As the holiday season unfolds, it’s hard to ignore the convenience of modern-day shopping—just a few clicks on a smartphone, and your Christmas list is complete. However, it wasn’t always this simple. Gone are the days when families braved packed department stores in search of that elusive Christmas toy.
Trent Medynski, host of Morden's Pop Culture Expo, offered some insights into the frenzy of past holiday shopping seasons, sharing memories of the chaotic but magical moments that defined the Christmas toy craze for himself, and those who came before and after his experience growing up in the 80’s.
The Cabbage Patch craze
The year was 1983. A new line of toys had just hit the market offering a customizable sense of individuality virtually unheard of in a doll up until now. Not only built with quality but with personality. Every doll was different.
Combine that with footage circulating of parents swarming store shelves in an attempt to get their child the perfect toy to create their perfect holiday season, and the cocktail for one of the world’s most iconic Christmas toy hunts was formed.
Medynski shared his recollection of the events, saying, “I vividly remember stores not having enough product, people waiting in line outside the stores and you know, being I guess we’ll say rude when they got in. Scrambling because they wanted to get that one present for their kid that everybody’s after.”
He pointed to the hit 1996 Christmas film Jingle All the Way starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which depicted the chaos of the hunt for a coveted toy—Turbo Man, saying that it was loosely based on the Cabbage Patch frenzy.
Toys that defined Christmases past
Medinsky’s personal experience, however, was not with Cabbage Patch Kids, but rather with different franchises entirely.
"As an eighties kid, G.I. Joe in the early eighties was the biggest one for me," he recalled. "In 1984, I got quite a bit of G.I. Joe and Star Wars." For Medinsky, these action figures were his most coveted items, but the excitement didn’t stop there. "In 1988, the big toy of the year was the Nintendo... the classic NES," he said. "My brother and I were over the moon with that."
Later, in 1989, the Game Boy hit the market, and Medinsky, lucky to receive one, fondly remembers his first handheld gaming experience. "It was a big Christmas for us," he said, sharing that his mom went out of her way to ensure he received the gifts he wanted.
The shift toward electronic toys
As the years have passed, the toy landscape has evolved. The mid-to-late 1980s brought about a surge in popularity for the 'electronic toy', with products like the Atari 2600 in 1979, and the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 leading the charge. Medinsky reflected on the excitement of receiving a Super Nintendo in 1990 and how those electronic toys became staples in his holiday memories.
The hunt for the elusive toy
With online shopping now being the primary way many people do their holiday shopping, one might wonder: do kids still face the same struggles of finding that elusive toy today? Do parents still need to hunt down that Teddy Ruxpin?
According to Medinsky, while the shopping experience has undoubtedly changed, the craze persists. "I think the industry nowadays is more prepared for it than they were back then," he said. "Things are more mass-produced now and more readily available... and there are many more stores and ways to order online."
However, for many, the hunt for a specific toy remains a part of the holiday experience. Medinsky recalled his nephew's excitement in wanting Beyblades, a combative, modern take on the traditional Spinning Top. "I know that there are still those key gifts every year that children want," he said, suggesting that while the way we shop has changed, the excitement of the hunt is still alive.
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A timeless toy
Medinsky also shared that if he was able to bring one toy back into relevance today, it would be the 1985 Nintendo NES. "That’s still a classic toy... it’s kind of timeless." He further explained that his eight-year-old nephew adores the old Nintendo system and will in fact be receiving NES cartridges for Christmas this year.
Though the way people shop may have evolved, the spirit of excitement and anticipation remains the same. Whether you’re hunting down the latest tech gadget, or reliving the magic of all that is retro, the holidays still have the power to bring joy, surprise, and a bit of chaos, just as they always have.
Medynski closed out our conversation by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Look forward to the next Morden Pop Culture Expo on May 24th and 25th 2025.
To hear the full interview with Trent Medynski, click below. Also, visit Trent's socials by clicking here.
