AP – In this photo released by The Strong National Museum of Play, Chris Bensch, curator of collections, holds …
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A magic wand, a fishing rod or a royal scepter?
The lowly stick, a universal plaything powered by a child's imagination, landed in the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday along with the Baby Doll and the skateboard.
The three were chosen to join the Strong National Museum of Play's lineup of 38 classics ranging from the bicycle, the kite and Mr. Potato Head to Crayola crayons, marbles and the Atari 2600 video game system.
Curators said the stick was a special addition in the spirit of a 2005 inductee, the cardboard box. They praised its all-purpose, no-cost, recreational qualities, noting its ability to serve either as raw material or an appendage transformed in myriad ways by a child's creativity.
"It's very open-ended, all-natural, the perfect price — there aren't any rules or instructions for its use," said Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections. "It can be a Wild West horse, a medieval knight's sword, a boat on a stream or a slingshot with a rubber band. ... No snowman is complete without a couple of stick arms, and every campfire needs a stick for toasting marshmallows.
"This toy is so fantastic that it's not just for humans anymore. You can find otters, chimps and dogs — especially dogs — playing with it."
Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the hall, which the museum acquired in 2002 from A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village in Salem, Ore. Each toy must not only be widely recognized and foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, but also endure in popularity over generations.
While dolls have been around since ancient times, the Baby Doll with its realistic newborn features emerged in the late 18th century and has been through hundreds of incarnations. Today's models can crawl, drink and even talk via voice-activated commands.
"It is generally thought of as lovable and cuddly, even if it can doze off or cry during play," said Susan Asbury, an associate curator. "Toy designers have spent decades making it ever more lifelike and true to form. ... It promotes imaginative play and brings out the nurturing side in all of us."
The first skateboarders in the 1950s cruised walkways on California beaches trying to match the speed, turns and tricks performed by surfers they watched offshore.
Apart from being fun, practicing ollies, grinds and primos "promotes individualism ... artistic expression and it's also very athletic," skateboard icon Tony Hawk said in a video message played at the induction ceremony.
4 comments:
Best toys for her too have.Most kids today have no mechanical ability nor creative imagination because most things made for kids today do it all for them so there is no need for it.The simplest toys are always best because they allow them to think for themselves in creating their own little world far better for them than any gizmo on the market and or problemsolving skills as they build their own little contraptions,forts,castles etc
As far as the "Walking Tall" sticks go.I saw both the Bo Svenson one as well as the real deal along with a couple of suits the Vette and the backup pistol he had on him at the time of his death.Too this point I've never had a speeding ticket nor been in jail and never plan on doing either.They did and do have a lasting impact.They didnt impart fear on me as they did the people they were used on but they did give me a lot of respect for a guy who tried to make a positive change on his world
Here's to the power of pure imagination.
This piece is a great metaphor for writers taking the simple and ordinary, turning it into something that people will notice and say" WHO KNEW?"
As for the show, OH MAN! It is without words; I cannot describe how refreshing and incredable it is. There was a point in time where so many people were talking about doing a Harley Suburbia bit, but this is taking things WAY beyond the cliche setup.
For me as actor/writer I'm just taken in by Pearlman and Flanagan, the writing; I just fell in love with the whole... damn... thing.
What I was a little disheartened about was the fact that there hasn't been one motorcycle detailer, but I guess it comes from being one to notice there isn't one . Which at the same time leaves me with a massive amount of curiosity leading to the "IF" and "WHEN" it gets thrown in to the screenplay. (and by detailing I mean cleaning in attire that doesn't include a bikini)
Your brilliant genius inspires many to go beyond the stretch of the ordinary and for that I thank you.
-Sarah
The stick. Imagination with the simplest of things a mind grows. I remember tying sticks together with vines to make horses, figures, etc. I hope your kiddos get lots of cardboard boxes and sticks.
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