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Vintage Portal Main >> Articles >> Toys
The Lovable Potato, Mr. Potato Head
One of the most delightful toys ever created is Mr. Potato Head. Mr. Potato
Head originated in 1952, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island by Hasbro. This vintage
toy turned heads even then as the very first toy to be in a commercial.
Many individuals today would be surprised to know that the hard plastic
potato body that comes with the Mr. Potato Head kits, were not originally
sold. For the first eight years of its existence, Mr Potato Head had the
interchangeable eyes, ears, nose and mouth pieces only! These pieces were to
be inserted into actual potatoes for a child's amusement. The plastic body
was introduced after it became apparent that it was sometimes difficult for
children to come across a real potato. As time progressed, Mr. Potato Head
was adored by many people. Due to the great admiration that children
had bestowed upon the toy, the makers of Mr. Potato Head had extended the
likeness of the figurine into such toys as puzzles, play sets, and
electronic video and board games. Other companies caught on to the
popular appeal of Mr. Potato Head, and have brought his image to stationary, clothes, accessories, and other such items.
One of the reasons that Mr. Potato Head has been around so long is
because of the positive changes that it has made. In all of the kits that
were made prior to 1987, Mr. Potato Head came with a pipe. After much
debate, the Hasbro company got rid of the pipe, and Mr. Potato Head became
the icon for the "Great American Smokeout" campaign, sponsored by the
American Cancer Society. A few years later, Mrs. Potato Head joined Mr.
Potato Head to spearhead the "Get Out the Vote" Campaign by the League of
Women's Voters.
Over the past decade, Mr. Potato Head has made appearances in Disney's "Toy
Story" as well as an icon for Burger King, and starring in his own Saturday
morning cartoon. Time has not been an enemy, but rather a friend to Mr.
Potato Head. Good things have been brought forth from Mr.Potato Head's
popularity. Vintage Mr. Potato Head sets may be difficult to locate, but when
they are found, they are a true find. Generations of Mr. Potato Head
lovers have been created, and there are only more generations of Mr. Potato Head fans to come.
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