A beloved creator of classic childhood toys has passed away at 99. Burt Meyer, the inventive mind behind Rock’em Sock’em Robots, Lite-Brite, Mouse Trap, and Toss Across, helped shape generations of play.
Meyer designed toys during the postwar boom, combining a childlike imagination with sharp engineering skills. The idea for Lite-Brite came in 1966 after he saw a glowing window display in Manhattan. Despite doubts from engineers, he pushed forward, creating the light-up box and punch-through peg system that became an instant classic and a Hall of Fame toy.
His creativity also transformed a stalled boxing arcade concept into Rock’em Sock’em Robots by making the fighters mechanical instead of human — leading to one of the most iconic toys ever.
Burt Meyer died on Oct. 30 at the retirement community where he spent his later years.