50s - 5/10 - Retroland

Highlights for Children

If you paid a visit to any sort of waiting room as a kid (say, the doctor or dentist's office), you are probably familiar with a beloved little publication called Highlights for Children. Filled to the brim with all sorts of kid-friendy information and activities, Highlights entertained and challenged us to think, all while serving as a wonderful distraction for whatever terrors lie beyond the waiting room.

Hula Hoops

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Fads are not an easy thing to explain, especially to future generations. Take a kid who is accustomed to being surrounded by computers and gaming consoles and try to get them to understand the impact that a simple ring of plastic could have on the populace and you are likely to be met with the blankest of stares. They might even accuse you of making the story up. But truth is often stranger than fiction and the truth is, this single ring of plastic known as the Hula Hoop was something that, at one time, was the most coveted toy in existence. Its popularity transcended both gender and age and got a whole generation to gyrate their hips (and other body parts) with reckless abandon. Let's go back in time.

Hydrox

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The cookie world, as you might imagine, is just a tad competitive, and when it comes to two chocolate wafers embracing a layer of sweet vanilla crème, there has always been a heavyweight and an underdog. We know you are aware of the former, but for the uninitiated, we would like to talk about the latter, and thy name is Hydrox. While their demise can be directly linked to their Nabisco counterpart, they are the cookie of choice of millions of people who, in 2008, demanded their cookie back. Let’s see what all the fuss was about.

Jiffy Pop

Jolly Green Giant

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He was a man of few words, those of which had clearly been plagiarized from Santa Claus. He was green, he was a giant, and had it not been for an extreme makeover, he might never have found his way into our collective hearts. Hawking his wares of freshly canned vegetables, he is none other than the Jolly Green Giant. Let’s take a look back at this memorable mascot.

Jujyfruits and Jujubes

Keds

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As any parent can attest, a kid’s energy knows no bounds and, as a result, if their footwear isn’t up to the task, it can be decimated quickly from the rigors of playtime. In fact, way back in the 1800s, kids didn’t even have shoes for play, only those of the leather variety, which were considered their “good shoes” – ones that they were expected to keep in good condition. If only there was some form of footwear that they could play in, and get as dirty as they wanted without the scorn of a parent’s watchful eye, all would truly be right in the world. Their shoe saviors were a company called Keds, who have been providing footwear for active kids and adults for over a century now.

Kitchens

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Today’s kitchens, with their modern technology, granite countertops and track lighting, are certainly cutting-edge, filled with their nifty gadgets. And yet, they often seem to possess all the inviting warmth of a hospital operating room. Instead, we take a fond look back at the kitchens of yesteryear, the ones run by our parents and grandparents. The ones we stood in while drinking milk from the carton and where we sat staring at every square inch of a Cocoa Puffs box until it was time to catch the school bus.

Kool-Aid

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Few soft drinks share the pop culture significance of an ice-cold pitcher of Kool-Aid. A staple of summertime for literally generations of tykes, it is also a favorite among parents for it costs mere pennies per serving and is so easy to make - any youngster can whip up a batch on their own in just a few minutes - providing a perfect refreshment after a hard day's play.