Fall 2014 • Volume 5 • Issue 1
News and Events for Members, Donors, and Friends
PLAY Time
Play Pals
Exhibit
Opening
Halloween
Festivities
In Another
Galaxy
Weekend
2014
National
Toy Hall
of Fame
Finalists
Page 2
4
5
7
9
NEW EXHIBIT
Be a knight. Be a princess. Or become a noble craftsman
using one of the greatest building materials of all time—
LEGO® bricks—at LEGO® Castle Adventure, a new exhibit
opening Saturday, October 4. (See page 3 for opening
weekend activities.)
Be immersed in castle-life with themed areas designed to
teach children and families about life in the Middle Ages:
Royal Castle
Explore the royal castle and sit upon their majesties’
thrones. Admire royal furnishings including a family portrait
and decorative suit of armor—made entirely out of LEGO
bricks! Take a tour of the king’s secret treasure room,
brimming with LEGO jewels, but beware of the dungeon.
Climb a lookout tower and try to defend the castle walls
from enemies.
Builder’s Guild
Learn how real castles were planned and built by examining
LEGO models of real-world castles Blarney (Ireland),
Arundel (England), and Neuschwanstein (Germany)
created by LEGO® Master Builders. Then put your
newfound knowledge to the test and join the Builder’s
Guild to plan the ideal defenses and construct your own
castle. Three age-appropriate building areas encourage
young builders to create a medieval masterpiece:
• Apprentice Builders (toddlers), featuring oversized,
foam LEGO bricks
• Journeymen Builders (ages 3–6), featuring giant
DUPLO® bricks
• Master Builders (ages 7 and older), featuring
standard LEGO bricks
2
PLAY Time • Fall 2014
LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of
the LEGO Group. © 2014 The LEGO Group.
All rights reserved.
View LEGO topiary models and then create your
own landscapes for the castle courtyard.
Jousting Field
Play the part of a knight and saddle up for some
family-friendly jousting. Experience how a knight
trained for tournaments by donning a suspender-style
horse, grabbing your foam-rubber lance, and trying
to hit targets.
LEGO® Castle
Adventure Opening
Celebration
Dragon’s Cave
Visit the resident (friendly!) dragon and dress up in regal
attire to create your own fantastical story about kings,
queens, knights, princesses, and mythical beasts.
NEW EXHIBIT
Hear ye, hear ye!
The king and queen invite
you to the royal kingdom to
test your castle-building skills
at LEGO® Castle Adventure!
Saturday, October 4
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Catapult Range
Construct a virtual castle wall using 3-D computer
technology and then test its strength against a
real-world catapult. Using trial-and-error, discover
the best methods for constructing a fortress able
to withstand a siege.
Sunday, October 5
1–4 p.m.
• Marvel at an amazing building-brick display
(big enough to fill a room!) featuring towering
buildings and winding train tracks created
by the LEGO Users of Central New York.
LEGO Castle Adventure remains on view through
February 1. The exhibit was created by The Children’s
Museum of Indianapolis in conjunction
with LEGO Systems, Inc.
Local media sponsors
• Create a paper mask to wear or a brick to
take home.
• On Saturday only, enjoy performances at
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. by Dangerous Signs—a
poetry group from the National Technical
Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute
of Technology. The group will weave a tale
of chivalry and adventure with American Sign
Language, spoken words, music, and dance.
www.museumofplay.org
www.museumofplay.org
3
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Mark your calendar for the opening
of the museum’s newest permanent
exhibit, Play Pals, on Saturday,
December 6. Play Pals traces the
evolution of dolls, action figures, toy
soldiers, plush animals, and other
toys of the imagination and is the
third phase of a five-phase project
to transform the museum’s second
floor into a nearly 16,000-square-foot
space exploring the history of play
in America.
“Play Pals brings imaginary worlds to
life and allows children to interact
with their favorite dolls and action
figures,” says Jon-Paul Dyson, vice
president for exhibits. “In addition to
being highly interactive, the exhibit
tells the history of these important
figures and includes rare and
significant examples—such as a
Thomas Edison talking doll—from
The Strong’s world-renowned
collections.”
A timeline of toys traces their
evolution from the homemade dolls
of the early 1800s, through the
creation of the teddy bear (named
after President Theodore Roosevelt,
see page 8) in the early 1900s,
to the development of favorite
modern figures such as Bratz
and Transformers.
for collections. “In American history,
they’ve been important tools for
children to act out traditional
domestic roles, learn to nurture
pretend animals, and in some cases,
help make sense of war.”
A display case marking significant
milestones in the developments of
these figures includes rare artifacts
such as a Bild Lilly doll (that inspired
Barbie), an early G.I. Joe prototype,
a Steiff teddy bear, a 1930s velvet
Mickey Mouse, and Mabel—the
beloved doll of museum founder
Margaret Woodbury Strong.
The Play Pals exhibit blends these
unique artifacts with hands-on
activities that encourage guests
to role-play, test their reflexes, and
create imaginary worlds. Upon entry
to the exhibit, guests encounter an
enormous toy package where they
can become part of the action and
dress as a doll or action figure.
At the teddy bear check-up area,
guests weigh, measure, and check
the vital signs of their favorite stuffed
toys and test their skills and reflexes
with a teddy bear operation game.
An adventure table with plastic
toy soldiers and other action
figures offers dynamic settings for
imaginative play, including a volcano,
castle, and modern city. Computer
stations let guests play Skylanders
and Disney Infinity games, complete
with accompanying figures, and give
guests the opportunity to plug in
their year of birth to see which toys
were popular then.
Storytime Club
Halloween Spooktacular
Celebrate the joy of reading.
Hear children’s stories on select
Mondays at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Have your Storytime Club
passport punched once during
each visit. Collect five punches
and receive a free children’s book.
Saturday, October 25, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, October 26, 1–4 p.m.
Calling all witches, princesses, and superheroes!
Come in costume and enjoy Halloween-inspired
performances by Hilby, the Skinny German
Juggle Boy. Join a dance party, play with
glow-in-the-dark toys, and create a spooky
craft. Meet local author of the Yum and Yuck
book series, Nannette Nocon, and enjoy story
readings of her new book When the Sun
Goes Down by WHAM 1180 host
Joe Lomonaco, WXXI Classical
hosts Brenda Tremblay and
Mona Seghatoleslami, WXXI
host Beth Adams, actress
Diane Chevron, and others.
Toddler Trick-or-Treat
Mondays, October 6, 20 & 27
Autumn Adventures
Delight in colorful stories about
autumn and Halloween.
Mondays, November 10, 17 & 24
Be Thankful
Gather around for stories about
things to be thankful for including
family and friends.
Mondays, December 1 & 15
Winter Wonderland
Cozy up with tales about the
winter season and holiday
traditions.
Friday, October 31, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Enjoy Halloween activities and prizes
for the littlest trick-or-treaters. Come in
costume and trick-or-treat for prizes with
favorite storybook characters, including
Little Bo Peep, Little Red Riding Hood,
and more. Dance to Halloween music,
play party games, check out books in
the Spooky Story Station, and make
a scary craft.
Says Dyson, “We hope that adults will
be transported back to the days of
their own pretend play as they watch
their children enjoy the colorful,
playful space.”
Play Pals is made possible in part
by a grant from the U.S. Institute of
Museum and Library Services.
Sponsored by
Deeper into the exhibit, a life-size
dollhouse, complete with nursery,
kitchen, and garage, beckons.
“Humans have played with dolls—
and other figures—for hundreds
of years. They’re a natural form of
play in almost all cultures,” says
Christopher Bensch, vice president
Balloons Around the World
Wednesday, October 1
Be amazed as local artists, including Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle of Airigami,
celebrate the 15th annual Balloons Around the World event by crafting a giant
balloon sculpture of a court jester on a throne in honor of the LEGO® Castle
Adventure exhibit opening October 4.
Columbus Day Castle Play
Friday, October 10–Monday, October 13
Play Pals Opening Weekend Celebration
Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday, December 7, 1–4 p.m.
Cozy up next to your pal and enjoy interactive musical performances by Billy Kelly,
nationally recognized children’s performer, on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
and Sunday at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Kelly’s “I’m Thinking of an Animal” video series appears
on PBS stations nationwide, including Rochester’s WXXI.
Construct a magical kingdom using gigantic
castle blocks, dress up as a king or queen,
and enact a story of adventure with royal
court puppets. Head to the stables to
groom a regal steed, create a miniature
3-D castle to take home, and more. And
don’t miss the chance to explore the
LEGO® Castle Adventure exhibit. Marvel at castle sculptures made entirely
from LEGO® bricks and create your own castle masterpiece.
Monday Kicks for
Ages 2 to 6
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Opens December 6
Halloween Events
Join in playful learning activities
with your child at this monthly
series created to help parents
teach little ones important skills
through play. Events run from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
November 3—Build It
Enjoy construction-themed
activities and crafts.
December 8—Let It Snow
Delight in wintertime stories
and activities.
Sponsored by
Castle blocks and other materials generously provided by HearthSong®.
4
PLAY Time • Fall 2014
www.museumofplay.org
5
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Saturday, November 1
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Is your family one of the millions
that has been collecting Hess Toy
Trucks for generations?
Courtesy LAIKA, 2014
National Toy Hall of Fame
Celebration Weekend
Saturday, November 8, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, November 9, 1–4 p.m.
Rejoice during this annual celebration of America’s favorite toys! Honor
the toys newly inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame and revel in
a weekend of activities featuring the cardboard box (2005 inductee)
and jigsaw puzzle (2002 inductee).
Enjoy a presentation at 2 p.m. each day by Mark Shapiro, from Oregonbased LAIKA, the award-winning animation studio behind Coraline (2009),
ParaNorman (2012), and the new movie The Boxtrolls, which pays homage
to the cardboard box. The movie tells the tale of an orphaned boy raised by
underground trash-collectors who wear cardboard boxes like turtles wear
their shells. See original puppets and props and learn how the creative team
at LAIKA brought these cardboard-clad characters to life.
Continue the cardboard box celebration by designing your creature,
becoming a boxtroll using stop-motion animation with Rochester Institute
of Technology professor Tom Gasek, and checking out original works of art
from cardboard artist Lou Iannone who uses the material to make houses,
trains, planes, and more.
Then become a piece of puzzle history and help put together “Wildlife,”
the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle, which depicts dozens of exotic animals
and colorful plants. The puzzle stands five feet tall, stretches 18 feet wide,
and consists of 33,600 pieces. Use “Wildlife” to play an I Spy game and
enjoy a variety of magnetic, wooden, and floor puzzles. (“Wildlife” and
other puzzles courtesy of Educa.)
This year marks the 50th anniversary
of the Hess Toy Truck. In celebration
of this milestone, Hess will be touring
a mobile museum across the nation
highlighting five decades of Hess
Toy Truck history. Where is the tour
kicking off? The Strong museum in
Rochester, New York!
The Hess Mobile Museum pulls up
to The Strong on November 1 at
10 a.m. Guests may explore the mobile
museum, see examples of the toy
trucks from the last 50 years, and
get a preview of the 2014 truck.
The mobile museum will be
accompanied by outdoor activities
for kids—including a photo op,
Kids’ Zone, and a bank of toy truck
computer games.
“We’re pleased that Hess chose to
launch their mobile museum tour
here at The Strong,” says Christopher
Bensch, vice president for collections
at The Strong. “It is only natural that
the Hess Mobile Museum makes its
first stop at the home to the world’s
largest collection of toys, dolls, games,
and play-related objects. I am sure
museum members and guests are as
excited as we are to kick off the tour.”
Learn about the National Toy Hall of Fame’s 12 finalists for 2014 induction
on page 9.
Saturday, November 8–Saturday, November 30
6
PLAY Time • Fall 2014
November. Portraits by volunteer
photographers capture each child’s
unique personality.
Children Awaiting Parents is a
national, not-for-profit charitable
organization that recruits foster and
adoptive families for special needs
Tuesday, November 11
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Enjoy storytelling, dance, and
theater from family holiday favorites
The Nutcracker and A Christmas
Carol. Check out an excerpt from
The Nutcracker performed by
costumed dancers from Rochester
City Ballet at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
A costumed cast member from
Geva Theatre Center’s production
of A Christmas Carol will read
selections from the Charles Dickens
classic at noon and 2 p.m.
children who has been waiting the
longest for permanent homes. CAP
has been serving the community for
50 years, bringing together more
than 6,000 children and families.
For more information about CAP,
visit ChildrenAwaitingParents.org.
In Another Galaxy
Saturday, November 15, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, November 16, 1–4 p.m.
Use the force and transport the family to In Another Galaxy Weekend
at The Strong. Come dressed as your favorite science-fiction character
and journey to another universe. Meet actors from the 501st Legion
(Vader’s Fist), Rebel Legion, and Rochester Ghostbusters and pose for
pictures with your favorite characters. Check out robots built by the
R2-D2 Builders Club, mix and match sci-fi outfits in the Other Worlds
Dress-Up area, and test your skills at sci-fi vintage arcade games.
LEGO® Castle
Adventure
School–Break Week
Saturday, December 20–
Sunday, January 4
The Heart Gallery Display
Open your heart. Open your home.
That’s the message Children Awaiting
Parents (CAP) seeks to impart at The
Judge Wagner 2014 Heart Gallery—
an exhibit of photographs of children
in need of adoptive families, on view
during National Adoption Month in
Get Ready for
The Nutcracker and
A Christmas Carol
Explore the LEGO® Castle Adventure
exhibit, featuring LEGO models
of real-world castles created by
LEGO® Master Builders. Train like
a knight in the jousting field,
construct a virtual castle wall using
3-D computer technology, and
admire royal furnishings including
a decorative suit of armor—made
entirely out of bricks. Get creative
and construct your own paper
brick to take home. Try your hand
at strategy games that have
challenged people for centuries
including Red Dragon, Nine Men’s
Morris, puzzles, and an oversized
game of chess.
Purchase unique art inspired by Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and
more. Make a foam light saber, stretch your intellectual powers with
brain teasers and puzzles from the Imperial Cadet Training Manual
and the Rebel Legion Activity Book, and view science fiction artifacts—
including action figures and spaceships—from the museum’s collections.
The littlest Jedi can transform Mr. Potato Head into Darth Tater or
Artoo Potatoo, and get a temporary tattoo at the Tatooine Tattoo Shop.
In Another Galaxy Weekend is not sponsored
or endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd or Walt Disney Studios.
Photo by Steve Stotzfus. Courtesy of Fly Magazine
© 2007.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Hess Trucks
50th-Anniversary
Mobile Tour Launch
www.museumofplay.org
7
MUSEUM NEWS
MEMBER
What’s New
in Collections
One of The Strong’s
newest acquisitions
is a universal icon of
childhood—an early teddy
bear of light brown mohair
and black threaded
features manufactured
by the Ideal Toy
Company—whose
origin was inspired
by the actions
of President
Theodore
“Teddy”
Roosevelt.
The history of this early
20th-century plaything
began when Roosevelt set out on
a hunting trip in Mississippi. For
several days, newspapers reported
that the President had failed to shoot
any game. Finally, Roosevelt’s aides
found a bear, which they cornered
and presented to him to shoot.
However, Roosevelt refused because
he felt it would be unsportsmanlike.
Roosevelt’s benevolence became
the subject of a political cartoon by
Clifford K. Berryman, titled “Drawing
the Line in Mississippi” and published
on November 10, 1902. A Brooklyn
store owner, Morris Michtom, saw
the drawing of Roosevelt and the
bear cub and was inspired to create
a plush bear. He crafted a little cub
and put it in his shop window with a
sign that read “Teddy’s bear.” The toy
immediately became successful.
In 1907, Michtom founded the Ideal
Novelty Company with his wife,
Rose. Several examples of their toys,
such as Teddy’s bear, Captain Action
action figures, Shirley Temple dolls,
and more will be on display in
Play Pals, an original exhibit opening
at The Strong on December 6
(see page 4).
8
PLAY Time • Fall 2014
Have you ever played the
classic computer game
Doom? If so, then you
navigated the adrenalinepumping world co-created
by prominent game
designer and developer
John Romero. In July,
Romero visited The Strong
to unveil in the museum’s
eGameRevolution exhibit a
display of his original Apple
II+ computer (used to develop his first published game)
and a notebook containing drawings and code for several of his games.
“John helped to create many iconic and historically significant games such
as Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, and Quake,” says Jon-Paul Dyson, director of
The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games and
vice president of exhibits. “We’re honored to have the original computer
that launched his career and a design notebook that offers a glimpse into
the mind of one of the video game industry’s most pioneering figures.”
These items, now part of The Strong’s permanent collections, sit alongside
those of other pioneer video game designers such as Bill Budge, Will
Wright, Ralph Baer, Don Daglow, and others.
New E-Newsletter Documents
ICHEG Activity
The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games
(ICHEG) now publishes a periodic e-newsletter to keep friends and
supporters updated about its accelerating endeavors. The e-newsletter
explores ICHEG’s most recent acquisitions, and preservation and
interpretation activities, and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the
world-class collection of video games, other electronic games, and related
historical materials it cares for. Subscribe at museumofplay.org/about/
icheg/e-newsletter.
Upcoming Journal Issue Explores
Cognitive Neuroaesthetics
The upcoming issue of the American Journal of Play
takes an in-depth look at cognitive neuroaesthetics—
an emerging subfield that combines insights of
neurological research with the study of aesthetics.
Guest edited by Phillip A. Prager, assistant professor
at the IT University of Copenhagen in Denmark and a
Cambridge University-trained art historian, this special
issue explores the vital role of play in evolutionary
success and the biological basis for creativity.
The issue draws upon cutting-edge neuroscience
to examine the importance of play to creative cognition, the
positive impact of video game play on cognitive skills, and the role that
play takes in refining the juvenile primate brain. Read the American
Journal of Play free of charge at journalofplay.org. Printed editions are also
available for subscription and single copy purchase.
2014 Toy Hall Finalists Announced
Will the paper airplane soar into
the National Toy Hall of Fame? Will
this be the year that My Little Pony
gallops across the finish line? Can
the Hess Toy Truck permanently park
itself next to other inductees? The
Strong announces the following 12
toys as finalists for induction into the
National Toy Hall of Fame: American
Girl dolls, bubbles, Fisher-Price Little
People, Hess Toy Trucks, little green
army men, My Little Pony, Operation
Skill Game, paper airplane, pots and
pans, Rubik’s Cube, Slip‘N Slide, and
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys.
The class of 2014 will be revealed
at a special ceremony on Thursday,
November 6 at 10:30 a.m., followed
by a special weekend celebration on
Finding Aids Assist Researchers
The archival collections of The Strong's Brian Sutton-Smith Library and
Archives of Play include nationally and internationally important personal
papers, design documents, business records, manuscripts, works of art, and
other materials that provide unique windows into the many facets of play, its
role in learning and human development, and the ways in which it illuminates
cultural history. For example, in addition to the papers of play scholars such
as Brian Sutton-Smith, the archives contain the papers of early childhood
educators like Vivian Paley, game designers like Sid Sackson, artists and
authors such as Johnny Gruelle and Stan and Jan Berenstain, and video game
luminaries including Ralph Baer. Preservation of and access to these materials
is paramount to the dozens of scholars, students, collectors, game designers,
and others who visit The Strong from around the world to conduct research
on a variety of scholarly and commercial endeavors.
To assist researchers in their discovery, library and archives staff create
finding aids. Finding aids describe records found within collections thereby
assisting both archives staff and users to locate and understand the materials.
Finding aids are organized either by type of material—such as personal
correspondence, business correspondence, photographs, design documents,
business records—or by theme, whichever arrangement will best assist
researchers using a particular collection. Finding aids provide information
on the collections scope; context, such as the historical background on the
person or company or game that is the collection’s focal point, the collection’s
significance in general, and its importance within the museum’s overall
collections; and the custodial history of the materials—how the museum
acquired the collection.
Processing an archival collection can take days or weeks depending on its size.
An archivist must create an inventory of the collection, determine the best
arrangement, develop a processing plan, arrange and re-house the materials,
determine if any preservation work is required, and then finalize the descriptive
information for the finding aid. Other, related archival materials that will be
useful to a researcher may also be identified. Learn more about The Strong’s
major archival collections and view its finding aids online at museumofplay.org.
Saturday, November 8 and Sunday,
November 9. See page 6 for
weekend activities.
MUSEUM NEWS
Video Game Designer Donates
First Computer
The National Toy Hall of Fame
gallery will close for renovation
on December 1.
The Strong Joins
Bivona’s Darkness
to Light Collaborative
The Strong recently joined Bivona Child
Advocacy Center’s Greater Rochester
Darkness to Light Collaborative (D2L)
as a “Partner in Prevention.” The D2L
Collaborative—which includes 10 other
organizations, such as the YMCA of
Greater Rochester—seeks to educate
adults on how to recognize and react
to child sexual abuse. Front-line museum
staff will learn tools to help prevent
child sexual abuse by completing the
two-and-a-half-hour D2L “Stewards of
Children” class.
Training is generously underwritten by
longtime museum supporter and Bivona
Board Member Tracy Till. “Supporting
Bivona's D2L education offering with
The Strong staff, whom interact with
children daily, is critical to creating more
advocates in our hometown.”
“The health of our community and its
children is paramount to The Strong,” adds
Kathleen Dengler, senior vice president
for guest and institutional services at
The Strong. “It is fitting for us to support
the D2L Collaborative and train museum
staff as partners
in prevention.”
www.museumofplay.org
9
MUSEUM NEWS
Over the past several
months, researchers from
as far as the United
Kingdom studied artifacts
in The Strong collections
and archival materials
from its Brian Sutton-Smith
Library and Archives of
Play to inform dissertations,
books, and other
scholarly works.
Among those visiting through The Strong’s
research fellowship programs were
Carly Kocurek, assistant professor of digital
humanities and media studies at the Illinois
Institute of Technology in Chicago, who
researched the history of the video arcade to inform an upcoming book;
Marc-Niclas Heckner, a doctoral student in German studies and screen
arts and cultures at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, who explored
first-person-shooter games about World War II and their impact on the
spatial perception of history; Gillian Smith, assistant professor, College
of Computer and Information Science at the College of Arts, Media, and
Design at Northeastern University, who studied the role of procedural
content generation in digital and non-digital games; and Brandi Venable,
a PhD candidate in childhood studies at Rutgers University, who conducted
research for her dissertation, tentatively titled, “Wholesome Children,
Spoiled Appetites: Conceptions of Childhood and Children’s Food
Preferences in Popular American Print and Food Advertising, 1870s–1910s.”
Also visiting were Nina Huntemann, associate professor, Department
of Communication and Journalism at Suffolk University in Boston, who
examined the strategic business practices of video game companies that
failed to survive the launch of seventh generation consoles; Reem Hilu, a
PhD candidate in screen cultures at Northwestern University, who probed
the domestic media culture into which video games were introduced; Evan
Lauteria, a PhD student at the University of California-Davis Research, who
studied the influence of Japanese culture on the global video game market
in the late 1980s and early 1990s; and Jason Corace, a game designer,
professor, and chair of the Interactive Arts department at Maryland Institute
College of Art, who examined the history of hybrid games (designs that
combine features of both electronic and analog games).
The Strong also welcomed the following scholars and independent
researchers: Victoria de Rijke, associate professor at Middlesex University
in London, England, who investigated the role of play in an artist’s creative
process; Jennifer deWinter from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in
Massachusetts, who researched Shigeru Miyamoto, the prominent Japanese
video game designer and producer; Elliott Schreiber and his research
assistant, Kristen Caccavale, from Vassar College in New York, who studied
the history of German toys; Susan Asbury, PhD candidate from Penn State
University at Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, who researched the museum’s
board and card games; John Stolarczyk, curator of the World Carrot
Museum in England, who conducted research about Katie the Carrot
(Mr. Potato Head’s friend from the 1960s and 70s); and Maurice Barie with
the American Backgammon Tour, who examined materials related to the
history of backgammon.
10
PLAY Time • Fall 2014
The Strong Welcomes
Distinguished Guests
The Strong Names
New Trustee
The Strong Names New Director
of Conservation, Chief Entomologist
The Strong is pleased to announce that Carrie McNeal has been hired as
director of conservation. In this role, McNeal oversees preservation and
conservation treatments for the museum’s more than 400,000 artifacts
related to play—including toys, dolls, board games, video games, and other
historical materials.
Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences
President Martin Rae (second from left)
visited The Strong in June to explore its
exhibits and extensive collections. Pictured
in The Strong’s International Center for the
History of Electronic Games (ICHEG) Lab
with museum President and CEO Rollie
Adams (far left) and ICHEG’s Don Daglow,
Jon-Paul Dyson, and Jeremy Saucier.
The Strong’s Board of Trustees
elected Cecilia Griffin Golden, PhD,
executive director for education
at Hillside Family of Agencies, as a
new member of its governing body.
Golden comes to the board with
a wealth of experience in both the
education and not-for-profit sectors,
and brings the ability to contribute
invaluably as the museum expands
its educational and community
outreach programs. Prior to joining
Hillside, Golden served as assistant
provost of Southern University and
A&M College, president and CEO of
Volunteers of America Chesapeake,
CEO of YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh,
and chief academic officer with the
Rochester City School District. She
holds a doctorate in sociology of
education from the State University
of New York at Buffalo, a master’s
degree in teaching English as a
second language/bilingual education
from the State University of New
York at Albany, and a bachelor’s
degree in Spanish education from
the State University of New York
at Geneseo.
Nazareth Students
Display Projects
The Strong welcomed nine interns from
area colleges and universities this summer.
Pictured from left to right in the back row
is Courtney O’Gorman, SUNY Geneseo;
Melissa Holko, University of Rochester;
and Katie Metzger, SUNY Buffalo. In the
front row from left to right is Allia Calkins,
Vanderbilt University; Mary Dannhauser, SUNY Buffalo; and
Kirsten Feigel and Hailey Cothran, both of Rochester Institute of Technology.
Ashley Campbell, Monroe Community College, and Elvia Galdamez, Rochester
Institute of Technology, are not pictured.
John Gessert (left), president and chief
executive officer of American Plastic Toys
and current chairman of the Toy Industry
Association Inc.’s board of directors,
explores The Strong with Vice President
for Collections Chris Bensch.
In June, Nazareth College graduate
students in Professor Stephen
Demanchick’s “Foundations of Play
Therapy” class shared research
on play therapy theory with
museum guests and staff. The
students displayed posters and
answered questions about the many
therapeutic aspects of play.
Bruce Raiffe (right), president of Gund, Inc.
at Enesco, tours The Strong with President
and CEO Rollie Adams.
Natasha Crookes (second from left) and
Roland Earl (second from right) of the
British Toy and Hobby Association visited with
The Strong’s Rollie Adams, Christopher Bensch,
Lisa Feinstein, and Suzanne Seldes (from left
to right).
McNeal comes to The Strong from Gateway Conservation Services in St.
Louis, Missouri. She also has experience conserving materials for the Library
of Congress and The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. McNeal
holds a master’s degree in art conservation from the University of Delaware,
a Certificate of Advanced Study in Preservation from Simmons College
in Boston, and a bachelor’s degree in art history from Southern Illinois
University, Edwardsville.
Additionally, Evan Hoki has been hired as live collections manager and
chief entomologist. In this role, Hoki provides primary care and oversight
of the museum’s Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden (including butterflies,
birds, and small reptiles) and aquaria. Hoki has experience caring for
insects and arthropods with the United States Department of Agriculture,
Cornell University, and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Insect
Zoo. He holds a master’s degree in entomology and a bachelor’s degree in
entomology and plant science from Cornell University.
MUSEUM NEWS
The Strong
Welcomes
Researchers
and Scholars
College Students
Complete Internships
at The Strong
Out and About
Over the summer, Kathleen Dengler,
senior vice president for guest and
institutional services, and Laurie
Phelps, assistant vice president for
human resources, represented The
Strong at “Uncommon Approaches
to the Common Core,” attended by
more than 200 teachers to discover
what Rochester’s cultural institutions
response is to the Common Core.
President and CEO G. Rollie Adams
recently completed a third year of
service on the Arts and Tourism
working group of the Finger Lakes
Regional Economic Development
Council.
In July, Suzanne Seldes, vice
president for marketing and
communications, participated in
“Diversity in the Arts: A Call to Action
in ROC,” a symposium hosted by
Rochester Institute of Technology.
She also participated in I Love New
York’s China Ready workshop, and
completed a second year of service
with the Sports, Recreation, and
Entertainment subcommittee of the
Finger Lakes Regional Economic
Development Council’s Tourism
and Arts working group.
Chris Bensch, vice president for
collections, offered a number of talks
to local groups including “Dolls, Deals,
and Darth Vader: The Latest from the
National Toy Hall of Fame” and “From
Decking the Halls to Shopping Malls:
American Christmas Traditions and How
They Grew.”
Crew members from Westpaw Films
conducted an interview with ICHEG
Director Jon-Paul Dyson in July for
an upcoming documentary about
Dungeons & Dragons.
www.museumofplay.org
11
MEMBER NEWS
Membership Makes the Perfect
Holiday Gift
Looking for the perfect gift that lasts all year long? An annual membership
to The Strong museum makes a wonderful gift for friends, grandparents,
coworkers, or anyone who would enjoy a whole year of family fun! To
purchase a gift membership, visit museumofplay.org, call membership
at 585-263-2700 x254, or visit the admissions desk.
After-Hours Shopping Event
Slated for November 19
Museum guests are invited to the fourth annual after-hours shopping
event on Wednesday, November 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. This evening of
shopping for adults includes prizes and refreshments. Be sure to use your
Strong Rewards card to earn a free $10 shop gift card for every $100 you
spend. Don’t have a Strong Rewards card? Pick one up when you visit the
Everything for Play! museum shop.
Members Save 25% in the
Museum Shops All December
Just in time for the holidays! Show your valid Strong
membership card and enjoy a special 25% discount
on museum shop purchases during the entire month
of December! Choose from a wide range of quality
educational toys, children’s books, arts and crafts,
dress-up items, and popular plush toys. Some
restrictions apply.
Donate to Pirate Toy Fund
The Strong is a designated drop-off site for Rochester’s Pirate Toy Fund.
Donate a new, unwrapped toy during your next museum visit to help bring
a smile to the faces of kids in the community this holiday season.
12 PLAY Time • Fall 2014
The Strong and
its International
Center for
the History
of Electronic
Games (ICHEG)
welcome
ICHEG advisor
and renowned video game music
composer Tommy Tallarico to
Rochester for a one-night only
performance of Video Games Live,
an immersive concert featuring
music from the most popular
video games of all time—from Final
Fantasy to Zelda, Pong, Halo, Mario,
and others—performed alongside
exclusive video game footage
displayed on three giant screens
with synchronized lighting and liveaction game play. Under Tallarico’s
direction, Video Games Live will be
performed locally by the Rochester
Philharmonic Orchestra at Kodak Hall
at the Eastman Theatre on Friday,
November 21.
As a supporting partner of the
concert, The Strong has arranged
for its members to receive 20% off
the regular ticket price. To order
tickets, visit rpo.org/VGL and use
promo code Strong20. Discount valid
through November 1.
Game Changer
Sponsors
Thank you
Special
Thanks –
Corporate Partners
to the Play Ball's
Businesses that make a financial
contribution to The Strong’s
Corporate Partners Program provide
meaningful support for the museum
while receiving valuable benefits
for their employees, such as freeadmission days, family passes, and
employee discounts on museum
membership. To learn how your
company can participate, contact
Katie Riley at 585-410-6368 or
[email protected].
The 5K Reindeer Run begins at
8:30 a.m. The Kids Run Wild Race
series (quarter, half, or full mile) starts
around 9:30 a.m. Check in at 7:30 a.m.
Participants are encouraged to dress
as their favorite toy. For race details,
visit yellowjacketracing.com/
reindeer-run-5k. The first 2,000
registrants receive reindeer antlers.
Proceeds to benefit The Strong.
Sponsors
Friday, September 19, was a
memorable evening as more than
600 guests gathered for the fourth
annual Play Ball. The Strong extends
its sincere thanks to trustee Steve
Dubnik and his wife, Claire, for
serving as honorary co-chairs of
Play Ball co-c
hairs Steve an
this fun-filled event, as well as all
d Claire Dub
nik
to all sponsors who helped make this year’s
Play Ball such a success. Funds raised through the Play Ball support
the many education and outreach programs provided by The Strong.
Power Player Sponsors – $5,000
Welcome to our newest
corporate partners:
HR Benefit Advisors, Ltd.
Kodak Alaris
Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP
Thank you to these corporate
partners for renewing their
memberships:
Eugene G. Sackett Co., Inc.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Five Star Bank
Harris Corporation RF
Communications Division
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Hillyard, Inc.
Lonza
All Star Sponsors – $25,000
All Star Sponsors – $25,000
To see photos from the event, visit theplayball.org.
All Star Sponsors—$25,000
Game Changer Sponsors – $10,000
Game Changer Sponsors – $10,000
Game Changer Sponsors—$10,000
Power Player Sponsors – $5,000
Play Maker
Sponsors—$5,000
Power Player
Sponsors
– $5,000
Power Player Sponsor—$7,500
Sprint to The Strong
for the Reindeer
Run 5K
The Reindeer
Run, a unique,
family-friendly
foot race is
scheduled for
the morning
of Saturday,
December 20.
Produced by YellowJacket
Racing and Sponsored by Fleet Feet
Sports, the all-ages run is downtown
Rochester’s only winter 5K event.
$10,000
ADVANCEMENT
Join The Strong at
Video Games Live
Game Player Sponsors—$2,500
Landsman Funds
New Woodbury
Scholarship
The Strong is grateful for Landsman
Development Corp.'s generous
underwriting of a scholarship to
the museum’s Woodbury School.
The Landsman Development
Corp. Woodbury School Annual
Scholarship provides funding for
a child who resides in Landsman’s
Southeast Towers II to attend
Woodbury School. Partnerships
with private supporters such as
Landsman Development Corp.
helps The Strong expand the
reach of Woodbury School.
Brown & Brown of New York, Inc.
consilium1
Constellation Brands
Costanza Enterprises
Cottone Auctions
Freed Maxick CPAs P.C.
LeChase Construction Services, LLC
M&T Bank
Manning Squires Hennig Co. Inc.
Nazareth College
Paychex
Rochester Institute of Technology
Sage Rutty & Company, Inc.
Tompkins Financial Advisors
Xerox Corporation
Team Player Sponsors—$1,500
Bill Gray's Restaurants
The Bonadio Group
Butler/Till
Canandaigua National Bank
Chaintreuil Jensen Stark Architects
CloudCheckr Inc.
Constellation Energy
Cummings Creative
HR Benefit Advisors, Ltd.
JPMorgan Chase
KeyBank
Landsman Development Corp.
Sponsors as of August 28, 2014.
Manning & Napier
Mark IV Enterprises, Inc.
Matt Wittmeyer Photography
M/E Engineering
Pullano & Company
Schultz Auctioneers
Trane
University of Rochester
Wildbyrd Productions
Windstream
Zimmet Group
www.museumofplay.org
13
Unless otherwise noted, events and character appearances
typically end by 4 p.m. and are free to members.
by John R. Erickson
(for intermediate readers)
Hank the Cowdog, along with his
sidekick Drover, are the security
force at the ranch. Like other books
in the series, this story is told with
humor and word play. Readers are
sure to laugh out loud. (This book
is shelved in the Mystery Mansion
section of Reading Adventureland.)
The Giver
by Lois Lowry
(for older readers)
Would you want to live a life of
no choices and no pain; a life so
predictable and under control
that there is no color and no joy?
This is Jonas’s life until he turns
12 and begins to visit the Giver.
These meetings lead to receiving
memories, overwhelming knowledge,
and eventually the truth about his
community. (This science-fiction
Newbery Award winner is shelved
in the Adventure Island section of
Reading Adventureland.)
14 PLAY Time • Fall 2014
1978
1962
1987
1953
4. The first female minifigure was dressed as a:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Teacher
Chemist
Reporter
Nurse
12
13
14
19 20 21
SAT
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
15
16
17
SUN
MON
TUE
THU
FRI
December 2014
SAT
SUN
1
2
3
18
9
10
11
22 23 24 25
16
17
18
26 27 28 29 30 31
WED
4
5
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
1
2
3
4
5
SAT
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
16
17
18
19 20
8
7
14
15
14
15
20 21
22
21
22 23 24 25 26 27
6
7
12
13
19
28 29 30 31
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Monday, October 6, 20 & 27
Storytime Club
Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26
Halloween Spooktacular
Be amazed as local artists create a giant
balloon sculpture to celebrate the 15th
annual Balloons Around the World event.
Autumn Adventures: delight in colorful
stories about autumn and Halloween, and
have your Storytime Club passport punched.
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.
Come in costume and see performances
by Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy;
join a dance party; create a spooky craft;
meet Yum and Yuck book series author
Nannette Nocon, and more.
Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5
LEGO® Castle Adventure
Exhibit Opening
Friday, October 10–Monday, October 13
Columbus Day Castle Play
Construct a kingdom using gigantic castle
blocks, dress up as royalty, groom a regal
steed, and more. Castle-themed materials
generously provided by HearthSong®.
Friday, October 31
Toddler Trick-or-Treat
Come in costume and trick-or-treat for
prizes with favorite storybook characters.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Saturday, November 1
Hess Trucks 50th-Anniversary
Tour Launch
Saturday, November 8–
Saturday, November 30
The Heart Gallery
Tuesday, November 11
Get Ready for The Nutcracker
and A Christmas Carol
Explore the mobile museum, enjoy outdoor
activities, and more.
View a display of photographs of children in
need of adoptive families.
Enjoy dance, storytelling, and theater.
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Monday, November 3
Monday Kicks for Ages 2 to 6
Saturday & Sunday, November 8 & 9
National Toy Hall of Fame
Celebration Weekend
Saturday & Sunday, November 15 & 16
In Another Galaxy Weekend
Build It: enjoy construction-themed activities
and crafts.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Thursday, November 6
National Toy Hall of Fame Ceremony
5. How many LEGO bricks would you need to reach the moon?
a.
b.
c.
d.
7
FRI
NOVEMBER
3. In what year was the first minifigure with movable arms
and legs released?
a.
b.
c.
d.
6
THU
Wednesday, October 1
Balloons Around the World
Explore the new exhibit, marvel at massive
LEGO® brick displays, enjoy theater
performances, and more.
Meet the newest toy inductees.
10:30 a.m.
100,000,000 bricks
20,000,000 bricks
40,000,000,000 bricks
200,000,000,000 bricks
Celebrate the cardboard box with Boxtrolls
movie-themed activities, help put together
the world’s largest puzzle, and more.
Monday, November 10, 17 & 24
Storytime Club
Be Thankful: gather around for stories and
have your Storytime Club passport punched.
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.
Come dressed as your favorite sci-fi character,
meet actors from the 501st Legion and Rebel
Legion, and more.
Wednesday, November 19
After-Hours Shopping Event
Enjoy an adults-only shopping experience.
5–8 p.m.
Thursday, November 27
Museum Closed for Thanksgiving
DECEMBER
6. How many different ways can six eight-stud LEGO bricks
be combined?
a.
b.
c.
d.
36 ways
46,656 ways
2,156,369 ways
915,103,765 ways
Winter Wonderland: cozy up with tales about
the winter season and have your Storytime
Club passport punched.
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.
7. How tall is the tallest tower made from LEGO bricks?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Monday, December 1
National Toy Hall of Fame Closes
for Renovation
Monday, December 1 & 15
Storytime Club
79 feet
102 feet
114 feet
158 feet
Saturday & Sunday, December 6 & 7
Play Pals Exhibit Opening
Explore a world of imagination with action
figure play stations, teddy bear hospital,
walk-in doll house, and more. Delight
in musical performances by Billy Kelly,
nationally recognized children’s performer.
7. c
The Case of the
Halloween Ghost
Play Often
Play Well
Live Long
Build Big
6. D
Mr. King discovers he has made a
big mistake when he tries to make
a castle with blocks of earth. Luckily,
with the help of his animal friends,
he is able to put the earth back
together. Charming illustrations
accompany this small story with a
big message. (This book is shelved in
the LEGO® Castle Adventure exhibit.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
5. c
by Genevieve Cote
(for younger readers)
2. Ole Kirk Kristiansen, LEGO company founder, developed the name
“LEGO” by using the first two letters of the Danish phrase leg godt,
which means what?
4. d
Mr. King’s Castle
3. a
Librarians’ picks from the
Grada Hopeman Gelser Library
1959
1910
1932
1946
2. b
Book Nook
5
November 2014
WED
OCTOBER
1. In what year was LEGO Group founded?
a.
b.
c.
d.
TUE
30
Answers: 1. c
KIDS PAGE
LEGO® Castle Adventure opens October 4.
Test your LEGO knowledge! How many
of these trivia questions can you
guess correctly?
MON
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Fall 2014
LEGO Quiz
October 2014
SUN
Monday, December 8
Monday Kicks for Ages 2 to 6
Let It Snow: delight in wintertime stories
and activities.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Saturday, December 20
Reindeer Run
Hoof it over to The Strong for this 5k
fundraiser. Register at yellowjacketracing.com/
reindeer-run-5k.
Wednesday, December 24
Museum Closes at 4 p.m.
Thursday, December 25
Museum Closed for Christmas
Wednesday, December 31
Museum Closes at 4 p.m.
Saturday, December 20–
Sunday, January 4
LEGO® Castle Adventure
School–Break Week
Explore the LEGO® Castle Adventure exhibit
and try your at hand games such as Red
Dragon, chess, and Nine Men’s Morris.
www.museumofplay.org
15
Nonprofit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Rochester, NY
Permit No. 4144
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
The Strong® is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of
play. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization, The Strong is funded in part by contributions
and grants from individuals, corporations, foundations, and state and federal entities. It is home to the
International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the Brian
Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play and
houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play.
MUSEUM ADMISSION
General Admission (does not include admission to
Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden®): age 2 and older
$13.50, under age 2 free, museum members free.
Admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden: $3
per person for members, general admission fee plus
$4 for nonmembers; children under age 2 free. Entry
to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden is by reservation
only. Reservations may be made at the museum’s
admissions desk.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Don H. Kollmorgen
Laura Saxby Lynch
Linda McGinley, EdD
William W. Napier
Aaron C. Newman
Cecilia Griffin Golden, PhD James H. Norman
David J. Burns
Timothy T. Conlon
Roberta DuBeshter
Steve Dubnik
Zeke Duda
Joy Ryen Plotnik, Esq
William D. Rice
Donald J. Riley
Fred W. Smith, PhD
Matthew Tipple
Jeff Valentine
John E. Van de Wetering, PhD
Mee F. Wing
Admission rates and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden
fees subject to change. The museum accepts Visa,
MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
G. Rollie Adams, PhD
President and CEO
PARKING
Limited free parking is available for guests during regular
museum hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Strong is supported with public funds from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the New York State Council
on the Arts (NYSCA), a State agency. The Strong is accredited by
the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and is an institutional
member of AAM, the American Association for State and Local History
(AASLH), the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), and the
Museum Association of New York (MANY).
On high visitation days, the museum lot may reach
capacity early in the day. If space is not available on
site at the time of your visit, you will find additional
parking (fees apply) at neighboring municipal garages.
MUSEUM HOURS
Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
The Strong is a United Way donor designation agency (ID#2556)
The museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day
and Christmas Day. The museum will close at 4 p.m.
on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and open at
noon on New Year's Day.
Woodbury School
Accepting Applications
for 2015–2016
DINING
The museum offers a variety of dining options
including Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell Express,
Subway, Louie’s Sweet Shoppe, and Bill Gray’s
Restaurant. Visit museumofplay.org for hours
and information.
At Woodbury School children learn
and develop through playful activities
set among engaging, hands-on
museum exhibits. Activities involve
art, music, cooperative games,
math, pre-reading, and more using
the Reggio Emilia philosophy,
an approach to education that
encourages students and teachers
to work together to plan the
curriculum and create projects.
Woodbury School offers a preschool program
for three- and four-year-old children and an early kindergarten
program for four- and five-year-old children. Applications for 2015–2016
enrollment will be available beginning December 1, 2014. Visit museumofplay.org
or call 585-263-2700 for more information.
On weekends, holidays, and during school breaks,
dining tables and chairs are reserved for restaurant
customers only.
INFORMATION
585-263-2700 • museumofplay.org
PLAY TIME
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Editor: Kelly Murphy Lucyszyn
Contributing Writers and Photographers:
Hailey Cothran, Kim Della Porta, Lisa Feinstein,
Barbara Fulford, Jonathan Groff, Melissa Holko,
Kelly Murphy Lucyszyn, Shane Rhinewald, Katie Riley,
Suzanne Seldes, Jeremy Steinkamp
Art Director: Niki Kruger, Zimmet Group
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