Tickle Me Elmo is a children's toy from Tyco, introduced in the United States in 1996, becoming that year's top fad. Bright red in color and based on Elmo, a Muppet character from Sesame Street, when squeezed, Elmo would chortle. When squeezed three times in a row, Elmo would begin to shake and laugh hysterically.

In 1996, the Tickle Me Elmo was the "must have" toy. Many parents literally fought other parents in North American toy stores to purchase one of the toys for Christmas. The short supply of the toy, due to unexpected demand, meant that stores hiked the price on the dolls drastically.

Newspaper classifieds even sold the plush toy for hundreds of U.S. dollars. People reports that the US $28.99 toy fetched as much as $1500. The vibrating laughter produced by the Tickle Me Elmo uses a larger version of the vibration motor found in cellular phones and game controllers which feature force feedback.

Similar to 0 things you like: