Please Touch Museum collects toys. Best sellers, iconic, and loaded with lots of play value. A lot of toys offer open-ended play experiences so that you can come back over and over and they still remain fun. Toys and games your grandparents played with can be toys and games that your child plays with today: alphabet blocks, teddy bears, Monopoly and more. And then there’s some toys that come down the pike and EVERYONE simply has to have one! They are called fads and kids love ‘em!
The latest craze to hit the scene is a simple little silicone bracelet…known as Silly Bandz, Silly Bracelets, Zanybandz, Crazy Bands and even Rubba Bandz. They are colorful silicone bands molded into a variety of shapes with a variety of colors and designs. They come in themed packs, such as animals, dinosaurs, princesses, baseball, rock band and rainforest, just to name a few. They look like simple bracelets when you wear them, but pop back into their shapes when taken off.
Can you remember some of the fads from your childhood?
In the 1930s,
Shirley Temple dolls from Ideal Toy & Novelty Company were all the rage. Fashioned in the likeness of the child actress, the dolls realized $45 million in sales by 1941.
1950s—The Hula Hoop made by Wham-O became THE toy to have. The company sold 25 million of them in four months.
1960s— What was the second top-selling doll behind Barbie? Troll dolls! Everyone loved them and everyone had to have them. Created by Thomas Dam of Denmark.
1970s— Advertising executive Gary Dahl spawned a fad with Pet Rock! They were rocks…marketed as if they were live pets.
1980s—Lots of toy fads…Rubik’s Cube, made by Ernö Rubik, sold 4.5 million in 1980.
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This week's collections object is a Cookie Monster puppet!
With his distinctive voice and fuzzy blue fur, this cookie loving monster is easily one of the most recognizable Muppets. Created in 1966 by Jim Henson, the Cookie Monster made his Sesame Street debut on the show's premiere episode on November 10, 1969. This puppet was produced by Child Guidance in 1980. Part of the proceeds from its sale went to support Children's Television Workshop, the non-profit organization that produced Sesame Street.
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! And while you are looking high and low, don't forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and engaging your child in the conversation. For example: What does Cookie Monster sound like? Who are Cookie Monsters friends? Or simply share one of your own memories of Cookie Monster and his Sesame Street friends!
This week's collections object is the Fisher Price Cuddly Cub!
Manufactured throughout the 1970s, this bear is the perfect combination teddy bear and chime ball, two childhood favorites. With a rounded chime ball base, Cuddly Cub simply rocks and chimes when pushed.
But Cuddly Cub isn't the only Teddy Bear hiding out in our collections cases. Teddy Bear Faire is fast approaching (Friday, May 28th to Monday, May 31st) and everyday there seems to be more and more teddy bears hiding throughout the museum.
So keep your eyes peeled and see how many bears you can find on your next visit! And while you are finding all those bears, don't forget to encourage curiosity by asking open-ended questions and including your child in the conversation. For example: What is your favorite teddy bear? How old do you think this teddy bear is? What games do you think this teddy likes to play?
This week’s Collections object is a pair of Hustler Speed King Roller Skates! These metal skates used leather ankle straps and a skate key to size the skate to fit the skater’s shoe size. Manufactured by the Frantz Manufacturing Co. from the late 1930s to the early 1970s, Hustler Speed King Roller Skates were sold in large department stores across the country and were one of the leading brands of roller skates.
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
This week's Collections object is a set of Kindergarten Building Blocks!
These embossed ABC blocks were first patented on June 20, 1876 by the Hyatt Brothers of Albany, New York. Manufactured by The Embossing Company, each wooden block featured a slightly raised image, number or letter on each side.
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
By: Pinky,
on 5/7/2010
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Pinky's Please Touch Museum
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On May 10th, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant stood near the front steps of Memorial Hall to formally open the Centennial Exhibition and invite the world to see how much America had grown since 1776. The Centennial Exhibition served not only as America’s 100th birthday party, but more importantly was the third World’s Fair to be held in the United States! Did you know that bananas, kindergarten and the telephone were first introduced to many Americans at the fair?
Opening day of the Centennial Exhibition, May 10, 1876
View from the steps of Memorial Hall, looking toward the Main Exhibition Building. The bleacher seating was for the VIPs—Centennial Commission members, U.S. and foreign political figures and special guests.
Image Courtesy, Robby Cohen Collection
In addition to introducing America as an industrialized nation, the Centennial Exhibition also introduced the world to numerous new and exciting discoveries and inventions. The Centennial closed on November 10, 1876, and in those short six months over 10 million people had come to Philadelphia to see and experience the excitement and grandeur of the Centennial Exhibition!
On Monday, we will be celebrating the 134th anniversary of opening day with special Centennial themed programming throughout the museum. The day’s programming is intended to highlight major themes of the Centennial Exhibition, while introducing our young audience to the concept of history through age appropriate, familiar, and fun activities.
Kids will be able to paint, explore transportation of the period, and play with reproduction Froebel blocks throughout the day in the Program Room. The Story Castle will feature carnival themed stories at 10:30 and 3:30. Visitors will get the opportunity to interact with collections objects during a stereograph themed KidGlove Program at 1:00 in the Centennial Train Station. In addition, there will be parades in the Centennial Train Station at 12:00 and 2:00.
And grown-ups, don’t worry we didn’t forget about you, we will be offering special $10 guided Centennial Tours at 2:00 Saturday, May 8th to Monday, May 10th.
This past weekend, our visitors perused a selection of past Please Touch Museum Book Award winners and voted on their all-time favorite. Thanks to everyone who voted!
The winning book is…I Love Our Earth by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, illustrated by Dan Lipow.
I Love Our Earth was selected as the winner of the 4 to 7 year old category for the 2007 Book Award. In this book, Martin and Sampson’s text celebrates the natural splendor of our Earth and the diversity of its inhabitants (both human and animal). While simple on the surface, their rhyming text conceals a great love and appreciation for our planet. Lipow’s photographs are varied in subject and traverse the globe; from alpine mountains to the backyard. They prominently feature not only our world’s beauty, but also kids from around the world, showing that no matter how different our daily lives are, we all have pretty much the same stuff on the inside.
Original photographic prints, on loan from the book’s illustrator Dan Lipow, are currently on display at the museum and will remain in the Etch-a-Sketch Display Case until May 4, so be sure check them out during your next visit!
This week's Collections object is a Mechanical Aquaplane! This tin lithograph wind-up airplane with pontoons was produced by J. Chein & Co. in 1932. When the wind-up key on top of the plane was turned, the plane’s large yellow propeller would spin around and around!
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
This week's Collections object is a Philadelphia Phillies Mr. Potato Head!
Manufactured in 2005 by Hasbro, this Mr. Potato Head includes a Phillies uniform, baseball cap, batting helmet and other baseball related accessories.
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
Of course, this Collections item is the perfect match, as we celebrated the kick-off of the Phillies' Paint the Town Red Week yesterday here at Please Touch Museum! Check out the picture below of the 20 Phanatic statues that were unveiled, and be sure to swing by soon to take your picture with our very own "Mad Hatter Phanatic" painted by Lorna Kent!
Can't be bothered explaining this one. Just stick your nose in and have a look around. And if you don't know by now, you can do that by clicking on the drawing and then on the green arrows in the bottom right hand corner. Fill your boots.
I was looking through some old stuff yesterday. Throughout my life I've always made books. Books of stuff. Books about nothing much. Just about life, I guess. I found this one which is about 15 years old. It's jam packed with drawings, photos, thoughts and ideas. I hadn't looked through it for years.
This page, particularly, made me smile. Not just because it looks like one of my drawings. And not just because Weller and Young can all be found amongst the stamps and other bits and pieces from places I've visited. But mostly because this is, without a doubt, my favourite photo of my mam and dad. Looking fabulous. Looking like a couple of young Mods.
I'm getting this urge. A feeling that I might just draw this entire page in one of my Moleskines.
Hi everyone! Today I have a very special Centennial History post for you! I spoke to Stacey Swigart, Curator of Collections at Please Touch Museum, who told me about "Old Abe" the Eagle. Read on for the exciting story!
Ahgamahwegezig (also known as "Chief Sky") was a Chippewa Indian who captured a female bald eagle on the Flambeau River in Wisconsin in the mid-nineteenth century. According to stories, Chief Sky sold the eagle to a man for a bushel of corn. There are different accounts, but at some point, someone sold the eagle to a Company "C" of the Eight Wisconsin military unit ready to head out on campaign in 1861 for a few dollars during the Civil War. The men named the eagle "Old Abe" after the president, Abraham Lincoln.
Official Centennial portrait of "Old Abe" the War Eagle (Courtesy Robby Cohen Collection)The troop carried "Old Abe" on a perch at the end of a staff next to their colors. The "Eagle Regiment," as they were soon nicknamed, took the eagle through 36 battles with them. During the battles, she would spread her wings and "scream.”" Some accounts say she was wounded twice, but she survived the war until she was “mustered” out with her troop in 1864.
Following the war, she was gifted to the State of Wisconsin, where she traveled to conventions, military reunions and special events. A booklet about her illustrious history raised $16,000 for sick and wounded soldiers.
She came to the 1876 Centennial Exhibition (for which Memorial Hall, Please Touch Museum's current home was built) and was on display in Agricultural Hall. She drew big crowds at the Fair, especially during feeding time where her caretakers gave her live chickens. One visitor is said to have gotten to close and ended up with a scratched cheek!
"Old Abe" died March 26, 1881 from smoke inhalation when a fire broke out in the basement of the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. She was later mounted and continued to be on display in the Capitol of Wisconsin until she was destroyed by fire in 1904.
Reverse of the official photograph of "Old Abe." The former owner of this photograph glued a newspaper clipping reporting the death of the eagle from 1881. (Courtesy Robby Cohen Collection)\
The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from GrimmTranslated by Lore Segal and Randall Jarrell
Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
If your children's literature shelf is somehow lacking any Grimm brothers' fairy tales, this may be the book for you. Originally published in 1973, it was re-released for its thirtieth anniversary in 2003. The 27 tales selected for the collection contain some of the most famous of Grimm's fairy tales, and some of the most obscure and unknown. The translations are said to be extremely faithful to the original German text, and the black and white illustrations are done by the famed author/illustrator Maurice Sendak (creator of Where the Wild Things Are). This is a great edition for Grimm-lovers or for newbies who are looking to fill that gap on the shelf but aren't ready to commit to the much heftier complete works. Check it out!
This week’s Collections object is a Horse and Warrior Puppet from Mali, Africa! This puppet is a great example of the type of puppets used in Sogo bò puppet festivals in the Segou region of the Republic of Mali. The Sogo bò performances explore the important cultural values and social relationships of the community. Performances are typically performed by the young men and women in each community. The puppets on display throughout the museum are on loan from Mary Sue and Paul Peter Rosen.
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
This week's Collections object is a Centennial Goblet! This glass goblet was produced by Gillinder Glass Factory in Philadelphia during the 1876 Centennial Exhibition and could be purchased as a souvenir. It features the raised image of the Liberty Bell!
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
This week's Collections object is the Fisher Price Music Box Record Player! Introduced in 1971, this pint sized phonograph allowed young music lovers to play records just like their grown-ups. This wind-up record player came with 5 brightly colored double sized records that played childhood favorites like "London bridge" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!"
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
This week's Collections object is the Hercules Jazz Band!
This stamped tin "one man band" was manufactured by J. Chien and Co. in New Jersey, during the early part of the twentieth century. Our well-loved version of the Hercules Jazz Band includes a large bass drum with foot pedal, snare drum and cymbal. It originally had two additional cymbals, a triangle and cowbell!
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
This week's Collections object is the Globe-Trotters board game! Manufactured in the 1950s by Selchow & Righter Co., this board game allowed players to "visit" cities across the globe. The goal of the game was to visit as many cities throughout the world and make it back home first and with money to spare! Not only did this game encourage it’s players to learn world geography, but it also allowed them to learn basic information of countries and cities all around the world.
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
This week's Collections object is a Dorothy and Toto doll! Produced in 1974 by Mego, Dorothy and Toto were the first in a line of Wizard of Oz dolls and accessories. Dressed in her iconic blue and white gingham dress and ruby red shoes and carrying Toto in her basket, Dorothy is ready to set out to find the Emerald City. In addition to Dorothy and Toto, Mego also released The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good Witch dolls and an Emerald City playset.
Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.
Please Touch Museum kicks off the holiday season with a trip to the village-- The Enchanted Colonial Village!Millions of families in the 1960s and 70s took holiday trips to Lit Brothers Department Store in Center City to shop and visit the Enchanted Colonial Village. For over 40 years, it has been a staple in Philadelphia and continues to delight children and adults alike. Designed by Lit Brothers display designer, Thomas Comerford, the Village was built by a German toy firm specifically for the department store. It is a 3/4 life-size display, which originally depicted 18 scenes of a small colonial hamlet preparing for the holidays. After Lit Brothers closed in 1977, the Sun Oil Company (Sunoco) bought the display, but was unable to find a new home for the Village. In '82, it was restored by Williamson Trade School of Media, PA and given to Longwood Gardens for their holiday celebration.
After a few other stops in the late 80's and 90's, Please Touch Museum purchased the Village for $1 in the year 2000 and restored the remaining eight scenes. To this day, the Enchanted Colonial Village provides families with a glimpse into the past, while giving them a chance to share their favorite childhood memories!
I recently talked to
Milton Boone, Exhibit Technician Extraordinaire at Please Touch about the Village. Read on for more...
Pinky: So how long does it take to put up the Village every holiday season?
Milton: It usually takes about two weeks to get everything in the right place and set up all of the accessories.
Pinky: What is the Village made of?
Milton: Mostly wood. The buildings are all made of wood. Even the people figures are made of wood and paper and painted. A lot of it has been updated... most of the figures have new technology inside to make them move. A lot of the eyeballs had to be replaced. Oh, and a lot of the clothing was updated, too!
Pinky: And what do you like most about the Village?
Milton: I am always amazed by how many people remember seeing it for the first time at Lits and how much they enjoy it! Some visitors will even point out if something looks wrong- like a mechanism isn't working the way they remember it! It's a great holiday tradition.
Be sure to stop by and see this Philadelphia tradition bef
Do you know what one of my new favorite games to play at Please Touch Museum is? I'll give you a hint. You have to look up, down and all around…give up yet?
It's Hide and Seek of the Week!
Hide and Seek of the Week invites kids and their grown-ups to actively engage their curiosity and imagination, all the while encouraging our young audience to engage with the museum's ever-growing collection of objects. Part of what makes Please Touch Museum so unique is that we actively collect and display objects that reflect the work of childhood-play!
Our collection consists of
over 12,000 objects, the majority of which are toys. We collect toys, not just because they're fun, but more importantly because they guide play, spark the imagination and encourage critical thinking.
Our objects not only provide a simple introduction to museum collections, but provide kids a tangible and relatable link to begin understanding the differences and similarities among cultures and time periods. Collections support and encourage kids and their grown-ups to connect and talk with one another by using toys as a jumping board. "When I was a little…," "What was your favorite toy?” or "One year for my birthday…"
So put on your looking eyes and getting ready to search high and low for the new Hide and Seek of the Week!Hide and Seek of the Week features are located throughout the gallery floor at the bottom of the
Today's Fun Signs. Check out these cool past Hide and Seek of the Week items:
It's been awhile since i found a treasure to add to my collection of 60's and 70's big eyed art.
One of the joys of thrift shopping is that you never know when or where you might find that perfect piece.
Like all the way in the back of a tiny thrift store, behind a bunch of dusty, uninteresting paintings.
There she was. Sweet big eyed Indian girl.
It's a big piece (18x22"), but that didn't keep me from taking her with me. It may sound strange, but in the store she looked a bit sad. And the moment i brought her in to the house it felt like she started to look a bit happier.
It's one of those pieces that when you end up with it in your home it feels like it was supposed to be there all along. You instantly can't remember how the wall looked like without it there.
I had to take the frame off to be able to see the signature on it, it looks like the title plus initials of the creator. "Hasler Twin B.I.". Does that mean she is part of a two piece series?
(Click on drawing to view)
This drawing had all the ingredients to be great. A beautiful subject matter courtesy of my friend Annette. Stunning colours. Heaps of nostalgia. And hours of time to simmer. Somehow, for me, it just falls short of being an extremely tasty dish.
Even on a day off, there’s no getting away from books. Yesterday I volunteered at one of Minneapolis’s inner-city schools. A teacher I know there needed help moving into a new classroom – just across the hall from his old classroom. He taught 4th grade this past year, and next year he’ll be teaching 3rd graders, so he asked me to help him weed his book collection, pulling out anything that might not be appropriate for his younger readers. Weeding is such an intense, personal chore. You’re confronted with dozens of difficult choices with each book you pick up. And just because I love a particular book – for example, he had a copy of Rumer Godden’s exquisite The Mousewife – doesn’t mean 3rd graders will share my enthusiasm. Now I know what librarians have to go through. My friend had bought most of those books himself over the years. Many of the books were tattered, had ripped covers, or had handwriting scrawled on them. They had been touched and opened and read by hundreds of little hands. These were books that had become part of children’s lives, at least during those hours they spent in my friend’s classroom. These books meant something to all of us – to the students, to my generous friend, and finally to me, who had to choose what to keep and what to discard. The Mousewife is now sitting on a shelf in my bedroom.
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I want all those shoes but the law states that men can only have one pair at a time.
Sometimes I wish I were a man(=
Great picture andrea. Love the shoes. Fun thing to draw
I can't really read the smaller text either, but I really enjoyed looking at it all nonetheless. This is a really fun, rich, interesting drawing.
Lovely, lovely .. I'm sure I want to stick my nose in, though .. LOL
Hope you're well
Hugs
Good Article and Picture!Thanks your sharing!Welcome to best glasses company! If you are looking for a pair of quality prescription eyeglasses and fashion glasses, eyeglasses onlinewe definitely have what you want.
I still have my Clarks Desert Boots...but yours are cooler!
This is great. Any chance of a poster print of this - to go with the hats one. keep it up Lady.
Great drawing as always....my partner now wants a pair of desert boots, your drawing reminded him of a pair long gone
忙碌的一天終於過了，來看看文章轉換心情，也幫你加個油哦~........................................
Thanks everyone - except you Spam buggers. Still, it makes it look like I've had more comments than I actually have.
Anyway, I really like this drawing. One of my faves in a long time. Glad you liked it too.
Cheers, my dears.
Stephen, it must be AWFUL being a man.