CHARACTERS
Museum Level 4
With the emergence of cinematic animations in the 1920s as well as the golden age of comic books in the 1930s, cartoon animations and comic books eventually became the primary entertainment for both children and adults alike. A variety of characters portrayed in the animations and comic books had also become icons of popular culture. With the popularity and the marketability of these iconic characters, many toy makers and manufacturers found character toys to be most profitable to mass produce. Today, toys which depict popular comic books, cartoons and movie characters remain the most mass produced and manufactured toys in the industry. These toys not only served as complementary merchandises but also eventually became novelty objects for collectors.
LOOK OUT FOR THESE TOYS AT THE MUSEUM
YOGI BEAR
Curated under the Theme of: Cartoon Animation
merrythought felt and fabric
yogi
bear
MAKER:
Merrythought Hygienic Toys
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
United Kingdom
YEAR OF MAKE:
1950s
FELIX THE CAT DRUM
Curated under the Theme of: Age of Silent Film
Tin
toy
drum decorated with images of felix the cat
MAKER:
Unknown
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Spain
YEAR OF MAKE:
1930s
POPEYE & OLIVE OYL TANK
Curated under the Theme of: Comic Book Extravaganza
Popeye the Sailor is a fictional American cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre in 1919.
Popeye has always been portrayed bereft of manners yet he often comes up with solutions to problems that seem insurmountable to the police. He also projects a near-saintly perseverance in overcoming any obstacle to please Olive Oyl.
This toy is a Linemar battery-operated tin toy of Popeye lifting up a tank with Olive ‘popping out’ from the hatch.
MAKER:
Linemar
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Japan
YEAR OF MAKE:
1950s
PINOCCHIO
Curated under the Theme of: Classic Disney
wooden doll swappable noses 2 different size
s
s
MAKER:
Unknown
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Italy
YEAR OF MAKE:
1950s - 1960s
