How did this simple marketing ploy work? Kids soon realized that playtime was now extended beyond bedtime. Once they understood that, it was all about collecting as many glow items as possible. It didn't matter if it came from a Happy Meal or the toy store, if it "glowed-in-the-dark" it was on another level of cool.
Here are 9 things that the '80s made way cooler in the dark:
Slot Car Racing
Worms, Bugs, & Other Creatures
Lightswitch Covers
We all knew which Thundercats toy was the best in the Burger King kids meal packs...the glow-in-the-dark lightswitch cover. We didn't want a plastic cup coin bank, a Snarf straw holder, or a secret decoder ring. We wanted the Thundercats to glow each night when we turned off the light in our bedroom.Cereal Boxes
Dolls
Toy Swords
Cereal Prizes
Whether it was Wacky Wallwalkers, Soggies Figures from Cap'n Crunch or just a sleeve of stickers, all cereal prizes were way cooler if they glowed in the dark. I seem to remember having one of the plastic acrobat figures that glowed.
Dominoes
Sneakers
Don't remember Clarks Hardware sneakers, but if you had a pair, chances are you were voted Mister or Miss Popular in your yearbook.
Not 80s but do you remember a game by Parker Bros called Screech? ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upzMgTIrs-4 ) I don't remember it but a fellow collector friend of mine got just got a MIB one off of ebay.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Screech. Looks maybe like from the 70s? Cool though for that era. Bet it cost him a pretty penny...
ReplyDeleteAw yeah Moon Dreamers, haha! I loved mine! I also loved PJ Sparkles and that doll went everywhere with me. Glow in the dark stickers were pretty sweet for those that collected back in the day!
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