The DINNER PARTY download [American Public Media] served up a history lesson in this week's episode (#291).
In 1957, though, the Wham-O Toy Company bought the rights to Fred's invention and changed its name after they heard about college kids in Bridgeport, Connecticut, who had nicknamed the pie-shaped saucer after a local pie company, Frisbee [sic]. Fred later said he found the saucer's new name "a horror." But the millions of dollars in royalties he earned probably helped ease the pain.
Meanwhile, Wham-O executive Ed Hedrick modified the Frisbee, and invented a sport to play with it, disc golf. After he died, his ashes were molded into Frisbees.
No comments:
Post a Comment