Heck Harper and his faithful companion "Jodie."

         Heck Harper (Hector Vincent Flateau) Sep. 20, 1919 – Nov. 2, 1998

Buffalo Bob Smith with Howdy

Howdy Doody is an children’s television program, created and
produced by E. Roger Muir and telecast on NBC from 1947 until
1960. It was one of the first television series produced at NBC in
Rockefeller Center, in Studio 3A, it was also a pioneer in early
color production as NBC (at the time owned by TV maker RCA)
used the show in part to sell color television sets in the 1950s.

The character Howdy Doody first came to life from the creative
mind of Bob Smith during his days as a radio announcer on
WNBC (AM).

April Fools Day, April 1, 1952

Johnny Gruelle (December 24, 1880 – January 9, 1938)

Gruelle was an artist, political cartoonist, children’s book author
and illustrator (and even songwriter). He is known as the creator
of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. He had such confidence in
his work that he would often create the final ink work without first
sketching in pencil. Gruelle spent a year in Ashland, Oregon from
1923–1924.

The first Barbie doll was introduced in both blonde and brunette

Ruth Handler

The Fashion doll Barbie,manufactured by Mattel, Inc. was
launched in March 1959. Businesswoman Ruth Handler
(above) is credited with the creation of the doll using a
German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.

American Flyer is a name rooted in the history of model trains that began in Chicago
in 1905 with toymaker William Hafner and his friend William Coleman. The American
Flyer name was adopted in 1908. Early trains were wind-up or clockwork models with
some large scale models being produced prior to the Great Depression. In 1918 the
company introduced its first electric train, an O-gauge model that was simply a 
windup model with an electric motor in place of the clockwork motor. 

A.C. Gilbert, of Erector Set fame, took over the company in 1938. Today, American
Flyer model trains still run on layouts and under Christmas trees across the U.S.

 
American Flyer S-gauge model from the early 1950s