When you think of classic toys you played with as a child, there’s a good chance that one of them was a game from the Milton Bradley Company. The longevity and impact of his company and products make Milton Bradley an obvious inductee for the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

Mr. Bradley, a draftsman and lithographer by trade, founded the game company that bears his name when he first produced his own invention in 1860, The Checkered Game of Life. Mr. Bradley also invented the one-armed paper cutter, and was an early promoter of establishing kindergartens in American schools.

After his death, the business Mr. Bradley began continued to flourish and produced such classics as The Game of Life, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land and Twister, to name a few.

Today, the Milton Bradley Company and Parker Brothers, part of Hasbro, Inc. and known collectively as Hasbro Games, is the largest manufacturer of games and puzzles in the world. Sharing in the fun and laughter experienced as part of playing with a board game is why children and families across the globe cherish the works of Milton Bradley, and why he is an icon to those throughout the industry.

Throughout his four-decade long career at Milton Bradley and its parent company Hasbro, Inc., George Ditomassi demonstrated his commitment to bring worldwide prominence to what have become household brands. Mr. Ditomassi joined the Milton Bradley Company as a production trainee in 1960 and became president in 1985. In 1990 he was named chairman of the Board of the Milton Bradley Company and chief operating officer, Games and International, Hasbro Inc. In 1997 he was also named president of Hasbro International.

In addition, Mr. Ditomassi has received numerous awards for his contributions to national and local charities and activities that benefit children, including the Urban League and Junior Achievement, Inc. He is currently co-chairman of the Greater Springfield (Massachusetts) Mentoring Partnership. His outstanding leadership skills were demonstrated during his terms as national chairman of the Child Welfare League of America, chairman of the Western Massachusetts Children's Miracle Network and chair of the corporate fund-raising campaign to bring a Ronald McDonald House to Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Ditomassi served as TIA Board Chairman in 1990 in addition to two terms as a member of the Association's Board of Directors. He is currently president and chief executive officer of Summit America Television of Naples, Florida.

Working in children’s entertainment for the past 30 years, Neil Friedman has accomplished major successes at his respective companies while devoting a great deal of time to Toy Industry Association (TIA™), children’s charities, and other organizations. It is his tireless dedication to help shape the industry that contributes to Neil’s induction into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

Currently president of Fisher-Price Brands, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc., Mr. Friedman is credited with continuing Fisher-Price’s leadership as the premiere infant and preschool manufacturer and establishing Fisher-Price as a significant force in character branded toys, with toys that feature many of the strongest, evergreen character licenses in the industry. . Friedman joined Mattel in March 1997, following the merger with Tyco Toys. Prior to joining Tyco Preschool, he served as president of MCA/Universal Merchandising; senior vice president, marketing and operations, Just Toys; general manager, baby care division, Gerber Products; president, Aviva/Hasbro; and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lionel Leisure/Kiddie City.

Mr. Friedman is also the current Board Chairman of TIA and the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). He serves on the Board of Directors for the Northside Center for Child Development, a non-profit organization that serves children and families living in Harlem and received its 2002 Mamie Award, an honor that celebrates human service and the ways in which one person can effect change. Mr. Friedman is also the recipient of the U.S.-China Foundation for International Exchanges' Marco Polo Award for 2001, which recognizes visionary corporate friends of China and is the highest honor given to a foreign business leader. A dedicated TIA member and tireless contributor to many Association committees, Mr. Friedman was the trade group's Vice Chairman from 2000-2002, and has served as the TIA Board Chairman since 2002.

Toy designers are the very heart of the toy industry, which makes it perfectly fitting that the 43rd Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductee is Eddy Goldfarb, toy inventor extraordinaire.

Over his long career in the toy industry, Eddy Goldfarb has put close to 800 items on the market in a variety of toy categories, and has received almost 300 patents. Some of his earliest and most successful toys have been: Yakkity Yak Teeth, Busy Biddy, Merry-Go-Sip, Shark Attack, Arcade Basketball, Quiz Way, Kerplunk, Baby Beans and LEGO Creator Game, to name a few. Eddy's dream of inventing toys began when he was a child and blossomed after he joined the U.S. Navy soon after WWII began. During his duty he volunteered for submarine duty and spent the rest of the war at sea in the Pacific. In his own words, "in that kind of environment, I relied even more on my imagination and spent whatever spare time there was inventing and planning for the future."

This planning paid off, as Eddy went on to establish and maintain a successful business during his 57 years in business. Eddy has always been a strong supporter of TIA demonstrated by his ongoing involvement in numerous programs and his consistent attendance at industry functions over the years. Eddy's creativity and innovation is matched only by his kind spirit, which is acknowledged by colleagues throughout the toy industry.

An ambitious, penniless young boy from Italy, Antonio Pasin, like his grandfather and father, was an old-world, wood craftsman. His dream was to have his own business in the land of opportunity, America.

By 1917, Pasin was handcrafting wooden wagons in a rented one-room Chicago shop by night, and selling them by day out of a battered suitcase. His first wagon, the Liberty Coaster, he named after the Statue of Liberty. By 1930, Pasin had adopted the mass production technologies of the auto industry to create the first affordable steel wagon, earning him the nickname "Little Ford".

The invention of the radio and the wonder of flight inspired the wagon and company name Radio Flyer. Pasin's Little Red Wagons have hauled more cargo than any other child-powered vehicle in American history and have become "icons" of America.

Over 85 years later, Radio Flyer is still a family owned and operated business. To this day, Pasin's passion for craftsmanship is reflected in the way his inspired descendants continue to design and build quality toys - "For every boy. For every girl."

The twelve years David A. Miller served as President of the Toy Industry Association and the eight as Chairman of the International Council of Toy Industries resulted in fundamental changes in the way TIA members do business. He pioneered national and global efforts to change international opinion in favor of accepting China into the World Trade Organization and win it permanent Most Favored Nation status in the U.S. Early on, he was a vocal and effective advocate of NAFTA and zero tariffs for toys. Hands-on programs he established became the template for safety and ethical manufacturing standards in the U.S. and around the world. He played an important role in the development and success of the Fashion Institute of Technology Toy Design Program.

His career in the toy industry began in 1967, as he and his brother Richard built Eden Toys into a leading manufacturer of infants’ and preschool stuffed toys for the department store and specialty market. The company won worldwide recognition with its licensed products, Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit and Paddington Bear. That mission, of making playthings that bring joy and happiness to children everywhere, stayed with him during ten years as a member of the TIA Board of Directors and its Chairman in 1976, and then as President of TIA.

Leadership, foresight and business acumen are a few words used to describe the qualities that enabled Betty James to take a struggling company in 1945 and produce what would become one of the country's true classic toys - the Slinky. During her more than 50 years as president and CEO of James Industries, she developed unique brand extensions of the Slinky toy, as well as expanded her company to include a variety of traditional children's playthings. Hailed as one of the original leaders among women business owners, Ms. James combined an uncanny business savvy, sharp instinct for quality manufacturing and true heart. Her commitment and perseverance have allowed children the world over the opportunity to relish the ingenuity and pure fun of a Slinky.

Best known as Madame Alexander, this American legend brought her dreams to life by becoming the premier American doll maker of the 20th Century. As an entrepreneur who revolutionized doll manufacturing in this country, she is recognized all over the world. Her innovation, style and creativity continue to influence the Alexander Doll Company today. She serves as an inspiration for all those who follow in her path.

Recognizing fantasy and play as core elements of a successful toy company, Fred Ertl, Jr. masterfully combined these with farm replicas to establish the renowned Ertl Company. Joining his father's company in the basement of their Iowa home at the young age of 15 and taking on active management at 18 marked the beginning of a life-long career at Ertl. His uncanny business savvy contributed to the company's early success in licensing and international market expansion and his leadership generated an industry-wide shift in the role of safety and toys, resulting in the development of the first toy safety standard. As creator of the TMA Safety Standards Committee, his commitment to protect children throughout the world continues into the 21st Century.

As leader of Toys 'R' Us, Michael Goldstein brought to the company innovative merchandising ideas, guiding its rise to the world's largest retailer of children's products. His unique marketing style and personal approach to business forged many partnerships with toy companies, large and small. Throughout his career, children in need have always been his top priority, and through his selfless charitable work with various children's causes he has helped make a difference in the lives of many.

In 1967, when Jeffrey Breslow, Howard Morrison and Rouben Terzian joined the legendary Marvin Glass, they began a 31-year collaboration that has led to the creation and design of some of the industry's most successful toy and game products. In 1988, Breslow Morrison Terzian and Associates was formed to continue their tradition of excellence. Their best selling products include: The Animal, Ants in the Pants, Guesstures, Brain Warp, California Roller Baby, Real Talking Bubba, Masterpiece, My Size Barbie, Casey Cartwheel, Jennie Gymnast, Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash and many more.

As president and CEO of Tonka Toys, Russ Wenkstern brought the company, that in 1952 had one small factory in a schoolhouse, to worldwide prominence by 1974. He turned Tonka into the largest volume manufacturer of vehicles of any type in the world, and insisted that Tonka trucks be the safest and most durable toys of their time, a tradition that continues today. Under his guidance, Tonka became one of the first U.S. toy manufacturers to expand internationally, yet remained a company where employee loyalty was the hallmark of its success.

Since entering the toy industry in 1972, Thomas J. Kalinske helped build successful brands and companies. He served as president of Mattel, Universal Matchbox and Sega of America. His emphasis on product development and assertive marketing helped Barbie and Hot Wheels grow from small product lines into major international brands. He led Sega to market leadership and was instrumental in establishing an industry-wide video game rating system. Throughout his career, which included serving as TMA chairman and on its board of directors for 12 years, he demonstrated his commitment to supporting children’s health and education causes.

A legendary merchandiser, Howard Moore has had a major influence in the way toy companies develop and market their products. As executive vice president and general merchandise manager at Toys "R" Us, his focus on strategic line planning, product selection and merchandising enabled toy companies to grow and flourish while contributing to the major retail success of Toys "R" Us. His continued service on the Toys "R" Us board of directors exemplifies his strong commitment to the toy industry.

Assisting in the development of the Toys "R" Us concept, Sy Ziv had a major impact on the toy chain's domestic and international growth. In his 26-year career at Toys "R" Us, he made contributions to nearly every facet of the promtional toy business. His guidence helped small companies stay in business and many manufacturers to achieve personal and corporate success. A Fellow of Brandeis University, he has served on the institution's President's Council, and received the university's 1980 Community Service Award.

In 1958, Dick Grey joined Milt Grey Inc., his father’s sales and marketing firm, when its client Tyco was a small maker of model trains. Named president of Tyco in 1973 and chairman in 1991, he led the company’s growth through product development, acquisitions and aggressive marketing. In 1992, Tyco became the third largest U.S. toymaker with a broad range of toys including radio control cars, activity toys, games, Matchbox cars and preschool toys.

By focusing on building core products, cutting costs and reorganizing management, Mattel Inc.’s John W. Amerman engineered a comprehensive program that turned the struggling company around in one year. Under his dynamic leadership as chairman and CEO, an emphasis on long-term profitable growth through internal product development, strategic acquisitions and international expansion has produced record financial performance, and strengthened Mattel’s position as a worldwide toy industry leader.

With a firm commitment to corporate social responsibility, Alan G. Hassenfeld has led the successful family business he grew up in to new heights. As chairman and chief executive, he has diversified Hasbro Inc.’s portfolio of companies and expanded international operations while initiating a singular brand of corporate activism designed to improve the lives of children. His vision and enthusiastic support of industry, community and charitable causes has set a standard of leadership for generations to come.

Over the course of four decades, Aaron Locker became the heart and soul of Toy Manufacturers of America and the institutional memory of its board of directors. As general counsel to TMA, his name became synonymous with product safety as he guided the Association through the perils of government regulation. His forceful and articulate advocacy of the members’ interests helped to establish the American toy industry’s leadership role worldwide.

"Home grown ideas" summarized the philosophy of product development at Kenner Products Company, headed by entrepreneur Albert Steiner. Leading a team that included his brothers Phil and Joe and his son Bob, he created a business renowned for its toy versions of adult activities, including the Girder and Panel Building set, Give A Show Projector and Easy Bake Oven. He will be remembered for his keen analytic mind, his relentless optimism and, most of all, for the many ingenious toys that bear his imprimatur.

"There’s a child in all of us," Muppet creator Jim Henson said with the gentle wisdom of a grownup who understood completely the vivid and imaginative world of childhood. Blending important themes with laughter and setting them to music, he and his remarkable puppets - including Kermit the Frog, Big Bird, Miss Piggy, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch - have touched the lives of youngsters in over eighty countries on "Sesame Street" and in films with their message of friendship and love.

During a career spanning five decades, Bernard Loomis served as president of Kenner, group vice president of General Mills, partner in a joint venture with Hasbro, consultant to Tyco and head of his own toy design company. He brought to market an incomparable portfolio of blockbusters, once selling empty boxes at Christmas with the promise of a hit toy to be delivered later. An extraordinary marketer, he proved that breaking rules was often the best rule of all.

Teamwork and integrity were the cornerstones of Henry H. Coords' leadership of Fisher-Price as he enhanced the company’s reputation for quality and play value. As TMA president, he championed the industry’s product safety standard, emulated by countries around the world, and guided the manufactures of virtually indestructible infant and pre-school toys to international prominence and profitability. Modest and generous while presiding over Fisher-Price’s transformation into an industry giant, he once remarked: "We never distinguish between management and employees. We’re all partners in trying to make a successful company."

Architect of the modern toy company, Stephen D. Hassenfeld devoted his life to the firm founded by his family, building Hasbro into the largest toy manufacturer in the world. With vision, dedication and a gift for managing the talents of others, he expanded the company’s broad product spectrum through astute acquisitions and bolstered new toy lines with unrivaled marketing expertise. A passionate believer in giving back to the community, he established the Hasbro Children’s Foundation and Hasbro Charitable Trust, ensuring that efforts to improve the quality of life for children continue for future generations. His business acumen, compassion and kindness forever changed Hasbro, the toy industry and all whose lives he touched.

Fascinated by the success of self-service supermarkets in the early 1950s, Toys "R" Us founder Charles Lazarus pioneered a new concept in the retailing of children’s toys that completely revolutionized how playthings are sold in the U.S. and many countries around the world. By selling brand names for less, offering huge selections 365 days a year and creating a one-stop shopping environment accessible to children and their parents, his stores have earned raves from manufacturers and consumers and the company’s name is today a household word. "The big thing is having the largest variety of toys in stock," he says. "We sell by the shopping cart!"

When Atlantic City threatened to change the names of its Baltic and Mediterranean Avenues in the 1970s, Edward P. Parker sprang to eloquent defense of his company’s best-selling Monopoly game, which features squares named after real estate in the seashore resort. As chairman of Parker Brothers, vice president of General Mills and director and former president of Toy Manufacturers of America, he brought to the toy industry vast management and production experience, a commitment to quality and a love of the games business. Devoted to his family and the Massachusetts community where he lived and worked, Edward P. Parker will be remembered for his willingness to serve his neighbors, his country and his industry.

When the world monetary crisis reached Denmark in the 1930’s, a rural carpenter’s small business was so dramatically affected that he switched production to superb wooden toys that would soon earn a worldwide reputation for quality. "Only the best is good enough," was Ole Kirk Christiansen’s motto and the legacy he left the company he started, LEGO. Son Gottfred Kirk Christiansen designed the toys; his father built them in his workshop to exacting specifications and growing international popularity. An unshakable self-confidence grounded in religious faith helped sustain him through the early years. That optimism and persistence gave birth to the first "automatic binding brick," the model for today’s LEGO brick. "Life is a gift," Ole Kirk Christiansen told his children, "but it’s more than just that. Life is a challenge." His dedication to the simple principles is an inspiration to all.

With meticulous attention to excellence in product, Ruth and Elliot Handler emerged from a toy company they started in their garage to become the "first couple" of the industry. Extraordinary collaborators, Elliot created toys and supervised production while Ruth managed marketing and finance and dealt with customers. The first toy company to advertise on television, the Handlers bought time on Walt Disney’s "Mickey Mouse Show" in 1955 and changed product marketing forever. The resulting visibility ultimately meant that for millions of children a Mattel toy defined being a youngster in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The introduction of Barbie in 1959 proved that the Handlers truly had their finger on the pulse of American society. Still Mattel’s biggest success as she celebrates her thirtieth anniversary, Barbie remains a symbol of the hopes of childhood. Many other product lines the Handlers developed are thriving today, and the toy business techniques they refined have helped shape the modern toy industry.

Possibly the best promoter of toys ever, Ben Michtom structured a sales and marketing organization second to none, propelling the Ideal Toy and Novelty Company to the forefront of the industry. One of the first to make use of licensed products, he inspired the rage for the Shirley Temple doll more than fifty years ago. Upon perfecting the celebrity formula, he nurtured the success of many other personality dolls including Deanna Durbin, Fanny Brice, Charlie McCarthy and Judy Garland. The Toni doll - whose fashions were designed by a dozen Paris couturiers and documented in imaginative advertising - also became a huge sensation of the period, as well as a textbook example of a "product within a product." A TMA Board member and Publicity Committee chairman, he headed the doll association and stuffed toy association for many years. Tireless in his efforts to promote the toy industry, he will be remembered for the enthusiasm and originality which were his trademarks.

As executive director of Toy Manufacturers of America, Walter W. Armatys served the industry trade association with professionalism, honor and meticulous attention to detail. He managed the Toy Fair in New York for many years, was instrumental in setting up the TMA safety and logistics seminars, and handled organization of the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. After retiring he continued as secretary of the International Committee of Toy Industries. In thirty years of service to the association and the industry he loved, he demonstrated through actions every day how considerable the contributions of an individual can be.

Morey W. Kasch devoted nearly forty years of his life to the toy business that bears his name and the unmistakable imprint of a true entrepreneur and innovator. Customer needs were always the highest priority at M.W. Kasch Company. Kasch designed special programs to meet specific requirements, including individualized product mix, customized promotions and speedy delivery. Under his leadership, the company pioneered data processing and materials handling networks among wholesalers and even shared its knowledge with competitors setting up their own inventory maintenance systems. A consummate wholesaler, Morey Kasch added a rich and memorable chapter to the history of the toy industry.

In the early 1940’s, while the nation was still recovering from the Great Depression and facing the difficult years of World War II, James J. Shea, Sr. came to the rescue of a faltering New England games maker. His genius for solving complex problems yielded dramatic results for The Milton Bradley Company, which he headed for over thirty years, building it into a giant among manufacturers of games as well as other product categories. Business was but one of Mr. Shea’s passions. He was equally dedicated to civic and philanthropic activities and personified the businessman as community leader. His commitment to the needs of people and causes is an outstanding example of responsibility and humanity in our industry.

In the early 1900's, with major breakthroughs in electrical and other technologies already to his credit, Joshua Lionel Cowen was well on his way to becoming the undisputed "tycoon" of the toy electric train industry. Lionel replicas that paralleled the growth and development of U.S. railroads became the classic of toy trains and accessories; even the company's catalogs and its advertisements were classics - all mirroring the genius of Cowen. In one of many other successes, his association with Walt Disney made news in the early 1930's when an ingenious wind-up hand car on a circle of two-rail track was introduced - and with no others than Mickey and Minnie Mouse themselves happily pumping their way into America's hearts. The names Lionel and Joshua Lionel Cowen have unique and special places in the minds and hearts of children and adults whose fascination with toy electric trains seems destined to go on as endlessly as time itself.

A legend, to be sure, and a folk hero of the 20th century, Walt Disney's worldwide popularity is based upon the ideals which his name represents: imagination, optimism and self-made success in the American tradition. He was a pioneer and innovator, and the possessor of one of the most fertile imaginations the world has ever known. Disney did more to touch the hearts, minds and emotions of millions of Americans than any other man in the past century. Through his work he brought joy, happiness and a universal means of communication to the people of every nation. Walt Disney had a great affinity for toys, and happily, the industry's products depicting so many of his ingratiating characters are helping to communicate that joy and happiness. Of hundreds of ways he has been honored, none could be higher than being so universally appreciated. The breadth of his influence is a phenomenon in itself. Our world shall know but one Walt Disney.

How different the world of games might be if George Parker had followed his youthful ambition to become a journalist. In the early 1900's he declared war on the tedious and traditional and revolutionized parlor games with his own intriguing creations such as Rook, Pit and many others. Always keen to try something new - and with uncanny perception of what would captivate consumers - the gentleman from Salem drew acclaim from a delighted nation when he introduced jigsaw puzzles and Ping Pong. Launched in 1935 by Parker Brothers, Monopoly is an industry phenomenon in itself.

His early years as a salesman for a transfer pattern company were so successful that Charley Raizen became the owner and renamed it Transogram. He brought the company into the main stream of the industry with innovations in product and management and epitomized the "box goods" manufacturer of his time. The public's fascination with the Dionne quintuplets in the early 1930's gave rise to one of Transogram's best-remembered items - The Little Country Doctor and Nurse Kit, inspired by Dr. Daniel Defoe. A later introduction, Trik-Trac was also an immediate best-seller. An eloquent public speaker, Raizen's leadership roles in the industry included the presidency of TMA in 1960.

One of the industry's most memorable figures, Ray Wagner was a rare blend of magnetism and talent, playing all his roles in the world of toys with brilliance and style. Major retail experience at Sears paved the way to Mattel Toys where he was president from 1973 to 1983. Uniquely, he could visualize toys as if seen through the eyes of a child. The sustained success of such lines as Barbie, See ëN Say and numerous others reveal his creative, marketing and management endowments, also broadly reflected, now and for the future, in the many outstanding people in the industry who were trained by him. Wagner served as chairman of TMA in 1981 and was the association's spokesman before government and business on important issues.

A guiding force in the realm of infants; and preschool playthings, Herman Fisher founded the firm of Fisher-Price Toys, and served as president and chairman from its inception on 1930 until 1969. Fisher was instrumental in building his new enterprise into the world’s largest and most respected manufacturer of preschool toys. He always followed a strict toymaking creed: that all of his toys should have intrinsic play value, ingenuity, strong construction, good value for the money, and action features. Fisher applied equally high standards to all of his endeavors, including his tenure as the president of TMA in 1938, at which time he led the campaign to establish the association’s statistical committee.

From sales representative to president of CBS Toys, division of CBS Inc., Jerry Fryer’s career in the toy industry spanned a range of successful ventures. Fryer and his partner made the jump from sales to manufacturing by acquiring Samuel Gabriel Sons & Co. in 1950. His considerable entrepreneurial skill and knowledge of toys were evident as he then expanded Gabriel Industries into a major concern, adding other established names - such as Child Guidance, Creative Playthings, Gilbert, Gym-Dandy, Hubley, Ideal, Kohner and Wonder - into what would become the CBS Toys family.

One of this country’s toy industry pioneers, A.C. Gilbert was a man of originality and vision. He held over 150 patents, and some of the toys he created and manufactured through the A.C. Gilbert Company - like the perennially popular Erector construction sets - have endured through the years to be enjoyed by generation after generation of children. Gilbert was a strong leader, and an early proponent of spreading toy sales more evenly through the year. It was largely due to his determined effort and skill as an organizer that the industry’s first trade association, the Toy Manufacturers of America, was established in 1916. Gilbert served as the first president of the new organization.

Considered to be one of the world’s foremost toy designers, Marvin Glass founded in 1941 the first, and what was to become the largest studio for toy design in the world - Marvin Glass & Associates, a company that grew to employ the skills and talents of dozens of design professionals. Glass paved the way for independent designers to gain new acceptance within the toy industry, and the profusion of successful toys he brought to the marketplace forms a testimony to his innovative genius. Among them are such memorable items as Mr. Machine, Mousetrap Game, Kissy Doll and Rock-Em-Sock-Em Robots.

Preeminent in the business of toy wholesaling, Nat Greenman devoted his entire adult life to the toy industry. With two brothers, he joined his father’s enterprise as a teenager, and went on to be a major force behind the growth of Greeman Brothers, Inc., one of the largest toy wholesalers in the United States. As the company’s Chief Merchant in its year of greatest development, he met and influenced many of the top figures from across the toy industry. Greenman often shared his views as an unofficial voice of wholesalers, helping to shape toy distribution policy in the industry’s formative years. His formula of "strength through efficiency" also helped lay the groundwork for his own firm to evolve over time into a successful multifaceted operation.

A true innovator in the toy field, Merrill Hassenfeld took the family business begun by his father and two uncles, and proceeded to build Hasbro Industries into a leading manufacturer of playthings. After joining the company in 1938, when its primary products were still school supplies, Hassenfeld helped to launch Hasbro into toys during World War II with a line of doctor and nurse kits, and air raid warden’s sets. As company president from 1943 to 1974, his creativity and daring were shown in the development of such toys as Mr. Potato Head, first introduced in the 1950s, and G.I.Joe, the industry’s first male action figure.

Nicknamed the "Toy King of America" and the "Henry Ford of the Toy Industry," Louis Marx established the Louis Marx Toy Company in 1921. By 1950, it was the world's largest toy manufacturer. Marx’ general philosophy was to offer quality at the lowest possible price, and he believed that there were no new toys, only "old toys with a new twist." His popularity with buyers meant that he had virtually no need for salesmen or advertising. Marx was also first to mass-produce mechanical toys in the U.S., and many of his early wind-ups are valued collectors’ items.