The Tom Gulley Show Podcast!

Before tablets, before touchscreens, and long before “undo” buttons, there was the Etch A Sketch — a deceptively simple toy that became a cultural icon. On this episode of The Tom Gulley Show, we explore the surprising history, design brilliance, and lasting legacy of one of the most beloved toys of the 20th century. Invented by French electrician André Cassagnes and introduced to American audiences in the early 1960s, the Etch A Sketch transformed two knobs, aluminum powder, and a gray screen into a global phenomenon. From childhood masterpieces to pop-culture appearances in film, television, and advertising, the Etch A Sketch shaped creativity in ways few toys ever have. Host Tom Gulley looks at how the Etch A Sketch was marketed, why it became an instant hit, the engineering behind its “magic,” and how it managed to survive wave after wave of technological change. This is the story of invention, nostalgia, and why sometimes the simplest ideas leave the deepest marks. If you love pop culture history, cla