It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, especially for kids. They spend hours writing their wish list and letters to Santa; keeping their fingers crossed, hoping they made the “good girls and boys” list, rather than finding a lump of coal in their stocking.

Remember Ralphie in the movie, A Christmas Story? Ralphie Parker wanted only one thing – a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Mode air rifle. Ralphie’s desire was rejected by his mother, his teacher Miss Shields, and even a Santa Claus at Higbee’s Department Store, who all gave him the same warning: “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” But when Christmas morning arrived, Ralphie’s dream came true. Classic!

Over the years, that “dream come true” gift also came to many kids in Greater Flint. Here’s a look back at Christmas past, and some of the toys that local folks happily found under the Christmas tree (or out in the garage …)

“I had a Lego set that was just pieces and not a pre-determined set like today. You had to make what was in your imagination. I was crazy about Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra and Monster X (a three-headed bad guy monster). I used to make them out of the Legos and then have monster wars. Also, there was a movie with Dick Van Dyke called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that was about a car that could do just about anything – fly, float over water, etc. I made my own Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang out of Legos and played with it for hours and hours. I believe that Lego set channeled my imagination and helped me be the creative person I am today.”
Brett LaCross

“Transformers, G.I. Joe, Thundercats, He-Man, Dino Riders, Legos, M.A.S.K. & Voltron! But everyone wanted an Optimus Prime. He was the main “good guy” Transformer. And the concept for Transformers, in general, was a robot/car that could change back and forth and it was the best thing ever! I still have a ton of mine. But shortly after the ‘80s toy boom came the start of home video games which lead to a different generation of wants and needs as a child. No longer having to beg for quarters to hit the mall, now you could sit at home all day and play my favorite game while mom cooked dinner.”
Jonathan Boedecker

“My most memorable gift was not under the tree, but on the back porch. I grew up in South Florida, so there was no snow. We thought we were all done opening gifts when my dad got up and announced, “Let’s let some sunshine in” as he opened the drapes. There, for me and my sister sat two gleaming Spider bikes, teal-colored with white banana seats and multi-colored tassels hanging from the handle bars. We jumped up squealing and spent Christmas Day riding our new bikes.”
Donna Anderson

“The best Christmas present my sister and I ever got from Santa were bikes. Our next-door neighbor went to Florida every winter, so we took care of her house. After we got done opening presents, my mom said, ‘Let’s see if Santa left any presents at Mrs. Braun’s house!’ Mind you, I was about 11 years old and had suspected there was no such thing as Santa Claus for a couple of years – but I got up and ran over there, anyway. So, we searched all over the house and Santa had not been there. Then, my dad said, ‘Let’s check the garage!’ In the garage was a brand-new bike for each of us. The cool thing was that it was unseasonably warm that year in Michigan, and we got to ride our new bikes that day. I was pretty sure Santa didn’t do all that, though!”
Anna Jenson

 

“Baby Alive was by far my favorite present! I loved feeding her and changing her diapers! I gave her a bath and that was the last time she was ‘alive.’”
Suzanne Pierce

“I was too young to appreciate the effort it took my mother to find and purchase a baby doll for me during the early ‘40s but she was determined to give me one for Christmas. Rubber-made baby dolls were not available (this was before plastic) because all the rubber was sent to the war efforts. She advertised in the community’s local newspaper that she was looking to purchase a baby doll for her daughter, and asked if anyone had one they would be willing to sell to make a little girl happy on Christmas. Apparently, she received a phone call from some who accommodated her request, because it was one of her favorite “under the Christmas tree” stories – and I am sure I was the happiest little girl in the world on that Christmas morning.”
Patricia Gorton

“A small rocking chair. My brother and I each got one and we thought we were Kings when we sat in them. I had mine until I was in my twenties – I did not want to get rid of it.”
Jerry Laport

“Fisher Price Village from the ‘70s”
Jane Hogan

“Furby”
Anna Marie

“Baby Crissy”
Kristin Moore

“Hot Wheels!”
Mike Sanchez

“Lincoln Logs”
Inetta Smith

“Shogun Warriors”
Andrew Ward

“Nintendo”
Eric Dutro

“My Little Ponies”
Anne Trelfa

“My Bicycle”
Kim Davis

Hottest Toys of Christmas Past

1930	Yo-Yo
1934	Shirley Temple Doll
1936	Monopoly
1943	Slinky
1952	Mr. Potato Head
1959	Barbie
1960	Chatty Cathy
1963	Easy Bake Oven
1964	G.I. Joe
1965	Operation
1966	Twister
1967	Battleship
1968	Hot Wheels
1970	Lite-Brite
1974	Tonka Trucks
1977	Star Wars Action Figures
1979	Atari VCS
1980	Rubik’s Cube
1983	Cabbage Patch Kids
1984	Transformers
1985	Teddy Ruxpin
1988	Nintendo Entertainment System
1989	Game Boy
1990	Super Nintendo
1992	Barney Doll
1995	Beanie Babies
1996	Tickle Me Elmo
1998	Furby
1999	Pokemon
2005	XBox 360
2006	Play Station 3
2008	Nintendo Wii
2009	Zhu Zhu Pets
2010	iPad
2013	Big Hugs Elmo
2014	Elsa (Frozen) Doll
2015	Remote Control BB-8
2016	Hatchimals

 

Thanks for all the great photos:

Shirley Temple Doll: Diane Cordell / Flickr
Barbie: RomitaGirl67/Flickr
Easy Bake Over: Bradross63/Wiki Commons
Rubik’s Cube: Booyabazooka/ Wiki Commons
Optimus Prime: Joe Haupt/Flickr
Zhu Zhu Pets: Wikipedia
Shogun Warriors: Tom Simpson / Flickr
Voltron: l2k85 / Flickr
Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com
Ivonne Wierink / Shutterstock.com
Ekaterina_Minaeva / Shutterstock.com
Jointstar / Shutterstock.com
Keith Homan / Shutterstock.com
Nicescene / Shutterstock.com
Shelly Still / Shutterstock.com
Willrow Hood / Shutterstock.com
PitK / Shutterstock.com
CROSSPHOTO / Shutterstock.com
Matee Nuserm / Shutterstock.com
Keith Homan / Shutterstock.com
Gemenacom / Shutterstock.com