Mr. Potato Head Made Television History Before Everyone Else
In 1952, something amazing happened that changed how toys were sold forever. A simple plastic toy called Mr. Potato Head became the first toy ever advertised on television.
This moment marked the beginning of a new era where TV commercials would become the main way toy companies reached children and parents.
The story begins with George Lerner, an inventor who came up with the idea of plastic pieces that could be stuck into real potatoes and other vegetables.
At first, toy companies thought his idea was silly. They believed parents would not want their children playing with food. However, Lerner did not give up on his creation.
The Hassenfeld Brothers company, which later became known as Hasbro, decided to take a chance on Lerner's invention. They bought the rights to his idea and made some important changes.
Instead of using real potatoes, they created a plastic potato body that would be safer and last longer. This decision proved to be very smart.
The first Mr. Potato Head commercial aired on April 30, 1952. The advertisement was only one minute long, but it had a huge impact.
Children across America saw the commercial and immediately wanted the toy. The ad showed kids having fun while creating different faces and characters with the plastic pieces.
The results were incredible. In the first year alone, over one million Mr. Potato Head sets were sold.
This success proved that television advertising could sell toys directly to children, not just their parents. The toy cost only 98 cents, making it affordable for most families during the 1950s.
After Mr. Potato Head's success, other toy companies quickly started making their own TV commercials.
Television became the most important way to advertise toys. This shift changed how toys were designed, marketed, and sold across the entire industry.
The original Mr. Potato Head came with sharp metal pins and small parts that could be dangerous for young children.
Over the years, Hasbro made the toy much safer by using plastic pins and making the pieces larger. These changes helped the toy meet modern safety standards while keeping the fun.
Today, Mr. Potato Head remains popular after more than 70 years. The toy has appeared in movies, inspired countless variations, and continues to entertain new generations of children.
More importantly, it started the tradition of toy advertising on television that we still see today. Every toy commercial on TV can trace its roots back to that first Mr. Potato Head advertisement in 1952.
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