There was a time when all a toy had to do to be cool/fun was sound as though it had something to do with outer space. We were convinced that we’d grow up to be astronauts because by the time we got out of the jet age, we’d all be doing our share of interplanetary traveling. Everyone knew that. It was going to be really cool.
Astro Launch was a much-loved game. You’d pull your little knob to pop the die, and if you rolled a lucky number you could take a short cut across the cosmos.
Then there was Astrolite (yes, from the fun folks who brought us Lite Brite), which allowed us to build glowing futuristic cities. And if you spun the wheel, color came out to play. Who didn’t enjoy that?
The beloved Astroray gun, with its spark and friction power, not to mention an ultra-modern triangular box, was the favorite toy of millions. Who knew what kind of giant shuttlecocks might be racing around the galaxy? Plus, cats hated it, which provided many additional hours of astral enjoyment.
