| There are few classic toys that have persevered and | | | | children had to supply the real potato to use for the |
| managed to survive the video onslaught that has | | | | toy making fun that ensued. |
| taken over the children's toy market today. One of | | | | To replace the need for a real potato, Hasbro |
| these toys, Mr. Potato Head, still entertains children as | | | | developed and introduced a hard plastic potato body |
| much as it did when it was first introduced in the early | | | | eight years later and the evolution of Mr. Potato Head |
| 1950's. Let's explore some of the history of this iconic | | | | began. For the next three decades, more Mr. Potato |
| and classic toy. | | | | Head products were introduced including: puzzles, |
| George Lerner enjoyed success as an inventor and in | | | | creative play sets and electronic hand-held board and |
| 1950 he designed the "first generation" of plastic face | | | | video games. Mr. Potato Head's immense popularity |
| pieces that would ultimately become a toy for the | | | | has also attracted non toy companies who license his |
| ages. These pieces: noses, eyes, ears and mouth | | | | image and name and manufacture apparel, |
| parts, could be pushed into vegetables or fruits and | | | | accessories and novelty merchandise. |
| transform them into an array of "toy" playmates for | | | | But, Mr. Potato Head has become more than just a |
| children. | | | | toy for children. His mass appeal to people of all ages |
| However, the toy failed to catch on, mainly because | | | | has made him an ideal ambassador for many |
| Americans resisted wasting food to create a child's | | | | worthwhile causes. His signature pipe was surrendered |
| toy. So Lerner sold his toy idea for $5,000 to a cereal | | | | to the U. S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop in 1987 |
| company that planned to use the pieces as a | | | | and he became the "spokesbud" for the American |
| promotional tool and as a premium giveaway for their | | | | Cancer Society's annual "Great American Smoke-Out" |
| cereals. | | | | campaign for many years. Additionally, to shed the |
| But Lerner knew his toy idea deserved a better fate. | | | | "couch potato" image, the toy received a special |
| His persistence paid off, and after a meeting with a | | | | award from the President's Council for Physical |
| family owned toy company based in Pawtucket, RI, | | | | Fitness, with the award being presented on the White |
| together they bought back the rights from the cereal | | | | House lawn! |
| company for $7,000. | | | | One is not sure if George Lerner envisioned the world |
| The original Mr. Potato Head was created by Hasbro | | | | wide recognition and success that his toy would enjoy. |
| in 1952 and was the very first toy to be advertised on | | | | But one thing is certain; Mr. Potato Head will continue to |
| a brand new marketing venue: television. With the help | | | | entertain children of all ages and in many nations for |
| of this new marketing element, Mr. Potato Head sales | | | | years to come and still is a positive image for |
| took off. The first Mr. Potato Head package contained | | | | charitable causes as well as a pop culture icon. |
| ears, eyes, noses and mouths, but the parents of the | | | | |