麻豆影视

Skip to main content

Spinning Top, Lite-Brite, inducted in toy hall of fame

Share
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -

The National Toy Hall of Fame's new honorees include an object dating to ancient times, a line of muscle-bound action figures and an iconic art set whose medium is colorful pegs. The hall on Thursday announced the top, Masters of the Universe and Lite-Brite as this year's inductees.

The trio was chosen from a field of 12 finalists that also included bingo, Breyer Horses, Catan, Nerf, the pinata, Phase 10, Pound Puppies, Rack-O and Spirograph.

The Toy Hall of Fame inducts a new class of toys each year in a ceremony at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, where the hall is housed.

The top earned a place by being a childhood staple of cultures in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia, according to the hall, which noted that ancient Greek pottery shows people playing with the twirling objects more than 2,000 years ago.

"The top is one of the oldest toys and an integral part of many cultures, where it developed independently as a plaything," Chief Curator Christopher Bensch said in a news release. "With more than 5,000 years of history behind it, it's about time that the top spun its way into the National Toy Hall of Fame!"

The hall recognizes toys that have inspired creativity and endured over time.

Hasbro's Lite-Brite has maintained its popularity for more than 50 years, after being introduced 1966. Marketed in 1968 as a "magic light box," the toy encourages kids to create glowing pictures by pushing colorful pegs into an illuminated black background.

Masters of the Universe grew in popularity in the 1980s, when the cartoon series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" allowed Mattel to introduce new characters and toys to the line, hall of fame experts said. A 2021 Netflix series underscored the franchise's staying power.

"The team at Mattel understood that kids spend lots of time in fantasy play and like the opportunity to project themselves into the role of the hero," curator Michelle Parnett-Dwyer said. "Masters of the Universe characters had the strength, weapons, and power to defeat the villain--and give kids confidence."

The honor comes as Mattel marks the 40th anniversary of the franchise, which includes action figures like He-Man and Skeletor, movies and video games, said PJ Lewis, the toymaker's vice president and global head of action figures.

"We can't think of a better way to commemorate this historic milestone for Masters of the Universe than being inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame," Lewis said in a statement.

The new inductees will be displayed alongside past honorees that range from everyday objects like the stick and cardboard box to technologic entries like Nintendo's Game Boy. American Girl Dolls, Risk and sand were inducted last year.

Anyone can nominate a toy. A panel of experts votes in the winners.

The Strong museum also houses the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.