Mr. Potato Head was the brainchild of Brooklyn inventor George Lerner, who came up with the idea that children could create fun characters by putting resources into fruits and vegetables.
But despite its future worldwide success, the idea was not an instant success.
It was 1949 – right after World War II rationing – and playing with food was considered a waste.
Lerner made the first set of silly face pieces and sold the idea to a cereal company that distributed the plastic pieces in a box as a promotion.
In 1951, the inventor met the Hassenfeld brothers – who they would rename as Hasbro – who bought the rights to the cereal company for $ 7,000.
Mr. Potato Head was the brainchild of Brooklyn inventor George Lerner, who came up with the idea that children could create fun characters by putting resources into fruits and vegetables. Lerner with his creation (after the potato body became plastic) in an undated image
A child playing with a Mr Potato Head in 1953. Mr Potato Head hit the shelves in 1952 as a kit of plastic body parts and accessories for children to stick on a real potato
Toy manufacturers struck a deal with Lerner to give him 5% royalties for each set sold and a $ 500 advance.
Mr Potato Head hit the shelves in 1952 as a kit of plastic body parts and accessories for kids to stick to a real potato to create a character.
The original toy cost $ 0.98.
The first toy kit included 28 features such as nose, mouth, mustache and pipe, as well as a Styrofoam head for children to practice.
It did not come with the ‘potato head’ body, but it recommended that children use a potato or another vegetable.
Mr. Potato Head made history as the first toy to be promoted through his own television commercial.
Mr. Potato Head made history as the first toy to be promoted through his own television commercial
This revolutionized the marketing industry, since before that, commercials were aimed only at adults
The ad, which opened on April 30, 1952, was aimed directly at children, not parents.
It revolutionized the marketing industry, since before that, commercials were aimed only at adults.
It was an instant success with more than one million kits sold in the first year and more than $ 4 million in sales in the first few months alone.
The following year, Mrs Potato Head was born with a kit of women’s accessories including high heels and hair ties.
There were also vegetable friends for the kids, including Kate, Carrot, Pete, Pepper, Oscar, Orange and Cookie Cucumber.
The kits also soon expanded to include 50 additional parts.
The Mr Potato Heads classics are shown on February 5, 2002 at a 50th birthday party for the popular children’s toy at Hasbro’s New York showroom
The popular toy came with its first plastic potato body in 1964.
The big event came when parents complained about finding moldy potatoes under their children’s beds.
At the same time, child safety laws were coming into effect, including the Child Protection Act of 1966 and the Child Protection and Toy Safety Act of 1969.
Hasbro created larger plastic elements for the toy and removed the sharp points, as parents were concerned about their children swallowing small pieces and cutting themselves on the ends.
The adorable figure even enjoyed a brief political career, receiving four written votes in the mayoral election in Boise, Idaho, in 1985.
The campaign saw Mr. Potato Head enter the Guinness World Record for ‘more votes for Mr. Potato Head in a political campaign’.
Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 2 with Slinky, Rex and Buzz Lightyear
The toy regained popularity when Mr. Potato Head became a central character in the Disney Pixar movie Toy Story in 1995, with comedian Don Rickles doing the narration
In 1987, the company removed the toy pipe attachment amid concerns about promoting smoking among children and became the official face or ‘spokesman’ of the Great American Smokeout.
Five years later, the company starred in a Public Service Announcement for the Council of Presidents of Physical Fitness, promoting good form by renouncing its role as ‘television addict’.
In 1996, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head appeared in an advertising campaign for the League of Voters.
The toy regained popularity when Mr. Potato Head became a central character in Disney Pixar’s 1995 Toy Story movie, with comedian Don Rickles doing the narration.
Mrs Potato Head appeared in the sequel Toy Story 2 in 1999. Both characters also appeared in Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4.
A Disney Store playset for Mr. and Mrs Potato Head. Mrs Potato Head first appeared in Toy Story
The toy has taken other forms over the years, as in the role of a pirate
The film sparked a revival of classic toys, such as the Mr Potato Head line, as well as Slinky and Etch A Sketch.
In 2000, Mr. Potato Head was introduced to the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York.
In 2012, Hasbro launched an edition of Mr and Mrs Potato Head’s 60th wedding anniversary.
Mr. Potato Head has continued to evolve over the years and to assume other forms, such as pirate, mermaid, rock star, construction worker and Santa Claus.
He also branched out into themed characters like Darth Tater from Star Wars and Spiderman’s Spider Spud.
In addition to the exclusive toy, there are brand puzzles, board games and video games, among other toys with the potato theme.