Playdough

The Founder of Play-do

By facebooker_1000172560

  • Joseph McVicker was born

    to Irma McVicker and Cleo McVicker

  • First uses

    Composed of flour, water, salt, boric acid, and mineral oil, the product was first manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s.

  • Original Packaging

    Play-Doh packaging was briefly illustrated with children in the mid-1950s

  • Introduction of Playdough

    Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker introduced by Rainbow Crafts of Cincinnati in 1956

  • Educational Purposes

    Play-Doh was demonstrated at an educational convention in 1956 and prominent department stores opened retail accounts

  • Rainbow Crafts

    In 1956, the McVickers formed the Rainbow Crafts Company to make and sell Play-Doh.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

  • Inventors

    Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker

  • New packaging

    Play-Doh Pete, a smock and beret-wearing cartoonish boy

  • Replaced a beret with a baseball cap

    2002, Play-Doh Pete's beret was replaced with a baseball cap

  • Advirtisement

    Advertisements promoting Play-Doh on influential children's television shows in 1957 furthered the product's sales