An iconic American toy celebrated a milestone this year: his platinum jubilee. Mr. Potato Head is 70 years young and still engaging preschoolers. Happy Birthday, you silly spud!
Mr. Potato Head is a signature toy for Hasbro – and one of its most popular characters. He represented a rite of passage for millions of baby boom kids. And became a tradition for the generations that followed.
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Who Is Mr. Potato Head?
For the uninitiated, Mr. Potato Head is a plastic toy shaped like a potato. Children can change his appearance with different plastic parts. The original parts included shoes, a hat, and facial features: ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.
Since the toy’s debut, Hasbro has introduced dozens of Potato Head characters and sets. Over 30 in all, with more than 350 parts and accessories.
The famous spud has inspired many creative works. Television shows, movies, books, comic strips, costumes, T-shirts, ball caps, ornaments, keychains. The list is endless.
Want to know more about Mr. Potato Head? His origin, history, and milestone moments? How about his impact on American popular culture – and the culture’s impact on him?
Keep reading. Today, we’ll take a little stroll down Memory Lane.
Mr. Potato Head History
George Lerner (1922-1995) was an American inventor. As a young man, he had an idea for “funny face” toys. It involved attaching facial features to different fruits and vegetables.
Lerner’s inspiration came from simple toys he made for his young sisters. Silly-faced dolls he created by hand from the produce in his mother’s garden.
In 1949, Lerner designed a prototype of pushpin-like plastic parts. But finding a company to buy his toy was challenging. With food rations a recent memory for Americans, it seemed wasteful to use food for toys.
Lerner finally sold his toy to a food company who wanted cereal box premium. While looking for a better deal, he shared his idea with Henry and Merrill Hassenfeld.
The Hassenfelds owned a company that made toys and school supplies. Lerner’s idea was unlike anything in their line. So they approached the cereal company, paid them to stop production, and bought the rights to the toy.
Hassenfeld Brothers (later Hasbro) called their new acquisition “Mr. Potato Head.” They started production immediately, and the toy hit the shelves in May 1952. Lerner received royalties on every kit sold.
The first Mr. Potato Head kits contained only parts and accessories. Plastic hands and feet. Assorted facial features. Felt pieces resembling hair. Hats, eyeglasses, pipe. And a styrofoam face for practice.
The original kits didn’t include a plastic body. Parents who bought the kits provided potatoes – and other foods – for their kids to decorate. During the 1960s, Mr. Potato Head even had some fruit and vegetable friends. Oscar Orange, Pete Pepper, Cooky Cucumber, and Katie Carrot.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Back to the timeline.
Mr. Potato Head Marketing
Mr. Potato Head starred in the very first television commercial geared to children. This revolutionized the industry. Hasbro earned more than $4 million in sales within the months of airing.
After the success of Mr. Potato Head, Hasbro introduced Mrs. Potato Head in 1953. The spud couple tied the knot on Valentine’s Day. Then came the sprouts; Brother Spud and Sister Yam completed the family.
The first accessories reflected the affluence of 1950s American families. Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head enjoyed such luxuries as a car, boat trailer, kitchen set, and baby stroller. They also had pets, which Hasbro called Spud-ettes.
In 1964, Hasbro created a plastic body for Mr. Potato Head. In 1975, the body the body doubled in size and dimension. The parts and pieces were larger, too.
Safety regulations prompted this change. Some toy parts were too small and sharp for child safety. The regulations proved beneficial to Hasbro. The increase in toy size expanded the market to younger children.
Mr. Potato Head Milestones
Mr. Potato Head has enjoyed several key moments in modern history. His popularity also led to appearances in film, television, and video games. We’ll look at his impact on popular culture a little later in this post. For now, we’ll look at some of his milestone moments.
In 1985, for example, he received four write-in votes for mayor of Boise, Idaho – a hotbed of potatoes. It was the “most votes for a toy in a political campaign,” according to Guinness World Records.
He surrendered his pipe in 1987 to become “spokespud” of the Great American Smokeout. In 1992, he gave up his couch potato status to champion the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.
In 1996, he and Mrs. Potato Head joined the League of Women Voters to “get out the vote.” And 2000 saw his induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
When he turned 50 in 2002, Mr. Potato Head joined AARP to focus on issues affecting seniors. In 2010, he joined United States service members in Operation Toy Drop.
In 2006, Hasbro started selling parts and pieces without the Potato Head body. This allowed fans to add new themes and features to collections they already own.
In 2020, Hasbro released a sustainable version of Mr. Potato Head. It used a plant-based plastic derived from sugarcane to make the toy. And last year, Hasbro announced a gender-neutral rebrand of the toy. More on that later.
Mr. Potato Head in Pop Culture
Mr. Potato Head has been a staple of American culture for 70 years. He made his television debut on Potato Head Kids in 1985. In 1998, he starred in The Mr. Potato Head Show (still available on VHS).
In 1995, Disney-Pixar gave him a role in the animated film Toy Story. (Start your free trial to watch it on Prime.) His performance earned him a returning role in the sequels. (Get the four-film collection here.)
The Far Side creator Gary Larson and Garfield‘s Jim Davis featured Mr. Potato Head in comic strips. He’s also the subject of board books, coloring books, and other literature.
Travel writer Bill Bryson mentioned the spud in The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. (Read it with the free Kindle app.) And Jon Stewart dedicated a page to him in Earth (The Book).
In 2005, Mr. Potato Head made his first appearance in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since then, he’s become a fixture in parades and festivals around the country.
In 2009, Mr. Potato Head’s popularity earned him a Super Bowl commercial for Bridgestone Tires. He has also appeared in advertisements for Burger King, Disney, and Walkers Crisps.
He’s popular in video games, too. In the 1990s, he starred in “Mr. Potato Head Saves Veggie Valley” and “Mr. Potato Head’s Activity Pack.” He also hosted Hasbro Family Game Night and appeared in various Toy Story games.
Versatility is a big reason for Mr. Potato Head’s popularity. It allows him to become a movie character, sports star, super hero – almost anyone. His impact on popular culture is unlikely to wane any time soon.
Mr. Potato Head Rebrand
While Mr. Potato Head impacts American culture, popular culture impacts him. Last year, Hasbro gave its signature toy a gender-neutral rebrand. It dropped the “Mr.” title from the brand name and packaging.
“Hasbro is making sure all feel welcome in the Potato Head world,” the company said. The change included “a whimsical color palette and more inclusive messaging.”
This caused some confusion about the status of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Hasbro offered clarification on Twitter, stating the changes applied only to the brand. The Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head characters would keep their courtesy titles.
Hasbro introduced a Create Your Potato Head Family pack last fall. The goal? To encourage children to create their own Potato Head families. The pack includes three bodies (two large and one small) and 42 accessories.
“When mixing and mashing the pieces, there’s no wrong way to play,” the company said. All the parts are compatible with other Potato Head toys.
Mr. Potato Head at 70
Mr. Potato Head has always adapted with the times. He was one of Hasbro’s first brands with a Facebook page. He and his longtime bride marked his 60th birthday with a year of global escapades in 2012. All shared on Facebook.
Hasbro issued “Mashly in Love” to celebrate the milestone year. This special anniversary edition featured the couple holding hands and renewing their vows.
Now, Hasbro is marking 70 years of the Potato Head brand with Yamma and Yampa. This new set contains 24 parts, including fun “grandtater” pieces. Think vintage eyeglasses, pleated khakis, and purple hair.
Mr. Potato Head Collectibles
Hasbro has released several Potato Head themed kits over the years. For example: pirate, mermaid, princess, rock star, policeman, firefighter, and construction worker. Even fast food.
Hasbro customized a “Sports Spuds” line for several professional and collegiate teams. The holidays inspired Santa Claus and Halloween kits. And in 2020, Hasbro released Mr. Potato Head Goes Green.
The company sells licensed kits for media properties, too. New themed releases are always in development. The most desirable Potato Head collectibles are Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Spider Man, Transformers, Iron Man, Toy Story, The Three Stooges, and The Looney Tunes Show.
Mr. Potato Head is popular with kids, collectors, and fans. Vintage Mr. Potato Head kits are desirable to classic toy collectors, while new theme sets are fan favorites. And current sales remain high. It looks like Mr. Potato Head is here to stay.
Mr. Potato Head the Yamdalorian and the Tot
Wrapping It Up
Mr. Potato Head is one of those iconic toys from the baby boomer generation that kids still play with today. There’s something about him that captivates American children.
Safety regulations and cultural changes have altered his appearance over time. But each new kit that hits the market breathes new life into a genuine classic. It’s doubtful the Potato Heads will be going anywhere, any time soon.
Now that’s something to celebrate. So have a slice of cake – or creamy cupcake – in honor of Mr. Potato Head. And to our favorite spud, thank you for seven decades of silly fun. Here’s to many more years to come. Happy Birthday! ◻️
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Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. What are your memories of Mr. Potato Head? Do your children or grandkids play with this toy?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
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Photo Sources
- AngiePhotos / Getty Images Signature | Canva | License
- The United States Army | Wikimedia Commons | Public Domain
- Erika Wittlieb, Holly Dornak | Pixabay | License
