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Richard James didn’t set out to create the first Slinky in the United States – the idea sprang to him.
The Philadelphia-based mechanical engineer worked around springs that would keep fragile equipment steady on ships, and after knocking one of the springs from a shelf, an idea for a new toy leapt into his mind.
Its initial success began in 1945, when James debuted the toy at a Gimbels department store in Philly and impressed many paying customers.
But Richard James was not the only one involved with this invention — according to two of James’ children, Christopher James and Rebekah James Morris, their mother, Betty, came up with the word “Slinky” and did more to increase its popularity.
The company that created the toy was bankrupt by the 1950s, and Richard left his family in the 1960s to join a religious sect.
It was up to Betty to revive the company – and the Slinky in the process.
“Mom was the one who sort of had everything going,” Rebekah said. “After he left, he left it in bankruptcy with the company in 1960. So she really got the jingle going, and she put it on TV.”
“Our mom raised all six of us by herself with the company,” she said. “So really, she was pretty busy, and we had to sort of make do around the house. We lived a little bit outside of Hollidaysburg, so we had a lot of place to play. It was normal for us, but unique.”
Betty brought the Slinky to a New York toy show in 1963, created a catchy jingle, and eventually even inspired a Toy Story character that’s now the basis for a major roller coaster at Walt Disney World..
“In 1995, Disney called her and said, ‘Do you want to be in Toy Story?’” Rebekah said. “And she was like, ‘Yeah, you don’t turn down Disney.’ So she was very excited.”
Modern-day nostalgia
Growing up, Christopher and Rebekah say they still had a normal life as their mother worked to produce the toy.
“I don’t think it really hit us until the Slinky and my mother sort of matured into it, and Hollywood became its final home,” Christopher said.
By the end of the 1990s, the History and Discovery channels named Slinky one of the 20th century’s top 10 toys.
Additionally, it was a National Toy Hall of Fame Inductee in 2000.
Betty eventually sold the Slinky brand to Michigan-based toy company Poof Products, and she passed away in 2008. The brand is now owned by a company called Just Play.
Jenn Procacci created the firstival statue honoring Slinky as part of the city’s 52 Weeks of First series. She said she hopes to capture the nostalgic essence of the toy while giving homage to its creators.
“I went with really bright colors for this one because we all know Slinky is the essence of nostalgia,” she said. “I wanted the viewers to get a little bit of history with the blueprint and the logo, but also to really just feel the joy when they saw what we all felt as kids playing with this iconic toy.”
The first Slinky will be the subject of this weekend’s Philly ‘firstival,’ where Procacci’s sculpture will be on display, Slinky Museum information will be revealed and toys will be available to play with.
It will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Philosophical Society at 104 S. 5th Street.
Below is more info on all of this year’s Firstivals – including where you can find this upcoming Saturday’s Firstival dates and location.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America (1690)
Week 27: Bank of the United States (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team (1831)
Week 29: Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
Week 30: American art school (1805)
Week 31: Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Week 31: Zoo in America (1874)
Week 32: U.S. Mint (1793)
Week 33: Selfie (1839)
Upcoming
• Slinky (1943)
Aug. 29, American Philosophical Society, 104 South 5th Street
• Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.
• Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut St.
• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall
• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 South Independence Mall East
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
