Best Gifts by Decade
My favourite gifts to give and receive are those that bring up treasured moments from the past; the He-Man “Stinkor” figurine that my best friend had wanted as a kid, the Emporium “Monkey Shines” toy my mum had watched her neighbours play with at Xmas, the treasured Homepride Fred baking set that was sent to the op-shop years ago… These little pieces of history can provide so much delight. With this in mind, we’ve created a list of some of the most iconic brands, fads and innovations to help you find a stellar gift for someone, based on the decade they grew up. Forget gift vouchers, socks and tea towels (please!) and consider gifting a little piece of history…
1950s
The 1950s was the time that some of today’s the most iconic toys hit the shelves. Matchbox, Mr Potato Head and Playdoh all made their debut in this decade. Colour TV premiered and roller skating made a massive comeback (to be revived once again in the 1970s alongside disco). Top television shows included the Lone Ranger and Bonanza, and the cult classic, The Blob hit the big screen. As the decade crept toward the 1960s, drive-ins became popular and would have seen the likes of some of the greatest, most ornate vehicles including 1950’s Cadillacs and Fords and Chevy’s business coup (where four friends could be snuck in via the boot).
1960s
While she officially hit the shelves in 1959, Barbie exploded in the early 1960s with her $3 price tag and extensive wardrobe. Still going strong today, Hot Wheels launched to rival Matchbox. Telly became a staple in most homes and brought shows including Bewitched, I love Lucy and I Dream of Jeanie. The very first Ford Falcon, the family car of many, was produced in Australia though, despite the competition, Holden’s vehicles remained the top sellers.
1970s
Cue disco and the roller-skating revival and bring on the 1970s! This decade saw the longstanding ban of pinball lifted across many U.S. states and the introduction of one of the most iconic video games “Space Invaders”. The first Star Wars movie hit the big screen alongside Jaws and The Godfather and in homes, Mork and Mindy, MASH, Happy Days and The Goodies hit the small screen.
1980s
The golden era of arcades! Bring on the 1980s and those 20c pieces. Joining Space Invaders, the 1980s brought us iconic games including Pac-Man (changed from “Puck-Man” to avoid creative graffiti), Double Dragon, Galaga and Donkey Kong. Home consoles became widespread as Sega and Nintendo forged their way into the market to rival Atari. Here we saw gaming move beyond the basics and into games of fighting and adventure. Bubble o’ Bills and Sunny Boys were sold by the dozen in Milkbars and the Coca-Cola company launched “new coke” – boosting the sales of original Coke beyond measure.
