 George was born in
New York City in 1922. He invented the toy in 1952 by using pieces
of various vegetables as the parts. This didn't always sit well with
parents who preach to their kids that they shouldn't play with their
food.
He became a household name. Not George, but rather his toy
invention.
Our hero even enjoyed a TV and movie career. Again, not George,
but rather his toy invention.
George first launched his invention when he sold the rights to it
for $5,000 to a cereal company. Or is it spelled "serial"? Potato,
potatoe. Either way, he had a hunch that his toy invention could do
more than just serve as a premium when parents bought a box of
cereal.
So George bought back the rights for $7,000 and incurred a $2,000
short-term loss in the process.
George's invention was the first toy to be advertised on TV. This
lovable little character even received a few write-in votes for
mayor in the 1985 election in Boise, Idaho. Once again, not George,
but rather his toy invention.
George sold the rights of his toy to Henry and Merrill Hassenfeld.
The Hassenfeld brothers' company is known as Hasbro for short, and
they manufacture and market the toy product.
To recap, here are the clues:
-
George made the
toy by using pieces of various vegetables.
-
"Potato, potatoe."
-
The toy received a few write-in votes
in the 1985 mayoral race in Boise, Idaho (which is in the
heart of potato country).
[to top of second column]
 |
 We're talking about Mr. Potato Head,
the toy vegetable that is loved by kids all over the world.
Mr. Potato Head's popularity has
made him the ideal spokesman -- or "spokespud" -- for many causes,
and he's received many awards and honors, including:
-
He was the
spokesman for the American Cancer Society's annual "Great
American Smokeout" for several years, beginning in 1987. When
the surgeon general asked that Mr. Potato Head give up smoking
his pipe, Mr. Potato Head gave him his last pipe.
-
Mr. Potato Head
received an award from the President's Council on Physical
Fitness on the White House lawn in 1992.
-
In 2000, the
Chicago Cubs had a "Mr. Potato Head Day" at Wrigley Field, and
Mr. Potato Head also threw out the first pitch.
-
Also in 2000, Mr.
Potato Head was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame.
-
One day in 2002, Mr. Potato Head rang
the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange.
In the process, he created an American icon. It wasn't Mr. Potato
Head who created the icon, but rather his inventor, George Lerner.
[By
PAUL NIEMANN]
Paul Niemann's column is syndicated
to more than 70 newspapers. He is the author of the "Invention
Mysteries" series of books. He can be reached at
niemann7@aol.com.
Copyright Paul Niemann 2008
(Other
columns) |
