I've been really enjoying your recollections of Child World in the comments of part 1. Our local store was the one in the Chelmsford Mall, and I have very hazy memories of godaikins line up on top shelves. I didn't get to toy stores often as a kid, instead my parents brought me to places like K-Mart, Stuarts, Capitol and Bradlees. Toys were something that were bought when we were out on other errands, or on special occasions.
Anyway, in addition to toys, Child World also sold electronics, much like Toys R Us does now. The electronics are decidedly targeted towards kids, but I bet there are things in there you remember having.
See that Tan record player? I had that. It was my first way to play music, and with it I got a copy of Billy Crystal's "Marvelous" and Styx's "Kilroy Was Here" which would put it around me getting one in 1985 or so, which jives with the flyers release. The Fisher Price Stereo System was with me through my teens, and I even played metal albums on them. I used the think the speakers were surprisingly good. Eventually the yellow lid broke and the rest just got tossed.
Child Guidance was a sub-company of CBS Toys, and they released a bunch of kid-friendly electronics such as this Talk 'n' Play set. It functioned like a book and tape player, and you could buy additional software (ie cassettes and book) to follow along at home.
Also from Child Guidance was the Star Studio dual tape recorder. This enabled you to "Sing along with the stars!" You could play one tape, sing along, and the other tape deck recorded it all!
Another toy with a similar gimmick was the Casey robot tape player. The eyes on Casey were LCD and could change with the tapes.
Texas Instruments had the famous "Speak & Spell", but they also released "Speak & Read" and "Speak & Math". E.T. Had come out a few years earlier so the Speak & Spell was probably still a hot item.
Video Technology would later be known as V Tech, and this was an early release called "Lesson One" I'm not sure how this one works, but it required 6 "D" batteries.
Here's a video of a newer model in action:
And this one, I just love this one because it's called the "Cookie Counter".
Finally the Child Guidance Show and Tell system. This played a combination of records and slides that could be purchased separately.
Next time.. computers!
See that Tan record player? I had that. It was my first way to play music, and with it I got a copy of Billy Crystal's "Marvelous" and Styx's "Kilroy Was Here" which would put it around me getting one in 1985 or so, which jives with the flyers release. The Fisher Price Stereo System was with me through my teens, and I even played metal albums on them. I used the think the speakers were surprisingly good. Eventually the yellow lid broke and the rest just got tossed.
Child Guidance was a sub-company of CBS Toys, and they released a bunch of kid-friendly electronics such as this Talk 'n' Play set. It functioned like a book and tape player, and you could buy additional software (ie cassettes and book) to follow along at home.
Also from Child Guidance was the Star Studio dual tape recorder. This enabled you to "Sing along with the stars!" You could play one tape, sing along, and the other tape deck recorded it all!
Another toy with a similar gimmick was the Casey robot tape player. The eyes on Casey were LCD and could change with the tapes.
Texas Instruments had the famous "Speak & Spell", but they also released "Speak & Read" and "Speak & Math". E.T. Had come out a few years earlier so the Speak & Spell was probably still a hot item.
Video Technology would later be known as V Tech, and this was an early release called "Lesson One" I'm not sure how this one works, but it required 6 "D" batteries.
Here's a video of a newer model in action:
And this one, I just love this one because it's called the "Cookie Counter".
Finally the Child Guidance Show and Tell system. This played a combination of records and slides that could be purchased separately.
Next time.. computers!