Mr. Potato Head Day

History of Mr. Potato Head Day

George Lerner of Brooklyn came up with the concept of a “funny face man” in the 1940s, a character created by inserting pronged body and face components into a fruit or vegetable. Lerner’s suggestion was turned down. In 1951, he presented his concept to Henry and Merrill Hassenfeld, owners of the Hasbro toy and school supply company. Lerner was offered a $500 advance as well as a 5% royalty on each kit sold. Mr. Potato Head was the moniker given to the toy.

Mr. Potato Head was the first toy to appear in a television commercial on April 30, 1952. It was also the first television commercial aimed at children rather than parents. The toy was released the day following the ad for $0.98. There was no plastic potato included, so you had to use a real potato. Four noses, three hats, two sets of eyes, mouths, ears, feet, hands, a pipe, eyeglasses, which were made of plastic, and eight pieces of felt for facial hair were all included in the toy kits of Mr. Potato Head.

In the 1960s, government rules mandated that the parts be less pointed, making it more difficult to penetrate potatoes. In 1964, a plastic potato was added to the toy package as a reaction. In the 1970s, new safety standards led to the doubling of the potato’s size in 1975, as well as an increase in the size of the attachments.

Mr. Potato Head Day timeline

1940s

Mr. Potato Head is Conceptualized

Lerner of Brooklyn comes up with the idea of Mr. Potato Head.

1951

Mr. Potato Head Gets His Name

The toy gets the moniker ‘Mr. Potato Head.’

1952

The First Toy on T.V.

Mr. Potato Head becomes the first toy to be advertised on television on April 30, 1952.

1960s

Blunt Parts for Mr. Potato Head

Government rules mandate that the toy’s attachable parts be less pointed, making it more difficult to penetrate potatoes.

1975

Mr. Potato Head Doubles in Size

New safety standards lead to the doubling of the toy potato's size and attachments.

Mr. Potato Head Day FAQs

When is Mr. Potato Head Day?

In 2027, Mr. Potato Head Day is observed on Friday, April 30, offering a perfect end-of-week opportunity to engage in creative play with the classic spud.

When was Mr. Potato Head invented?

The concept for Mr. Potato Head originated in 1949 with detachable plastic parts designed for real vegetables. Hasbro then introduced the toy with its signature plastic potato body in 1952, marking a new era in toy advertising.

How many Mr. Potato Head toys have been sold?

The cumulative sales of Mr. Potato Head toys have surpassed 100 million units globally, establishing it as one of the best-selling toys in history and a cultural icon.

Is Mr. Potato Head still made of a real potato?

While the initial idea was to use real potatoes, the commercially sold Mr. Potato Head toy has always featured a plastic potato body, allowing for consistent play and avoiding the mess of perishable produce.

Mr. Potato Head Day Activities

Have fun with Mr. Potato Head

This is the right occasion to play with a Mr. Potato Head toy. You could either use the toy you had as a kid or maybe purchase a new one.

Binge watch the “Toy Story” franchise

You may also invite your buddies over for a “Toy Story” movie marathon. Watching the “Toy Story” movies will transport you back to your childhood.

Visit a toy museum

Visit the Classic Toy Museum or the National Toy Hall of Fame to make the most of this holiday. Click photos of the toys and games displayed over there and share your experience on social media.

5 Interesting Facts About Mr. Potato Head

Mr. Potato Head is married

Mrs. Potato Head is Mr. Potato Head's spouse.

He was part of the Macy’s parade

The Thanksgiving Macy's Day Parade featured a Mr. Potato Head balloon from 2005 to 2007.

Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame

In the year 2000, Mr. Potato Head was given a place in the Toy Hall of Fame.

Mr. Potato Head became health conscious

In 2011, Mr. Potato Head went on a diet to lose weight and become more slimline.

Mr. Potato Head has many avatars

Mr. Potato Head is also available in other versions inspired by Buzz Lightyear, Spiderman, and many other animated characters.

Why We Love Mr. Potato Head Day

It improves a child's motor skills

Holding the attachable pieces and putting them into the right places on Mr. Potato Head can help develop children’s fine motor skills. Depending on the child's age, this toy can be used for many types of play.

It instills awareness of bodies

When children can actually hold the toy’s body parts, learning about them becomes a little easier. Playing with Mr. Potato Head makes identifying the names of each body part and their proper places a breeze.