Top Ten Toys of Yesterday: 1980s

Rather than creating licensed toys from established television shows and current movies, the 80s saw the reverse. New toys began spawning television series and movies. The 80s also saw the beginning of crazed Christmas shopping with the first huge toy that could not be found anywhere - Cabbage Patch Kids.

Top Ten Toys of Yesterday: 1980s:

1. Cabbage Patch Kids

No doll in history had ever hit the home run that Cabbage Patch Kids did the year they were introduced in the market (1983). The best way to describe it to the younger generation is to say that it was similar to what happened when Tickle Me Elmo came on the market, but without the EBay resellers.

Although over three million dolls were made, they quickly sold out. Replenishing the shelves just did not happen as each new doll was already spoken for. I remember Cabbage Patch Kids' first Christmas. My mother happened to be at Toys R Us the day they first sold out of the dolls and was one of the first people on the list to receive them whenever the store could get more. They were on back orders of back orders, but when those few dolls got to the store before Christmas, my mother was able to get one for my youngest sister because she was so high up on the list.

Creator Xavier Roberts first made the dolls in 1977 to pay his way through college. In 1982, Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. produced the dolls for the larger market.

Cabbage Patch Kids may not be the sensation they were when they first hit the market, but they have proved their longevity and continue to bring enjoyment to children around the world.

2. Trivial Pursuit

Two friends, living in Montreal, sat down to play a game of Scrabble. As their game was missing several pieces, they began innocently talking about inventing their own game. The conversation grew until they were actually creating a game. Those Canadians were Chris Haney and Scott Abbott.