Playthings Magazine

''Playthings'' was an American trade magazine focusing on the toy and game industry. It was founded in 1902 by editor Robert McCready and publisher Henry C. Nathan, and it was published in physical form by Sandow Media on a monthly basis until Fall 2010 when it became an insert section and was merged with '' Gifts & Decorative Accessories'' magazine. ''Playthings'' was also published online and supplemented by a weekly email newsletter, ''Playthings Extra''. The magazine won multiple Jesse H. Neal Awards, and was generally regarded as the premier trade magazine of the American toy industry.

Historical timeline

*1902 - ''Playthings'' is founded by editor Robert McCready and publisher Henry C. Nathan (Henry Nathan Co.).
*January 1903 - The inaugural issue is published. In his opening statement, editor-in-chief McCready describes it as "a regular publication, devoted to ... the more than 20,000 concerns n the United Statesengaged in the manufacture or sale of dolls, toys, and games." The magazine is 20 pages in length and covers more than 70% European and Asian toys (mostly German and Japanese imports).
*January 1904 - Subscription rate and distribution increases. Marking the 1-year anniversary, McCready reports that "the trade has manifested a cordial interest in us, and has given us hearty support."
*1905 - The magazine's primary emphasis settles on coverage of merchants' money-saving techniques and the management of store layout and displays.
*June 1910 - Robert McCready founds the McCready Publishing Co. which takes over publication of the magazine from the Henry Nathan Co. McCready serves as the president of publication as well as the editor-in-chief and business manager of the magazine.
*June 1912 - The magazine now comprises 198 pages including a few two-color advertisements.
*1915-1940 - Two World Wars strongly impact the importing of foreign toys, and the magazine becomes almost entirely devoted to American-made toys. Distribution now includes international subscribers, but pro-American sentiment is high and the magazine highlights American interests and events like the American International Toy Fair.
*April 1930 - The magazine swells to 290 pages.
*1945 - Ben McCready, son of Robert McCready, is appointed editor-in-chief.
*1950s - ''Playthings'' begins to promote the idea of toy purchasing as a year-round practice rather than primarily a Christmas-related phenomenon.
*1960s - Visual mass media in the form of television introduce children to a range of celebrities and characters that are soon represented as dolls and action figures. The magazine begins to cover television-related toys and reaches its maximum size with some issues exceeding 600 pages in length.
*1967 - Publication is taken over by Geyer-McAllister Publications.
*1970s - ''Playthings'' begins to cover the topic of toy safety.
*1980s - Frank Reysen Jr. becomes the editor-in-chief and the magazine begins to cover electronic games and toys both before and after the 1983 crash beginning with handheld video games and continuing in the late 1980s with video game consoles.
*1984 - ''Playthings'' wins a Jesse H. Neal Award for coverage of the counterfeit toy market.
*1998 - ''Playthings'' is acquired by Reed Business Information which continues publication.
*2000 - Maria N. Weiskott is appointed editor-in-chief.
*January 2003 - ''Playthings'' celebrates its centenary issue with the publication of "Toy Stories: 100 Years of Fun."
*2005 - The magazine wins a Jesse H. Neal Award for "Best News Coverage" for reporting on the possible breakup of Toys "R" Us.
*2010 - Reed Business Information sells several properties including ''Playthings'' to Sandow Media which publishes the magazine for a few more issues and then merges it with another Sandow Media publication, ''Gifts & Decorative Accessories'' in the fall. ''Playthings'' becomes an insert section in ''Gifts & Decorative Accessories''.
*1 October 2010 - Copies of all physical issues of the magazine (between 1903 and 2010) are acquired by the Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play at The Strong in Rochester, New York.
*12 November 2010 - ''Playthings'' becomes the official national media partner of The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong and enters a 3-year special promotional agreement.
*May 2017 - The ''Gifts & Decorative Accessories'' insert section, ''Playthings'', is renamed ''Kids' Corner''.

References

{{reflist, 30em, refs=
Annicelli, Cliff. "Intriguingly Different..." ''Playthings''. 1 August 2007. {{ISSN, 0032-1567. Retrieved 23 March 2015 via HighBeam Researchbr>here
{{subscription required.
Annicelli, Cliff.
Playthings Magazine Lists the Top Toys STILL AVAILABLE on Toy
" '' Bloomberg L.P.'' 30 November 2009.
Staff.
For more than 100 years, Playthings magazine stood
" Brian Sutton-Smith Archives of Play. 17 November 2014.
Cutter, William Richard. ''New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation''. Vol.4. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. Pg.2014. 1913.
Earl, Anne-Marie.
Gifts and Dec Broadens, Renames Playthings Category
. ''Gifts & Decorative Accessories''. 3 May 2017.
Fell, Jason.
Sandow Media Buys Eight Magazines from RBI
" ''FolioMag.com''. March 2010.
Leccese, Donna. "Playthings Tracks History of Growth, Change." ''Playthings''. 1 September 1993. {{ISSN, 0032-1567. Retrieved 23 March 2015 via HighBeam Researchbr>here
{{subscription required.
Oliver, Larry. "Words on Play: It's an honor ... Playthings recognized for editorial excellence". ''Playthings''. 1 April 2005. {{ISSN, 0032-1567. Retrieved 23 March 2015 via HighBeam Researchbr>here
{{subscription required.
Scott, Sharon M. "Playthings" in ''Toys and American Culture: An Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO. Pg.245. 2010. {{ISBN, 9780313351112.
Snook, Pam.
Playthings Magazine Partners With Strong Museum
. ''PR Newswire''. 12 November 2010.
Trien, Susan.
More than 100 Years of Playthings Magazine Acquired by the Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play at the Strong in Rochester, New York
. The Strong. 1 October 2010.
Weiskott, Maria N.
Milestone: Playthings magazine
" '' Gifts & Decorative Accessories''. Pg.127. 1 January 2003. {{ISSN, 0016-9889. Also available via HighBeam Researchbr>here
{{subscription required.

Monthly magazines published in the United States
Game magazines
Magazines established in 1902
Magazines disestablished in 2010
Professional and trade magazines
Toy industry
Magazines published in New York City
Defunct magazines published in the United States