No matter how young or old, toys bring out the inner
child in everyone. So why not go straight to the source, to the place that puts
the “play” in “playtime,” FAO Schwarz? —
Honoring
150 years of toys and fun, the nation’s oldest toy store salutes its past (with
a nod to the future) through a limited engagement toy gallery, on display at
their Midtown East store. It’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane, highlighting
over 25 different displays of some of your favorite toys (many in their original packaging)—some of which you’ll recognize
from your own childhood—as well as bits of FAO’s history, such as toy
catalogues from the year 1928.
The
gallery’s timeline dates all the way back to 1905, curated chronologically. The
oldest toy on display is the Richard Steiff Teddy Bear! Some other blasts from
the past include a 1972 Mr. Potato Head, the original action figure G.I. Joe, a
1964 Easy Bake Oven, Barbie and Ken as they were first envisioned in the 1960s
and several early models of the always-entertaining Slinkie. And let’s not
forget about 2000’s toy that had boys and girls zipping about Manhattan’s sidewalks—the Razor Scooter.
What’s more, the display cases
are interwoven amongst the store’s numerous other toy exhibits and demonstrations—which
might distract you and your fam, but we think it only adds to the fun.
And
here’s a great tip: call ahead to schedule a guided
tour–led by one of FAO Schwarz’s iconic toy soldiers. A romp through the
store’s gallery won’t take much of your family’s valuable time, but it will surely
stir up an immeasurable amount of childhood memories, as well as create a few
new ones for the newest generations.
The gallery will be on through April 10
and, throughout 2012, the store will host a plethora of special 150th
anniversary events and product promotions.
