Everything changed in 1977. Star Wars exploded into theaters, and suddenly, every toy needed a little extra flash to keep up. Rockets, lasers, remote controls: if it blinked or beeped, it flew off the shelves.
But even in a year dominated by space battles and electronic dreams, there was still room for goofy classics like Milky the Cow and the Play-Doh Fuzzy Pumper. The popular toys in 1977 launched kids into a new orbit, and we were more than ready for the ride.
1. Star Wars Early Bird Certificate
Kenner’s Star Wars toys weren’t ready for the 1977 holiday rush, so kids got the next best thing: a cardboard box with a display stand, stickers, and a certificate promising figures like Luke and Leia—eventually. Amazingly, we were thrilled. That white box became a sacred object while we waited months for our tiny heroes to arrive.
2. Max Machine
On paper, the Max Machine was the coolest toy of 1977. A futuristic-looking truck with a cool wireless remote? Every kid wanted one. The remote worked by sending out a clicking sound, which the truck responded to by steering right, left, or straight ahead. Unfortunately, the remote control was finicky, and what was supposed to be sleek action usually turned into awkward zig-zags. It was the classic case of a toy that looked amazing in the ad but never quite lived up to the hype.
3. Baby Come Back and Baby That-a-Way
In 1977, even baby dolls had to be interactive. Mattel’s entry in the “dolls that do things” category was Baby Come Back and Baby That-a-Way. Baby Come Back walked toward you with arms raised for a hug, while Baby That-a-Way took off crawling like a maniac the second she was wound up. Kids loved these, especially when they veered off course or faceplanted into the baseboards. And, as a parent now, I know they were great practice for handling actual toddlers.
4. Parker Brothers Riveton
Riviton was supposed to be the next big thing in building toys, featuring soft rivets, flexible parts, and a snap-together tool that mimicked real construction. It flew off the shelves and had kids everywhere playing mini-engineer until a tragic accident prompted a recall.
5. Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow
Yes, this was real. Milky the Cow drank water and “produced” milk through her plastic udder. It was weird and a little gross. Milky was supposed to be the “toy of the year” but a generation of mystified children felt differently. Milky soon quietly moo-ved on.
6. My Friend Mandy
For kids who preferred gentle adventures over noisy chaos, My Friend Mandy was the ultimate companion. Introduced in 1977 by Fisher-Price, Mandy wasn’t a baby to care for. She was your age and meant to be your friend, not your doll. Kids adored her and the rest of Fisher-Price’s My Friend dolls, too. The line was so popular that Fisher-Price continued it until the mid-1990s.
7. Super Jock Toys
Before video games turned every kid into an armchair quarterback, Schaper’s Super Jock line gave you the thrill of victory and the agony of carpet burns. Give the figure a good whack on the head, and these spring-loaded sports toys would launch a football, smack a baseball, or slam a basketball with a satisfying thwack..
8. Charlie’s Angels Dolls
Hasbro turned TV’s coolest crime-fighting trio into dolls, and kids went wild. Sabrina, Kelly, and Jill had glamorous outfits and accessories, and even their own adventure van. They didn’t really look like the actresses, and Farrah Fawcett, who played Jill, had already left the show after the first season. But that didn’t matter to kids who loved acting out glamorous crime-fighting adventures.
9. Play Doh Fuzzy Pumper
The Fuzzy Pumper Barber & Beauty Shop was the logical next step for Play-Doh after the original fun factories. The toy provided kids with a full-on salon experience, where the hair was made of Play-Doh, the hairstyles were outrageous, and the customers never complained. You pressed a blob of Play-Doh into the hollow plastic heads, cranked the chair, and up popped glorious spaghetti-like hair, ready for snipping. It was satisfying, slightly disturbing, and totally addictive.
10. Backgammon Set
Backgammon surprisingly surged in popularity in the mid-70s. What had once been seen as a quiet game for retirees exploded into a full-blown fad, complete with tournaments held in glittery hotel ballrooms. Backgammon sets showed up in magazine spreads, luxury catalogs, and even at Tiffany’s. If you didn’t know how to play, you learned fast, and, of course, you had your own set. Just look at the multiple options available in the 1977 Sears Wish Book!
