The Fisher-Price Happy Apple made its debut the same year that I did, 1972. It was a simplistic baby toy that made a beautiful chime sound when tipped. Between the sweet sound and that warm, smiling happy face, Happy Apple kept '70s and '80s babies mesmerized for hours.
Every once in a while, I'll get a text or Facebook message from my younger brother asking me if I can recall this game we used to play way back in the late 1970s or early 1980s. He never can quite recall the name of it other than the term, "Flying F-something" ... Tonight he texted me asking if I remembered how much we enjoyed playing, "Flying Flannigan."
Flying Finnegan from Kenner
We both knew this wasn't what this game was really called. And to be honest, I couldn't even remember what the object of this game was. I just knew there was some wacky board game we loved to play with a funny name. I reminded him about my love for Run Yourself Ragged. But felt bad that I couldn't offer him any other memory behind this "Flying" game that was so special to him.
Thankfully, Board Game Geek once again came through for me. And there it was, the completeFlying Finneganlowdown.That was it! It was called Flying Finnegan -- a 1978 game from Kenner. Classified as a board game, this game was more of a tabletop action game. It was perfect for two players around the age of 6 or 8 - though I think my brother may have been under the suggested age.
You have to view the above YouTube video to really see how the game is played. It's like a cause and effect type situation game. You launch something and then another thing happens which then causes another thing to happen. It always reminded me of those funny contraptions you'd see in a cartoon usually with a brainy scientist would be behind it. Think Data from The Goonies.
Silly Putty has a very extensive history. For me, however, Silly Putty was a traditional gift my brother and I would receive in our Easter baskets or Christmas stockings. Silly Putty -- still available in most toy stores or through Amazon -- was fun for about ten minutes, tops. My favorite thing to do with Silly Putty, was to press a flattened putty on newsprint and gawk at the print remaining on the Silly Putty. Uh-duh?
Yes, I know Silly Putty has a place in our hearts and memories, but much like Slinky, it was sort of a lame toy. You gotta admit that.
You weren't a true '80s kid if you didn't play with Shrinky Dinks. These cool arts and crafts kits came with colored pencils and thin flexible sheets of plastic cut-out style figures. Once cut, the figures could be filled in or designed with colored pencils and then baked.
I remember how thrilling it was when Mom would flip on the oven light allowing us to witness the shrinking action. We'd watched the plastic melt before our eyes and take on a smaller, thicker shape. Like magic, the color would remain intact. I loved the feel of the texture of the Shrinky Dink once it was cooled.
I especially enjoyed making Shrinky Dinks Christmas tree ornaments and charms -- but it was important to make sure the whole was punctured BEFORE baking, otherwise you were screwed. It was impossible to break through the hardened plastic once baked.
Check out this vintage "Glow in the Dark" Shrinky Dinks commercial.
Five Fun Facts About Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks were invented in 1973 by Wisconsin moms, Betty Morris and Kathryn Bloomberg.
The very first Shrinky Dinks were sold at a shopping mall in Wisconsin.
Cashing in on the popular characters of the 1980s, kids could purchase Smurf Shrinky Dinks, Scooby Doo Shrinky Dinks, Mr. T Shrinky Dinks, Pee Wee Herman Shrinky Dinks, you name it!
In the early '90s, Mark McGrath's band was originally called Shrinky Dinx, but changed the band's name to Sugar Ray avoiding a lawsuit from Hasbro.
Shrinky Dinks are still available and marketed by the original inventors. Click here to purchase or view today's Shrinky Dinks.
