The Fisher-Price Happy Apple made its debut the same year that I did, 1972. It was a simplistic baby toy that made a beautiful chime sound when tipped. Between the sweet sound and that warm, smiling happy face, Happy Apple kept '70s and '80s babies mesmerized for hours.
I was never one of those kids who wished they were a doctor and I honestly don't recall ever claiming, "When I grow up, I want to be a nurse." Stay tuned - Friday I will 'fess up about an 8th grade career goals discussion gone wrong thanks to Sr. Frances Dorothy.
Remember this vintage doctor kit toy?
Yeah, so I never planned on pursuing a job in the medical field. However in 1977, I friggin' LOVED this Fisher-Price Medical Kit. Ah empowering one to play doctor with a cute young neighbor boy -- okay, so maybe we didn't have a cute neighbor boy, but just go with it... Toys providing the "power to pretend" were always my favorite kind of toy growing up. We could always rely on Fisher-Price to do just that.
I remember gripping the plastic handle of my Fisher-Price Medical Kit and toting it from my little brother's room to mine. After all, I believe this actually was his vintage doctor toy and not mine. Proudly I would unveil each colorful doctor instrument one by one. Carefully placing the orange, blue and yellow stethoscope around my neck, I would lay out the plastic thermometer, blood pressure monitor gauge thingie, and medical knee reflex hammer jammy and prepare to give free check-ups to all of my ailing stuffed animal and Barbie doll patients. Oh what fun!
Today's Fisher Price Medical Kit
available at Toysrus.com
Today's Fisher-Price Medical Kit goes for $14 and is obviously much more modernized and although it includes a cool Band-Aid and environmentally-friendly tote bag instead of the bulky plastic case, I still say the 1970s or 1980s version was much cooler. What do you think? A quick search on eBay prices this vintage bad boy at $35.
View this vintage commercial spot for the Fisher-Price Medical Kit.
Last night, I visited a good friend who recently had her first baby. It was so awesome to see her snuggling her new bundle of joy. Driving home from Morristown, my mind began to wander toward retro toys from my babyhood -- and of course I had to start Googling as soon as I got home.
One baby toy in particular always struck a chord with me -- my little cousins and myself owned one of these nifty musical imaginative toys called the Roly Poly Chime Ball by Fisher Price. This simplistic sphere was appropriate for babies ages 6 months to 4 years.
The Roly Poly Chime Ball was first introduced in 1965 and was a hard plastic ball about 7 inches in diameter with a transparent top half featuring miniature rocking horses and a swan. When the ball was rolled, the small toys inside would rock and the music would sound. There were a variety of Roly Poly Chime Balls made -- one came in yellow and had sail boats that would rock.
Fisher Price continued to produce and modernize the Roly Poly Chime Ball for over thirty years and ceased production in 1986. For some reason with age, the transparent portion would fog up much like a cracked car headlight. The version I am most familiar with was green or teal and had a teeny-tiny version of my little brother's red, white and blue Fisher Price pony inside. Roly Poly Chime Ball can be found on eBay from $5-$100 depending on he condition.
The other day on my way to ShopRite, I passed the Parsippany Holiday Inn. Passing this Holiday Inn is something I do about once a week. Every time I see that big green and white Holiday Inn logo, my heart sinks just a tiny bit. It may sound silly to you, but here's why...
I'm not happy about this logo
In October of 2007, the Holiday Inn CEO and marketing team unveiled an updated, modern logo to match the hotel chain's new and improved services and amenities. Fancy new shower heads, bedding and even a newly developed Holiday Inn fragrance welcomes overnight guests. CEO Andy Cosslette reveled, "We're creating a Holiday Inn scent. It's going to be very subliminal, You're not going to walk in and find it hits you between the eyes. It'll be very subtle."
I love that Holiday Inn has updated their service and style, I'm behind all of it, but not the new and improved branding. I guess I'm a sucker for the vintage look and feel. I want to see the old script I identify with childhood drives down to Disney while squeezed between my little brother and a pile of pillows.
As a kid, I loved the Fisher Price Little People toy hotel. Notice it's a Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn and I go way back. Why does everything have to be so new and improved? I'm still applauding Coca Cola for returning to the old school Mello Yello logo. I think brand managers should continue to push the vintage. Let consumers hold on to their memories, although I understand the idea of forming new memories. I guess I'm just an old-fashioned girl. How about you?
Tonight I had a doctor appointment where I regressed to third grade behavior, which some of you may find incredibly disturbing. If you can't handle it, exit now. You have been warned.
Arriving a few minutes early, I sat alone in the small waiting room. I looked around and noticed the same Sweet Pickles Weekly Reader books I saw the previous week were once again sitting on the end table. While staring at the cover image of Goose Goofs Off, the old '80s TV commercial jingle played out in my head just as it did the last time, "Smart moms know how kids minds grow... Sweet Pickles..." Soon images of that stupid bus rolling down the street and a narrator or child exclaiming, "Here comes the Sweet Pickles bus!" followed.
Watch it here:
Next to the books I noticed something I just had to have. A little person. An original 1980s golden haired ponytail-sporting figure with exaggerated eyelashes and large smile. In kindergarten I absolutely loved Little People. Today's Fisher Price Little People aren't the same. I had the house, the barn and I think a school house. Today, they're larger and rounder, probably built to keep three-year-old kids from swallowing them or shoving them up their noses.
I scoped out the scene and made sure I was in the clear and quickly pocketed the little gem. I don't know why I needed to have this. When I was very young, I went through a phase where I would five-finger other kids' stuff. I especially had a thing for Snoopy and Hello Kitty school supplies and stationery items. If one of the girls left a Hello Kitty eraser out on her desk, I would quickly swipe it and bring it home.
It really gave me a strange feeling of euphoria. Like I had scored points in a video game or won something. I loved looking at my little treasures in the privacy of my bedroom with the door closed. There was something about unveiling them from my pockets and spreading them out on my twin bed. I'd sit under the pretty princess-like blue and white gingham canopy and matching bedspread and just admire each little item as if they were nuggets of pure gold. This was my secret and I never told my friends or my family.
Eventually I outgrew this devilish phase even though I never took anything of worth really. I just had this thing for random trinkets. I don't know what it was about these items.
Tonight I left with a little trinket and I keep examining it and I know I will probably return it on my next visit. On the drive home I wondered if the doctor would notice it. What if a child asks, "Where is the little person?" I better remember to return it.
Update: I returned the Little Person the next office visit. I never told anyone, even my husband. I'm only telling you guys, my trusted readers.
Around 1976 my brother had one of these Fisher Price Ride-On Horses. They were so cool. I don't recall having one myself, but I've seen photos of me motorin' on other ride-on toys and Big Wheels, so it's all good.
I looked this item up and it's available on eBay. It's funny, my mom wasn't the type to keep lots of our old toys, but for some reason, she kept this Fisher Price Ride-On horse for the longest time. I think it may still be in her basement.
Marx Big Wheel
I was excited to discover that the Original Big Wheel is still alive and well and available for purchase. The Big Wheel was all the rage back in 1972 and continued to thrive throughout the 1970s paving the way for imitations into the 1980s. They were made of heavy plastic and were typically red, yellow, black and had a blue seat. Visit this link for more info: The Original Big Wheel.
Marx Green Machine
In the 1970s, The Green Machine by Marx Toys was targeted at boys who were a bit older than the Big Wheel crowd. I feel as if I first discovered The Green Machine at a random classmate's backyard birthday party. If not that, maybe my friend Alison's big brother Ian had an old one in their family garage.
I remembered the name and seeing this insane sick ride that was definitely like a pimped-out style Big Wheel. A quick Google search didn't provide any real history lesson behind The Marx brand Green Machine, but today Huffy manufactures the toy. Look here!
It's no surprise Huffy recommends The Green Machine for kids six and up. I must say, the dual exhaust pipes and joystick controls surely make this ride kick-ass and way more intimidating than Marx Big Wheel. Huffy categorizes the Green Machine as an "Xtreme Ride" and that it is!
I was bummed when my husband didn't recognize the name "The Green Machine" -- alas there's that pesky three-year age difference rearing its ugly head again. When he was six, it was already 1981. I'm thinking the Green Machine fad had faded.
This image and other great stuff was snagged from MarxToyMuseum.com -- check 'em out!
Around 1976 my brother had one of these Fisher Price Ride-On Horses. They were so cool. I don't recall having one myself, but I've seen photos of me motorin' on other ride-on toys and Big Wheels, so it's all good.
I was excited to discover that the Original Big Wheel is still alive and well and available for purchase. The Big Wheel was all the rage back in 1972 and continued to thrive throughout the 1970s paving the way for imitations into the 1980s. They were made of heavy plastic and were typically red, yellow, black and had a blue seat. Visit this link for more info: The Original Big Wheel. 
