The mural on Sherman Avenue and Greenwood Street in Evanston celebrates and uplifts some of the many innovations and inventions that have come out of Evanston related to children’s play and culture. It was inspired by the “It’s All Fun and Games” exhibition at the Evanston History Center and created in 2026 by artist Jeff Zimmermann through
Art Encounter’s Evanston Mural Arts Program. The images in the mural are ones whose makers lived or worked in Evanston
Click each image below to learn about the many toy, game, and play-makers who called Evanston home through the decades.
Ice Cream Sundae
Evanston claims the invention of the ice cream sundae. It is attributed to Garwood’s Drug Store, which stood on the corner of Davis St. and Orrington Ave. It is said the sundae was created in the 1870s as a response to the prohibition against the sale of soda water on Sundays. The soda-less ice cream was a “Sunday” soda.
Tinker Toys
Tinkertoys were invented in Evanston in 1914 by Charles Pajeau and Robert Petit. Pajeau was inspired to create the toys after watching children play with spools of thread and sticks. Tinkertoys were produced at 2012 Ridge Avenue and 807 Greenwood. Tinkertoys was purchased by Spaulding in 1952 and later by Hasbro. The company moved out of Evanston in 1986.
Ringling Bros
Added: Charles Ringling, one of the five brothers who founded the Ringling Brothers Circus, lived on Forest Ave. in Evanston in the early 1900s. The circus parade would come through Evanston to herald the beginning of summer and the traveling circus season.
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Robert May, who lived in Evanston at Hull Terrace and later 9301 Hamlin, was a copywriter for Montgomery Ward’s department store. In 1939, he was given the assignment of creating a character and a story for a promotional book at Christmas. Drawing on his own memories of being bullied and feeling left out as a child, he created Rudolph.
View Master
While Evanston resident Charles Harrison did not design the first View-Master–the classic toy that brought 3D images to life– he redesigned it in 1960 using plastic injection molding production, creating the iconic version. He went on to become the first Black executive at Sears, Roebuck and Company and was one of the few Black professional industrial designers of his time.
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile
Oscar G. Mayer, the son of Oscar F. who founded the Oscar Mayer meat processing plant and sausage-making company with his brother Gottfried, lived on Forest Avenue in Evanston. Gottfried’s son, Carl Mayer, was in charge of advertising and created the wienermobile as an advertising stunt in 1936.
Duncan Yo-yo
While the original yo-yo is based on a folk-toy popular in the Philippines, Donald P. Duncan was responsible for mainstreaming it in the 1950s and 1960s. The company, Donald P. Duncan, Inc. had offices on Chicago Avenue in Evanston in the 1960s. They heavily promoted the toy, hosting yo-yo contests and events around the country.
Operation and Toss Across
These toys were created by innovator Marvin Glass, along with Mr. Machine, Simon, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Mousetrap, and many others. Glass did not manufacture the toys, but he sold production rights to large toy companies like Ideal and Hasbro and Milton Bradley. He lived on Forest Avenue in Evanston.
Talking Teeth and Lite-Brite
Wind up Talking Teeth and Lite-Brite were made by Marvin Glass and Associates in the 1950-60s. Glass was a prolific toy inventor who lived in Evanston. He played a large role in the transformation of the toy industry during the 1960s-70s, when the industry exploded with an infusion of bright, colorful toys and games for kids, often made from plastic.
