The Toys That Built America
History
Against the backdrop of major events in American history, like the Civil War and the Great Depression, "The Toys that Built America" shares a different story: one that brings new products and nostalgic toys to the forefront as driving forces behind untold cultural and economic shifts. The four-part docuseries showcases visionaries, such as the Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley and Ruth Handler, who transformed a small toy company into the billion-dollar empire now known as Mattel. The series unveils competitive rivalries between iconic brands that changed the fabric of the nation forever.
Upcoming TV Listings for The Toys That Built America
The Toys That Built America Cabbage Clash
Martha Nelson creates a one-of-a-kind doll to sell at local Kentucky craft markets; a visionary young entrepreneur uses her artwork as inspiration for a mass-produced doll that sparks a multi-billion-dollar toy craze.
1:00 AM on History Canada East
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The Toys That Built America Mind Game Masters
Postwar peace and prosperity reveals a demand for more challenging pastimes; after decades of struggle, three different innovators break the mold to release games that combine fun with an intellectual challenge: Scrabble, Clue and Yahtzee.
12:00 PM on History Canada East
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The Toys That Built America Gross Out Icons
From a first-century Roman emperor who created an early version of the whoopee cushion to modern materials that emulate human body fluids, gross equals big bucks for toymakers; examining innovative toys designed to shock.
1:00 PM on History Canada East
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The Toys That Built America 90's Fad Toys
From Furbys to Pogs, the 1990s were full of unforgettable fad toys; it was a decade where old school toys like Beanies Babies went head-to-head with high-tech wonders like Tamagotchi, and parents would do anything to get their hands on them.
1:30 PM on History Canada East
Select your lineup for TV local listings
The Toys That Built America Mind Game Masters
Postwar peace and prosperity reveals a demand for more challenging pastimes; after decades of struggle, three different innovators break the mold to release games that combine fun with an intellectual challenge: Scrabble, Clue and Yahtzee.
12:00 AM on History Canada East
Select your lineup for TV local listings
The Toys That Built America Gross Out Icons
From a first-century Roman emperor who created an early version of the whoopee cushion to modern materials that emulate human body fluids, gross equals big bucks for toymakers; examining innovative toys designed to shock.
1:00 AM on History Canada East
Select your lineup for TV local listings
The Toys That Built America 90's Fad Toys
From Furbys to Pogs, the 1990s were full of unforgettable fad toys; it was a decade where old school toys like Beanies Babies went head-to-head with high-tech wonders like Tamagotchi, and parents would do anything to get their hands on them.
1:30 AM on History Canada East
Select your lineup for TV local listings
The Toys That Built America 80's Tech Toys
A former amusement park employee combines his animatronic knowledge with the cassette tape to create the world's first realistic talking toy; a NASA engineer invents an entirely new toy segment stemming from the boring old squirt gun.
12:00 PM on History Canada East
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The Toys That Built America Plumber Bros vs. Hedgehog
After the U.S. video game crash of 1983, a Japanese electronics company single-handedly resurrects the industry with a game featuring a jumping plumber.
1:00 PM on History Canada East
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