The creator of some of the most beloved children’s playthings from the 20th century, including Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, Lite-Brite, and MouseTrap, has passed away at 99 years old.
Burt Meyer, the mastermind behind toys that defined childhoods post-World War II, breathed his last on October 30 in Illinois. He belonged to a pioneering group of designers who revolutionized the toy industry.
Taking advantage of the postwar surge in plastic manufacturing and mass production, Meyer unleashed a wave of innovative ideas that combined technical precision with boundless imagination, ensuring his creations remained popular for over six decades.
Lite-Brite, conceived in 1966 after Meyer and his colleague Marvin Glass were inspired by a vibrant New York window exhibit, was initially deemed unfeasible by engineers. Nevertheless, Meyer persisted, developing a backlit box and templates that enabled children to craft luminous artworks.
The toy soared in popularity, earning recognition in Time magazine’s prestigious list of top 100 toys and a coveted spot in the US National Toy Hall of Fame. Even today, updated versions of Lite-Brite remain on store shelves and have made a resurgence in popular culture, notably in the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things.
Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, born from a discarded boxing concept due to safety concerns, underwent a transformation under Meyer’s guidance. Replacing human fighters with robotic counterparts and introducing a whimsical head-popping feature, the toy became an instant classic, later memorialized in Toy Story 2 and slated for a live-action adaptation by Hollywood, with Vin Diesel at the helm.
Having spent a significant part of his career at Marvin Glass & Associates, a leading toy design firm, Meyer ventured out in the mid-1980s to establish his own company, Meyer/Glass Design, where he struck gold with popular releases like Gooey Louie and the Pretty Pretty Princess board game. His son, Steve, eventually took the reins of the business.
Born as Burton Carpenter Meyer in 1926, he served in the US Navy before delving into the world of toys. Even in retirement, his passion for engineering persisted as he continued to build and fly small aircraft near Chicago well into his 80s.
Drawing parallels between the precision of flight and the art of toy creation, Meyer emphasized the importance of utilizing all available resources, a principle that led to the success of many of his products.
Meyer embraced his legacy with a trademark warmth, evident in his car’s license plate, which proudly displayed “TOYKING.” His greatest joy stemmed from sharing his creations with others and hearing them reminisce about their childhood play experiences.
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