A Childhood Icon Lost: Creator of Generations Favorite Toys, Dead at 99
A cherished piece of countless childhoods is gone.
The brilliant creator who helped craft some of the most unforgettable toys and games of multiple generations—the ones that filled family rooms, sparked friendships, and fueled endless bursts of imagination—has died at the incredible age of 99.
Burt Meyer, the inventive force behind classics like Rock’em Sock’em Robots, Lite-Brite, Mouse Trap, and Toss Across, has passed away.
Lived in two worlds at the same time
Meyer’s toys emerged during a defining era in American life—the postwar boom, when mass production and new plastic-molding technology were completely reshaping how children played. As innovation opened the door to more creative and interactive toys, Meyer stepped forward with ideas that would forever influence the landscape of childhood.
What made Meyer exceptional was his ability to exist in two realms simultaneously: he possessed the boundless imagination of a child dreaming up fantastical ideas, alongside the precise mechanical brilliance required to turn those dreams into something real.
The idea for Lite-Brite was sparked in 1966 as Meyer and Marvin Glass—the head of one of the most influential toy design companies of the era—walked through Manhattan, according to NBC News.
Engineers doubted it could work
Passing a striking store display full of glowing colored lights, Meyer immediately saw an opportunity. Company engineers questioned whether it could be made safe for children, historian Tim Walsh wrote in Timeless Toys. But Meyer insisted it was possible.
“There are billions of ideas out there,” Walsh wrote, “but the real challenge lies in executing them into a finished, creative product.”
Those finished designs went on to define childhoods for decades.
Bright, glowing dots illuminating dark bedrooms… plastic pieces scattered across carpets… siblings arguing over which pegs to use… and the thrill of flipping the switch to reveal a shining creation.
The making of Lite-Brite
To bring Lite-Brite to life, Meyer developed a small lighted box paired with sheets of black paper that kids could punch through with colorful pegs. The toy became a sensation—earning a spot on Time magazine’s list of the 100 greatest toys ever made and being inducted into the Strong National Museum of Play’s Hall of Fame. Modern versions are still sold today.
Meyer brought that same inventive mindset to reimagining a once-popular boxing arcade game that had stalled after the tragic death of a featherweight fighter made realistic boxing themes feel inappropriate.
But Meyer saw a way through. As he said in a 2010 interview, “This is too good to pass up. Let’s take humanity out of it—make them robots. And instead of falling over, something funny will happen.”
The result? One of the most iconic toys ever created—and generations of kids shouting, “You knocked my block off!”
Burt Meyer died on Oct. 30, according to Rebecca Mathis, executive director of the King-Bruwaert House in Burr Ridge, Illinois, the retirement community where he spent his final years.
Rest in peace, Burt Meyer. Thank you for filling our childhoods with magic and creativity. Godspeed.