Growing up in the ’70s was like living on a different planet compared to modern times. Several decades before every kid had a tablet or smartphone in their hand, toys were all that youngsters had! While toys of that era seem simple by today’s standards, they were gateways to a world of fun for kids with colorful imaginations.
The toy industry has largely moved on from the playthings of the ’70s, but the nostalgia for iconic toys of the decade is stronger than ever! Let’s look back at some of the most popular toys of the 1970s that shaped childhoods worldwide.
1. Atari 2600
Today, video games are a multi-billion-dollar industry that generates more than film, TV and music combined. However, back in the ’70s, video games were the flashy new tech that most could only try at a local arcade spot. The Atari 2600 changed that, bringing video games to millions of homes!
The Atari 2600 was incredibly simple by today’s standards. But, history-making games like “Pac-Man,” “Space Invaders,” “Frogger,” “Astroids” and more made it the ultimate toy for kids, teens and even many adults.
2. Star Wars Action Figures
When “Star Wars” hit theaters in 1977, it started a cultural phenomenon that is still going strong today. Tons of merchandise came out to support the movie, but the action figures made the biggest splash. The toy brand Kenner (now part of Hasbro) released over 100 different figures after the film’s release.
The first to hit the market were figures of characters like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Later, figures for Yoda, the Emperor and more gave fans even more figures to add to their collection.
3. View-Master
View Masters were kid-focused stereoscopes that sparked imagination and helped youngsters learn about various topics. The technology was around long before the ’70s, but it became a huge hit when toymakers started producing View-Masters and reels for children.
The concept is simple: Insert reels with small photos into the View-Master, look through the stereoscopic eyepieces and use the finger piece to switch to the next scene. Toy manufacturers produced reels depicting everything from famous cartoon characters and movie scenes to images of the stars or far-flung landscapes.
4. Spirograph
Spirographs combined mathematics with art to give kids one of the most unique toys to unlock their creativity. These toys were simple geometric drawing devices that allowed you to produce roulette curves. Stack the curves with different colors and styles, and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind work of art!
These toys were everywhere in the ’70s! They made it easy to draw something awe-inspiring in seconds.
5. Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
Evel Knievel was a stunt performer known for his harrowing motorcycle tricks and signature Americana outfit. He inspired many kids in the ’70s, and the release of his branded stunt cycle toy was a massive hit!
The stunt cycle allowed children to pull off their own tricks. Thankfully, there was no risk of bodily harm involved. The pint-sized recreation of Evel Knievel and his motorcycle let kids perform much smaller-scale tricks. The mechanics generated impressive speed for the bike, unlocking tons of possibilities and air time!
6. Pet Rock
Some call it a scam, while others consider it marketing ingenuity. Either way, this toy had a chokehold on kids in 1975. As the name implies, it was nothing more than a rock! It came in specialty packaging complete with straw bedding and ventilation holes. The rock did nothing special; it was merely a novelty item.
That didn’t stop children from wanting it. The advertising executive who came up with the idea sold over a million Pet Rocks!
7. Poopa Troopers
Poopa Troopers were a surprisingly fun way to spend the afternoon in the ’70s. These rubber toys came in several forms, including military men, bears and sky-diving enthusiasts. What made the toys special was that they had small parachutes attached.
You could throw these toys as far up in the sky as possible. As long as you didn’t get them stuck in a tree, they’d always float down gently.
8. Kaleidoscopes
Kaleidoscopes have inspired people since the Victorian age but experienced a massive resurgence in the 1970s. They’re simple optical devices with a single-eye lens. All you had to do was point it up at the sky. Inside, mirrors, colored glass and other unique objects would create a flurry of color and unique patterns.
The cool thing about kaleidoscopes is that the picture you see inside always changes. The mirrors and beads are never in the same arrangement, resulting in a brand-new sight every time.
9. Hot Wheels Sizzlers
The Hot Wheels brand started in 1968 and grew in popularity during the ’70s. Sizzlers changed the game for Hot Wheels. Before Sizzlers came out, the brand was known for its simple diecast cars. However, Mattel introduced tiny motors and batteries to create the Sizzler lineup.
After recharging the battery with a compatible “fuel station,” these little cars would zip through tracks without pushing or ramp-ups.
10. Weebles
Hasbro introduced the world to Weebles in 1971, marketing them with the iconic tagline “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down!” These toys were egg-shaped and came in several different designs. Internally, Weebles had greater weight and density on the bottom of the egg. Therefore, you could push the toy however you wanted, and it’d always correct itself.
The simple mechanics resulted in a distinct movement, whether you pushed it on the floor or allowed it to “fall” down a track.
11. Rock’ Em Sock’ Em Robots
Here’s a toy so deeply ingrained in 1970s culture! Rock’ Em Sock’ Em Robots was a two-player tabletop game. Each player controlled a robot using mechanically operated hand grips. Pressing the buttons caused the robot to punch and jab.
If you were successful in your fighting tactics, you could knock the head of your opponent’s robot straight off its head! It’s a competitive toy that both kids and adults loved in the ’70s.
12. Tumbling Figures
Tumbling figures were very popular in the ’70s, and many types were available. The primary selling point of these toys was that the figure would tumble like a gymnast, allowing you to do fun tricks and feats.
Some were wind-up toys that spun around on a set of parallel bars before doing a cool spinning dismount. Others relied on ladder-like accessories to elegantly fall with gravity. Either way, the tumbling motion was just the thing to capture a child’s attention.
13. The Fisher-Price Little People
Here’s a toy line that manufacturer Fisher-Price aimed at younger kids. The Little People toys were miniature figures with rudimentary body shapes. Unlike figurines for older kids, these didn’t have arms, legs or any defining features. Instead, most were simple wooden cylinders with spherical painted heads!
The design was perfect for toddlers with strong imaginations. Fisher-Price released countless Little People variants, sets, accessories and more.
14. Easy-Bake Oven
Who knew that a treat made with the heat of a lightbulb could be so tasty? Easy-Bake Ovens sparked a love of baking and cooking in millions of kids in the ’70s. These toys were full-fledged ovens. They came with small metal pans, cake mix and accessories. Inside, an incandescent bulb produced enough heat to craft miniature baked goods.
As you can imagine, Easy-Bake Ovens weren’t without controversy and injuries. However, that didn’t stop the toy’s popularity—it’s still a hit today!
15. Tonka Trucks
Last but not least, we have the Tonka Truck. These brightly colored toys were miniatures of the heavy-duty equipment kids would see hauling dirt on construction projects. Like many toys on this list, you can still find Tonka Trucks for sale today. However, in the 1970s, most were made of steel instead of plastic.
Tonka Trucks were great fun for kids of all ages. They were the quintessential toy for mess-makers and future construction workers.
A Slice of Childhood Paradise
There was no shortage of creative toys in the 1970s, but these 15 are among the most memorable. While many toymakers continued to release newer iterations in the following decades, kids of the ’70s got to experience the originals.
These playthings helped shape an entire generation of young people in many different ways. Most don’t give much thought to the toys they played with when they were younger, but seeing them today can create a wave of memories about this bygone era, reminding them just how special the ’70s were.
