The 1949 Tudor Tru-Action No. 500 Electric Football Game

Electric football…this is where it all started. On the Tudor Tru-Action No. 500, which was first displayed at the New York City Toy Fair in March of 1949. By the fall, the No. 500 was being sold throughout the eastern part of the country in both toy and department stores.

Most of the stores that carried the game found themselves restocking the No. 500 multiple times in the lead up to Christmas. And eventually there were no more games to order. Tudor had completely sold through its first year’s run of electric football games.

No one was more surprised than Tudor President Norman Sas. He and Tudor Vice President Joe Tonole had high hopes for the game, but those hopes were entirely surpassed as 1949 came to a close. Sas and Tonole now had to see if electric football was just a one-year wonder, or if the game had staying power.

As 1950 began both men were optimistic, yet cautious. The toy business was, and still is, renown for its fickle nature. Could electric football repeat its success of 1949, or would Sas and Tonole be looking for a new toy to take its place in 1951?

Tudor’s story will unfold very soon in The Unforgettable Buzz. Stay tuned…

Earl & Roddy