B98.5 » Toys

Toy Store Staying In Business Thanks to $80,000 in Donations From Local Community

Drew Weisholtz — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:36:01 +0000

It’s happy ever after for Once Upon A Toy. The Edwardsville, Illinois store has been saved from shutting its doors after the local community rallied around with donations. Once Upon A Toy was on the cusp of bankruptcy and going out of business if it couldn’t pay a $76,000 bank loan by Friday. Well, citizens [...]

Over 17 Billion Toys Put in Cracker Jack Boxes

Randy McCoy — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:42:15 +0000

Cracker Jacks, the candy popcorn, made its debut in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, the same fair that introduced the Ferris wheel, Aunt Jemima Pancakes and the ice cream cone. A German immigrant sold popcorn from a cart when he and his brother came up with the idea of candy-coated popcorn they named ‘Cracker Jacks’.

'Thor: The Dark World' Toy Line Shows Off the New Thunder God and Dark Elves

Nick Romano — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:16:12 +0000

'Thor: The Dark World' will soon be upon us, hitting theaters November 8, 2013, and so will Marvel's accompanying toy line. We got the chance to attend Hasbro's Fan Media Day during the 2013 American International Toy Fair, which showed off the new 'Thor 2' action figures and gadgets.

Previous toy releases, like most recently with the 'Iron Man 3' LEGO sets, have teased potential spoilers from their corresponding movies, so what hidden 'Thor: The Dark World' gems might be hidden in this new toy crop?

Etch A Sketch Inventor Dies at Age 86

Donald Deane — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:33:22 +0000

Andre Cassagnes, the man responsible for inventing the venerable Etch A Sketch, a toy that inspired countless children ever since it was introduced in 1960, has died at age 86 in France. According to the Ohio Art Co., the toy’s manufacturer, Cassagnes died in a Paris suburb on Jan. 16 due to undisclosed causes. “Etch [...]

'Man of Steel' Toys Reveal a Top Secret Villain?

Mike Sampson — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:05:55 +0000

'Man of Steel' has a villain any Superman fan will recognize: General Zod. Played by Oscar-nominee Michael Shannon, Zod was famously seen in 'Superman II' and introduced the classic line, "Kneel before Zod!" But is there another Superman bad guy in 'Man of Steel?' One that the filmmakers are trying to keep quiet? There very well may be and that top secret villain may have been spoiled with details on the new 'Man of Steel' toy line. Potential spoilers ahead...

The Porsche 917 Le Mans Raceway: A Toy Racetrack For Big Boys

Mike Moody — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:39:35 +0000

We’re not saying we still play with toys, but if we did, this would be the toy we’d play with. This full size replica of the racing Porsche 917 is actually giant toy car racetrack. The car’s beautiful frame conceals a detailed replica of the famous Le Mans raceway inside. Collectors can store this with [...]

'Back To The Future' DeLorean Lego Set Is Coming

Jeremy Taylor — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:06:26 +0000

Did you ever want to own a DeLorean like the one in ‘Back To The Future’? If you did, you probably weren’t in luck, as the car is quite rare. (Not to mention highly impractical.) But it looks like you will soon be able to posses the famous sports car time machine in Lego form, thanks [...]

Hasbro Introduces Easy-Bake Oven for Boys

Donald Deane — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:21:54 +0000

Ever since it was introduced in 1963, the Easy-Bake Oven has been marketed exclusively to girls, leaving aspiring boy chefs out in the cold. But that's about to change thanks to a campaign led by a teen girl on behalf of her four-year-old brother, who loves to cook.

Urban Shredder From Hot Wheels Sure to Be on Most Dangerous Toy List this Holiday

Chris Illuminati — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:30:31 +0000

The Urban Shredder from Hot Wheels looks like every kid’s moist dream and every parent’s biggest nightmare. This kiddie crotchrocket is powered by a 250 watt motor and two DC 12 volt batteries. It has a maximum speed of 10mph, unless this kid lives near hills, where it could probably reach speeds of around 90 [...]

Teen Launches Campaign for Gender-Neutral Easy Bake Oven

Amanda Ferris — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:23:35 +0000

Thirteen year-old McKenna Pope is fighting mad at Hasbro, and this little activist wants some positive changes now. The eighth grader, who hails from Garfield, New Jersey, has started a petition on Change.org asking Hasbro to make their Easy Bake Ovens more gender-neutral.