History's Best Selling Toys of 1959

From coast to coast, 1959 saw a swell surge of mid-century craze and suburban optimism in the world of toys! Leading the charge were mighty, top-selling marvels like Fisher-Price Little People and Barbie, capturing the public’s fancy in grand fashion. Distinguished creators from industry leaders like Fisher-Price and Mattel proved their mettle with Fake Vomit, delivering craftsmanship that became sensational mainstays in post-war American homes. Step right up and inspect our complete, rank-ordered historical archive below!

1. Fisher-Price Little People

   Released in 1959 by Fisher-Price

   On February 1, 1959, the landscape of preschool play was forever changed not with a grand announcement, but with the quiet roll-out of a simple wooden school bus. This was the Fisher-Price #952 Safety School Bus, a toy that perfectly captured the post-war suburban zeitgeist. More importantly, riding inside were the very first passengers of what would become one of the most beloved toy lines in history: the Little People. While not yet known by that name, these simple, peg-like figures represented a revolutionary concept—creating an entire universe of characters for children to populate their imaginative worlds, starting with the familiar daily ritual of riding the school bus.

2. Barbie

   Released in 1959 by Mattel

   On March 9, 1959, the toy world was irrevocably changed. At the American International Toy Fair in New York City, a skeptical, male-dominated audience of toy buyers was introduced to a doll unlike any other. In an era where baby dolls reigned supreme, encouraging girls to play at being mothers, Mattel unveiled a curvaceous, 11.5-inch "Teen-age Fashion Model" named Barbie. This date marks the official birth of an icon. The brainchild of Ruth Handler, Barbie was not a baby to be cared for, but a canvas for aspiration, allowing young girls to imagine their future selves. Her debut was a gamble that challenged every convention of the 1950s toy industry.

3. Fake Vomit

   Released in 1959 by S.S. Adams Company

   On April 1, 1959, the world of practical jokes was forever changed with the release of a disgustingly brilliant novelty. The S.S. Adams Company, already titans of the prank industry, chose April Fools' Day to strategically unleash 'Whoops,' more commonly known as fake vomit. In the relatively conservative and wholesome cultural landscape of the late 1950s, this item represented a new level of gross-out humor. The launch on this specific day was a masterstroke of marketing, immediately associating the product with the one day a year dedicated to hoaxes and gags, ensuring its place as an essential tool for any aspiring prankster for generations to come.

4. Plarail Toy Train

   Released in 1959 by Tomy

   On October 1, 1959, Japanese toy company Tomy released a product that would become a cultural icon: the 'Plastic Train and Rail Set'. Launched into the post-war Japanese market, this simple, battery-powered train system was a revolutionary concept. It stood in stark contrast to the expensive, intricate metal model trains that were the standard for hobbyists. Tomy’s creation was designed specifically for children, emphasizing safety, durability, and imaginative play. Its debut on this date marked the beginning of a new era in toy trains, offering an affordable and accessible way for a generation of children to build their own miniature worlds, mirroring the rapid modernization and railway expansion happening in Japan at the time.

5. Diplomacy

   Released in 1959 by Allan B. Calhamer

   First introduced in 1959, 'Diplomacy' quickly carved out a unique niche in the nascent board gaming world. Unlike its contemporaries, this grand strategy game eschewed luck-based mechanics in favor of pure negotiation, cunning, and strategic thinking. It wasn't a commercial sensation in the way a children's toy might be, but it garnered a fervent following among intellectuals, academics, and serious strategy gamers who appreciated its deep psychological warfare and complex inter-player dynamics. Its debut marked a pivotal moment, showcasing how board games could be a platform for intense human interaction and strategic depth, captivating a dedicated audience for decades.

6. Troll Doll

   Released in 1959 by Thomas Dam

   The story of the Troll Doll begins not in a corporate boardroom, but in a humble workshop in Gjøl, Denmark. In 1959, woodcutter Thomas Dam was too poor to afford a Christmas gift for his young daughter, Lila. Drawing upon local Scandinavian folklore and his own imagination, he carved a small figure from wood with a charmingly pugnacious face and a tuft of woolly hair. This first creation, a simple act of fatherly love, marked the birth of the 'Good Luck Troll.' While the exact date is steeped in family lore, its conception in 1959 represents the origin point for a toy that would unexpectedly charm the world, proving that the most resonant ideas often come from the heart, not the factory.