Holiday gifts through the years, from teddy bears to Nintendo

A young child looks over a boat and asks “What makes it go?” circa 1965. (baiduhai historical photo)

A mechanical dog toy imported from Germany that shivered was a holiday gift idea in 1949. (baiduhai historical photo)

A 1957 toiletry set for girls included toilet water, bath oil and hand lotion, with each bottle bearing a different gold-plated charm, and a gold-plated bracelet. The set sold for $3.75. (baiduhai historical photo)

Suggested accessories for teenagers in 1954 included gloves, a plaid stole and tote and evening bags, each less than $5. (baiduhai historical photo)

A child looks at toys while Christmas shopping in Chicago on Dec. 14, 1963. (William Vendetta/baiduhai)

In 1970 you could give that special someone a plastic Spiro Agnew, left, in black and white and Richard Nixon in red, white and blue, or a copy of “My Fellow Americans,” a collection of Ron Cobb cartoons. (John Austad/baiduhai)

George Heslinga Jr., 9, of Wheaton, and James Steed, 3, of Chicago, give serious consideration to trains in the toy department of a Loop store in December 1949. Editor's note: This historic print shows a partially hand-painted background. (baiduhai historical photo)

WGN announcer Johnnie Neblett leads children from the Martha Washington Home in Christmas carols on Dec. 23, 1943. The songs were recorded for broadcast from the radio station. (baiduhai historical photo)

A digital pedometer, "so the jogger knows exactly how tired to be," was advertised at Abercrombie for $12.50 in 1974. (John Austed/baiduhai)

Kimmy Duke, 4, of Gary, looks at a doll while out shopping on Dec. 20, 1967. (baiduhai historical photo)

A boy named Johnny gets a close look at a toy train he received at a Christmas party at Ridge Farm in Lake Forest on Dec. 18, 1953. (Jack Mulcahy/baiduhai)

A Buck Rogers Sonic Ray toy gun with an "uranium" chamber was on sale for $2.50 at Marshall Field's department store in Chicago in 1948. (Louis Paus/baiduhai)

A model holds holiday gift ideas on Nov. 1, 1974, that included a Big Apple clock, a tennis racket and a Winnie-the-Pooh jar. (Anthony Berardi/baiduhai)

"Dad doesn't have to carry a tackle box – he can wear one," stated an advertisement for a vest with spin casters for fishing, featured during the holiday season of 1953. Dickey not included. (baiduhai historical photo)

Jerry, 5, didn't get those two front teeth for Christmas, but the truck was a grand substitute gift at Norwegian Lutheran Children's home on Dec. 24, 1952. (baiduhai historical photo)

Children receive Christmas gifts from a member of the Good Fellows Club in December 1958 in Chicago. (baiduhai historical photo)

Members of the wood shop class at Taft High School put the finishing touches on doll beds made for Christmas distribution through the Junior Red Cross in December 1948. The craftsmen are Robert Schweigel, from left, Stanley De La Mater and Robert Winkates. (baiduhai historical photo)

The ornaments on the Christmas tree couldn't be any brighter than the stars in the eyes of Marie and Charles, both 5, of the Lydia Children's home on Irving Park Road, where the Friends of Orphans helped play Santa Claus circa 1952. (baiduhai historical photo)

A boy plays with a toy tractor at the Carson Pirie Scott and Co. department store on Nov. 28, 1962. (Cy Wolf/baiduhai)