Today In History: Re-Introducing Etch-A-Sketch
Born in 1926, Andre Cassagnes was a French electrician, kite designer, and inventor who created the ever- popular drawing toy known as Etch-A-Sketch (L'Écran Magique or "Magic Screen"). In the late 1950s, Cassagnes was inspired by the potential combination of metal particles and pencil -- seeing creativity and merit in aluminum powder that could move upon a flat, rectangular screen by the simple twist of a couple of knobs -- one that moved a stylus horizontally, and the other that moved it vertically. After a second review of the toy, the Ohio Toy Company took a chance and launched it in 1960. In 1998, thirty-eight years after it was first reintroduced to the market, and with over one hundred million copies sold around the world, Etch-A-Sketch landed a special place in Rochester's National Toy Hall of Fame.
For baby boomers, Cassagne's magic screen ranked as one of the most cherished toys in the United States -- though the art of using it was experienced by some. Certain users took decades to master the technique of mechanical drawing; for others it was more natural -- a simple way to enjoy a new kind of drawing without pencil and paper. Shaking the toy easily allowed one to start over or to erase one's work. Over time, accomplished artists found ingenious ways to preserve their drawings by disassembling the parts; removing the powder; and keeping the screen. And yes, Etch-A-Sketch is still on the market!
The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.
- A Silver Etch-A-Sketch? (1985/03/31/, 1985 Mar 31). The Sun (1837-)
- Rapping, A. (1985/07/20/, 1985 Jul 20). Etch-A-Sketch Artists Draw on Childhood Talents. The Hartford Courant (1923-)
- Wharton, D. (1989/05/12/, 1989 May 12). Artistic Itch Cured by Etch-A-Sketch: Man Masters Tortuous Toy After 20 Years of Twisting Its Knobs. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995)
- Master of the Knobs: The Etch-A-Sketch Art of Michael Vidal. (1989/05/31/, 1989 May 31). The Washington Post (1974-)
- Brown, K. (1990/03/09/, 1990 Mar 09). Toying with a Classic: Etch-A-Sketch Turns 30, But Demand Remains as High as Ever. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995)
- Selby, H. (1990/07/12/, 1990 Jul 12). The Ageless Lines of...: Etch-A-Sketch Still Has Drawing Power, Even After 30 Years. The Sun (1837-)
- Kelleher, K. (1991/12/11/, 1991 Dec 11). Playing for Keeps: From Etch-A-Sketch to Barbie, Baby Boomers Pass on Their Favorites. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995)
- Niemann, C. (2013/12/29/, 2013 Dec 29). Andre Cassagnes: The Creator of the Etch-A-Sketch Gets His Own Treatment. New York Times (1923-)
- Orndorff, A. (2007/10/24/, 2007 Oct 24). Mr. Etch-A-Sketch: With a Toy, Tim George Can Create Amazing Lasting Images. The Washington Post (1974-)
- Etch-A-Sketch Creator Dies in Paris. (2013/02/04/, 2013 Feb 04). The Irish Times (1921-)
Tips:
- McManness, E. (2018). Art Starts with a Line : A Creative and Interactive Guide to the Art of Line Drawing. Walter Foster Publishing, an imprint of the Quatro Group. e-book.
- Sobey, E. J. C., & Sobey, W. (2008). The Way Toys Work: The Science Behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch-A- Sketch, Boomerang, and More. Chicago Review Press. e-book.
- Szekely, George. Teaching to Support Children's Artistic Independence : How Children's Creativity Can Inform Art Education, Taylor & Francis Group, 2022. e-book.
Images:
- Taj Mahal Drawing on an Etch-A-Sketch, by Etcha, 2007, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
- Poster Image: Kid's Sketch Toy, 2018, Courtesy of OpenClip Art.
Need to keep current, look to the past, teach a topic? The Everett Cafe features daily postings of news from around the world, and also promotes awareness of historical events from an educational context. Be sure to check additional Cafe News postings on the library blog.
