Our toys started to look a little different in 1976. Electronic toys like Pong crept into living rooms, and we were hooked. Sci-fi and adventure themes were everywhere, from the Fisher Price Adventure People to the Flying Star Trek Enterprise.
Meanwhile, old-school creativity still had its place with popular toys like rock tumblers and Stretch Armstrong. The popular toys of 1976 gave kids their first real taste of the future, and we all wanted more.
1. Bionic Woman
Kenner’s Bionic Woman action figure gave girls their own superpowered spy, complete with removable bionic modules, a clicking bionic ear, and that iconic jogging suit. Jaime Sommers saved the world and hit the salon afterward, thanks to the Bionic Beauty Salon. Finally, an action hero who could flip a villain and flip her hair.
2. Cher Doll
The Cher doll from Mego was pure glam, with rooted lashes, cascading hair, and Bob Mackie outfits worthy of a Vegas runway. Kids could dress her in feathers and sequins, and pretend they were running their own version of The Sonny & Cher Show. The Cher doll didn’t just sell well; she outsold Barbie in 1976.
3. Ballerina Barbie
She may have had fewer sales than Cher, but little girls still asked Santa for Barbies in 1976. And Mattel gave those little girls what they wanted with the introduction of Ballerina Barbie. Dressed in a shimmering leotard and a delicate tutu, she embodied the grace and poise of a prima ballerina. Her arms and legs could be moved into ballet poses, and she wore a tiara that, much to the frustration of many, was permanently stuck to her head.
4. Joey Stivic Doll
Based on Gloria and Mike’s baby from All in the Family, the Joey Stivic doll made headlines as the first anatomically correct male baby doll sold in stores. It was supposed to encourage “realistic” nurturing play, but mostly it sparked awkward conversations and a whole lot of side-eye from confused parents. Joey didn’t stick around long, but he definitely made an impression.
5.Pong
Pong was a revelation. For the first time ever, you could hook a little box up to your TV, twist a couple of knobs, and play table tennis without leaving the couch. No quarters needed. No trip to the arcade. Just two paddles, one square pixel pretending to be a ball, and the hypnotic blip-blip of history being made. Atari’s home version of Pong brought the future right into the living room.
6. Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong was weirdly irresistible. Part toy and part stress ball, you could pull Stretch’s gel-filled limbs across the room and watch him snap right back. The included Stretch-o-graph was meant to show just how far you could stretch him, but every kid needed to test the limits.
7. Fisher Price Adventure People
Fisher Price’s Adventure People were Fisher Price’s answer for kids who’d outgrown Little People but still wanted everyday heroes. Fisher-Price sized the Adventure People at 3.75 inches tall, just the right size to fit into their accompanying vehicles, and inadvertently inspired a toy revolution. Kenner, inspired by the Adventure People dolls, used the format for their new Star Wars action figures in 1977.
8. Flying Star Trek Enterprise
Despite its cancellation, Star Trek was a full-blown cult obsession in the mid-70s, thanks to constant reruns in syndication and the unexpected success of the animated series. Mego released a line of Star Trek action figures, and the Flying Enterprise was there to pilot our heroes into space. It wasn’t a fancy toy, but kids loved to pretend to pilot it around while shouting “Beam me up, Scotty!”
9. Micronauts
Micronauts were sci-fi action figures with a build-it-yourself twist—interchangeable heads, limbs, and space gear that turned one guy into a tank-driving, rocket-armed bug robot by dinnertime. They weren’t tied to a show, but they were cool enough to spawn a hit Marvel comic series. The toys have an enthusiastic cult following to this day.
10. Rock Tumbling Kit
Rock tumblers were loud, messy, and took forever, but turning rough gravel into smooth, gleaming gems felt like discovering treasure. You’d run it for weeks, then proudly hoard your polished stones like a miniature dragon.
