7 Bizarre Toys from the ’70s That Faded Away (And 7 That Still Hold a Special Place in Our Hearts)
The 1970s sparked a vibrant era of toy creativity, delivering some wonderfully odd playthings. As a kid in that lively decade, my pocket money disappeared faster than a disco hit!
While some of these plastic wonders faded into obscurity, others became cherished classics, captivating new generations with their enduring charm.
1. Clackers: The Playground Menace
Remember those acrylic balls on strings that we’d swing together to make satisfying ‘clack’ sounds? Boy, did they pack a punch! My cousin Tommy broke a window and nearly his own nose with these dangerous beauties.
Schools eventually banned them after too many bruised knuckles and shattered balls sent plastic shrapnel flying. The Consumer Product Safety Commission finally stepped in, and just like that, our noisy friends disappeared from toy shelves.
2. Hugo: Man of a Thousand Faces
This bald, rubber head with interchangeable facial features was the original Mr. Potato Head’s creepy cousin. I spent hours pressing noses, ears, and eyebrows into Hugo’s pliable face, creating monstrous combinations that would terrify my little sister.
Unlike his spud relative, Hugo didn’t survive changing toy trends. The squishy skin texture that made him unique also made him collect dust and grime like nobody’s business. Eventually, parents tired of cleaning the grubby thing and Hugo vanished into obscurity.
3. The Incredible Edibles Factory
Gobble-Degoop! That’s what we called the suspicious goo that came with this mini-factory that let kids make their own candy insects. The contraption heated up chemical-laden goop that we eagerly devoured despite its questionable taste.
Mom threw mine away after I created a sticky mess on her new shag carpet. Looking back, consuming those dubious concoctions probably wasn’t the healthiest choice!
Food safety concerns and parents’ legitimate worries about heating elements in children’s toys eventually squashed this bizarre creation.
4. Silly String
A party essential, this aerosol sprayed colorful, stringy chaos, turning birthdays into vibrant messes. I once coated our ceiling with green strands that clung for weeks, to Mom’s dismay.
The sticky ‘70s formula, paired with aerosol environmental concerns, dimmed its shine, though milder modern versions can’t match the original’s wild tenacity.
5. Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture Kit
Possibly the weirdest toy I ever owned! This macabre craft kit let kids carve faces into apples, then watch them slowly shrivel into miniature mummified heads. My grandmother nearly fainted when she discovered my collection drying in her linen closet.
The kit included plastic eyes, ears, and spooky decorations to complete the ghoulish effect. Cultural sensitivity concerns eventually (and rightfully) pulled this oddity from shelves.
Yet for a brief, strange moment in the ’70s, creating fruit zombies was considered an appropriate children’s activity!
6. Water Wiggle
This seemingly innocent garden toy turned summer fun into backyard chaos! The Water Wiggle attached to your hose and wildly whipped around, spraying water everywhere as its plastic head bobbed unpredictably. My sister still has a tiny scar from when ours went rogue.
The toy was eventually recalled after serious injuries occurred. Its uncontrollable nature made it the perfect combination of water fun and mild terror.
Nothing quite matched the thrill of trying to dodge this possessed garden snake while it erratically sprayed everyone within a twenty-foot radius!
7. Pet Rock
A marketing marvel, Pet Rocks sold plain stones as pets for $4, complete with a cute carrier and manual. I begged for one to join my friends’ craze.
Needing no care, it was the ideal companion, but the fad fizzled, leaving a quirky testament to ‘70s ingenuity.
8. LEGO Sets
My first LEGO set, a tiny red fire truck, sparked a lifelong obsession with these colorful bricks. Nothing matched the satisfaction of snapping pieces together or the unique pain of stepping on one with bare feet at midnight!
Unlike many ’70s toys, LEGO brilliantly evolved while maintaining its core appeal. The company expanded from simple building blocks to elaborate themed sets, video games, and blockbuster movies.
Yet the fundamental joy remains unchanged: creating something magnificent from tiny plastic pieces, limited only by imagination and the number of bricks in your collection.
9. Etch A Sketch
The magical gray screen that taught us patience like no other toy! I spent countless rainy afternoons twisting those white knobs, attempting to create masterpieces that inevitably looked like earthquake-damaged geometric shapes.
The satisfaction of shaking it clean for a fresh start never gets old. Invented in the late ’50s, this aluminum powder wonder hit its stride in the ’70s and refuses to fade away.
Even in our digital age, there’s something wonderfully tactile about creating temporary art that vanishes with a flip. It is a perfect metaphor for childhood itself!
10. Star Wars Action Figures
The 1977 Star Wars figures brought cinematic magic to my hands. My Darth Vader tagged along everywhere, even to church, despite Mom’s sighs.
Kenner’s 3¾-inch heroes sparked a collecting frenzy still thriving, with pristine originals now fetching stellar prices, redefining movie merchandising.
11. Rubik’s Cube
This colorful puzzle cube invaded America in the late ’70s and promptly scrambled our brains! I pretended to solve mine by peeling off the stickers—a shameful technique many of us secretly employed.
Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik never imagined his teaching tool would become one of history’s bestselling toys. The cube’s enduring appeal lies in its perfect balance of simplicity and complexity.
Today’s speed-cubers solve it in seconds, while the rest of us still get stuck with one misaligned row, just like we did back in the disco decade!
12. Lite-Brite
Pure illuminated magic in a box! Pushing those colorful pegs through black paper to create glowing masterpieces felt like commanding miniature stars. My proudest creation was a lopsided rainbow unicorn that stayed plugged in for weeks until Dad complained about the electric bill.
The satisfying click of each peg and the warm glow in a darkened room created an almost meditative experience. Hasbro has updated this classic with LED technology, but the fundamental joy remains unchanged.
13. Stretch Armstrong
This gel-filled strongman stretched endlessly, as my brother and I tugged until we fell. A leak once oozed goo onto Mom’s couch, but Stretch’s charm persists.
Modern versions use safer fillings, yet the fun of pulling this elastic hero remains a ‘70s classic.
14. Fisher-Price Music Box Record Player
This sturdy turntable played tiny records without batteries, mesmerizing me with “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” on repeat. Its wind-up magic taught cause and effect through melodies.
Surviving toddler wear and tear, its tinkling tunes still delight, proving timeless joy needs no tech.