Burt Meyer, the creator whose toys defined entire childhoods, has died at the age of 99.
The brilliant mind whose creativity helped shape some of the most beloved toys of the last century.
The kinds of toys that lit up living rooms, sparked lifelong friendships, and turned ordinary afternoons into unforgettable adventures — has passed away at the remarkable age of 99.
Burt Meyer, the visionary designer behind classics like Rock’em Sock’em Robots, Lite-Brite, Mouse Trap, and Toss Across, is no longer with us.
His creations were more than toys. They were cultural landmarks. They were the building blocks of imagination. They were tiny pieces of magic that shaped childhoods across generations.
A Designer Who Lived in Two Worlds at Once
To understand Burt Meyer’s impact, you have to understand the era he stepped into.
America in the years after World War II was bursting with change. Technology was evolving at a breathtaking pace:
Plastics became cheaper, lighter, and easier to shape.
Electronics began moving from factories into everyday homes.
Parents, newly hopeful about the future, wanted their children to have opportunities they themselves never had.
Toys were no longer simple wooden blocks or tin cars — they were beginning to reflect the imagination of a new world.
And in the middle of that transformation stood Meyer, a man who lived in two worlds simultaneously.
On one side was the imagination of a child, overflowing with color, movement, and possibility.
On the other side was the disciplined mind of an engineer, able to translate dreams into gears, springs, switches, and mechanisms that actually worked.
He could picture magical ideas — and then build them.
This rare combination made Meyer one of the most influential toy designers in American history.
His toys weren’t just fun. They were innovative, mechanically clever, and durable enough to survive years of enthusiastic hands tugging, twisting, punching, building, and experimenting.
The Spark That Lit the Lite-Brite
One of Meyer’s most iconic inventions — Lite-Brite — was born in 1966, thanks to a moment of inspiration on a Manhattan sidewalk.
According to NBC News, Meyer and Marvin Glass, the head of a powerhouse toy design firm, were walking through the city when they passed a dazzling, glowing window display.
Most adults would have admired the lights and walked on.
But Meyer saw something else.
He saw the potential for a completely new way for children to create art — not with crayons or paints, but with light.
Engineers argued it wasn’t possible. They worried about heat, electricity, tiny parts, safety standards — all the things toy designers must consider.
Many believed the idea would never make it past the concept stage.
But Meyer refused to give up.
He designed:
a child-safe illuminated box,
black paper sheets that blocked light until punched through,
colorful plastic pegs that glowed like stars when the lamp behind them lit up.
The moment children turned on the switch for the first time and saw their pictures shine, a legend was born.