Lonnie George Johnson (75)

On May 27, 1986, the U.S. Patent Office granted a patent
to  African American inventor Lonnie Johnson for his toy       
design simply titled ”Squirt Gun.”

       
After a few name changes and additional patents,
Johnson’s invention—ultimately re-named the
“Super Soaker®”—would become the best-selling
water toy of all time, eventually earning its rightful
place in the American National Toy Hall of Fame.       

Johnson was formerly employed at the U.S. Air
Force/ NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory^.

The National Toy Hall of Fame located in the outdoor Hasbro Game Park at The Strong National Museum of Play in
Rochester, New York.         
       

March 5, 1963: the Hula Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that
became a huge fad across America when it was first
marketed by Wham-O in 1958, was patented by the
company’s co-founder, Arthur “Spud” Melin.

On February 15, 1903, toy store owner and inventor Morris
Michtom places two stuffed bears in his shop window,
advertising them as Teddy bears.

Michtom had earlier petitioned President Theodore Roosevelt
for permission to use his nickname, Teddy.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
(October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919)

The flagship Ant Farm® brand ant habitat, was first
introduced in 1956.

Milton Martin Levine (November 3, 1913 – January 16, 2011)
was the co-founder of Uncle Milton Toys.

On March 9, 1959, the first Barbie doll went on display at the
American Toy Fair in New York City.

Eleven inches tall, with a waterfall of blond hair, Barbie was
the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States with adult
features. The woman behind Barbie was Ruth Handler, who
co-founded Mattel, Inc. with her husband (below) in 1945. 
        
        
        
        
        
       

Elliott and Ruth Handler

Mattel’s headquarters and factory near LAX in 1956.