Why Did We Think These Childhood Toys Weren’t Scary?

Mattel introduced Chatty Cathy in 1959, and she was a marvel of her time. Pull her string, and a tiny record inside played one of many phrases voiced by June Foray. She’d say things like, “I love you,” or “Please take me with you.” It was charming at first, but when the mechanism got old and worn, her voice would slow down into a deep, demonic-sounding drawl. Hearing a doll rasp “Tell me a story” from a dark corner of the room was a creepy experience for many.