I just had a wicked flashback. Suddenly I was three again and happily playing with my Fisher Price Little People Farm House. As a little person myself, I spent oodles of hours with the simple cog like limbless figures, farm animals and their home, the portable barn. I can recall vague memories of clutching the blue handle in my hand as I would take along my Play n’ Go farm to visit grandma’s. Those were the days.
What brought on this flood of memories? The current celebration of Little People’s 50th Birthday. Man, they are old! This past March 21st marked the 50th anniversary of the first Little People release, the Safety School Bus. Since that day, more than one and half billion, yes billion, Little People figures have been produced. Originally a wooden peg like character, the modern Little People are poseable figures with actual features rather than just simple lines to represent the face. “Parents and children alike have been playing with Little People toys for half a century,” said Bruce Fox, Fisher-Price toy historian and author. “Toys with longevity that bridge the generational gap are rare these days. We’re very proud of the fact that the Little People brand has stood the test of time for 50 years and foresee that the brand will continue to inspire creative, imaginative play for generations to come.”
The big people who make the Little People will be celebrating 50 years of play in a variety of ways. One of the things they’ve done a Limited Edition commemorative release of The Little People 50th Birthday Play ‘n Go Farm and School that reflects “the classic look of the original farm and school introduced in 1968 and 1971, respectively. The playsets feature retro-styled Little People figures and nostalgic, collectible take-along tins.” Along with the toys, they’ve released a Limited-Edition 50th Birthday CD that includes fifty popular sing-a-long classics that have been released throughout the years. And they’re also taking the Little People on the road. They’ve produced a Little People Live show which will be debuting on April 18th and will makes stops at the San Diego zoo, Zoo Atlanta, Brookfield Zoo, Tampa ’s Lowry Park Zoo, Toledo Zoo and the San Francisco Zoo. Plus they’re doing tie-ins with Loews hotels and the Royal Caribbean International Cruise line.
Yeah, they know how to party. You can check up on all the events, specials and celebrations here.
And if you wanna have your own flashback, just check out this old school ad below.
