90’s Kids

Toys’R’Us Catalog, 1997

Were you a Toys’R’Us kid? Did you happily leaf through the sale catalogs that once were stuffed into Sunday newspapers? Then you may now be as much of a dinosaur as the “Lost World T-Rex” pictured in this 52-page October 1997 Toys’R’Us flyer.

The bankrupt toy chain recently launched a revival attempt. It may or may not succeed, but in the late 1990s Toys’R’Us seemed magnificent and invincible.

There was literally something for every kid in these pages…

Keytars and genuine video cameras (black & white only!)…

Classic Nerf footballs…

Beautiful Barbie dolls in “Hula Hair” and “Bubbling Mermaid” editions…

Batman and Poison Ivy action figures…

…but I have to say the one that really caught my eye was the Nintendo Virtual Boy.

This was one of the early steps on the (still elusive) trail to practical virtual reality. Virtual Boy played games in 3D, but only in vector-like red colors, and only if you basically held yourself immobile against its headset and stand. Virtual Boy was introduced in the Fall of 1995 and quickly tanked. Nintendo discontinued it 9 months later, and this 1997 ad was clearing out the remaining stock for just $30, slashed from the truly pricey $170 original MSRP.

As a Toys’R’Us kid, did you pester your parents for a Virtual Boy at that beyond-bargain price? Better still, do you still have it? If so, you’re a smart kid – vintage Virtual Boys now sell for $200 and up.