History of Play-Doh K. Reiter Nearly every child and, probably, adult has molded Play-Doh into something extraordinary. It’s used in schools and homes across America. It’s used for fun and to teach motor skills to young children. But did you know that it was invented by accident? Play-Doh was first invented by Cleo McVicker in the late 1920s. He was working for a soap company called Kutol Products in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1933, the company was on the verge of closing the business when Cleo suggested a ready-made wallpaper cleaner. Kroger agreed to sell the product, so together with his brother, Noah, they made the formula. It was made from water, salt, and flour and felt like clay. The cleaner kept the company going for 20 years. However, in the 1950s, the sale of wallpaper cleaners began to decrease. Families started to use oil and gas in their home furnaces instead of coal. Their wallpaper no longer had a black residue and didn’t need to be cleaned. Cleo died in 1949, but his son, Joseph, took over the business. He tried to think of ways to keep the business from having to shut down. In 1955, Joseph’s sister-in-law, Kay Zufall, who was a teacher, convinced him to see the wallpaper cleaner as more of a plaything. She invited him to school to see how children played with the creation. He loved the idea and reformulated the product to create more of a child’s toy. In 1957, McVicker established Rainbow Crafts. He repackaged the product and sold it to schools. It was available in red, yellow, and blue. McVicker wanted his product to reach more of an audience. He introduced his product to Captain Kangaroo, also known as Bob Keeshan. Keeshan hosted the most popular children’s show during that time. He used Play-Doh once a week on his show. After its debut on the show, sales went through the roof. Later came accessories that went with the product. Hasbro bought Play-Doh in 1991. It was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998. It is still just as popular today as it was back then. Question What