What were your favorite Christmas gifts?

Here are some of my favorite gifts from the 60's. What were your favorites?

Roy Rogers Western Town (1960) I don’t remember receiving this gift but it outlasted almost every toy from my early days. The tin town, which included a saloon and barber shop, served as the location for many battles between cowboys, Indians, Germans and the Allies.

The Night Before Christmas (1962) The year I learned to read, my mother started a tradition of buying one special book each Christmas. This yellowed book still rests on the shelf and it’s been a pleasure carrying on the tradition of a Christmas book with my own kids.

Tonka Jeep Surrey (1962) – Had I asked for this gift from Santa, I probably would have preferred the Army Jeep. Instead, my mother picked a pink Jeep with the fringe on top. It was still one of my most memorable gifts because it was the very first one I “found” in the house thus dispelling the Santa myth.

Matchbox BP Service Station (1965) – My life was complete when I had a service station to service my growing Matchbox Car collection. The equally awesome Matchbox fire station arrived on my birthday.

Schwinn Roadmaster (1966) I lusted for the new Stingray banana seat bicycle but was still thrilled with the sedan version – a Roadmaster. It had dual baskets for carrying newspapers and baseball bats and I probably put 100,000 miles on it before retirement.

Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker (1967) – I really, really wanted this toy. The television commercials were endless and effective. All three of my friends got the same toy that year. Long after the thrill of creating rubber bugs wore off, we entertained ourselves by melting our toys on the dangerous hot plate.

Rawlings Football (1968) – Every piece of sporting equipment in my house started with my brother and got handed down to me – until the year I got my own football. It didn’t help improve my game but at least kids wanted me on their team.

Panasonic Cassette Recorder (1969) This device changed everything. Now I could hold the microphone next to the radio and record my favorite songs. Digital recording was only about twenty years away.

Kenner’s Spirograph (1966) Nerd art! In the days before Facebook, this art and gear contraption was the main reason kids spent hours in their rooms.

US Navy Peacoat (1972) Forget Hollister and Aeropostale – the Army-Navy store was the favorite destination for trendy high schoolers in the early 70’s. I used my Christmas money to buy a real Navy issue peacoat which weighed ten pounds and smelled like a Nova Scotia chowder house but hey – it was cool.