Watch: 1952 Mr. Potato Head Commercial Was The First-Ever TV Ad For Kids
Image via Shutterstock
For all his tubby form, Mr. Potato Head has been quite the trailblazer. Not only did he just come out as gender-neutral, but back in the 1950s, he became the first children’s toy to ever be advertised on television, and that commercial itself was the first to be directly targeted at kids. You could say he turned children into couch potatoes.
Back in the day, a Mr. Potato Head set was priced at just US$0.98, and included toy facial features, limbs, facial hair, eyeglasses and a pipe. As for the potato bit, it was to be supplied by parents themselves, and they used real spuds.
As families complained that their vegetables were rotting, and new safety regulations were put in place by the government, Hasbro included a plastic potato body in the kit in 1964.
The first-ever advertisement for children that aired on television, which recently resurfaced on social media, can be viewed below. Certainly, Mr. Potato Head has glowed up through the years, and his agreeable looks have even earned him a role in Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, alongside Mrs. Potato Head.
OTD in 1952 Mr Potato Head is 1st toy advertised on television. The TV ad was aimed directly at children. It was a revolutionary ad, even if the concept of marketing directly to kids didn’t immediately catch on. Pic of Mr Potato head from ‘52, unrecognisable from today’s 😂 pic.twitter.com/s1Avpl3eJe
— Karen owned by Marlon, the lurcher! (@keingless) April 30, 2021
FUN MEDIA FACT: On this day in 1952, Mr. Potato Head became the 1st toy advertised on TV. pic.twitter.com/jnutRsP0pe
— StatePoint.net (@StatePoint) April 30, 2021
[via Boing Boing and r/ObscureMedia, cover image via Shutterstock]
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