Jump to content

Play-Doh

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Play-Doh

Logo used since 2015
A can of green Play-Doh
TypeModelling clay
Inventor(s)Kay Zufall
Brian Joseph McVicker
Bill Rhodenbaugh
CompanyKutol
(1955)
Rainbow Crafts
(1956–1971)
Kenner
(1971–1991)
Hasbro
(1991–present)
CountryUnited States
Age range2+
Availability1956–present
SloganFun to play with, not to eat
Official website

Play-Doh or also known as Play-Dough is a modeling compound for young children to make arts and crafts projects. The product was first manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s.[1] Play-Doh was then reworked and marketed to Cincinnati schools in the mid-1950s. Play-Doh was demonstrated at an educational convention in 1956 and prominent department stores opened retail accounts.[2]

Advertisements promoting Play-Doh on influential children's television shows in 1957 furthered the product's sales.[1] Since its launch on the toy market in the mid-1950s, Play-Doh has generated a considerable amount of ancillary merchandise such as the Fun Factory.[3]

History

[edit]

Origin

[edit]
Objects made out of Play-Doh.

The non-toxic, non-staining, reusable modeling compound that came to be known as "Play-Doh" was a pliable, putty-like substance concocted by Noah McVicker of Cincinnati-based soap manufacturer Kutol Products. It was devised at the request of Kroger Grocery, which wanted a product that could clean coal residue from wallpaper.[4]

Following World War II, with the transition from coal-based home heating to natural gas and the resulting decrease in internal soot, and the introduction of washable vinyl-based wallpaper, the market for wallpaper cleaning putty decreased substantially. McVicker's nephew, Joe McVicker, joined Kutol with the remit to save the company from bankruptcy. Joe McVicker was the brother-in-law of nursery school teacher Kay Zufall, who had seen a newspaper article about making art projects with the wallpaper cleaning putty.[5] Her students enjoyed it, and she persuaded Noah McVicker (who also sold the putty) and Joe McVicker to manufacture it as a child’s toy.[5] Zufall and her husband came up with the name Play-Doh; Joe McVicker and his uncle Noah had wanted to call it "Rainbow Modeling Compound".[5]

Launch

[edit]

Joe McVicker took Play-Doh to an educational convention for manufacturers of school supplies,[1] and Woodward & Lothrop, a department store in Washington, DC began selling the compound.[6] In 1956, the McVickers formed the Rainbow Crafts Company to make and sell Play-Doh.[7] Also in 1956, a three-pack of 7-ounce cans was added to the product line, and, after in-store demonstrations, Macy's of New York and Marshall Field's of Chicago opened retail accounts. In 1957, chemist Dr. Tien Liu reduced Play-Doh's salt content (thus allowing models to dry without losing their color), and Play-Doh ads were telecast on Captain Kangaroo, Ding Dong School, and Romper Room. In 1958, Play-Doh's sales reached nearly $3 million.[1]

Subsequent developments

[edit]

In 1964, Play-Doh was exported to Britain, France, and Italy.[1] By 1965, Rainbow Crafts received a patent for Play-Doh.[8] Also in 1965, General Mills bought Rainbow Crafts for $3 million.[1][6] In 1967, General Mills bought Kenner Products. In 1971, Rainbow Crafts and Kenner merged, and, in 1987, the Tonka Corporation bought the two. In the 1980s, its cardboard can (with a rust-prone metal bottom) was replaced with a more cost effective plastic container.[9] In 1991, Hasbro became the owner of Play-Doh, putting the compound under its Playskool brand, and continues to manufacture the product today.[1] In 1996, gold and silver were added to Play-Doh's palette to celebrate its 40th anniversary.[10]

More than two billion cans of Play-Doh were sold between 1955 and 2005,[1] and, in 2005, Play-Doh was being sold in 75 countries at 95 million cans a year.[1] In the United States, more than 6,000 stores carry Play-Doh.[11]

Play-Doh was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York, in 1998.[12]

In 2003, the Toy Industry Association placed Play-Doh into its "Century of Toys List", a roll call of the 100 most memorable and most creative toys of the twentieth century.[13]

In late 2014, the company offered to replace the "Play-Doh Cake Mountain" playset's extruder tool, for free, after receiving complaints about the tool's "phallic shape".[14]

Scent

[edit]

To mark Play-Doh's fiftieth anniversary, Demeter Fragrance Library created a limited-edition fragrance inspired by Play-Doh's distinctive odor for "highly-creative people, who seek a whimsical scent reminiscent of their childhood."[2][15][16]

In 2018, Hasbro registered Play-Doh's signature scent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It's described as a "combination of a sweet, slightly musky, vanilla-like fragrance, with slight overtones of cherry, and the natural smell of a salted, wheat-based dough."[15][16]

Mascots

[edit]
Doh-Dohs at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair 2016

Play-Doh packaging was briefly illustrated with children in the mid-1950s, but replaced by the Play-Doh Pixie, an elf mascot which, in 1960, was superseded by Play-Doh Pete, a smock and beret-wearing cartoonish boy.[1][17] By 1992, Play Doh Pete's beret was recolored in blue, and his eyes were given a more human look. Later in 2000, Play-Doh Pete's beret was replaced with a baseball cap. Play-Doh Pete later retired and was removed in 2003, lasting for 42 years.[1] Since 2012, the Doh-Dohs are the mascots.[18]

Ingredients

[edit]

Play-Doh's current manufacturer, Hasbro, says the compound is primarily a mixture of water, salt, and flour,[2] while its 2004 United States patent indicates it is composed of water, a starch-based binder, a retrogradation inhibitor, salt, lubricant, surfactant, preservative, hardener, humectant, fragrance, and color.[19]

A petroleum additive gives the compound a smooth feel, and borax prevents mold from developing.[3] Play-Doh contains wheat and may cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to wheat gluten. It is not intended to be eaten.[20]

[edit]
Play-Doh Fun Factory

In 1960, the Play-Doh Fun Factory (a toy press that extrudes the compound in various shapes) was invented by Bob Boggild and Bill Dale.[1] The Play-Doh Fuzzy Pumper Barber & Beauty Shop of 1977 and Mop Top Hair Shop of 1986 featured a figurine whose extruded "hair" could be styled.[citation needed]

In 1995, an educational software CD-ROM game, Play-Doh Creations was released.[citation needed]

In 2003, the Play-Doh Creativity Table was sold. Play-Doh related merchandise introduced during the 2007 anniversary year included the Play-Doh Birthday Bucket, the Play-Doh Fifty Colors Pack, the Fuzzy Pumper Crazy Cuts (a reworking of the 1977 Fuzzy Pumper Barber & Beauty Shop), and the Play-Doh Creativity Center.[3] In 2012, "Play-Doh Plus" was introduced. It is lighter, more pliable, and softer than regular Play-Doh.[citation needed]

Other media

[edit]

Film

[edit]

On April 2, 2015, 20th Century Fox announced work on a film adaptation with Hasbro Studios along with its subsidiary company Allspark Pictures and Chernin Entertainment producing, Jason Micallef writing, and Paul Feig directing from his production company Feigco.[21] The film was eventually cancelled and rejected after the acquisition of Fox's parent company 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company.[citation needed]

On March 17, 2022, it was announced that a new animated film adaptation is in development at Entertainment One and its parent company Hasbro, Emily V. Gordon writing and Jon M. Chu producing and possibly directing.[22][23]

Series

[edit]

A game show adaptation started streaming on Amazon Freevee (then known as IMDb TV) initially as a one-off holiday special on December 10, 2021 and later as a full-length series on November 11, 2022. It is hosted by Sarah Hyland.[24][25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Walsh, Tim (2005). "Play-doh". Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 115–120. ISBN 978-0-7407-5571-2. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  2. ^ a b c Wilson, Tracy V. (19 July 2000). "How Play-Doh Modeling Compound Works". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Sobey, Edwin J.C.; Woody Sobey (2008). The Way Toys Work: The Science Behind the Magic 8 Ball, Etch A Sketch, Boomerang, and More. Chicago Review Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-55652-745-6. Archived from the original on 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  4. ^ "Accidental Brands" Archived 2012-08-15 at the Wayback Machine, from Under the Influence, by Terry O'Reilly, on CBC.ca; first broadcast March 17, 2012
  5. ^ a b c Greg Hatala (January 28, 2014). "Made in Jersey: Play-Doh is a Dover teacher's handiwork". NJ.com, The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Rainbow Crafts Company, Inc". Ohio History Central. July 28, 2006. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
  7. ^ Phil Ament. "Play-Doh History – Invention of Play-Doh". Ideafinder.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  8. ^ Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker, "Plastic modeling composition of a soft, pliable working consistency," Archived 2017-12-30 at the Wayback Machine U.S. patent no. 3,167,440 (filed: May 17, 1960; issued: January 26, 1965).
  9. ^ "The 50 Year History of Play-Doh". 2006. Archived from the original on May 15, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  10. ^ Rrodriguez, Paul (May 2, 2006). "Happy 50th, Play-Doh". Orange County Register. Orange County, CA, US. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  11. ^ "HowStuffWorks "How Play-Doh Modeling Compound Works"". 19 July 2000. Archived from the original on 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  12. ^ "Inducted Toys: Play-Doh". The Strong National Museum of Play. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  13. ^ "Century of Toys list probably won't stand the test of time". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA, US. December 27, 2005.
  14. ^ Respers France, Lisa (31 December 2014). "Play-Doh will exchange phallic-shaped toy". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Siegel, Rachel (May 24, 2018). "Remember how Play-Doh smells? U.S. trademark officials get it". Washington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Kooser, Amanda (May 18, 2018). "Hasbro just trademarked Play-Doh's smell. Oh, the memories Just sniff. Don't eat". CNET. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Whatever Happened to Play-Doh Pete?". 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  18. ^ Corday, Karen (March 7, 2022). "What Happened To Play-Doh?". Grunge.com. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  19. ^ "Google Patents". Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  20. ^ "FAQ". Play-Doh. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  21. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 2, 2015). "Fox Molding 'Play-Doh' Film With Paul Feig Circling; Another Hasbro Toy Brand Making Movie Transfer". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 17, 2022). "'Play-Doh': Emily V. Gordon To Write, Jon M. Chu Circling To Direct Animated Pic For eOne & Hasbro About Colorful Clay". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  23. ^ Jackson, Angelique (March 17, 2022). "Play-Doh Animated Movie in the Works from Emily V. Gordon and Jon M. Chu". Variety. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  24. ^ "IMDb TV Celebrates the Holiday Season with Play-Doh Squished, Premiering December 10 |". Archived from the original on 2022-11-17. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  25. ^ "When will Play-Doh Squished 2022 premiere on Amazon Freevee? Sarah Hyland is the host and more". Archived from the original on 2022-11-17. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Play-Doh.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Play-Doh&oldid=1266123869"