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