Happy 55th Birthday, Etch-a-Sketch!

Etch-a-Sketch drawing by my 2-year-old. Photo: Jonathan H. Liu

Happy Birthday, Etch-a-Sketch! The magic screen is 55 years old this year, and it’s still one of my favorite toys (the 6 Best Toys of All Time notwithstanding). The Etch-a-Sketch has gone through a lot of variations–different sizes and colors and branding, like this Frozen-themed version. But my favorite is still the classic red frame, which is largely unchanged from the original. Several years ago the classic was reduced in size slightly, but otherwise it’s just about the same thing your parents may have played with as a kid.

Designed in France by André Cassagnes (who passed away two years ago), the Etch-a-Sketch was first introduced in the US 1960 by Ohio Arts, and has sold over 175 million units since then.

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55 years old but still able to entertain kids. Photo: Jonathan H. Liu

The Etch-a-Sketch has a special place in my heart because I started practicing my knob-turning skills in college and eventually even sold a few Etch-a-Sketch drawings, though these days it’s more just a fun party trick I show off occasionally.

Happy 55th Birthday! Drawing and photo: Jonathan H. Liu

Have a happy Etch-a-Sketch Day today, and show your kids the sort of tablet you had when you were a kid!

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Jonathan H. Liu

Jonathan H. Liu is a stay-at-home dad in Portland, Oregon, who loves to read, is always up for a board game, and has a bit of a Kickstarter habit. I can be reached at jonathan at geekdad dot com.

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