In this heartwarming episode of The Monkees, The Monkees get involved with a toy company that has switched from old fashioned, hand-made toys to machine made toys. Peter goes to a job interview at the company, and finds it is conducted entirely by a machine, and in a humorous scene reminiscent of Abbott & Costello’s “Who’s on First?” he fails the interview. When Mike tries, he outsmarts the machine, it short circuits, and he is hired on the spot. But when he is shown around the company, he finds it is completely made up of machines, besides one lone worker named Harper who used to make the toys but has since been replaced. The Monkees make it their mission not only to get Harper his job back, but to put a stop to the rise of machine-made toys.
Season 1 Episode 3 of this humorous sitcom came out in 1966, back when technological toys weren’t yet on the shelves. In fact, Pong, the table tennis came and one of the first computer games, didn’t come out for another six years. Toys at this time included action figures like G.I. Joe, dolls like Barbie, and toy cars like Hot Wheels. Tech hadn’t yet consumed the toy industry, but it was certainly on it’s way. This episode is an interesting and entertaining take on the rise of machines and what it meant for the toy industry for machines to be involved in the making of toys. Imagine if they knew back then what technology would come to!
McHALE DESIGN CASE STUDY: MONSTERVERSE- THE LEGEND CONTINUES…
Build-A-Bear Celebrates National Teddy Bear Day with Donation to The Toy Foundation™
Toy Foundation Auction is Now Open for Your Bids
Bracelets, Stickers, and Viral Fame: The Story Behind Sky Castle Toys’ Sticki Rolls
Chrissy Fagerholt: Luck is when Preparation Meets Opportunity!
Book Review: Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson
Book Review: Erno Rubik and his Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya
Game Review: Trip Chaser
Learning Express Toys Hosts 25th Annual Convention & Toy Expo at JW Marriott Tucson
Submit Your LA Showroom Details for 2025 Toy Previews
Randy Klimpert Shares his Ukulele Collection
Steve Casino Peanut Art
Everyone's Talking about POP!
Princess Etch - a Multi-Talented Etch A Sketch Artist
Joseph Herscher of Joseph' s Machines.
Connie Vogelmann designed Apiary & Wyrmspan!
Bob Fuhrer... Is THE Crocodile Dentist!
Tom Dusenberry... Bought Atari, Wizards of the Coast, and Avalon Hill!
Matt Leacock created Pandemic... the game!
Scott Brown and Tim Swindle... are Launching a New Sport!
POPDuo: Richard Dickson, Mattel’s President & COO, and Kedar Narayan, Young Inventor Challenge AMB
POPDuo: Will Shortz and Josh Wardle
POP Duo: Elan Lee, Co-Founder, Exploding Kittens.and Jeff Probst, Host and Exec Producer, Survivor
POP Duo: David Fuhrer, MNG Director, Blue Sq Innovations & Shawn Green, past Dodgers & Mets MLB Star
POP Duo: Bob Fuhrer, Founder, Nextoy and Tom Fazio, Golf Course Designer