, and soon after, Brother Spud and Sister Yam completed the Potato Head family with accessories reflecting the affluence of the fifties that included a car, a boat trailer, (the commercial for it can be found here) a kitchen set, a stroller, and pets called Spud-ettes. Although originally produced as separate plastic parts to be stuck into a real potato or other vegetable, a plastic potato was added to the kit in 1964.[1]
But it was dangerous!
Success had it’s price, however because the government decided that the sharp points on the stick in items were unsafe for children. Making the points dull enough to satisfy the government meant that they were too dull to penetrate a vegetable. What to do? In the 60’s a new complete Me. Potato Head was born with a plastic body, prepunched to accept the blunt points on the safety-certified improved features.
In spite of these changes, Mr. Potato Head has continued to be a popular toy. Even with the limited options provided by the plastic body, kids still like the toy today.
My Mr. Potato Head Experience
I am sure that we had a Mr. Potato Head at the Carlson homestead sometime during the 50’s but I don’t remember it. I can see my mother being upset about wasting a potato for fun and by the time the plastic body came along, I was past caring. I don’t remember that my kids ever had one either. Still, whether you played with him or not, Mt. Potato Head is a part of Americana, even playing a rold in the Pantheon of great toys celebrated in the Toy Story movie series.
What was your Me. Potato Head experience?
We had one as kids and no one was ever hurt from the sharp points! We use to use his parts on green peppers before my mother stuffed for dinner.
Steve Skinner’s last Blog Post ..Is It A Sign
Steve,
I’m shocked to learn that your mother was so careless as to let you play with such dangerous toys and then feed you the vegetables after you played. Say it isn’t so.
I think I had a Mr Potato Head, I seem to remember sticking the parts into a spud. I suppose character was determined by the size and shape of the spud. I only remember it for one Xmas, I must have lost the bits.
Mr Potato Head lives on though in the ‘Toy Story’ film franchise. Excellent films one and all, the third Toy Story would have you in tears.
John
Being nostalgic in Lemaington Spa, England
John McNally@Blogging for Pleasure and Profit’s last Blog Post ..Blind Get Rich Quick Scheme
John,
I agree. The toy story movies were surprisingly good for all ages.
I seem to remember my kids having the plastic version of Mr Poatato Head although it was usually me they stuck things into.
Bill
Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
Bill Murney’s last Blog Post ..Niche Ideas Research – Part 2
Bill,
I hope now that your kids are grown you get to reciprocate.
Mr Potato Head was my first experience with cannibalism. Things were tight for us in the 50’s. And although I too had a potato head, I wasn’t allowed to form too great an attachment with him, for after 30 minutes of play, and before starting to turn brown, off he went sans prosthesis, into the boiling pot and ended up mashed potatoes for dinner. i couldn’t stomach such sacrilege.
Hansi’s last Blog Post ..The Tea Party
Hansi,
LOL!!!!