Toys By The Decade - 1900s Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kewpie dolls

Rose O'Neill developed a comic strip that was printed in both magazines and newspapers that had the main characters called "Kewpie", named after "Cupid". After the dolls became popular, O'Neill became the highest paid female illustrator of her time. O'Neill also used her illustrations and the dolls to promote women's suffrage in the United States.

Answer: Tinker Toys

Charles H. Pajeau developed this toy to inspire children to use their imaginations. It is rather simple, with wooden circular pieces that have evenly-spaced holes drilled around the edge as well as one in the centre. There are also small sticks or dowels of varying lengths.

The toy was very popular in the early twentieth century. The popularity continues today with both plastic and wooden versions.

Answer: False

The first electric toy train was produced in 1897 by Carlisle and Finch, a company in the U.S. When more homes had power installed, these toys became more popular and more fancy. By the early part of the 20th century, many had fancy additions such as lights, sounds like whistles, and even the ability to make fake smoke.

Answer: Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple had a number of hit movies in the 1930s. The Ideal Toy Corporation patented a doll in her likeness in 1934. The original doll was made of a composition of glue and sawdust, which made them vulnerable to cracking and breaking. Today, a mint-condition Shirley Temple doll will typically sell for a pretty penny if you can find the right buyer.

Answer: American soldiers

The Hummel figurines are based on drawings by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. The figurines were first produced in 1935 in Germany, and became popular amongst children in the U.S. when American soldiers started sending them home during World War II.

Answer: Gumby and Pokey

Gumby (the green figure) first appeared in the Howdy Doody Show in 1955 before he got his own show in 1956. Gumby and his sidekick Pokey (the pony) had their own stop-motion show from 1955-1969. They were made of clay models in the show, but the toys were flexible plastic.

Answer: Monkeys

The "Barrel of Monkeys" game was released in 1965. It is a fairly simple game, with each barrel containing twelve monkeys that have S-shaped arms sticking out to the sides. The goal is to pick up one monkey, then use it to pick up another, then the second to pick up a third, and so on. If the chain breaks, the game is over.

Answer: Corn syrup

Stretch Armstrong was made of very stretchy latex rubber that was filled with a thick gel made of corn syrup. The gel was added to the figure to allow it to be stretched out without snapping back right away as soon as it was released.

Answer: Blue, brown, and orange

Each colour in Trivial Pursuit represents a different category. The original colours for the pieces were blue (Geography), pink (Entertainment), yellow (History), brown (Arts & Literature; this was originally brown, but later changed to purple), green (Science & Nature), and orange (Sports & Leisure). Who needs Trivial Pursuit when we have Fun Trivia?

Answer: Elmo

When Tickle Me Elmo was introduced in 1996, the demand quickly outweighed the supply. Fights broke out in department stores as parents did all that they could to get one for their children. The toy retailed for less than $30 (US), but there were instances of people paying over $1500 for the toy for their children. Elmo is cute, but I cannot imagine paying that much for him!