Little People by Fisher Price

Little People is the name of a toy brand for preschoolers, originally produced by Fisher-Price in the 1960s as the Play Family.
The current product line consists of playsets, mini-sets and accessories, books, CDs, and DVDs focusing on various configurations
of five characters named Eddie, Sarah Lynn, Maggie, Michael and Sonya Lee.

The “Little People” name, registered and trademarked by Fisher-Price in 1985, came from Fisher-Price following the lead of
consumers who referred to the early Play Family playsets as “those little people”.

Little People started in 1950 with the "Looky Fire Truck" and three round-headed fire men (attached permanently to the toy).
Following the success of this toy, in 1952 and 1953 Fisher-Price developed the "Super-Jet" and "Racing Rowboat".

Another early Little People precursor, the "Safety School Bus", was introduced in 1959. The set included a school bus together
with six independent figures made out of tall skinny pegs of cardboard tubes wrapped in lithographs simulating clothes.
The toy gained instant popularity and other sets soon came out.

Little People Play Family

In 1960, Fisher-Price introduced two additional toys with removable figures; "Snorky the Fire Engine" and the "Nifty Station Wagon".
The Nifty Station Wagon came with two adult figures and one child figure, thus the first "Play Family" was born. Today, the Play
Family name is still used throughout Europe instead of the name "Little People".

A Nifty Station Wagon in mint condition, in the box, could command up to $600 among toy collectors.

In February of 1991, the last Little Person rolled off the production lines, bringing the final tally to somewhere over
800,000,000 Little People. Slowly, toy stores began to sell off the last of their Little People back stock; the original Little
People molds were destroyed, and various machines were retooled to create the new, "cuter, chunkier" line of Little People, as
presented at the 1991 Toy Fair in New York.

But what of the "new" Little People? Have they not the icon-like qualities from which instant adoration arises?

In my humble opinion, no. Fisher-Price has sacrificed the vaguely-human shape, and over 20 years of playful familiarity, for a
freakish fun-house mirror substitute. Now, youngsters can look forward to memories of playing with fat Little People and a dog that ... actually has legs.

The Little People aren't little anymore, but the memories live on. If you'll excuse me, I have to go play.

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