One of the crowning moments of performative parenting. I don’t think anyone was killed, but there were arrests and injuries reported.
The toy was released in July of that year with an initial run of 400,000 units, and sold well. Rosie O’Donnell showed the toy on her show that October, and Black Friday that year they suddenly sold out. Another production run of 600,000 units was started, but the “shopping frenzy” had begun.
Tickle Me Elmo retailed for just under $30 at the time; scalpers sold them for thousands of dollars apiece, one sold at auction for $18,000. Two women in Chicago were arrested for fighting over one. People chased delivery trucks after the toys, a retail clerk was trampled by a crowd rushing down an aisle to claim theirs, suffering, according to Wikipedia: “a pulled hamstring, injuries to his back, jaw and knee, a broken rib and a concussion”.
Similar phenomena have occurred before and since; Cabbage Patch Kids, the Playstation 2 and Nintendo Wii saw similar “shopping frenzies” but I don’t think any were quite as loud as Tickle Me Elmo. A toy which I’m sure their children got minutes of mild enjoyment from.
The toy was released in July of that year with an initial run of 400,000 units, and sold well. Rosie O’Donnell showed the toy on her show that October, and Black Friday that year they suddenly sold out. Another production run of 600,000 units was started, but the “shopping frenzy” had begun.
Tickle Me Elmo retailed for just under $30 at the time; scalpers sold them for thousands of dollars apiece, one sold at auction for $18,000. Two women in Chicago were arrested for fighting over one. People chased delivery trucks after the toys, a retail clerk was trampled by a crowd rushing down an aisle to claim theirs, suffering, according to Wikipedia: “a pulled hamstring, injuries to his back, jaw and knee, a broken rib and a concussion”.
Similar phenomena have occurred before and since; Cabbage Patch Kids, the Playstation 2 and Nintendo Wii saw similar “shopping frenzies” but I don’t think any were quite as loud as Tickle Me Elmo. A toy which I’m sure their children got minutes of mild enjoyment from.
My brother got his use out of it. until it got too dirty and had to be thrown away