The Capital News Online Christmas Toys Quiz

1. In the 1996 movie Jingle All the Way, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as mattress salesman Howard Langston, what action figure was Langston looking to buy his son for Christmas?

G.I. Joe

Turbo-Man

Power Rangers

He-Man

Randy Kornfield, the movie’s writer, was inspired by his own experiences with last minute Christmas shopping and witnessing the frenzy for Mighty Morphin Power Ranger toys.

Explanation

Randy Kornfield, the movie’s writer, was inspired by his own experiences with last minute Christmas shopping and witnessing the frenzy for Mighty Morphin Power Ranger toys.

2. Toys in Canada are regulated by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. Under Schedule 2 of the act, which of the following are banned from being manufactured, imported, advertised or sold?

Baby walkers with wheels

Substances used to induce sneezing

Lawn darts with elongated tips

All of the above

For a full list of banned products under Schedule 2, click here.

Explanation

For a full list of banned products under Schedule 2, click here.

3. The first toy to be advertised on TV is… (Hint: It was April 1952)

Mr. Potato Head

Lego

Barbie

Matchbox Cars

The original Mr. Potato Head actually came with a real potato. Numerous complaints about rotting vegetables and new safety regulations forced Hasbro to include the plastic body. Watch a 1960s commercial for Mr. Potato Head here.

Explanation

The original Mr. Potato Head actually came with a real potato. Numerous complaints about rotting vegetables and new safety regulations forced Hasbro to include the plastic body. Watch a 1960s commercial for Mr. Potato Head here.

4. Which of the following is not a real toy?

Jake and the Never Land Pirates - Musical Pirate Ship Bucky

Doc McStuffins Time For Your Check Up Doll

Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Star Doll – Harmony B. Sharp

Mr. Pricklepants Steiff Plush Hedgehog

Mr. Pricklepants, although a character in "Toy Story 3" voiced by Timothy Dalton, is not a real toy. The other three are considered hot toys for this holiday season.

Explanation

Mr. Pricklepants, although a character in "Toy Story 3" voiced by Timothy Dalton, is not a real toy. The other three are considered hot toys for this holiday season.

5. Ho Ho Al has been at Billings Bridge for the past 25 years. In 1987, which of the following was not a best-selling toy that year?

Nintendo Entertainment System

Tickle Me Elmo

Cabbage Patch Babies

Teddy Ruxpin

Tickle Me Elmo was released in 1996 and was one of the hottest Christmas gifts that year. The supply couldn’t keep up with the demand, and the toy was sold for large profits on the secondary market.

Explanation

Tickle Me Elmo was released in 1996 and was one of the hottest Christmas gifts that year. The supply couldn’t keep up with the demand, and the toy was sold for large profits on the secondary market.

6. What was the must-have toy for Christmas in 1996?

Furby

Tickle Me Elmo

Beanie Babies

Tamagotchi

The must-have toy for Christmas in 1996 was Tickle Me Elmo. The toy, which laughs when tickled, was in such high demand that it led to a shopping frenzy, with some reselling the toy for hundreds of dollars.

Explanation

The must-have toy for Christmas in 1996 was Tickle Me Elmo. The toy, which laughs when tickled, was in such high demand that it led to a shopping frenzy, with some reselling the toy for hundreds of dollars.

7. One of the hottest toys during the holiday season of 1975 was discontinued in February 1976. It was a hugely successful toy, making its creator a millionaire. Recently, it has also been put into production again. What toy was it?

Abe Bookman's Magic 8 Ball

Gary Dahl's Pet Rock

Josh Reynolds and Maris Ambats' mood rings

Richard James' Slinky

Gary Dahl was an advertising executive who came up with Pet Rock after he heard his friends complaining about their pets. 1.5 million Pet Rocks were sold before it was discontinued. The original manual for taking care of the Pet Rock was 32 pages. In September 2012, Pet Rock was re-released as a novelty item.

Explanation

Gary Dahl was an advertising executive who came up with Pet Rock after he heard his friends complaining about their pets. 1.5 million Pet Rocks were sold before it was discontinued. The original manual for taking care of the Pet Rock was 32 pages. In September 2012, Pet Rock was re-released as a novelty item.

8. The Play-Doh we know today was actually an accidental invention. Launched in the mid-1950s, Play-Doh was originally meant to be used as...

Clay for car detailing

Synthetic rubber substitute

Wallpaper cleaner

General adhesive

Play-Doh was originally conceived by Noah McVicker to clean coal residue from wallpaper. Following World War II, homes began to use natural gas for heat instead of coal. Play-Doh was later marketed as an educational product after McVicker’s nephew saw children using Play-Doh to make Christmas ornaments.

Explanation

Play-Doh was originally conceived by Noah McVicker to clean coal residue from wallpaper. Following World War II, homes began to use natural gas for heat instead of coal. Play-Doh was later marketed as an educational product after McVicker’s nephew saw children using Play-Doh to make Christmas ornaments.

9. The National Toy Hall of Fame is located in Rochester, New York, and includes 46 inductees. Which of the following is not one of them?

A stick

A ball

A unicycle

A blanket

The stick was inducted in 2008, the ball in 2009 and the blanket in 2011. The bicycle was inducted in 2000, and the Big Wheel, a tricycle with an oversized front tire, was inducted in 2011. The unicycle remains the odd one out.

Explanation

The stick was inducted in 2008, the ball in 2009 and the blanket in 2011. The bicycle was inducted in 2000, and the Big Wheel, a tricycle with an oversized front tire, was inducted in 2011. The unicycle remains the odd one out.

10. Which of these toys was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998?

Barbie

LEGO

Mr. Potato Head

Etch A Sketch

LEGO, the popular building block toy, was one of the first inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Explanation

LEGO, the popular building block toy, was one of the first inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.