Playskool Familiar Places Play Friends Little People

Vintage Fisher Price Little People Guide- Click here -Little People Part 1

Visit my Store! Click here - JackiesJoyFisherPriceToys

Playskool created their own version of little people to compete with Fisher Price's popular Play Family series of toys.  They were square, all-plastic, and fondly known as the 'blockheads'. The competition was very tough, and the Play Friends line did not last many years.  The only exception was the McDonalds set, which outsold Fisher Price's own McDonalds set.   If you know of any sets or accessories that aren't listed here, please send a note.  I would appreciate any information you have about these toys.  We're only allowed 10 photos per guide, you might try my visiting my store for more views as I often have some listed.

Familiar Places McDonald's

You can find many of these McDonald's sets on Ebay.  A complete set includes the playmat and tall McDonalds sign, as well as the walkway (it has a notch to insert the sign), a merry-go-round, 2 cars, 3 employees (supervisor has a red hat), 4 customers, a plastic table, and 6 trays.  The little people often have an extra lip on the bottom of their chins, to enable them to hold the trays better.  However, often the trays stay under the chin, so don't worry too much about that.

Familiar Places Holiday Inn 

The Holiday Inn sets are very popular, and lots of fun, too. There is often bubbling of the lithos as the set is plastic.  The building is sturdy, and there are lots of accessories.  The little sheepdog is not easy to find, and the playmat is hard to find in good shape.  The Holiday Inn Sign is the cutest thing; can you tell I like these?  Often the 4 little flags that go on the top of the building, and the 6 sign inserts go missing over the years.  Accessories include a swing, slide, 2 beds, 2 suitcases, 2 chairs & table, 2 dinettes, 1 buffet table, 1 food cart, 2 cars and 6 people.

National Park

One of the best playsets,  these National Park sets is great. The little animals are well-designed, and the accessories are unique and interesting.  The playmat includes 2 'water ponds' of felt that lay on top of the mat.  There is a rare green Park Ranger with even rarer Ranger Hat.  A fire tower, canoe, visitors station, water bucket, car, tent, campfire, bears' den, beaver hut, and trees are included, as well as campers with 2 rare backpacks and a complement of forest animals.  Most of the animals are posable; the tails move up and down on the squirrel, skunk, beaver and racoon; the owl's head turns (owl is not shown in above photo); the bear and dear have movable legs.  The ladder for the fire tower is probably the hardest to find piece.

Play Friends Park Ranger

A smaller set that features some of the National Park's best items: Fire tower, unusual car with trailer that carries the tent, campers with backpacks, canoe, and campfire are included, along with several of the animals and the same playmat. A horse and saddle are also in this set.

Play Friends Camping Set

An even smaller set that features the camping car, trailer, tent, 2 campers, and a backpack.

Play Friends Texaco

A cute set that features nice wood and plastic trucks, one a wrecker/tow truck, and the other a semi with tanker trailer.  The rare little mechanics wear green suits and hats.  Inside the station is a rest area, car wash with moving parts, and a movable car lift.  Included is some lobby furniture, 2 cars, customers, and a nice gas pump island and tall Texaco sign.

Play Friends Rescue Station

A three-story Fire and Rescue Station, with a quick-release lever to shoot the firetruck from the bottom bay.  There is a bell that rings, a helipad on top, elevator on the side, sleeping quarters for the crew, which consists of 2 blue pilots, 2 white doctors, 2 red firemen with hats, and 2 patients.  There are two hoses, one that connects to the firehouse and allows you to ring the bell.  The other attaches to the firetruck for putting out the fire.  The firetruck has a removable extension ladder, and little pegs around it to store the hose.  These pegs are almost Always broken, at least some of them, on every truck.  Also included is a blue rescue truck, bunk beds and other furniture and the elevator cage.  The helicopter has a hook underneath; turn the helicopter blades and the hook raises and lowers into the helicopter, very cute!  These sets have a masonite base and sometimes came with a very rare lady doctor.

Play Friends Rescue Set

A small set that has the fireman and copter pilot grouped with an ambulance (unique to this set) and the helicopter from the Station

Play Friends Ski Set

A small, really unique set that features people in bathing suits, a boat with motor, skis and ski jacket with pull cord.

Play Friends Horse & Stable Set

Very nice set that includes 4 horses and saddles, 4 riders with cowboy hats, a nice playmat and stable, a water bucket, and rare jumping fence.  The horses tend to lose the ability to hold their heads up over time. 

Play Friends Horse & Trailer

A smaller set that includes a car pulling a horse trailer, horse and saddle, cowgirl and hat.

That's all for now!  This information is for your personal use only, no commercial use of this guide is allowed without permission from me!

Visit my vintage toy store! - Click here - JackiesJoyFisherPriceToys