1967.11.29 Geneva NY Times Page 28 "Toyland Crammed With Surprises" (no byline)

1967.11.29  Geneva NY Times Page 28

This article from the Geneva (NY) Times, November 29 1967 is titled "Toyland Crammed with Surprises" and features a very early photo of a kid playing with a Major Matt Mason Space Station and several figures. There's a Space Crawler mounted atop the station as a winch, and a Matt figure on the surface in a Moon Suit. Unfortunately, other than the photo and caption there is no real mention of Major Matt Mason in the article itself. The image was published previously by a different paper with a similar caption so it's probably a Mattel "presser" image.

1967.11.29  Geneva Times Page 28 "Toyland Crammed With Surprises" (no byline)

Photo caption:

SANTA'S SPACE PROGRAM INTRODUCES ASTRONAUT

Matt Mason. Six inches tall, Major Mason has a special environmental Moon Suit, an all-purpose Space Crawler, a Space Sled and Jet Propulsion Pack and, of course, a complete Space Station for operational headquarters. Toys are based on official space program designs.

Toyland Crammed With Surprises

Toyland, 1967, is crammed full of surprises geared to new play directions. This Yule season, Junior is more likely to be flipping hamburgers on an electric-light-powered grill or turning out posters on a Colormatic copying machine than to be chasing double agents. 

There's significant resurgence of interest in new homemaking and craft toys for both junior and his sister and an ebb in derring do.

There's a stronger emphasis on purposeful operation and broader scope for creativity. Space-oriented toys are booming, and there are fewer replicas of military materiel.

In Toyland's transportation section, there's emphasis on advanced designs such as a snorkel fire truck that operates hydraulically in six positions and, when adapted to the garden hose, shoots water 20 feet. 

For Knitters

Advance in technique is provided the junior couturiere with the Knit-O-Matic, a new kind of automatic knitting machine that operates like giant mill looms. Kits provide patterns and materials for making accessories such as mittens, toboggan hats, scarves, turtleneck sweaters - even three-piece suits.

New thrills in purposeful cooking toys are a prime focus of interest in Toyland. The Big-Burger is beamed to interest boys as well as girls. This grill, operated on an electric light can produce a complete range of drive-in treats including grilled cheese sandwiches, home fries, pancakes and hamburgers complete with rolls.

Making Candy

A special joy for the junior sweet tooth is provided by a new candy-bar set that makes real candy bars with peppermint, butter pecan and maple centers and chocolate or cherry vanilla covers.

Easy-bake ovens have extended their repertoire to include bubble gum and honey cakes inspired by Winnie the Pooh. There's an easy-popcorn popper, too, for junior cooks, and a pizza set.

Freeze Queen gives the junior culinary expert the makings for curly top cones, sundaes, shakes and sherbets. Just put a pre-frozen canister into the machine, add Freeze Queen mix and push the mixing handle. There's a new kit for making peanut butter, and a variable speed blender with a mixing pitcher.

Cleaning Up

To make clean-up activities fascinating to the junior cook and chef is the aim of jet-action Easy-Wash dishwasher, which, unlike mom's, has a transparent cover, so kids can watch how the jets of water and detergent clean the dishes and silverware. This attaches to a conventional faucet.

A new toy vacuum cleaner has an on-off switch for extra realism.

New on the music front is Swingster, a solid state transistorized portable record player with no needle to set.

For the younger set there's a new version of Close 'n' Play, a battery-operated automatic phonograph that plays 45 rpm records. Another portable de sign to intrigue small fry is Change-A-Channel TV set. Pushing a button changes channels for favorite cartoon shows.

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