Mike L. Fry
Encyclopedia
Mike Fry is an American serial entrepreneur
, entertainer, trainer and marketing expert. He was the original Happy the Hobo on the children's television series
Happy's Place
, and the creative mind behind and owner of Fancy Fortune Cookies
.
Mike was accepted to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Clown College, in Venice, California
at the age of 19, graduating in 1981. He then toured with the circus for the 1981 and 1982 season. He had the honor of being trained by three of the world's top four Master Clowns
; Lou Jacobs
, Frosty Little, and Bobby Kay.
He left Ringling Brothers in 1982 and made the transition to television, where he wrote and co-produced Happy's Place
one of America's highest-rated children's television shows from 1982 to 1990. Happy's Place aired on Fox
affiliate Channel 55
in 207 cities for eight years. At the height of the show's popularity there was a two year wait for tickets to the show. He hosted guests from The Harlem Globetrotters to Jerry Mathers
and Tiny Tim
.
After leaving Happy's Place Mike trained at The Second City
sketch comedy
group in Chicago
. While in Chicago he also auditioned to play the role of Bozo the Clown
, and did some writing for the show as a result. He was also an instructor at the Illinois Juggling Institute for one year while he lived in Chicago.
. Since 1988 the company has greatly expanded on his original concept of gourmet-flavored fortune cookies, specializing in flavored, chocolate dipped, giant, and decorated fortune cookies.
In 1990 Mike started developing and marketing another of his inventions, the "Always There Bear". He spent twelve years developing, marketing and refining the idea, culminating in his invention being purchased by Hasbro
toys in 2002. His story is featured in the book The One Minute Millionaire, by Mark Victor Hansen
and Robert Allen
. Mike worked with both Mark and Robert on the deal with Hasbro.
Linda Chandler as a part of her Core Value Training Program. He used his experiences as a marketer, entrepreneur and entertainer to teach internet marketing strategies to thousands of international business owners.
He is also working on a book pertaining to goal-setting based around hours of interviews with adventurer and author John Goddard
, who greatly influenced Mike to start his own life-list at age 23.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, entertainer, trainer and marketing expert. He was the original Happy the Hobo on the children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
Happy's Place
Happy's Place
Happy's Place was an afternoon children's television program that aired on WFFT-TV Super 55 Fox in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the 1980s and 1990s.-Background:...
, and the creative mind behind and owner of Fancy Fortune Cookies
Fancy Fortune Cookies
Fancy Fortune Cookies is a company, founded by Mike L. Fry in 1988, that produces custom fortune cookies.-History:In late 1987, former circus clown and children's show host Mike Fry got the idea to produce custom fortune cookies, and left his job on the children's television series Happy's Place to...
.
Entertainer
Mike Fry was born in Illinois but grew up in the Huntington, Indiana area. He began juggling at the age of fourteen, after finding out that his grandfather used to juggle dirt clods on the farm in rural Illinois. By the age of 17 he was juggling for audiences in the local area.Mike was accepted to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Clown College, in Venice, California
Venice, Los Angeles, California
Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors...
at the age of 19, graduating in 1981. He then toured with the circus for the 1981 and 1982 season. He had the honor of being trained by three of the world's top four Master Clowns
Circus clown
Clowns have always been an integral part of the circus, offering a source of amusement for patrons and providing relief from the array of animal acts and performances by acrobats and novelty artistes....
; Lou Jacobs
Lou Jacobs
Johann Ludwig Jacob was an auguste clown who performed for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for more than 60 years. He was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1989...
, Frosty Little, and Bobby Kay.
He left Ringling Brothers in 1982 and made the transition to television, where he wrote and co-produced Happy's Place
Happy's Place
Happy's Place was an afternoon children's television program that aired on WFFT-TV Super 55 Fox in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the 1980s and 1990s.-Background:...
one of America's highest-rated children's television shows from 1982 to 1990. Happy's Place aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate Channel 55
Channel 55
Channel 55 refers to several television stations. This frequency is also in use by MediaFLO, a US system developed by Qualcomm to send video and media to mobile devices:...
in 207 cities for eight years. At the height of the show's popularity there was a two year wait for tickets to the show. He hosted guests from The Harlem Globetrotters to Jerry Mathers
Jerry Mathers
Gerald Patrick "Jerry" Mathers is an American television, film, and stage actor. Mathers is best known for his role in the television sitcom series Leave It to Beaver , in which he played Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, the younger son of archetypal suburban couple June and Ward Cleaver , and the brother...
and Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim (musician)
Tiny Tim , , born in Manhattan, was an American singer and ukulele player. He was most famous for his rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" sung in a distinctive high falsetto/vibrato voice.-Rise to fame:Born to Lebanese parents in 1932, Khaury displayed musical talent at a very young age...
.
After leaving Happy's Place Mike trained at The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
group in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. While in Chicago he also auditioned to play the role of Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
, and did some writing for the show as a result. He was also an instructor at the Illinois Juggling Institute for one year while he lived in Chicago.
Inventor
During his role as Happy the Hobo Mike became interested in inventing. In 1988 he started marketing his first viable invention, America's first gourmet-flavored fortune cookiesFortune Cookies
Fortune Cookies is the second album by Alana Davis, released in 2001. It peaked at #34 on Billboard's Heatseekers Album chart at the time of its release.-Track listing:...
. Since 1988 the company has greatly expanded on his original concept of gourmet-flavored fortune cookies, specializing in flavored, chocolate dipped, giant, and decorated fortune cookies.
In 1990 Mike started developing and marketing another of his inventions, the "Always There Bear". He spent twelve years developing, marketing and refining the idea, culminating in his invention being purchased by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
toys in 2002. His story is featured in the book The One Minute Millionaire, by Mark Victor Hansen
Mark Victor Hansen
Mark Victor Hansen is an American inspirational and motivational speaker, trainer and author. He is best known as the founder and co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series....
and Robert Allen
Robert Allen
Robert Allen may refer to:*Robert Allen , American Congressman from Tennessee*Robert Allen , American Congressman from Virginia*Robert Allen , American Civil War general...
. Mike worked with both Mark and Robert on the deal with Hasbro.
Trainer
In 2004 Mike joined up with his long-time friend and mentorMentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
Linda Chandler as a part of her Core Value Training Program. He used his experiences as a marketer, entrepreneur and entertainer to teach internet marketing strategies to thousands of international business owners.
Current projects
Mike is currently working on publishing his own children's joke book, using jokes from his live kid's show. He has collected kids joke books for many years, and he has a huge collection of them. Mike is using his eight years of experience as a children's entertainer to write and publish a joke book for children and fun-loving adults.He is also working on a book pertaining to goal-setting based around hours of interviews with adventurer and author John Goddard
John Goddard
John Douglas Claude Goddard was a cricketer and one-time captain of the West Indies Test side.Goddard was born in Fontabelle, St Michael, Barbados. He captained the West Indian team through several tours, including West Indies' maiden tours of India and New Zealand. His first stretch as a...
, who greatly influenced Mike to start his own life-list at age 23.
Books
- Purple Cow (on-line edition) - Seth Godin: Seth Godin chose Mike Fry's Fancy Fortune Cookies as one of the most unique niche food companies.
- The One Minute Millionaire - Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen: Used Mike Fry's invention and story as the basis for a fictional storyline.
- Wake up and Live the Life You Love - Steven E. and Lee BeardLee BeardLee Beard is a British boxing trainer. He is most well known for his work as assistant trainer to Ricky Hatton. He was also the trainer of Ricky's younger brother Matthew Hatton. When his trainer died, Beard took over the running of his gym at the age of 27...
: Featured Mike Fry's inspirational story along with that of Dr. Wayne Dyer, Mark Victor Hansen, and John Assaraf. - Be Unreasonable - Paul Lemburg: Used Mike's Fancy Fortune Cookies idea as an example of an "unreasonable" breakthrough and innovative business idea.
- Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Featured Fancy Fortune Cookies, and Mike's invention of the gourmet fortune cookie as part of the history of the fortune cookie.
Magazines
- Indiana Business Magazine: "It's No Secret: Four important business trends revealed in Indiana's Growth 100 companies"
Newspapers
- 1988 Herald Press "Seeking a cookie fortune."
- 1993 New York Newsday "Clowning Around With Cookies."
- 2002 Denver Daily NewsDenver Daily NewsThe Denver Daily News is a former free daily newspaper in Denver, Colorado. At the time of its closure on June 6, 2011, It distributed 25,500 copies Monday-Friday in stores, coffee shops, restaurants and workplaces. Copies could also be found in the Daily's distinctive blue boxes.Assuming a...
"Some people can't give up the fortunes." - 2007 Fort Wayne Journal Gazette "Wise Crackers: Hoosier inventor adds flavor buffet to fortune cookies."
- 2007 Indianapolis Business JournalIndianapolis Business JournalIndianapolis Business Journal is a weekly newspaper published in Indianapolis which reports on Central Indiana business. It is the leading publication of IBJ Media. Its economic columnists include Morton Marcus and Michael J. Hicks.- External links :*...
"Finding his fortune"
Television
- QVC: Mike appeared along with his Fancy Fortune Cookies on the show, sold out in less than three minutes.
Trivia
- For eight years, Mike was the writer, host and co-producer of America's only liveLive televisionLive television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
90-minute daily children's television show, Happy's Place, which aired in 207 cities. - He invented America's first gourmet flavored & colored fortune cookies and launched the first fortune cookie website in 1995.
- His products have been used by Donald TrumpDonald TrumpDonald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
, Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Jay LenoJay LenoJames Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
, Conan O’Brien, Steven SpielbergSteven SpielbergSteven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
and many other noted celebrities. - His Fancy Fortune Cookies were featured on QVCQVCQVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
, where they sold out in record time. - His company was listed in the Indiana Growth 100 companies two years in a row.
- He is inventor of the Always There Bear, which is still in the vaults at Hasbro.
- He teaches marketing, creativity, humor & fun, throughout China, Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, BorneoBorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, and the US. - He is a former professional clown with the world-famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
- In 1981, he became a Guinness Book of World Records record holder as part of a group that juggled the most objects at one time.
- He trained in heavy object balancing, which included, six-foot tables, small canoes, a twenty-five foot ladder, a running chainsaw, other people, sofas, and a television set.
- Mike was a member of the Second City improv theater from 1990 to 1992
- He was State Tae Kwon Do Champion