The best toy I ever owned was a blue and white-striped plastic Wham-O boomerang. My dad gave me one when I was maybe ten years old, living inside the fortress walls of Watertown Arsenal, outside of Boston. For months every day, in-between the apple tree-lined parade grounds and the foundries where Honest John missiles were assembled (and where there was more than enough room for the boomerang to safely complete its one hundred-yard dizzying sweep), I practiced throwing the sleek toy weapon. One Sunday morning, while waiting to go to Sunday school and dressed in a plaid suit and tie, a group of pigeons flapped overhead. In an instant, without thinking, I whipped the boomerang in a deadly arc that eventually intersected the center mass of the flock.
Feathers flew, tiny bursts of fluttering pink and white clouds. Three pigeons plummeted in bits and pieces, bouncing when they hit the ground close enough for me to hear the soft poofing sounds the larger parts made on impact. The still-twirling boomerang landed nearby, an obedient beast whose leading edge was covered in blood. I was amazed, elated, horrified and ashamed all at the same moment, my heart racing with an explosive, intoxicating rhythm known only to primordial hunters.
I buried the greatest toy I ever owned on that bright, sunny church morning alongside the three pigeons I had killed, changed forever in some way, but neither for the better or worst; and like that boomerang, the Honest John missiles soon became obsolete.
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Tim says: I suppose nowadays “toy weapon” is somewhat of an oxymoron, but — back in the 50s — there were many of them. Wham-O eventually went on to produce the ever-popular Frisbee, Super-Ball, and Hula Hoop, as well as a slew of other toys that bore the children of today in the same way their toys will bore the children of tomorrow.
By the way, the ancient Greeks used wooden hoops (conspicuously similar to the modern Hula Hoop) for — exercise. Some things are never boring enough.
A lot of toys from back then are now too “dangerous” for kids. They’d rather have kids learn to psuedo kill, rape, maim, rob, etc.
Two toys from the 60’s were favorites of my brother and I. We still have our originals after all these years.
My brother’s all time favorite was the Mattel Powershop. This little “toy” could transform into a jigsaw, a lathe and drill, and really did cut wood, albeit softer woods like pine (it came with balsa). My brother’s little powershop still works and it was very educational. He later graduated to “real” tools and already had the skills to use them because of this little toy. I learned how to run power tools to make wood things on it too. But it would probably not be allowed for today’s kids. Too dangerous. Hmmph.
My personal favorite toy was the Vac u form. I actually still use mine from my childhood to mold parts I need for my crafts and hobbies, and I’ve bought extras on eBay.
It’s in demand among other hobbyists even now who make bodies for slot cars, buildings and cars for HO scale layouts and canopies for RC planes.
It is sturdy metal. It has a heating platform (*gasp* heaven forbid our kids get burned on them!) that would soften plastic sheets so they could be molded into toys or whatever else you could make a mold of with clay. Sheets are readily available on ebay or the net, or you can make your own out of Solo plastic plates.
In the 90’s they tried to bring it back, but that version was really wimpy. It was totally enclosed so no little fingers could risk being burned, all plastic, and the heat source was 2 candelabra type light bulbs. The way it molded things precluded using any creativity like the original one did. It didn’t last long. Boring.
I just won another original Vac U Form on eBay, one that is in mint condition, never having been used. I’ll keep it as a back-up in case my other three machines give up the ghost. 47 years and still going strong.
Anyway, I digress. I’ll go play with my toys now.
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I’m sure you didn’t realize what a boomerang could do
to a pigeon flock ;however as a child in the fifties, I had the fortunate experience of living close to a playground.
Games were organized by college students aspiring to be gym teachers. At night we organized our own games, hide n seek..Run sheep run etc till parents called us in.
I think today kids are missing out.. I never see girls jumping rope. It’s ipods, guitar hero, gameboy, Wii and now X-box. My grandaughter likes these things but she did master the hula hoop , plays with a frisbee and whiffle ball.
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Sad story but, you did the honorable thing.
Yes, yesterday toys and games are not the games kids will play today. They will be inside playing with their Wii’s.
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