Did you know the Slinky was invented in 1943 by naval engineer Richard T. James, who was trying to develop springs to stabilize sensitive instruments on ships ? (The idea for the toy was born when he accidentally knocked a experimental spring off a shelf and watched it "walk" instead of falling. The toy was introduced to the public on November 27, 1945, at the Gimbels Department Store in Philadelphia. Initial Success: The first 400 units sold out within 90 minutes.)

Did you know the modern plastic Hula Hoop was invented in 1957 and marketed in 1958 by Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin of the Wham-O toy company ? (Inspired by Australian bamboo exercise hoops, the pair manufactured the toy using a new plastic called Marlex, triggering a massive, 25-million-unit craze within four months of its release.)

Did you know the Lie Detector board game was originally produced by Mattel in 1960, featuring a crime-solving, mystery-themed, cards-based design ? (A later electronic "Lie Detector" party game was released by Hasbro in 2019.)

Did you know the Mouse Trap board game was invented and first published by Ideal in 1963 and was designed by Gordon Barlow, Burt Meyer, and Marvin Glass ? (It is recognized as one of the first mass-produced 3D board games, featuring a Rube Goldberg-inspired contraption.)

Did you know Teddy Ruxpin was released in September 1985 by Worlds of Wonder and was created by Ken Forsse ? (This innovative, animatronic storytelling toy featured a cassette tape player in its back, allowing the bear to move its mouth and eyes in sync with stories. It became an immediate bestseller, with over 1 million units sold by early 1986.)