<P> Mr. Potato Head is an American toy consisting of a plastic model of a potato which can be decorated with a variety of plastic parts that can attach to the main body . These parts usually include ears, eyes, shoes, a hat, a nose, and a mouth . The toy was invented and developed by George Lerner in 1949, and first manufactured and distributed by Hasbro in 1952 . Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on television and has remained in production since its debut . The toy was originally produced as separate plastic parts with pushpins that could be stuck into a real potato or other vegetable . However, due to complaints regarding rotting vegetables and new government safety regulations, Hasbro began including a plastic potato body within the toy set in 1964 . </P> <P> Over the years, the original toy was joined by Mrs. Potato Head and supplemented with accessories such as a car and a boat trailer . Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head may be best known for their appearances in the Toy Story franchise . Additionally, in 1998 The Mr. Potato Head Show aired but was short - lived, with only one season being produced . As one of the prominent marks of Hasbro, a Mr. Potato Head balloon has also joined others in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade . Today, Mr. Potato Head can still be seen adorning hats, shirts, and ties . Toy Story Midway Mania!, in Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort, also features a large talking Mr. Potato Head . </P> <P> In the early 1940s, Brooklyn - born toy inventor George Lerner came up with the idea of inserting small, pronged body and face parts into fruits and vegetables to create a "funny face man". Some speculate he got the idea from his wife's nephew Aaron Bradley, who was seen placing sticks inside of potatoes in the family garden . Lerner would often take potatoes from his mother's garden and, using various other fruits and vegetables as facial features, he would make dolls with which his younger sisters could play . The grape - eyed, carrot - nosed, potato - headed dolls became the principal idea behind the plastic toy which would later be manufactured . </P> <P> In the beginning, Lerner's toy proved controversial . With World War II and food rationing a recent memory for most Americans, the use of fruits and vegetables to make toys was considered irresponsible and wasteful . Toy companies rejected Lerner's creation . After several years of trying to sell the toy, Lerner finally convinced a food company to distribute the plastic parts as premiums in breakfast cereal boxes . He sold the idea for $5,000 . But in 1951, Lerner showed the idea to Henry and Merrill Hassenfeld, who conducted a small school supply and toy business called Hassenfeld Brothers (later changed to Hasbro). Realizing the toy was quite unlike anything in their line, they paid the cereal company $2,000 to stop production and bought the rights for $5,000 . Lerner was offered an advance of $500 and a 5% royalty on every kit sold . The toy was dubbed Mr. Potato Head and went into production . </P>

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