Time Magazine: History's greatest toys

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Time Magazine: History's greatest toys

Time reporter Allie Townsend picks the 100 most influential toys from 1923 to the present.

TIME reporter Allie Townsend has picked the 100 most influential toys from 1923 to the present. Here are highlights from the list. Radio Flyer Wagon: Created by a 16-year-old Italian immigrant, it became the vehicle of choice for many children.

Yo-Yo: While the concept has been traced back to ancient Greece, it was a Filipino immigrant in the U.S. who finally was able to create and market the toy that would become a classic.

Sock Monkey: The Nelson Knitting Co. made the signature socks beginning in 1932, but it was smart mothers who turned the socks into toys after the socks were worn out.

Red Ryder BB Gun: The toy launched in 1938, but was given a resurgence in popularity due to its appearance in the hit film, "A Christmas Story." The original toy was designed to resemble the weapons used in Western films of the era.

Slinky: Created by a mechanical engineer in 1943, the toy was actually inspired by springs used on ships.

Legos: Created by a Danish carpenter in 1949, the simplicity of the building blocks allow kids to be creative.

Mr. Potato Head: The original toy, which debuted in 1952, included parts that kids pressed into a real potato. The plastic version was released in 1964, and became a part of popular American culture.

Silly Putty: This versatile toy was a by-product of research during WWII, when there was a need to find synthetic alternatives for rubber.

PEZ Dispenser: The candy was created in the 1920's, but it wasn't until the mid-1950's that cartoon heads found their way onto plastic dispensers, creating a fun way to deliver candy to kids and adults alike.

Matchbox cars: The Georgia Peach Mobile was created in honor of the toy's 50th anniversary.

Gumby: Veteran animator Art Clokey created Gumby, which was featured on film and on TV. The bendable toy debuted in 1955. Gumby's sidekick, Pokey, also was a hit.

Play-Doh was introduced to kids in the early 1950's as a substitute for clay, which small hands found difficult to mold.

Frisbee: The design of the round flying toy was inspired by Yale students, who used to play catch with pie plates from the Frisbie Baking Co. The plastic version was first released in the 1940's.

Hula Hoop: In 1958, Wham-O toy company created the round plastic tubes that would kick off a hula hoop craze around the nation.

Barbie: America's favorite doll was introduced in 1959, inspired by paper dolls of the past.

Etch A Sketch: The drawing toy was invented by a French mechanic but didn't become a hit until Ohio Art. Co. bought the concept.

G.I. Joe: Created by Hasbro during the Cold War, the war hero action figure was heavily marketed to boys.

Easy-Bake Oven: The original concept "cooked" food using a light bulb as a heat source. It debuted in 1963.

Rubik's Cube: Hungarian inventor Ern Rubik created this cube puzzle in the mid-1970's, but it didn't take off until the 1980's when it made its way to America.

Cabbage Patch Doll: Created by a Georgia native in the late 1970's, the dolls with the big heads became one of the most popular toys of the 1980's.

Care Bears: The inspirational stuffed animals started off on a line of greeting cards before finding their way into the arms of children in the 1980's.

Transformers: The part-car, part-alien/robot toys hit stores in the mid-1980's. The toys have spawned everything from comic books to feature movies.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: The unlikely reptilian superheroes were a hit with kids, and action figures were in high demand following the popularity of the movie.

Beanie Babies: The small stuffed animals debuted in the early 1990's and kicked off a collecting frenzy.

Tickle Me Elmo: Ron Durben is credited with creating the "laughing technology" by implanting an electronic chip into a stuffed animal. When the idea was transferred to a new line of Sesame Street products, it became the hottest toy of the year.

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TIME reporter Allie Townsend has picked the 100 most influential toys from 1923 to the present. Here are highlights from the list. Radio Flyer Wagon: Created by a 16-year-old Italian immigrant, it became the vehicle of choice for many children.

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