Short answers, pulled from the story.
The inaugural issue of Playthings arrived in January 1903. Editor Robert McCready opened the twenty-page publication by addressing the more than 20,000 concerns in the United States engaged in the manufacture or sale of dolls, toys, and games.
The outbreak of the First World War in 1915 fundamentally altered the magazine's content and national focus. As global trade routes became dangerous or blocked, the importation of foreign toys ceased, forcing Playthings to pivot almost entirely to American-made products.
Geyer-McAllister Publications took over the magazine in 1967. This event signaled a new era of corporate management and broader industry reach for the publication.
The physical run of Playthings magazine came to an end in Fall 2010 when Reed Business Information sold it to Sandow Media. On the 1st of October 2010, all copies from 1903 to 2010 were acquired by the Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play at The Strong in Rochester, New York.
The relationship between Playthings and The Strong in Rochester, New York, began in earnest in November 2010 when the magazine became the official national media partner of The National Toy Hall of Fame. A three-year special promotional agreement was entered into to solidify this partnership.