The Toys That Built America

Name: The Toys That Built America
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2021-11-28
Rating: 7.1
Cast: Ian Karr

RETURNING3 Seasons26 Episodes★ 7.1

The Toys That Built America is a documentary series on History that premiered in 2021, with 3 seasons and 26 episodes to date. Its most recent episode aired on Dec 17, 2023, and no new episodes have been announced.

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NetworkHistory

First AiredNov 28, 2021

Last AiredDec 17, 2023

GenreDocumentary

Runtime20 min

LanguageEnglish

CountryUnited States

ProductionSix West Media

Against the backdrop of major events in American history like the Civil War and the Great Depression, "The Toys that Built America" tells a different story—one that brings toys to the forefront as driving forces behind untold cultural and economic shifts.

LAST AIRED

The Toys That Built America last aired on Dec 17, 2023. No new episodes have been announced. Track this show to get an alert if it returns.

WHERE TO WATCH

Disney+

Philo

HISTORY Vault

History

Amazon VideoBUY

Apple TV StoreBUY

Google PlayBUY

Some links may earn us a commission. Data via JustWatch / TMDB

Cast

Ian Karr

Self - Narrator (voice)

Seasons & Episodes3 seasons · 26 episodes

0% complete

This season turns the lens on an exciting new selection of bold visionaries and creators behind history’s biggest-selling toys, games, and action figures as they build billion-dollar empires against the backdrop of a changing world in the 20th century.

E1Transforming Toy Invasion

Oct 15, 202341m

In 1983, underdog company Tonka sets out to bring a game-changing toy from Japan to America: the transformable robot. But they're soon confronted by industry giant, Hasbro, who has its own competing toy line. It's a true David vs. Goliath story, as both race to rule this new frontier.

E2Mind Game Masters

Oct 22, 202341m

Before World War II, board games are mostly simple, but postwar peace and prosperity reveals a demand for more challenging pastimes. After decades of struggle, three different innovators break the mold to release games that combine fun with an intellectual challenge: Scrabble, Clue and Yahtzee.

E3Video Game Visionaries

Oct 29, 202341m

Thanks to the industry-defining innovations of three men through the creation of games like Super Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon, Nintendo goes from a struggling playing card company to a video game juggernaut.

E4Game Night Legends

Nov 5, 202341m

In the 1970s, the board game industry was aimed almost entirely at children, until a literal game changer came along in Trivial Pursuit; redefining the possibilities for adult fun, it opened up a whole new genre.

E5Mighty Mutant Mayhem

Nov 12, 202341m

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles high kick their way into the action figure market in the late 1980s, opening the door for a new kind of martial arts toy. But their place at the top is soon challenged by a mighty morphin phenomenon that takes the world by storm.

E6Old Games, New Twists

Nov 26, 202341m

As toys become increasingly complex in the early 1970s, two unconventional inventors risk their homes and careers to bring revolutionary twists to classic games; together, Uno and Connect Four unleash a wave of family-friendly games.

E7Happy Accidents

Dec 3, 202341m

Two chance discoveries in the 1950s turn mundane industrial materials into legendary toys; Etch A Sketch and Play-Doh will rake in billions for decades to come, but not everyone will reap the rewards.

E8The Santa That America Built

Dec 10, 202341m

Santa Claus is one of the most beloved figures -- and famous faces -- on Earth, a symbol of hope and goodwill for all; this is the story of the creative minds, brands, and major events that shaped the image of jolly ol' St. Nick.

E990's Fad Toys

Dec 10, 202320m

From Furbys to Pogs, the 1990s were full of unforgettable fad toys; it was a decade where old school toys like Beanies Babies went head-to-head with high-tech wonders like Tamagotchi, and parents would do anything to get their hands on them.

E10Hottest Wheels

Dec 10, 202320m

From the velocipede to the Schwinn Stingray, or even pedal cars to Power Wheels, viewers will roll their way through the history of the hottest toys on wheels and the surprising stories behind their creations.

E11The Prank Toy Race

Dec 17, 202320m

For six decades two silly, but savvy entrepreneurs--S.S. Adams and H. Fishlove--turned their love of a good joke into a booming prank toy industry. Their heated rivalry produced hundreds of tricks and gags that entertained generations of Americans.

E12Most Valuable Toys

Dec 17, 202320m

From Lionel Trains to video games, for the right collector our cherished childhood toys can be worth millions! Over the last three decades, people have paid some truly outrageous prices to get their hands on that elusive toy they always wanted.

About The Toys That Built America

The Toys That Built America is a documentary series on History. The show first aired on Nov 28, 2021 and currently has 3 seasons and 26 episodes. The Toys That Built America has not aired a new episode since Dec 17, 2023, and neither a renewal nor a cancellation has been announced. It has a rating of 7.1/10 based on 8 votes. The cast includes Ian Karr.