Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

This is my annual look back at those Christmas toys we got in the 60’s 70s and 80’s.

The best toy I ever got for Christmas was the year I got an Aurora race car set. Me and my brother had it all set up before anyone else woke up. I asked our friends to share their memories of their favorite Christmas toy.

“A wind-up truck that you had to put together and then send it down the track that was up against the wall. It would explode and you couldn’t wind it up again until you put it all back together. Loved that thing lol”

“Motorized fire truck with working aerial ladder and hose that squirted water cool!”

“A very cool Western belt. It had this really ornate buckle and when you pressed the little button on the side, a derringer cap gun would pop out!”

“My first set of real drums. Kent, blue sparkle drum set. We got Etch A Sketch, Erector sets and talking dolls. I got a plastic army helmet that I loved.”

Santa always had stockings for us. It was there you would find a Slinky, some Silly Putty and a squirt gun. Our stockings were always well stocked. There was usually a gift that was burned or singed. It came from The Bargain Center who sold fire damaged goods.

One year I got Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour. I played the hell out of them.

I actually bought View Master and a Give a Show Projector on eBay with some other old toys and vintage lunchboxes. I still have my Mattel Fanner Fifty pistol that used greenie stick’em caps.

My first guitar will go down as one of my all-time favorite Christmas gifts.

My ride-on fire engine with a fireman’s hat was a great gift even though I’m not smiling in the photo.

Let’s not forget Erector Sets and Barbie Dolls, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots or Mr. Potato Head. Merry Christmas!