Fisher-Price’s Corn Popper named finalist for Toy Hall of Fame

Courtesy of Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester: The National Toy Hall of Fame announced the 12 finalists for induction into the hall: American Girl Dolls, Battleship, billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Mahjong, Masters of the Universe, piñata, Risk, sand, The Settlers of Catan, and toy fire engine.

Fisher-Price: The Corn Popper has been an enduring toy since it was first introduced in 1957.

ROCHESTER – The Fisher-Price Corn Popper is one of 12 finalists for 2021 induction into The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame.

The toy is popular with very young children who are beginning to get steady on their feet.

“The bright, flying balls and popping sound also help to stimulate the senses, promoting curiosity and discovery,” the Hall of Fame stated in a writeup about the Corn Popper.

Fisher-Price ran a manufacturing site in Median from 1970 to the late 1990s. It also produced the Little People in Medina, and they were inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2016.

The Corn Popper debuted in 1957. Today it sells for $9.99.

The 12 finalists for induction into the hall announced today include American Girl Dolls, Battleship, billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Mahjong, Masters of the Universe, piñata, Risk, sand, The Settlers of Catan, and toy fire engine.

From this group three inductees will be announced on Nov. 4.

“These 12 toys represent the wide scope of playthings—from one of the most universal playthings in the world like sand to a game-changing board game like Risk to the popular adult game of billiards,” says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections. “Whether old or new, for kids or adults, all 12 of these toy finalists greatly influenced the world of play.”

The National Toy Hall of Fame is accepting votes from the public from September 15 to 22 as part of a “Player’s Choice” ballot at toyhalloffame.org. The three toys that receive the most public votes will be submitted and will join the other top-three submissions by members of the National Selection Advisory Committee.

The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have engaged and delighted multiple generations. Criteria for induction include: Icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered); Longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations); Discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play); and Innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design).

To date, the following 74 toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, which was established in 1998.