Playthings was an American trade magazine focusing on the toy and game industry. It was founded in 1902 by editor Robert McCready[2] and publisher Henry C. Nathan,[4] and it was published in physical form by Sandow Media on a monthly basis until Fall 2010 when it became an insert section and was merged with Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine.[4]Playthings was also published online and supplemented by a weekly email newsletter, Playthings Extra.[9] The magazine won multiple Jesse H. Neal Awards,[2][9] and was generally regarded as the premier trade magazine of the American toy industry.[10]
1902 – Playthings is founded by editor Robert McCready and publisher Henry C. Nathan (Henry Nathan Co.).[4][5]
January 1903 – The inaugural issue is published. In his opening statement, editor-in-chief McCready describes it as "a regular publication, devoted to ... the more than 20,000 concerns [in the United States] engaged in the manufacture or sale of dolls, toys, and games." The magazine is 20 pages in length and covers more than 70% European and Asian toys (mostly German and Japanese imports).[2]
January 1904 – Subscription rate and distribution increases. Marking the 1-year anniversary, McCready reports that "the trade has manifested a cordial interest in us, and has given us hearty support."[2]
1905 – The magazine's primary emphasis settles on coverage of merchants' money-saving techniques and the management of store layout and displays.[2]
June 1910 – Robert McCready founds the McCready Publishing Co. which takes over publication of the magazine from the Henry Nathan Co. McCready serves as the president of publication as well as the editor-in-chief and business manager of the magazine.[2]
June 1912 – The magazine now comprises 198 pages including a few two-color advertisements.[2]
1915–1940 – Two World Wars strongly impact the importing of foreign toys, and the magazine becomes almost entirely devoted to American-made toys. Distribution now includes international subscribers, but pro-American sentiment is high and the magazine highlights American interests and events like the American International Toy Fair.[2]
1945 – Ben McCready, son of Robert McCready, is appointed editor-in-chief.[2]
1950s – Playthings begins to promote the idea of toy purchasing as a year-round practice rather than primarily a Christmas-related phenomenon.[2]
1960s – Visual mass media in the form of television introduce children to a range of celebrities and characters that are soon represented as dolls and action figures. The magazine begins to cover television-related toys and reaches its maximum size with some issues exceeding 600 pages in length.[2]
1967 – Publication is taken over by Geyer-McAllister Publications.[2]
1970s – Playthings begins to cover the topic of toy safety.[2]
2000 – Maria N. Weiskott is appointed editor-in-chief.[1]
January 2003 – Playthings celebrates its centenary issue with the publication of "Toy Stories: 100 Years of Fun."[1]
2005 – The magazine wins a Jesse H. Neal Award for "Best News Coverage" for reporting on the possible breakup of Toys "R" Us.[9]
2010 – Reed Business Information sells several properties including Playthings to Sandow Media which publishes the magazine for a few more issues and then merges it with another Sandow Media publication, Gifts & Decorative Accessories in the fall. Playthings becomes an insert section in Gifts & Decorative Accessories.[4][6]
October 1, 2010 – Copies of all physical issues of the magazine (between 1903 and 2010) are acquired by the Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play at The Strong in Rochester, New York.[4][11]
November 12, 2010 – Playthings becomes the official national media partner of The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong and enters a 3-year special promotional agreement.[8]
May 2017 – The Gifts & Decorative Accessories insert section, Playthings, is renamed Kids' Corner.[12]
Referencesedit
^ abcdWeiskott, Maria N. "Milestone: Playthings magazine." Gifts & Decorative Accessories. p. 127. January 1, 2003. ISSN 0016-9889. Also .
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstLeccese, Donna. "Playthings Tracks History of Growth, Change." Playthings. September 1, 1993. ISSN 0032-1567. Retrieved March 23, 2015, .
^ abcAnnicelli, Cliff. "Playthings Magazine Lists the Top Toys STILL AVAILABLE on Toy." Bloomberg L.P. November 30, 2009.
^ abcdefTrien, Susan. "More than 100 Years of Playthings Magazine Acquired by the Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play at the Strong in Rochester, New York". The Strong. October 1, 2010.
^ abCutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. Vol.4. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. Pg.2014. 1913.
^ abFell, Jason. "Sandow Media Buys Eight Magazines from RBI." FolioMag.com. March 2010.
^Annicelli, Cliff. "Intriguingly Different..." Playthings. August 1, 2007. ISSN 0032-1567..
^ abSnook, Pam. "Playthings Magazine Partners With Strong Museum". PR Newswire. November 12, 2010.
^ abcOliver, Larry. "Words on Play: It's an honor ... Playthings recognized for editorial excellence". Playthings. April 1, 2005. ISSN 0032-1567. .
^Scott, Sharon M. "Playthings" in Toys and American Culture: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 245. 2010. ISBN978-0313351112.
^Staff. "For more than 100 years, Playthings magazine stood." Brian Sutton-Smith Archives of Play. November 17, 2014.
^Earl, Anne-Marie. "Gifts and Dec Broadens, Renames Playthings Category". Gifts & Decorative Accessories. May 3, 2017.
December 15, 2023
playthings, magazine, playthings, american, trade, magazine, focusing, game, industry, founded, 1902, editor, robert, mccready, publisher, henry, nathan, published, physical, form, sandow, media, monthly, basis, until, fall, 2010, when, became, insert, section. Playthings was an American trade magazine focusing on the toy and game industry It was founded in 1902 by editor Robert McCready 2 and publisher Henry C Nathan 4 and it was published in physical form by Sandow Media on a monthly basis until Fall 2010 when it became an insert section and was merged with Gifts amp Decorative Accessories magazine 4 Playthings was also published online and supplemented by a weekly email newsletter Playthings Extra 9 The magazine won multiple Jesse H Neal Awards 2 9 and was generally regarded as the premier trade magazine of the American toy industry 10 PlaythingsEditor in chiefMaria N Weiskott 1 Former editorsEditors in chief 2 Robert McCready 1903 1945 Ben McCready 1945 1980 Frank Reysen Jr 1980 2000 CategoriesToy game and related Entertainment industries 3 Frequencymonthly 3 FounderRobert McCready 2 Henry C Nathan 4 Founded1902 5 First issueJanuary 1903 1903 01 2 Final issueFall 2010 2010 2 CompanySandow Media 6 CountryUSABased inNew York City 7 LanguageEnglishWebsitewww playthings com defunct 3 8 www giftsanddec com channel 160 playthings also defunct ISSN0032 1567Historical timeline edit1902 Playthings is founded by editor Robert McCready and publisher Henry C Nathan Henry Nathan Co 4 5 January 1903 The inaugural issue is published In his opening statement editor in chief McCready describes it as a regular publication devoted to the more than 20 000 concerns in the United States engaged in the manufacture or sale of dolls toys and games The magazine is 20 pages in length and covers more than 70 European and Asian toys mostly German and Japanese imports 2 January 1904 Subscription rate and distribution increases Marking the 1 year anniversary McCready reports that the trade has manifested a cordial interest in us and has given us hearty support 2 1905 The magazine s primary emphasis settles on coverage of merchants money saving techniques and the management of store layout and displays 2 June 1910 Robert McCready founds the McCready Publishing Co which takes over publication of the magazine from the Henry Nathan Co McCready serves as the president of publication as well as the editor in chief and business manager of the magazine 2 June 1912 The magazine now comprises 198 pages including a few two color advertisements 2 1915 1940 Two World Wars strongly impact the importing of foreign toys and the magazine becomes almost entirely devoted to American made toys Distribution now includes international subscribers but pro American sentiment is high and the magazine highlights American interests and events like the American International Toy Fair 2 April 1930 The magazine swells to 290 pages 2 1945 Ben McCready son of Robert McCready is appointed editor in chief 2 1950s Playthings begins to promote the idea of toy purchasing as a year round practice rather than primarily a Christmas related phenomenon 2 1960s Visual mass media in the form of television introduce children to a range of celebrities and characters that are soon represented as dolls and action figures The magazine begins to cover television related toys and reaches its maximum size with some issues exceeding 600 pages in length 2 1967 Publication is taken over by Geyer McAllister Publications 2 1970s Playthings begins to cover the topic of toy safety 2 1980s Frank Reysen Jr becomes the editor in chief and the magazine begins to cover electronic games and toys both before and after the 1983 crash beginning with handheld video games and continuing in the late 1980s with video game consoles 2 1984 Playthings wins a Jesse H Neal Award for coverage of the counterfeit toy market 2 1998 Playthings is acquired by Reed Business Information which continues publication 1 2000 Maria N Weiskott is appointed editor in chief 1 January 2003 Playthings celebrates its centenary issue with the publication of Toy Stories 100 Years of Fun 1 2005 The magazine wins a Jesse H Neal Award for Best News Coverage for reporting on the possible breakup of Toys R Us 9 2010 Reed Business Information sells several properties including Playthings to Sandow Media which publishes the magazine for a few more issues and then merges it with another Sandow Media publication Gifts amp Decorative Accessories in the fall Playthings becomes an insert section in Gifts amp Decorative Accessories 4 6 October 1 2010 Copies of all physical issues of the magazine between 1903 and 2010 are acquired by the Brian Sutton Smith Library amp Archives of Play at The Strong in Rochester New York 4 11 November 12 2010 Playthings becomes the official national media partner of The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong and enters a 3 year special promotional agreement 8 May 2017 The Gifts amp Decorative Accessories insert section Playthings is renamed Kids Corner 12 References edit a b c d Weiskott Maria N Milestone Playthings magazine Gifts amp Decorative Accessories p 127 January 1 2003 ISSN 0016 9889 Also here a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Leccese Donna Playthings Tracks History of Growth Change Playthings September 1 1993 ISSN 0032 1567 Retrieved March 23 2015 here a b c Annicelli Cliff Playthings Magazine Lists the Top Toys STILL AVAILABLE on Toy Bloomberg L P November 30 2009 a b c d e f Trien Susan More than 100 Years of Playthings Magazine Acquired by the Brian Sutton Smith Library amp Archives of Play at the Strong in Rochester New York The Strong October 1 2010 a b Cutter William Richard New England Families Genealogical and Memorial A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation Vol 4 Lewis Historical Publishing Company Pg 2014 1913 a b Fell Jason Sandow Media Buys Eight Magazines from RBI FolioMag com March 2010 Annicelli Cliff Intriguingly Different Playthings August 1 2007 ISSN 0032 1567 here a b Snook Pam Playthings Magazine Partners With Strong Museum PR Newswire November 12 2010 a b c Oliver Larry Words on Play It s an honor Playthings recognized for editorial excellence Playthings April 1 2005 ISSN 0032 1567 here Scott Sharon M Playthings in Toys and American Culture An Encyclopedia ABC CLIO p 245 2010 ISBN 978 0313351112 Staff For more than 100 years Playthings magazine stood Brian Sutton Smith Archives of Play November 17 2014 Earl Anne Marie Gifts and Dec Broadens Renames Playthings Category Gifts amp Decorative Accessories May 3 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Playthings magazine amp oldid 1176194293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
