Etch A Sketch - a Golden Anniversary
50 years ago in July 1960:
- John F Kennedy won his party’s nomination as presidential candidate
- Harper Lee published the critically acclaimed novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”
- The first ever Euro football championships were held (Won by the Soviet Union)
- The American Football League played its first game
- Francis Chichester landed in New York having crossed the Atlantic in just 40 days
And, 50 years ago, on 12th of July 1960 the Etch A Sketch was first manufactured and licensed to Ohio Art Company by French inventor Arthur Granjean. It quickly became one of the most popular toys of all time earning its official Place in the US toys “hall of Fame”!
50 years on and Etch A Sketch is pretty much the same now as it was then. The iconic red frame surrounds a silver screen which is the canvas for the etchings created by twiddling the two white dials.
This is one of those timeless toys that everyone knows how to use. The concept is simple and with practice great works of art can be achieved. Etch A Sketch Art is always hitting the news and iconic images of Mount Rushmore, The Statue of Liberty, Michael Jackson and more recently President Obama have all been immortalised on this silver screen.
So what do we love about this modern masterpiece?
You can write with it, you can draw with it, and yes - if you’re practised enough - you can create circles with it (sort of…).
Since its creation it has been immortalised in films, in advertising and even has its own I-phone App.
There’s been a Mini Etch A Sketch, a travel and pocketsize too.
There have also been great licensed versions such as the Etch A Sketch in the shape of a Cyberman’s head and also Homer Simpson.
But you can’t beat the original
Etch A Sketch – a classic toy design!