Remembering the '50s - American Toys Quiz

Answer: Yo-yo

While the yo-yo dates back to 500 B.C., Duncan came out with the plastic version in 1955 and created a national craze. The terms "walk the dog" and "rock the cradle" took on whole new meanings as yo-yo enthusiasts invented countless tricks.

Answer: Cap pistol

No self-respecting young cowboy would be without Mattel's "Fanner fifty" cap pistol. They took a roll of red paper caps, and were silver metal with plastic ivory grips and a brown plastic leather holster.

Answer: Betsy Wetsy

Betsy was the Ideal Toy Corporation's bestseller for several years. She had a small opening in her mouth where she could be "fed" the contents of a tiny baby bottle. An opening on the other end gave her the "real" baby touch, wet diapers.

Answer: Wallpaper cleaner

Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker invented "Play-Doh" in 1956. Joe McVicker became a millionaire before his 27th birthday, and over 700 million pounds of Play-Doh have been sold.

Answer: Build-o-blocks

Tinker toys, erector sets and Lincoln Logs all first appeared in the early 1900s. They saw a huge resurgence of popularity after World War II when parents of "baby boomers" became interested in more educational toys for their children. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright's son John Lloyd Wright developed the Lincoln Logs.

Answer: $1.98

Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin were the founders of the Wham-O Company, and are responsible for one of the biggest fads of all time. They got the idea from an Australian visiting California who told them that in his home country, children twirled bamboo hoops around their waists in gym class. Using Marlex, a lightweight but durable plastic recently invented by Phillips Petroleum, Wham-O created the instant craze.

Answer: 64

The 64 Crayola box also had a built in sharpener. In accordance with political correctness, the color 'flesh' was changed to 'peach' in 1962.

Answer: Silly putty

When Japan began to invade the rubber producing countries of the Far East, American industry was asked to develop a synthetic rubber. In an experiment, a scientist in a GE lab combined boric acid and silicone oil. A gooey substance that bounced resulted. No practical use was found until years after the war when it became a bestselling toy.

Answer: Potato

Not only did Mr. Potato Head, the first toy to be advertised on television, need a potato, so did a 'spud gun' which used pieces of potato as ammo. In case your mother did not want you wasting food, a piece of styrofoam was also provided for "Mr. Potato Head", but it was just not the same.

Answer: Barbara

Ruth called her daughter "Barbie" for short. She also had a son, Ken. Barbie's controversial figure, which if life-sized, would measure 36-18-38, was modified in recent years to reflect a more realistic image of a young woman.