I was raised in Northern NJ and marbles and yo-yos were big when I  
was in elementary school (to 66'). I think they both kind of died out  
then, but I think jacks continued. Part of the problem with jacks  
today is where to play. We have very few sidewalks in suburban  
Richmond, VA (the standard place to play in NJ when I was a kid),  
school yards no longer have paved playgrounds, and lots of driveways  
are gravel. I do not encourage my kids to play in the street.