Can you name of these toy characters? Better yet did you have any of them or purchase any of these for kids?
I’m confident you identified the Star Wars characters as C-3PO, R2D2, Yoda, and the X-Wing fighter flown by the Rebel Alliance. Did you get Strawberry Shortcake holding the Spirograph wheel and the bear she made from Play-Doh? Cheer Bear (one of the original Care Bears)? Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (from Ghostbusters) on Batman’s back?
Surely you got Mr. Potato Head! But, did you recognize The Purple Pieman feeding a pie from the Easy Bake Oven to the T-Rex from Jurassic Park? The fury animal from the Littlest Pet Shop in the Ghostbusters’ vehicle? The character and car from M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand)?
This ArtWorks mural – Cincinnati’s Toy Heritage – located at 23 West Court Street in downtown Cincinnati – is a tribute to Kenner Toys – a Cincinnati-based company formed in 1947.
ArtWorks is a unique non-profit organization that employs and trains local youth to create art in the community. To date, ArtWorks is responsible for over 100 murals throughout Cincinnati – which many are in the main part of the city.
This post is for Resa, Toronto’s lady of style who also captures street art in Toronto and Winnipeg as a hobby. Resa recently declared March as Kid’s Month on her blog.
A Frank Angle 
Your Artworks initiative sounds very good – nothing like that here sadly.
I got the Star Wars figures and Toy Story figures, but am not familiar with most of the others. I have a Yoda memory stick that I cart my art work about on 🙂
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Pauline,
ArtWorks has done and continues to do outstanding work here. Simply bountiful treats! … and cheers to your toys!
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Yes Frank too many, and showing my age.. 🙂 lol.. Have a great day.. 🙂 Sue
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Sue,
LOL … It also shows we remember the good old days. Nonetheless, I’m sure this images made you smile.
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They all did Frank… And I loved seeing them again too 🙂
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I only got the ones you thought we would 🙂
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Derrick,
And that’s OK because this mural is brings smiles and ignites memories.
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No – I am way too young haha!
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Julie,
Good one … but I can tell you are smiling!
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Nope–I got a few on them, but not all the ones you mentioned. Cute mural though. 🙂
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Merril,
I admit that when I was looking at the mural, I didn’t know all the characters. Glad you enjoyed this mural.
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I got 3! Honestly, my entire toy life was Barbie. I started making her clothes when I was 8. LOL!
I can’t remember buying any of those toys for any kids. Although, until my nieces & nephews started to want video games and cell phones, I did buy them toys.
Frank, this is a lovely post. It’s perfect for Kids’ Month. Thank you very much! xo
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Resa,
Ah ha … making clothes for Barbie was the start of your career!. 🙂 Oh, thanks for sharing that personal tidbit. Meanwhile, once I knew you were doing Kid’s Month, this is the mural I made a special trip downtown to capture. The other one was an accessory. 🙂
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Frank, it was worth it! I really enjoyed the history of these toys. Thank you so much! It’s perfect for Kids’ Month.
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Reblogged this on Graffiti Lux and Murals and commented:
Frank, you’re a doll! First a party with ice-cream and cake, now a party of toys. You have helped to make Kids’ Month a lot of fun. I send you a party of Thank yous! Make that 2 parties of Thank yous!
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I got six. Don’t know where I’ ve been. Thanks, Frank
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John,
Glad you were able to recognize so many. I’ve got the feeling you enjoyed the challenge.
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I did. Thanks.
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Philadelphia also has a great mural community
Love to see how all the dots connect
As Sheldon Always
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Sheldon,
Welcome first-time commenter. Good news is that I have heard of Philadelphia’s murals from other readers. Of course I appreciate the tribute mural to Larry Fine. 😀 … Nonetheless, I’m sure there are many other outstanding murals there. Thanks for verifying.
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Frank, The close up pics of the toys at the beginning must have been too, large of a file for the reblog. So, I dragged over a few pics into my reblog comment. Let me know if you want me to add/change any pics, or if it is okay the way it is. -Resa
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Resa,
No problem … and thanks for letting me know. More importantly, thanks again for the reblog.
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We have a little Yoda that was supposed to be an action figure, but we hang him on the Christmas tree.
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LB,
Yoda on as a tree ornament .. perfect.
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Nothing makes us as nostalgic as recalling those days spent with cherished toys. These images dredge us those memories…ah…
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Renee,
Very well stated because these images are all about memories … so I’m glad this post rekindled your memory bank.
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I actually wrote a post about the Etch-a-sketch during Christmas. I suppose we know we’re getting old when the state-of-the-art toys we played with as kids are now antiques!
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Renee,
Cheers to your appreciation for the Etch-a-Sketch. Regarding your past post, did you realize the Cincinnati connection?
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No I’m not familiar with it. Was it ‘born’ in Ohio?
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Oh yes … the mural is a tribute to Kenner Toys as they were a Cincinnati company.
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I recognized all the toys, but couldn’t think of each name. What a delightful mural for kids of all ages! I can imagine the way people would gather at the site and engage in animated discussion as they recall their own history with these childhood toys. Mr. Potato Head is my favorite! 🙂
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Debra,
I think I pegged you as the Mr. Potato type. 😉 This mural is unquestionably for all ages. To me, the fact that this mural is honoring a local company is the real treat. Interestingly, I have a neighbor who spent his working life at Kenner.
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How fun, Frank. Eye Spy retro style.
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Audra,
So much to enjoy in this mural! 😀
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Oh, I loved my Spirograph! I think I still have it around somewhere . . .
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Kerry,
I was hoping someone would comment on Spirograph!!!! Thanks for coming through. 🙂
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Oh I can and do recognize these awesome toys – showing my age I suppose! Good one for Resa ~ March Madness is living up to “Madness”!!
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Mary,
Glad this mural was able to bring back memories for you. Meanwhile, I watching the Cincinnati game as I type … it’s early, and the Bearcats are hanging in there against a #3 seed.
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So many surprising upsets, thus the name “madness.” Meanwhile TCU is hanging in their having beat Iowa last evening to advance to the NIT 3rd round – we are all excited for the kids.
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The Saturday/Sunday games delivered a few surprises. Unfortunately, my Bearcats couldn’t contain the UCLA explosion … wow … they are very good. Good luck Horned Frogs!
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Beautiful tribute and I know this will make Resa very very happy! 😉 Happy Sunday, Frank! 🙂
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Marina,
I not only knew Resa would love this one, I also knew it was perfect for her Kid’s Month. Hope you had a good weekend.
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An excellent tribute. Resa would be so happy. 🙂
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Charlie,
Oh yes … Resa is appreciative of me finding murals for others to see, let alone fit into her designated theme!
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Excellent. You are a good person my friend. 🙂
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Thank you for the kind words.
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What I didn’t have, my kids had a few. Love the ArtWorks program. Very cool.
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Val,
What ArtWorks has done here is impressive … and they continue adding more! Also see this one that I posted not long ago … more happy to see! https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2017/03/04/on-a-kids-daydream/
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Knew most of them Frank…and they indeed fell into either the category of had ’em or gave ’em. Neat to learn about the others I couldn’t identify. It’s a good day when you learn something new. It’s not a good day when you realize just how old you really are by having hands-on experience with some of these “veteran” toys! ArtWorks sounds like a very cool group. Doing good stuff.
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Bruce,
Glad you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. You are obvious one who appreciates nostalgia.
ArtWorks has done much in this city, and I’ve only touched on a mere fraction of it. Good news is more to come.
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How much fun was this?! Yes, I had several of those toys, including that exact Carebear. What fun nostalgia for people when they walk past that mural.
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Betsy,
Great point about nostalgia … and if someone is walking by this mural, they won’t miss it! Glad you enjoyed it!
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This is such a great tribute! 🙂
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Dina,
Absolutely … and great for the memories of many.
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Yes, yes and yes! I recognised most of those, not the purple pieman or the cat though. How cool to see an X-Wing Fighter featured… one of the first 3 vehicles produced by Kenner for Star Wars… and Strawberry Shortcake pushing along the Spirograph wheel is adorable!
Thank you for the link… a joy to see, and especially seeing it’s at the home of Kenner, one of the absolute best toy companies ever – they really did care!
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PS. Just noticed the artist added Boba Fett into the cockpit of the X-Wing instead of Luke 🙂
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Oh …. I missed that one, so good eye. Thanks!
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Vintage,
After visiting your blog, I knew you would enjoy this mural. Another tie for me is that my immediate neighbors used to work for Kenner.
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I bet those neighbours had some interesting toy stories, and must have seen some major lines go through. Great experience.
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