Burt Meyer, the creative force behind iconic toys such as Lite-Brite, Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, and Mouse Trap, has died at the age of 99. He passed away on October 30 at King-Bruwaert House in Burr Ridge, Illinois, where he lived, according to Rebecca Mathis, the executive director.
Meyer’s inventions emerged during the postwar boom, a time when plastic molding and mass production transformed children’s play. His ability to blend childlike imagination with practical engineering led to toys that remained popular for decades. The idea for Lite-Brite came in 1966 while walking in Manhattan with Marvin Glass, owner of a major toy design company. Passing a window display of coloured lights, Meyer insisted electric lights could be safely adapted for children, despite doubts from engineers. He created a small backlit box with black paper sheets, allowing kids to make illuminated patterns. Lite-Brite became a hit, earning spots on Time Magazine’s list of 100 greatest toys and in the Strong National Museum of Play’s hall of fame.
Meyer also revived a stalled arcade boxing game concept by replacing human fighters with robots, leading to Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots. Players control fists with buttons on joysticks, aiming to pop up the opponent’s spring-loaded head. The toy appeared in Toy Story 2, and Mattel announced plans for a live-action film adaptation in 2021. In the mid-1980s, Meyer founded Meyer/Glass Design, which produced best-sellers like Gooey Louie and Pretty Pretty Princess. His son Steve ran the business until 2006.
Born in 1926 as Burton Carpenter Meyer, he served in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic. After retiring, he moved to Downers Grove, Illinois, where he built small planes and flew them into his 80s. Meyer often compared aerospace engineering to toy design, emphasising ingenuity and teamwork. His car bore the vanity plate TOYKING, and he took delight in people’s nostalgic reactions to his work.
