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If you want to be guaranteed a lively conversation, bring up the Ouija board. This polarizing talking board has been around since the late 19th century and still manages to divide people on a number of fronts. Do they truly work? Are they dangerous? Are they a scam? However, the question provoked by its context at The Strong is: Is it a toy?

The earliest Ouija boards were produced from a wooden board marked with the letters of the alphabet, numbers, […]

Continue Reading about The Contentious Ouija Board: Is It a Toy? Published on:
October 20, 2023

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee….
There was something particularly playful about Muhammad Ali, the boxer who rivaled Pele as the most famous worldwide sports celebrity of the 20th century. But whereas Pele was known for his quiet dignity and his sheer enthusiasm for the beautiful game of soccer, Ali was not only the greatest boxer of his era, he was also a genius of repartee, someone who played with the media like he played with his (usually) helpless […]

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October 6, 2023

In 1981, Commodore introduced the Vic 20 home computer, which sold for around $300. The first computer more easily afforded by average families, it revolutionized home computing. Scott Elder and his brother Gary were tinkering with games—and programming them—on their own simple computer, an Ohio Scientific 2P, which they bought secondhand. Scott admits he was not the best student in high school, but somehow, he had a talent for writing code. As soon as the Vic 20 came out, he […]

Continue Reading about Home Video Games from the Dawn of Time: Nüfekop for the Vic 20 Published on:
September 28, 2023

By Adam Nedeff, researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
Last month, our National Archives of Game Show History blog post shared excitement about the release of our oral history interview about Jack Barry & Dan Enright Productions. Because of that, we didn’t get a chance to acknowledge an important milestone in the month of September. It may already be getting into the next month, but we want to revisit September 18 and 19, 1983. In hindsight, they were […]

Continue Reading about 48 Hours that Changed the Game Show Landscape (40 Years Later) Published on:
September 26, 2023

In the very few movies that have depicted museum staff, the characters have usually worn little white cotton gloves when handling precious collections items (for example, 2004’s National Treasure, where an archivist helps protect the Declaration of Independence from being stolen).  When I tell people I work in a museum, they almost always mention or ask about the white cotton gloves.  But is that a realistic depiction of how actual museum staff handle collections? 
Are gloves necessary for handling collections? 
As part […]

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September 15, 2023

As a man, President Theodore Roosevelt preached and lived a muscular gospel of action. T.R. commanded the bully pulpit, busted corporate trusts, hunted big game, and willingly took on—both metaphorically and literally—anyone in a match of fisticuffs, even as President. But as a boy, Teedy (as he was known to his family) was weak and sickly, prone to bouts of serious, even life-threatening illness. How he remade himself is a story that has been often told but is worth looking […]

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September 8, 2023

The toy industry loves a good buzzword and lately the one I’ve been seeing is “kidult.” Kidult is usually used in reference to a specific target audience of adults who purchase toys. Generally, kidults get referenced about specific types of toys that have been increasingly popular with adults that buy toys for themselves, enough to significantly impact market trends. These often include higher end collectible toys, like Hasbro’s Black Series action figures or Barbie collector lines. They also include nostalgic […]

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August 31, 2023

By Adam Nedeff, researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History
In October 2021, the National Archives of Game Show History began recording interviews for our Oral Histories series. Chatting with important figures from game shows past and picking their brains about their experiences, we have attempted to tell the rich story of game shows through the thoughts and memories of these very talented people.
In the month of September, we are honored to present one of our most extraordinary oral […]

Continue Reading about Success and Scandal: The Barry & Enright Story Published on:
August 30, 2023

Video games have transformed the way we play, and The Strong National Museum of Play has long been at the forefront of collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of gaming. Now, as part of a 90,000 sq. ft. museum expansion, guests have the opportunity to explore 24,000 sq. ft of new exhibits dedicated to video games. Among these new exhibits, ESL Digital Worlds: High Score provides guests with an unparalleled look at the historical and cultural significance of video games. […]

Continue Reading about Welcome to ESL Digital Worlds: High Score Published on:
August 18, 2023