Mr. Potato Head was the brainchild of Brooklyn inventor George Lerner, who came up with the idea children could create fun characters by putting features on fruit and vegetables.
But despite its future worldwide success, the idea wasn’t an instant hit.
It was 1949 – just after the rationing of the Second World War – and playing with food was thought of as a waste.
Lerner made the first set of silly face parts and sold the idea to a cereal company which gave out the plastic parts in a box as a promotion.
In 1951, the inventor met the Hassenfeld brothers – who would go on to rebrand as Hasbro – who bought the rights from the cereal company for $7,000.
Mr. Potato Head was the brainchild of Brooklyn inventor George Lerner, who came up with the idea children could create fun characters by putting features on fruit and vegetables. Lerner with his creation (after the potato body became plastic) in an undated image
A child playing with a Mr Potato Head in 1953. Mr. Potato Head first hit the shelves in 1952 as a kit of plastic body parts and accessories for children to stick onto a real potato
The toy manufacturers struck a deal with Lerner to give him 5 percent royalties for every set sold and a $500 advance.
Mr. Potato Head hit the shelves in 1952 as a kit of plastic body parts and accessories for children to stick onto a real potato to create a character.
The original toy cost $0.98.
The first toy kit included 28 features such as a nose, mouth, mustache and pipe as well as a Styrofoam head for children to practice on.
It did not come with the ‘potato head’ body but recommended children use a potato or other vegetable.
Mr. Potato Head made history as the first toy ever to be promoted through its own television commercial.
Mr. Potato Head made history as the first toy ever to be promoted through its own television commercial
It revolutionized the marketing industry as, before this, commercials only targeted adults
The advert, which premiered on April 30 1952, directly targeted children rather than parents.
It revolutionized the marketing industry as, before this, commercials only targeted adults.
It was an overnight success with more than one million kits sold in the first year and more than $4 million in sales in just the first few months.
The next year, Mrs. Potato Head was born with a feminine accessory kit including high heels and hair bows.
There was also vegetable friends for the kids including Kate the Carrot, Pete the Pepper, Oscar the Orange, and Cookie Cucumber.
The kits also soon expanded to include an additional 50 pieces.
Classic Mr. Potato Heads are displayed February 5, 2002 at a 50th birthday party for the popular children’s toy at Hasbro’s showroom in New York City
The popular toy came with its first plastic potato body in 1964.
The major development came as parents were complaining about finding moldy potatoes under their kids’ beds.
Around the same time, child safety laws were coming into effect including the Child Protection Act of 1966 and the 1969 Child Protection and Toy Safety Act.
Hasbro created larger plastic features for the toy and removed the sharp ends as parents were concerned about their kids swallowing small pieces and cutting themselves on the points.
The lovable figure even enjoyed a brief political career receiving four write-in votes in the mayoral election in Boise, Idaho in 1985.
The campaign saw Mr. Potato Head enter the Guinness World Record for ‘most votes for Mr. Potato Head in a political campaign’.
Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 2 with Slinky, Rex and Buzz Lightyear
The toy regained popularity when Mr. Potato Head became a central character in the Disney Pixar film Toy Story in 1995 with comedian Don Rickles doing the voiceover
In 1987, the company dropped the pipe accessory from the toy amid concerns of promoting smoking habits to children and became the official face or ‘spokespud’ of the Great American Smokeout.
Five years later, the company starred in an early Public Service Announcement for the Presidents’ Council for Physical Fitness promoting fitness by renouncing its role as a ‘couch potato.’
In 1996, both Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head featured in an advertising campaign for the League of Women Voters.
The toy regained popularity when Mr. Potato Head became a central character in the Disney Pixar film Toy Story in 1995 with comedian Don Rickles doing the voiceover.
Mrs. Potato Head appeared in the sequel Toy Story 2 in 1999. Both characters also appeared in Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4.
A Disney Store Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head playset. Mrs Potato Head first appeared in Toy Story 2
The toy has taken on other guises over the years such as in the role of a pirate
The film sparked a revival of classic toys such as the Mr. Potato Head range, as well as Slinky and Etch A Sketch.
In 2000, Mr. Potato Head was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York.
In 2012, Hasbro released a 60th wedding anniversary edition of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.
Mr. Potato Head continued to evolve over the years and take on other guises years such as a pirate, mermaid, rockstar, construction worker and Santa Claus.
It has also branched into themed characters such as Star Wars’ Darth Tater and Spiderman’s Spider Spud.
As well as the signature toy, there are branded puzzles, board games and video games among other potato-themed toys.