Little People (toys): Difference between revisions
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'''Little People''' is the name of a [[:Category:Toy_companies|toy brand]], originally produced by [[Fisher-Price]] in the 1960s as the '''Play Family'''. One of the most successful and well-recognized toy lines ever created, the current Little People line |
'''Little People'''® is the name of a [[:Category:Toy_companies|toy brand]] for preschoolers, originally produced by [[Fisher-Price]] in the 1960s as the '''Play Family'''. One of the most successful and well-recognized toy lines ever created, the current Little People line consists of playsets for ages 1-5, mini-sets and accessories, books, CDs, and DVDs. The Little People toy line focuses on various configurations of five characters named Eddie, Sarah Lynn, Maggie, Michael and Sonya Lee. |
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The “Little People” name, registered and trademarked by [[Fisher-Price]] in 1985, came from [[Fisher-Price]] following the lead of consumers who referred to the early Play Family playsets as “those little people”. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[Image:FP Little People with US quarters.jpg|thumb|Three generations of Little People figures, with stacks of 24 mm coins for scale]] |
[[Image:FP Little People with US quarters.jpg|thumb|Three generations of Little People figures, with stacks of 24 mm coins for scale]] |
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===Original Little People=== |
===Original Little People=== |
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Little People started in 1950 with the |
Little People started in 1950 with the “Looky Fire Truck” and three round-headed fire men (attached permanently to the toy). These fire men would later evolve into the world famous Fisher-Price Little People. Following the success of this toy, in 1952 and 1953 [[Fisher-Price]] developed the “Super-Jet” and “Racing Rowboat”. |
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The first Little People precursor from 1959, the "Safety School Bus", included a school bus together with six tall skinny peg figures made out of cardboard tubes wrapped in a lithograph simulating clothes. No longer attached to the toy, the little figures could be removed from the school bus, therefore gaining their independence. The ability to remove the figures increased the play value of the toy significantly and marked the birth of Little People as we know them today. The toy gained instant popularity and other sets soon came out. |
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In 1960, [[Fisher-Price]] introduced two additional toys with removable figures; Snorky the Fire Engine and the Nifty Station Wagon. The Nifty Station Wagon came with two adult figures and one child figure, thus the first "Play Family" was born. Today, the Play Family® name is still used throughout Europe instead of the name "Little People". A Nifty Station Wagon in mint condition, in the box, could command up to $600 among toy collectors. |
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===Body Style Variations=== |
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The Original Little People went through six major styles of body (base) configurations, and even within each major classification there may be one or more minor style variations. By 1961, the figures were produced with wood; plastic was used for their vehicles and buildings. A few years later, the typical happy face of the traditional Little People debuted in a "straight-body" format. All of the people had a basic cylinder body with the female figures only identifiable by the addition of slanted, oval eyes and eyelashes. By 1965, the Little People, also called the "Play Family" from the 1960s to the 1980s, consisted of a small cylindrical base and a wider cylinder shape for boys and men and a conical upper shape for the girls. Adult women had a kind of [[hourglass-shaped]] upper body. |
The Original Little People went through six major styles of body (base) configurations, and even within each major classification there may be one or more minor style variations. By 1961, the figures were produced with wood; plastic was used for their vehicles and buildings. A few years later, the typical happy face of the traditional Little People debuted in a "straight-body" format. All of the people had a basic cylinder body with the female figures only identifiable by the addition of slanted, oval eyes and eyelashes. By 1965, the Little People, also called the "Play Family" from the 1960s to the 1980s, consisted of a small cylindrical base and a wider cylinder shape for boys and men and a conical upper shape for the girls. Adult women had a kind of [[hourglass-shaped]] upper body. |
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===Little People Playsets=== |
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In 1968, Fisher-Price introduced the first Little People playset, the Play Family Barn. Eventually, the toys encompassed a wide range of playsets, furniture packs, accessory packs, all designed to engage a child's imagination. |
In 1968, [[Fisher-Price]] introduced the first Little People playset, the famous Play Family Barn with barn doors that “moo’d”. Also at this time, the little figures were made with plastic bodies instead of wood. Eventually, the toys encompassed a wide range of playsets, furniture packs, accessory packs, all designed to engage a child's imagination. Playsets included familiar things in children's environments, houses, main street ... even [[Sesame Street]] made its way to the iconic toys. |
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In the middle 1970s, Fisher-Price produced the |
In the middle 1970s, [[Fisher-Price]] produced the Sesame Street town, with various Sesame Street stores, a bridge with stop lights and Sesame Street characters such as Bert and Ernie. Soon after, the Little People Discovery Airport, a hospital and a school would also be released. Little People characters had by then been also produced with plastic products exclusively. |
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=== |
===Little People Redesigned=== |
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Most people believe that these figures were developed as a replacement for the Original Little People due to the increasing concerns and pressures from parents and consumer-advocacy groups for safer toy designs. |
In 1991, the Original Little People figures were redesigned for younger children. They were made “chunkier”, were more bright and colorful, and were designed so that they could activate motion within the play sets. Most people believe that these figures were developed as a replacement for the Original Little People due to the increasing concerns and pressures from parents and consumer-advocacy groups for safer toy designs. A popular book of that time titled Toys That Kill prominently featured a trio of Original Little People figures on the cover. Published in 1986 by Edward Swartz, it most certainly provided the motivation for [[Fisher Price]] to re-design their most popular Little People line to something more "acceptable". After [[Fisher Price]]was bought by [[Mattel]] in the 1990s, Little People reappeared on the markets, their figure significantly larger in size from the original Little People characters due to revised toy safety guidelines. These figures are called "chunky" by collectors. |
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===Little People Reborn=== |
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1997 was a landmark year for Little People, marked by a complete rebirth of the famous figures. Little People became much more detailed and smaller in overall size – in fact, closer in size to the Original Little People. For the first time, the Little People figures gained arms, hands and charming colorful details. Their detailed clothing, molded hair and facial features - even unique expressions - made them look more like real people. |
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In 1997, the company revised the shape of the figures, making them much more detailed, smaller in overall size (compared to the Chunky People - they more closely approach the overall dimensions of the Original figures), more colorful, pliable, and with distinct arms and legs, which neither the Originals nor the Chunky versions did. |
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===Electronic, Talking Little People=== |
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In the year 2000, [[Fisher-Price]] Little People toys became even more lifelike with the introduction of electronic sounds and movement. And, for the first time, the Little People characters were talking! Eddie™, Sonya Lee™ and the whole gang were given their own distinct personalities and voices, brining more warmth to the toys. Coupled with the introduction of the first claymation in-home video in 1999, the world of Little People has become a stand alone-character brand that brings the magic of discovering the world to preschoolers. |
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===Sources=== |
===Sources=== |
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* [http://www.thisoldtoy.com/L_FP_Set/T-People-history.html This Old Toy's Original "Little People History] |
* [http://www.thisoldtoy.com/L_FP_Set/T-People-history.html This Old Toy's Original "Little People History"] |
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* [http://cardhouse.com/x07/people.htm Behold the Little People - The Life and Death of America's Favorite Play Family] by Mark Simple, in ''X'' magazine #7, July 1991) |
* [http://cardhouse.com/x07/people.htm Behold the Little People - The Life and Death of America's Favorite Play Family] by Mark Simple, in ''X'' magazine #7, July 1991) |
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* [http://www.mattel.com/About_Us/History/mattel_history.pdf History of Mattel] |
* [http://www.mattel.com/About_Us/History/mattel_history.pdf History of Mattel] |
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The only Little People toys that have been modeled after celebrities were the stars of ''Sesame Street'' -- [[Loretta Long]] (Susan), [[Roscoe Orman]] (Gordon) and [[Will Lee]] ([[Mr. Hooper]]). |
The only Little People toys that have been modeled after celebrities were the stars of ''Sesame Street'' -- [[Loretta Long]] (Susan), [[Roscoe Orman]] (Gordon) and [[Will Lee]] ([[Mr. Hooper]]). |
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==Trivia== |
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Aaron Neville sang the theme song for the Little People animated video and DVD series. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=lplanding Official Little People Website] |
* [http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=lplanding Official Little People Website] |
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* [http://www.treehousetv.com/parents/tvShows/little_people/index.asp?showid=63 ''Little People'' TV show website on Treehouse TV] |
* [http://www.treehousetv.com/parents/tvShows/little_people/index.asp?showid=63 ''Little People'' TV show website on Treehouse TV] |
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* [http://www.fisher-price.com/us/littlepeople/clubhouse/default.asp · Little People Kid’s Clubhouse Games & Activities] |
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[[Category:Fisher-Price]] |
[[Category:Fisher-Price]] |
Revision as of 15:37, 22 March 2007
Little People® is the name of a toy brand for preschoolers, originally produced by Fisher-Price in the 1960s as the Play Family. One of the most successful and well-recognized toy lines ever created, the current Little People line consists of playsets for ages 1-5, mini-sets and accessories, books, CDs, and DVDs. The Little People toy line focuses on various configurations of five characters named Eddie, Sarah Lynn, Maggie, Michael and Sonya Lee.
The “Little People” name, registered and trademarked by Fisher-Price in 1985, came from Fisher-Price following the lead of consumers who referred to the early Play Family playsets as “those little people”.
History
Original Little People
Little People started in 1950 with the “Looky Fire Truck” and three round-headed fire men (attached permanently to the toy). These fire men would later evolve into the world famous Fisher-Price Little People. Following the success of this toy, in 1952 and 1953 Fisher-Price developed the “Super-Jet” and “Racing Rowboat”.
The first Little People precursor from 1959, the "Safety School Bus", included a school bus together with six tall skinny peg figures made out of cardboard tubes wrapped in a lithograph simulating clothes. No longer attached to the toy, the little figures could be removed from the school bus, therefore gaining their independence. The ability to remove the figures increased the play value of the toy significantly and marked the birth of Little People as we know them today. The toy gained instant popularity and other sets soon came out.
Little People Play Family
In 1960, Fisher-Price introduced two additional toys with removable figures; Snorky the Fire Engine and the Nifty Station Wagon. The Nifty Station Wagon came with two adult figures and one child figure, thus the first "Play Family" was born. Today, the Play Family® name is still used throughout Europe instead of the name "Little People". A Nifty Station Wagon in mint condition, in the box, could command up to $600 among toy collectors.
Body Style Variations
The Original Little People went through six major styles of body (base) configurations, and even within each major classification there may be one or more minor style variations. By 1961, the figures were produced with wood; plastic was used for their vehicles and buildings. A few years later, the typical happy face of the traditional Little People debuted in a "straight-body" format. All of the people had a basic cylinder body with the female figures only identifiable by the addition of slanted, oval eyes and eyelashes. By 1965, the Little People, also called the "Play Family" from the 1960s to the 1980s, consisted of a small cylindrical base and a wider cylinder shape for boys and men and a conical upper shape for the girls. Adult women had a kind of hourglass-shaped upper body.
Little People Playsets
In 1968, Fisher-Price introduced the first Little People playset, the famous Play Family Barn with barn doors that “moo’d”. Also at this time, the little figures were made with plastic bodies instead of wood. Eventually, the toys encompassed a wide range of playsets, furniture packs, accessory packs, all designed to engage a child's imagination. Playsets included familiar things in children's environments, houses, main street ... even Sesame Street made its way to the iconic toys.
In the middle 1970s, Fisher-Price produced the Sesame Street town, with various Sesame Street stores, a bridge with stop lights and Sesame Street characters such as Bert and Ernie. Soon after, the Little People Discovery Airport, a hospital and a school would also be released. Little People characters had by then been also produced with plastic products exclusively.
Little People Redesigned
In 1991, the Original Little People figures were redesigned for younger children. They were made “chunkier”, were more bright and colorful, and were designed so that they could activate motion within the play sets. Most people believe that these figures were developed as a replacement for the Original Little People due to the increasing concerns and pressures from parents and consumer-advocacy groups for safer toy designs. A popular book of that time titled Toys That Kill prominently featured a trio of Original Little People figures on the cover. Published in 1986 by Edward Swartz, it most certainly provided the motivation for Fisher Price to re-design their most popular Little People line to something more "acceptable". After Fisher Pricewas bought by Mattel in the 1990s, Little People reappeared on the markets, their figure significantly larger in size from the original Little People characters due to revised toy safety guidelines. These figures are called "chunky" by collectors.
Little People Reborn
1997 was a landmark year for Little People, marked by a complete rebirth of the famous figures. Little People became much more detailed and smaller in overall size – in fact, closer in size to the Original Little People. For the first time, the Little People figures gained arms, hands and charming colorful details. Their detailed clothing, molded hair and facial features - even unique expressions - made them look more like real people.
In 1999, Little People celebrated their 40th birthday with the reintroduction of the first Little People toy ever: Little People School Bus and characters. The play sets include the school bus, circus train, construction vehicles and other play sets.
Electronic, Talking Little People
In the year 2000, Fisher-Price Little People toys became even more lifelike with the introduction of electronic sounds and movement. And, for the first time, the Little People characters were talking! Eddie™, Sonya Lee™ and the whole gang were given their own distinct personalities and voices, brining more warmth to the toys. Coupled with the introduction of the first claymation in-home video in 1999, the world of Little People has become a stand alone-character brand that brings the magic of discovering the world to preschoolers.
Sources
- This Old Toy's Original "Little People History"
- Behold the Little People - The Life and Death of America's Favorite Play Family by Mark Simple, in X magazine #7, July 1991)
- History of Mattel
- Fisher-Price Little People at Retroland
Likenesses
Some have argued that many of the Little People toys, particularly during the 1970s, resembled super-stars of their era, more famously their Black woman singer (like Donna Summer) and a Black man, whose face resembled that of famous boxer Earnie Shavers.
The only Little People toys that have been modeled after celebrities were the stars of Sesame Street -- Loretta Long (Susan), Roscoe Orman (Gordon) and Will Lee (Mr. Hooper).
Trivia
Aaron Neville sang the theme song for the Little People animated video and DVD series.