This fall, the 2023 National Toy Hall of Fame inductees will be revealed — but instead of the usual three, chosen by committee and online ballot from a roster of 12 finalists, there will also be a fourth inductee chosen only by a public vote from a “Forgotten Five” assortment of misfit toys …
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the National Toy Hall of Fame, four inductees will be joining the illustrious hall in 2023. Three will be chosen as usual with the guidance of a National Selection Advisory Committee and the Player’s Choice ballot from a list of 12 finalists announced previously in September. The special, fourth inductee will be chosen by ONLY YOU—the public—from a list of five, multi-time finalists who have failed to make the cut in previous years: Fisher-Price Corn Popper, My Little Pony, PEZ, pogo stick, and Transformers.
You can vote on the fourth inductee at museumofplay.org from among the following so-called “Forgotten Five” finalists that have previously been finalists but so far failed to make the final cut:
- Fisher Price Corn Popper
- My Little Pony
- PEZ
- Pogo Stick
- Transformers
About the ‘Forgotten Five’ toys:
Fisher Price Corn Popper: Fisher-Price introduced the Corn Popper in 1957, calling it an amusement device for young children. Parents quickly discovered that by pushing the device, children could strengthen gross motor skills. The bright, flying balls and popping sound helped to stimulate the senses, promoting curiosity and discovery.
My Little Pony: Introduced in the 1980s and reintroduced in 2003, the My Little Pony line of mini-horses encourages children in traditional forms of doll play—fantasy, storytelling, hair grooming, and collecting. The small pastel ponies have come in more than 1,000 varieties, all with elongated tails and manes made to be brushed. The toys peaked in popularity between 1982 and 1993—even outselling Barbie for several years.
PEZ: PEZ emerged first as a breath mint in 1927, but in 1948, the creators turned it into a candy and added a small, mechanical box to dispense the PEZ bricks. The dispensers featured pop-culture characters, making them both a plaything and collectible. PEZ sells three billion individual candies each year and keeps about 60 or 70 dispensers in production—such as Batman, Mickey Mouse, and Wonder Woman.
Pogo Stick: While the origin for its design remains uncertain, the pogo stick was first patented in the United States in the early 20th century. The pogo stick works via a spring-loaded pole that extends below the footpads. Users hold onto the handles at the top of the pole and, maintaining balance, employ the compressed spring’s force to move along by jumping from one location to the next. The pogo stick has remained popular in American life due to its simple, yet challenging, design that promotes agility and physical activity.
Transformers: Hasbro introduced Transformers, a toy line of action figures that change their shapes, in the mid-1980s. They marketed Transformers with an elaborate back story supported by a Marvel comic book series, a cartoon television series, animated movies, electronic games, consumer goods, and even its own cereal. A continuing series of live-action, blockbuster films (with the latest installment released in 2023) has kept Transformers in the public eye.
The Strong National Museum of play says the final inductees will be revealed on Friday, Nov. 10.
