Burt Meyer, the mastermind behind some of the most beloved toys for children in the 20th century, has passed away at the age of 99. His innovative creations, including Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, Lite-Brite, and MouseTrap, captured the hearts of kids in both Britain and America.
Meyer, a part of the postwar generation of toy designers, capitalized on the plastic molding and mass production boom of that era. His designs were a unique blend of technical precision and imaginative playfulness, ensuring their enduring popularity for over six decades.
One of Meyer’s most iconic creations, Lite-Brite, was born in 1966 after he and his colleague Marvin Glass were inspired by a display of colored lights in New York. Despite initial doubts from engineers, Meyer’s vision of a backlit box with black paper templates allowed children to create luminous artwork safely, making Lite-Brite a global sensation.
Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, another of Meyer’s brainchildren, originated from a revamped idea after a tragic incident with a boxing concept. Meyer’s innovative twist of turning the boxers into robots and adding a whimsical head-popping feature resulted in an instant classic, eventually becoming a cultural phenomenon featured in Toy Story 2 and set for a Hollywood adaptation.
Throughout his career at Marvin Glass & Associates and later with his own firm, Meyer/Glass Design, Meyer continued to churn out hit toys like Gooey Louie and Pretty Pretty Princess. His dedication to toy design stemmed from his background as a US Navy aircraft mechanic, and even in retirement, he remained active in engineering pursuits, building and flying small planes well into his 80s.
Meyer’s legacy as a trailblazer in the toy industry was marked by his warm embrace of his “TOYKING” persona. His greatest joy came from hearing people reminisce about playing with his creations, solidifying his impact on generations of children and adults alike.