Cheap Plastic Memories

For kids who’ve grown up in the Chicago area over the past few decades, very few can look back on their former—and current—childhoods without a fond nod to the inexpensive glory that is Mold-O-Rama.

To those unaware, Mold-O-Rama’s are futurist-looking (well, futurist, from a 1960s point of view) vending machines which create hot plastic-molded toys on the spot for nary a buck. These toys take various forms – but are usually cast as animals, vehicles, or the head of Abraham Lincoln.

Growing up, I have no idea how many Mold-O-Rama’s I had. But I do know they did not last long at my house, especially when used as bath toys, but that was the beauty part: freshly molded replacements—held upside-down after exiting the hopper to help cool them--were always at hand.

But happily, unlike most stuff we grew up with that today no longer exists, Mold-O-Rama’s are still available at certain Chicago attractions – typically, at Brookfield Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry – prompting former kids to renew their collections as adults.

I think I have an alligator around here somewhere.