The Strong Museum of Play announced a twist for this year’s National Toy Hall of Fame inductions. While three toys will be chosen from the current pool of 12 finalists, the museum has introduced a fourth slot, allowing the public to select from the “Forgotten Five,” toys that have been finalists on numerous occasions but have never been inducted.
This unique group comprises the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, My Little Pony, PEZ, pogo stick, and Transformers.
Christopher Bensch, the chief curator, likened these toys to figures constantly nominated but not winning major awards, saying, “Now, one of these five will make the hall and, for the first time, it will be purely in the hands of the voting public.” Voting remains open until October 24, with the announcement of all four inductees scheduled for November.
The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame, founded in 1998, celebrates toys that have spurred creative play and maintained prolonged popularity. Each year, the hall honors new toys, presenting both their contemporary and classic versions. While anyone can nominate a toy, final decisions are made with input from experts in history, education, and other fields reflecting learning and creativity.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].