Sounds good to me/Memory Lane #2

Back when we were kids things were so much simpler. Manufacturers knew our still-forming, often-distracted brains were twice as likely to want toys if we could remember what they were called. As a result some of us grew up with wonderful toys whose rhyming, singsong titles were often half the fun. Everyone wanted to play with















Feeley Meeley, “the game that gives you a funny feeling.” Note that the game is appropriate for ages eight to adult, because once you hit eight you’re always ready for a funny feeling. The blond man on the box seems to be really enjoying his funny feeling, doesn’t he?













Who could forget Pretzel Jetzel, “the jet-age pretzel making toy”? Makes me feel sorry for kids who don’t get to make their own pretzels. In fact, I don’t see many food-making toys in today’s world. Where are the Easy-Bake ovens, the chocolate factories, the













Big Burger Grills? I guess once we got out of the jet age kids just started making their own food instead of playing with food-making toys. How unfortunate!

Sorry, got off topic. I’m blown away by the Big Burger Grill. It’s a good thing I didn’t know these existed when I was young, because I never would’ve stopped begging for one.





















Back to the rhyming toys of yesteryear. Many little girls wanted Rings ‘n Things, which allowed us to fill the house with the smell of burning plastic and to wear the very un-jewel-like results. We were adored, adorned, scorned, and sometimes scarred. It was the best.




















And for the boys, Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots. This one’s still on the market, popular after all these years. We all know why, too: knocking your opponent’s block off is simply full-fledged no-holds-barred fun for all ages. Plus, it’s fun to say Rock ‘em Sock ‘em. Bet you just said it.




















Let’s not forget the Sooper Snooper, which allowed us to spy over walls, behind ourselves, and in any other direction, while remaining cleverly camouflaged to avoid detection. Too bad we couldn’t stop giggling, which usually gave us away. Then some of us got a little older and found exciting and wonderful new uses for the Sooper Snooper, didn’t we?













There was also bango! bango!, the game that was not too hard and not too easy, a porridge-like just right. Even a three year old could tell Santa he wanted this toy. You always hear people saying, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” To that I’d like to add, “They don’t name ‘em like they used to, either, and it’s a damn shame.”