The fortnight before Christmas

Momma's working at both JoAnn's AND Toys"R"Us which leaves Precious Little Time for Me, but she was in a sentimental mood when she returned home the other night.

While putting items away at Toys"R"Us she discovered a reprint of a classic book she hadn't seen or thought of in 45 years or so: Little Golden Book's The Night Before Christmas.

This 1949 Little Golden Book edition of the famous poem, The Night Before Christmas, was a staple in the Golden Book line for many years. (The first 12 Little Golden Book titles were published on Oct. 1, 1942.)

Momma remembers that edition clearly and is thrilled to share that with us. 

Looking for a few good toys

One of the things Momma has enjoyed most this holiday season is helping people with their Toys for Tots purchases.

In the past three weeks she has seen everything from a woman specifically coming in to buy one single toy to donate in the bin at the front of the store, to ringing up toys totaling $4,000 for coordinators in northern Arizona.

Momma said she has seen collection bins for as long as she can remember, but it surprised her to find out Toys for Tots originated with the United States Marine Corps Reserve back in 1947.

Toys for Tots, now a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity located in Triangle, Virg., began as a Los Angeles charitable effort in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR, was inspired by his wife Diane when she tried to donate a homemade Raggedy Ann doll to a needy child but could find no organization to do so.

At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists who coordinated and collected about 5,000 toys for local children that year from collection bins placed outside of Warner Bros. movie theaters.

Their efforts were so successful that, in 1948, Toys for Tots was launched as a national campaign. Hendricks used his position as director of Public Relations for Warner Brothers Studio to enlist celebrity support, as well as have Walt Disney Studios design the red toy train logo.

Marine reservists and volunteers collected and refurbished used toys until 1979. In 1980, only new toys were accepted, as reservists were no longer able to dedicate drill hours to refurbish toys, as well as legal concerns and the mixed message of giving hand-me-downs as a message of hope.

As of 2013, the Toys for Tots Program and Foundation have collected and distributed more than 469 million toys.

This article incorporates material from the
United States Marine Corps Reserve.

 

Château Sinistre

teamson.com

Right now I don't know who I am more jealous of - my Big Sister or the Monster High crew.

While working at Toys Я Us,  Momma spotted the Winland Spooky Mansion and wanted to get it for my Big Sister and her MH dolls, but (alas) the only one they had sold before she could acquire it.

So she was delighted this week when it was returned in a damaged box.

Score!

teamson.com

It no longer seems to be available under that name, but we found it now listed as Teamson’s Monster Mansion Corner Dollhouse:

Have a frightfully fun time with Teamson’s Monster Mansion Corner Doll House. Three floors of top notch terror, include a kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Perfect for a tight space because it fits in the corner. Spend the night if you dare! Great for ages 3 and up.

They have at least one other version that we could find, but we particularly like this version because it fits snugly into a corner.

Included with the Monster Mansion is:

• Bed
• Loveseat
• Dining chairs (2)
• Table
• Coffin bathtub

Now comes the hard part, and I don't mean assembly.

I can't play with it until December 25th!

Everything a toy store should be

plaidstallion.com

Working at Toys Я Us this holiday season has brought back many wonderful memories for Momma of going to Children's Palace in Columbus, Ohio as a child.

Growing up in a small town in southeast Ohio, Momma said there was nothing like the experience of walking into the huge toy wonderland on West Broad Street.

Children's Palace was a well-known toy chain on the East Coast. The chain was known for its warehouse-style merchandising, long aisles, and overstock storage above the selling-floor shelves.

Children's Palace was also known for making its stores resemble castles, complete with turrets, battlements, and three arches (two small, one large) in the front door.

After the acquisition of Children's Palace, Child World became the second largest toy retailer in the United States after Toys Я Us, its chief competitor. 

From 1977 until its closure in 1992, Child World also operated the Children's Palace chain and incorporated most of its castle theme features from Children's Palace into Child World stores.

 

Ana Ming dynasty

I'm sorry I haven't blogged as much recently as I had hoped, but Momma (and I!) have been swamped with her new job at Toys Я Us.

However, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new friend, Ana Ming, straight from Char at Doll Diaries!

Char needed to make room in her dolly world for another doll, so Ana Ming is coming to live with us.

According to the Carpatina website:

Ana Ming
The vitality and glory of the ancient Orient-home of her mother's ancestors-fascinate Ana Ming.

Lively intelligence glows in her rich brown eyes. With gleaming waist-length black hair, glowing cheeks, and rose-touched lips, she has a timeless beauty.

A0000 ~ Ana Ming Doll

• Collectible, 18" slim all vinyl body, Kanekolan wig, closing eyes
• Golden Brocade Dress with Mandarin collar and delicate frog closures, Underwear & Matching Shoes
• Blue Presentation Box and tag with care instructions

Momma has promised to get her the Camden Station Outfit as soon as possible. 

Meanwhile, Clementine and I are camped outside waiting for the Pony Express to arrive....


 

I'm a Toys Я Us kid!

Toys"R"Us

It's official, I am the luckiest Vinyl American ever.

Momma got a seasonal job at Toys Я Us!

Toys Я Us is a dedicated toy and juvenile-products retailer founded in 1948 and headquartered in Wayne, N.J. The company now operates more than 877 Toys Я Us and Babies Я Us stores in the United States, more than 685 international stores, and over 170 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions.

Charles Lazarus started Children's Supermart (which would evolve into Toys Я Us) in Washington, D.C. , in 1948 during the post-World War II baby boom era as a baby-furniture retailer. Lazarus began receiving requests from customers for baby toys. After adding baby toys, he got requests for toys for older children.

The focus of the store changed in 1957, and Toys Я Us was born in Rockville, Maryland. The company's mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe (formerly known as Dr. G. Raffe) made his debut during 1957 in print advertisements for Children's Bargain Town. He was known for saying "Toys"R"Us," a quote that later became the company's name. Dr. G. Raffe was renamed Geoffrey in 1969 when Children's Bargain Town became Toys Я Us, and became the official Toys Я Us "spokesanimal."

The original Toys Я Us store design in 1969-1989 consisted of vertical rainbow stripes and a brown roof with a front entrance and side exit. Some brown-roof locations still exist, although some have been painted different colors or renovated.

Incidentally, Toys Я Us acquired toy retailer FAO Schwarz in May 2009.

FAO Schwarz, founded in 1862 during the Civil War and the oldest toy store in the United States, is known for its unique high-end toys, life-sized stuffed animals, dolls, and games. The FAO Schwarz flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City is a popular tourist destination, and has gained iconic status for its floor piano, cameos in major motion pictures, and real-life toy soldiers.