Comments on: Toys Gone By.

Question: Toys Gone By.

TwelveTwo — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 01:36:35 -0800

I need to identify a toy from years gone by. It was made perhaps by Playskool. It had a white plastic base that extended upward into a handle. The bottom of the base itself had a half-sphere of transparent plastic at the bottom connected to two blue wheels. Within the half-sphere of transparent plastic were numerous plastic ping pong balls colored in primary colors. When this wheeled contraption moved, it resulted in much "pock pock pock" noise as the balls were rattled about by a popping plate at the bottom of the half-sphere.

Could you give me details where to purchase one, as well as its name.

By: Dag Maggot

Dag Maggot — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 01:39:33 -0800

I think you're thinking of the Fisher Price Corn Popper. My toddlers loved it.

By: Brittanie

Brittanie — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 01:41:21 -0800

DUDE! I had one of these too, and they're still makin' them.

By: Brittanie

Brittanie — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 01:41:40 -0800

Damn, too late.

By: antifuse

antifuse — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 01:58:07 -0800

Professor Frink also tripped out on one when he was a substitute teacher in the episode "The PTA Disbands" :)

By: Dag Maggot

Dag Maggot — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 02:12:55 -0800

For people who aren't part of the TV cognoscenti, antifuse is talking about a Simpsons episode ... ( :

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 02:19:14 -0800

Thanks!

By: bDiddy

bDiddy — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 04:55:16 -0800

I consider this the best thing to buy for other people's kids.

By: Who_Am_I

Who_Am_I — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 05:47:04 -0800

Wow, this is really creepy. I just watched The PTA Disbands last night with the commentary on, and when Professor Frink has this toy on screen, Matt Groening and a few of the writers debate about what it's called. I think they agreed on "Pop Corn Popper."

Frink: N'hey hey! Ahem, n'hey, so the compression and expansion of the longitudinal waves cause the erratic oscillation -- you can see it there -- of the neighboring particles.
[a girl raises her hand]
[sighs] Yes, what is it? What? What is it?
Girl: Can I play with it?
Frink: No, you can't play with it; you won't enjoy it on as many levels as I do.
[he chuckles as he plays with it]
The colors, children!

By: jasondigitized

jasondigitized — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 06:25:53 -0800

Man, I had one of those myself when I was a wee boy. I remember something about Popcorn.

By: poppo

poppo — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 06:31:22 -0800

My kid is pushing his around right now

By: Wild_Eep

Wild_Eep — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 06:38:59 -0800

We've got one that has survived 2 generations and is now being tested by a set of triplets. This thing just won't die!

Excellent description, btw.

By: SisterHavana

SisterHavana — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 07:50:44 -0800

I had one too! I loved that thing.

By: Mamapotomus

Mamapotomus — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 10:54:34 -0800

That's my mother's default gift to new parents. She's a fun kind of evil.

By: annaramma

annaramma — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 15:13:02 -0800

I agree with bDiddy. Tons of fun for the kids and a bright plastic headache for the parents. I know of two separate instances where the Corn Popper "disappeared" from the home after a few weeks. Another was "accidentally" run over by a minivan.

By: booksandlibretti

booksandlibretti — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:11:11 -0800

I called it my umbrella, for reasons unknown. It was used in considerable Mary-Poppins poses. I also thought, at the time, that Mary Poppins was best depicted nude.

I have since learned that it's generally called a popper. I have learned a number of other things, too.