Hot Holiday Toys 1930s to Today-- Part 1: Shirley Temple Dolls and Slinkys

From the December 24, 2017, Chicago Tribune by Nara Schoenberg.

"Through the years, children have begged for Slinkys, Shirley Temple dolls, Pet Rocks and Hatchimals.

"The hot toy of the holiday season isn't necessarily the top seller, although it's often in the running.  It's the toy that flat-out dazzles children..."

Adrienne Appell, of the Toy Association gave a list of those hot toys by decade:

1930S:  SHIRLEY TEMPLE DOLL

She was the biggest box office star in Hollywood that everyone thought was absolutely adorable.  But the doll was really pricey for those Depression years.  But the doll sure looked like its namesake.

1940S:  THE SLINKY

At first shoppers weren't interested in paying $1 for what looked like a bedspring.  This changed when Philadelphia's Gimbels department store hosted holiday season demonstrations in 1945.  But when they saw them descending stairs they bought 400 within minutes.

Nothing Like a Slinky Going Down the Stairs.  --CootSlink