Dispensa's Castle Of Toys - "WGN Stars Visit" (Commercial, 1979)

[@Hazwaste63]

Grew up in Clarendon Hills and Naperville in the 60's and early 70's. We went by Castle of Toys many times, but never went in, to my knowledge. It was truly the promised land for this Chicagoland kid.

[@ahwayzcool4630]

Man I LOVED this place as a kid. This place was like a childhood wonderland! I never wanted to leave. lol. It was WAY better than Toys R Us. Good memories

[@TheDragon8u2]

Grew up in Glen Ellyn, and my folks liked to shop at Sears at Oakbrook Center. Was in the Castle of Toys several times growing up. So many early childhood memories of that place. One of those things I wish I could go back to and re visit as an adult.

[@johnrobinson6239]

Grew up in Glen Ellyn as well. Jay Dispensa lived just down the street from me - the way I recall it Dispensa's Castle of Toys was right next to Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom (let's go!) - but like most kids I had no clue what town I was in, just that I had arrived at the promised land.

[@4IANNA_]

Wish this place was still around, I would have loved this place! The relatives of my great grandparents owned it. 😊💖

[@pernelldh]

Me too.

[@stcdancer3]

Me too

[@bigverybadtom]

And what was put in its place when the castle was demolished? Just what Oak Brook needed-another bog office building!

[@bretknol1981]

When it was first built, the area was little more than a corn field. As time passed, the Dispensas were approached many times to sell the land, but they refused. Finally, they were offered so much that they couldn't refuse, and this ended the castle. I have never found a place that could rival it, not then and not now. Trivia - The road around the office building is called Dispensa Dr.

[@luisreyes1963]

Sadly, I never got to visit Dispensa's Castle Of Toys when I was a child. It was the closest thing to Disneyland in my mind.

[@cyndyfletcher2442]

I grew up in Naperville from 1957-1969, but I remember only 1 trip to this great store. it was overwhelming to me. Might have been 1958, though at 8 years old I was too old to get the baby stroller that I did get. But I was a geek so.... lol. I remember getting the Easy Bake oven too, and a pair of boots. I don't remember the color, but it seemed as though there was a whole wall just of boots. I had no idea as a kid where this store was or even the name...trying to explain it to someone from out of the area just got me blank stares! I wish my folks had taken me more often, or maybe I could have taken my 5 yr old there in 1977 when we were visiting from out of state. fun times.

[@Dicegirl72]

At the time, I thought my parents were the worst parents in the world for not bringing me to this place when I was little.

[@glennjoselane1690]

I had a pair of Click-Clacks which eventually broke apart sending plastic shards everywhere. I also had a Thing Maker which heated to skin--burning temperatures. Loved those great toys from the 60's!!! Chicago native here.

[@MrPotatosquid]

Ray Reiner, Cookie the Clown AND Santa Claus? How is anyone saying no to that.

[@ClearwaterMK2]

I think it's because one of their commercials has Santa stalking a family.

[@bretknol1981]

I actually lived within bicycle distance of Dispensa's. I was there several times to buy model train stuff.

[@davidurban6813]

Good selection of "model trains stuff" 😆 LOL. What scale was your pleasure? Are you still into model railroading now? Or moved on to something alot more softer and sexier 😉. Just wondering. Have a great day everyone

[@bretknol1981]

@@davidurban6813 Started with O in the 60s. moved to N gauge in he 70s No, I am not Yes I have

[@vegassims7]

I totally remember this place... it was HEAVEN for children. Better than Toys R Us.

[@shockwave5150]

I still have an electric N-scale train locomotive from that place, kept it under lock and key all my life.

[@pocoapoco2]

I always wondered if you could actually go up into the spires. I know there was actually an office up above the main entrance.

[@samf63]

Never went there, but couldn't shake the awful earworm of this place!!! LOL

[@525Lines]

Were click-clacks still a thing in 79? I knew the swept the playground when I was in grade school one year, these two plastic balls on a string that inevitably bashed you in the face while trying to make it work.

[@525Lines]

Zelda Williams Between those thing and platform shoes, the school nurse was never bored.

[@thomasgriffin5340]

Click clack balls were the first banned weapons of mass destruction at my school. Did Kiddieland and Santa's Village but missed out on Kiddie Kingdom and Old Chicago.

[@Itzbozo]

My father was in his teens and was friends with the Dispensa boys, so in the summer he would work at the kiddie kingdom.

[@DavidKanofsky]

Bob Bell (Bozo) did the voice over at the end.

[@sillyboyronaldflores]

The bass line in a song ever?