Tracing developments in toy making and marketing across the evolving landscape of the 20th century, this encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference guide to America's most popular playthings and the culture to which they belong. From the origins of favorite playthings to their associations with events and activities, the study of a nation's toys reveals the hopes, goals, values, and priorities of its people. Toys have influenced the science, art, and religion of the United States, and have contributed to the development of business, politics, and medicine. Toys and American Culture: An Encyclopedia documents America's shifting cultural values as they are embedded within and transmitted by the nation's favorite playthings. Alphabetically arranged entries trace developments in toy making and toy marketing across the evolving landscape of 20th-century America. In addition to discussing the history of America's most influential toys, the book contains specific entries on the individuals, organizations, companies, and publications that gave shape to America's culture of play from 1900 to 2000. Toys from the two decades that frame the 20th century are also included, as bridges to the fascinating past—and the inspiring future—of American toys.

One of the most thoroughly researched guides to postwar toys features newly expanded categories. The annual price guide helps collectors stay current with access to 94,500 updated values.

From late 20th-century Studio glass to vintage clothing, this is the perfect shopping companion for bargain-hunters and collectors. Full color.

Transformers: Identification and Price Guide is the ultimate reference for all Generation One (G1) Transformers figures released from 1984 - 1990. Featuring more than 1,200 color photographs, this unparalleled guide presents every character in robot and alternate modes with accessories. Individual character biographies are presented from the original Tech Specs and also include function, personal motto, and ability scores. Notes on character history - as presented in the Sunbow cartoon series and Marvel comic books - are complemented by expert commentary on character attributes and popularity on today's secondary market. Current values for all figures in varying condition grades assist collectors in determining the value of their collections. Collectors, toy dealers, casual fans, and everyone who staged basement battles between the heroic Autobots and the evil Deceptions need an accurate identification and price guide to decipher the more than 300 G1 Transformers toys produced from 1984 - 1993. This is the definitive reference for your favorite "Robots in Disguise!"

A brilliant investigation into the true cost of our bargain economy — and the end of consumerism as we know it Ours is the age of discount: we want more, cheaper, better. But the result is low wages, urban blight, environmental damage, labour abuses, a cookie-cutter model of progress, and now an international economic crisis. With an eye for documentary storytelling and investigative detail, Gordon Laird traces the bargain from its humble dollar-store origins to its place as global juggernaut. From Alberta’s tar sands to China’s factories, from Las Vegas to the Arctic Circle, a single question emerges: how will we survive the bargain?

Toy City is a poignant coming-of-age story of a fourth-grade boy named Yun, depicting the life of a poor family struggling to survive in the years immediately after the Korean War. An autobiographical work, the novel is written entirely from young Yun's point of view. Alternately heart-wrenching and hopeful, this masterpiece of Korean literature is a must for those interested in the impact of war on everyday life and the underclass of 1950s Korean society. This edition is the first English translation of the complete Korean novel.

This new reference and price guide presents an informative 'personal' history of the former Marx Toys Company plant at Glen Dale, West Virginia, where many of the fondly remembered Marx Playsets, doll houses, and toy figures of the 'baby boomer' era were created and manufactured. More than just a catalogue of these ever-popular and eminently affordable toys, this book provides Marx toy collectors with new insights into the planning and production processes employed by the original 'king' of American toy makers. Included are insightful interviews with Glen Dale plant model maker and with the son of a Marx artist, along with previously unpublished photos of a number of Marx toy and figure prototypes. With publication authorised by the current owner of the Marx Toys trademark, this book provides a unique and valuable behind-the-scenes look into the production of one of America's premier toy manufacturers.

CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title for 2009 "This ground-breaking resource is strongly recommended for all libraries and health and welfare institutional depots; essential for university collections, especially those catering to social studies programs." —Library Journal, STARRED Review Children and adults spend a great deal of time in activities we think of as "play," including games, sports, and hobbies. Without thinking about it very deeply, almost everyone would agree that such activities are fun, relaxing, and entertaining. However, play has many purposes that run much deeper than simple entertainment. For children, play has various functions such as competition, following rules, accepting defeat, choosing leaders, exercising leadership, practicing adult roles, and taking risks in order to reap rewards. For adults, many games and sports serve as harmless releases of feelings of aggression, competition, and intergroup hostility. The Encyclopedia of Play in Today′s Society explores the concept of play in history and modern society in the United States and internationally. Its scope encompasses leisure and recreational activities of children and adults throughout the ages, from dice games in the Roman Empire to video games today. With more than 450 entries, these two volumes do not include coverage of professional sports and sport teams but, instead, cover the hundreds of games played not to earn a living but as informal activity. All aspects of play—from learning to competition, mastery of nature, socialization, and cooperation—are included. Simply enough, this Encyclopedia explores play played for the fun of it! Key Features Available in both print and electronic formats Provides access to the fascinating literature that has explored questions of psychology, learning theory, game theory, and history in depth Considers the affects of play on child and adult development, particularly on health, creativity, and imagination Contains entries that describe both adult and childhood play and games in dozens of cultures around the world and throughout history Explores the sophisticated analyses of social thinkers such as Huizinga, Vygotsky, and Sutton-Smith, as well as the wide variety of games, toys, sports, and entertainments found around the world Presents cultures as diverse as the ancient Middle East, modern Russia, and China and in nations as far flung as India, Argentina, and France Key Themes Adult Games Board and Card Games Children′s Games History of Play Outdoor Games and Amateur Sports Play and Education Play Around the World Psychology of Play Sociology of Play Toys and Business Video and Online Games For a subject we mostly consider light-hearted, play as a research topic has generated an extensive and sophisticated literature, exploring a range of penetrating questions. This two-volume set serves as a general, nontechnical resource for academics, researchers, and students alike. It is an essential addition to any academic library.

This collection brings together the work of a range of scholars from around the world with different perspectives on one simple question: How can we assess the value of various entertainment products and forms? Entertainment is everywhere. The industries that produce it earn billions of dollars each year and employ hundreds of thousands of people. Its pervasiveness means almost everyone has something to say about entertainment, too, whether it be our opinion on the latest Hollywood blockbuster, a new celebrity couple, or our concerns over its place in the world of politics. And yet, in spite of its significance, entertainment has too-often been dismissed with surprising ease within the academy as a ‘mindless’, ‘lowbrow’ – even ‘dangerous’ – form of culture, and therefore unworthy of serious appraisal (let alone praise). Entertainment Values, challenges this assumption, offering a better understanding of what entertainment is, why we should take it seriously, as well as helping us to appreciate the significant and complex impact it has on our culture.