Chris Bensch, chief curator at the Strong Museum of Play, delves into the backstories of each and every über-popular toy released over the last 50 years. In 1977 Star Wars action figures hit the market and revolutionized the toy industry. 1979’s Atari 2600 popularized home video game consoles and 1995’s Beanie Babies started one of the biggest collecting phenomenons we’d ever seen.

To learn more about the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, visit https://www.museumofplay.org/