Who invented Play-Doh? Well, just like the toy itself, many, many hands touched it along its path to existence. Kay & Bob Zufall had the idea for it and named it. Dr. Tien Liu perfected its chemical composition. Joe McVicker and Bill Rhodenbaugh sold it. Noah McVicker produced it. Play-Doh’s status as one of the most beloved toy products ever created, makes its origin one of the oddest of all toy stories. Play-Doh, that moldable stuff from of our pre-pubescence --was first sold as wallpaper cleaner.
Amazon Associates Links
My company gets a small percentage of sales to help us continue to provide exceptional content here and on other platforms:
Play-Doh: amzn.to/3y78gYP
Play-Doh Fun Factory: amzn.to/3WrFhcj
Play-Doh Dr. Drill & Fill: amzn.to/3UtQgQ1
Our Toyland film: amzn.to/3wrmaEw
My book, Timeless Toys: amzn.to/4aZIOmI
Credits:
Play-Doh is owned by Hasbro
Thanks to Ken Sons Films for the interview footage of Kay & Bob Zufall from our documentary film, Toyland: tinyurl.com/60n489b0
Other images used under license from istockphoto.com
All newspaper articles and ads courtesy of Newspapers.com
Joe McVicker, and Rainbow Crafts Office photos courtesy of Bill Rhodenbaugh
Coal and video footage courtesy of Prelinger Archives
Wallpaper Cleaner ads, Play-Doh ad, Captain Kangaroo and Play-Doh promotional materials and product photos courtesy of The Playmakers
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
EPILOGUES:
In 1990, Kay and Bob (Dr. Robert) Zufall opened a successful clinic for poor and mostly immigrant families in Dover, New Jersey. The thriving and esteemed Dover Community Clinic was staffed by 20 volunteer doctors who received over 12,000 patient visits a year. From the company’s website: “The retired urologist treated patients while his wife managed the clinic and doggedly pursued funding opportunities. Their tenacity for enlisting volunteers generated a core team of physicians, dentists, and support staff so they could provide a full spectrum of services.
Almost instantly, the once-a-week clinic attracted a growing patient base which, over the years, necessitated expansions of space and hours of operation. However, despite private and public support, funding for “La Clinica” was a constant struggle. In 2004, its survival was assured by its designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center. Renamed Zufall Health Center in 2006 to honor the Zufalls, the non-profit health center now proudly carries on their commitment in six New Jersey counties. Find them at: www.zufallhealth.org
Kathryn “Kay” Zufall died in 2014: tinyurl.com/29q4jaca
Right after Play-Doh was launched, Joe McVicker split Rainbow Crafts from Kutol, leaving Bill Rhodenbaugh to run the less profitable hand soap company. But don’t feel too bad for Bill. His sons Joe and Tom, still run the company today, and Kutol Products Company has become one of the largest manufacturers of industrial hand soaps and hand sanitizers in the world. Find them at: www.kutol.com
31 янв 2021
