Mel Birnkrant's
All Original Toy Concepts, Written and Photographic content is Copyright MEL BIRNKRANT


I loved these “ROCKIN’ RADIOS!” I don’t know why I didn’t make a working prototype. I could have done so easily. Alas, today, radios are fast becoming ancient history. For all I know, smart phones have taken their place completely. But when I made this drawing, portable radios were still commonplace.
Apart from the styling, these radios had another feature. They, not only, captured and played radio signals, they also danced to the music! This concept was, admittedly, not altogether original. At the time, there was a series of dolls that listened to a radio signal and danced in rhythm to whatever tune was playing. The unique twist here was the fact that the dancers were also the actual radios that produced the music that they danced to.
I also thought the styling was appealing. The on/off switch was the figure’s nose. Its eyes were two rotating dials. The left eye was the volume control, and the right eye tuned the station. The permanently attached earphones served as the carrying handle. The tongues were counterbalanced to encourage wagging.
The fact that there is no product feature sheet, attached to the back of the presentation board, reminds me that my partners were not enthusiastic about these Rockin’ Radios. I wonder if they were ever shown.