Inspiration for the Flying Disc Happened on Thanksgiving Day 1937

Fred Morrison got the inspiration for the iconic toy that would become the Frisbee at a Thanksgiving family picnic, tossing the lid of a large popcorn tin which belonged to the host (Joe Warr). In Morrison's own words:

"It all began during a [19]'37 Thanksgiving Day family gathering..."

"...a large popcorn lid would FLY when it was flipped spinning away backhand. Adults and kids alike were finding joy flippin' and attempting to outwit the unpredictable flight of the can cover."


After that Thanksgiving Day (November 25) happening, Lu and I really got into flippin' with the "borrowed" popcorn can lid. After the lid got bent out of shape, we discovered pie pans...[then] cake pans. (Cake pans have a right-angled flange, are more stable, and fly better'n pie pans.)"

The commercialization of airborne cake pans one weekend on a Santa Monica, California beach.


The Morrisons would go on to sell their plastic flying saucer type toy (later renamed as Frisbee) to WAMO in 1957.

[book excerpts via Flat Flip Flies Straight!]