Star Wars Action Figures Inducted Into National Toy Hall Of Fame

It seems to be shaping up to be a Star Wars kind of year. The National Toy Hall of Fame just [...]

Star Wars Early Bird Certificate

It seems to be shaping up to be a Star Wars kind of year. The National Toy Hall of Fame just announced this year's toy inductees. The 2012 inductees are Star Wars action figures and the centuries-old game of dominoes, which is quite an interesting combination of old and new. Star Wars action figures and dominoes beat out ten other finalists, which included Clue, Fisher-Price Corn Popper push toy, Lite-Brite, little green army men, Magic 8 Ball, pogo stick, sidewalk chalk, Simon, tea set, and Twister. According to the National Toy Hall of Fame, "When 20th Century Fox released the first Star Wars movie in May 1977, no one imagined it would change the toy industry and popular entertainment so dramatically. The film spawned five more episodes of a sprawling space opera that also generated sales of millions of action figures of the saga's characters. The 3.75-inch figures—including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and more than 100 others—were sold from 1978 to 1985 and again from the mid-1990s to the present day. Their phenomenal popularity with movie fans revolutionized the toy industry, leading other toy makers to tie their toys to movies, television series, and other entertainment properties in hopes the Force would be with them. For more than three decades, kids have used Star Wars action figures—plus accessories, vehicles, and play sets—to tell stories of heroes and villains, of empire and rebellion, and of good triumphing over evil. Adults, too, play when they collect Star Wars action figures." Star Wars action figures and dominoes now join these other toys in the National Toy Hall of Fame: alphabet blocks, Atari 2600 Game System, baby doll, ball, Barbie, bicycle, Big Wheel, blanket, Candy Land, cardboard box, checkers, Crayola Crayons, dollhouse, Duncan Yo-Yo, Easy-Bake Oven, Erector Set, Etch A Sketch, Frisbee, The Game of Life, G. I. Joe, Hot Wheels, hula hoop, jack-in-the-box, jacks, jigsaw puzzle, jump rope, kite, LEGO, Lincoln Logs, Lionel Trains, marbles, Monopoly, Mr. Potato Head, Nintendo Game Boy, Play-Doh, playing cards, Radio Flyer Wagon, Raggedy Ann and Andy, rocking horse, roller skates, Scrabble, Silly Putty, skateboard, Slinky, stick, teddy bear, Tinkertoy, Tonka Trucks, and View-Master.

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