The mad dash was all for Tyco’s "Tickle Me Elmo." The giggling version of Sesame Street’s most popular character drove people into a frenzy.

Rochester, nation not prepared for Elmo in 1996 The laughing, vibrating toy became a sensation, and caused some serious uproar for Christmas 1996.

The Tickle Me Elmo craze during the 1996 holiday shopping season was echoed in the movie "Jingle All the Way." The demand for the toy brought out greed in some individuals.