Wooly Willy
Encyclopedia
Wooly Willy is a toy
in which metal filings are moved about with a magnetic wand
to add features to a cartoon face. The toy was originally manufactured in Smethport, Pennsylvania
and was launched on the toy market in 1955. It remains in production as of 2010.
s, mustaches, and shaggy eyebrow
s on the face."
, United States. The company produced top
s, horseshoe
-shaped magnets, and other toys until the vacuum forming
devices of the 1940s and 1950s allowed the company to manufacture air-tight containers of transparent plastic. Such containers kept Wooly Willy's metal filings from leaking out and moisture that would rust the metal from leaking in. The artwork for the first Wooly Willy was created by artist Leonard Mackowski of nearby Bradford, Pa. His signature is found hidden in the grass on the reverse side. The Broadfield Toy Co., Inc., of Hempstead, New York
, United States created a similar toy called Whiskers in 1925.
dime store chain initially purchased six dozen of the toy and expected not to sell them for a year. The buyer called Herzog just two days later and ordered a thousand dozen for nationwide distribution. F. W. Woolworth Company
also distributed the toy. More than 75 million Wooly Willies have been sold.
Funny Face, Brunette Betty, and Dapper Dan were similar toys. Dapper Dan was featured on a 10-1/2" x 14" display card and was billed on the card as a "secret agent
, chosen because of his easily disguised face. Alter his appearance to help him carry out his investigations." Pictures on the card depicted Dapper Dan as a scientist, detective, magician, and other characters.
hit, and remains in production as of 2010 by Smethport Specialty Company, which is now owned by Patch Products
. In 2003, the Toy Industry Association
named Wooly Willy to its "Century of Toys List", a roll call of the most memorable and creative toys of the 20th century. In 2006, I Love Toys
, the eighth in VH1's
series of I Love… nostalgia shows, presented a countdown of the 100 greatest toys, chosen partially through public voting on vh1.com and also consideration of "sales, historical significance and longevity," according to VH1. Wooly Willy placed at #81.
in the Joel Coen film O Brother Where Art Thou?. The only other fictional hair pomade to appear in that movie is called "Fop".
In the Family Guy
episode Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows
, Lois Griffin converses with a real-life Wooly Willy.
In the movie, Robots, the main character - Rodney Copperbottom appears as a parody of Wooly Willy in a scene where he has been magnetized.
In a That 70s Show episode Red Forman
is asked by his wife Kitty
to illustrate, (using Wooly Willy) just how bald their neighbor, Bob Pinciotti
is after Red discovered he wore a toupee
In Bo Burnham
's song "Oh Bo" from his album Words Words Words
, he states that his fake mustache makes him appear like Wooly Willy.
.
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
in which metal filings are moved about with a magnetic wand
Wand
A wand is a thin, straight, hand-held stick of wood, stone, ivory, or metal. Generally, in modern language, wands are ceremonial and/or have associations with magic but there have been other uses, all stemming from the original meaning as a synonym of rod and virge, both of which had a similar...
to add features to a cartoon face. The toy was originally manufactured in Smethport, Pennsylvania
Smethport, Pennsylvania
Smethport is a borough in McKean County, Pennsylvania, United States. The current mayor is Ross Porter. The population was 1,684 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McKean County.-History:The U.S...
and was launched on the toy market in 1955. It remains in production as of 2010.
Description
Wooly Willy is "a face printed on cardboard under a bubble of plastic filled with metal filings that could be moved with a magnetic wand to create features like beardBeard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
s, mustaches, and shaggy eyebrow
Eyebrow
The eyebrow is an area of thick, delicate hairs above the eye that follows the shape of the lower margin of the brow ridges of some mammals. Their main function is to prevent sweat, water, and other debris from falling down into the eye socket, but they are also important to human communication and...
s on the face."
Creation
The brothers Donald and James Herzog developed Wooly Willy while working in the Smethport Specialty Company, their father's toy production company, in Smethport, PennsylvaniaSmethport, Pennsylvania
Smethport is a borough in McKean County, Pennsylvania, United States. The current mayor is Ross Porter. The population was 1,684 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McKean County.-History:The U.S...
, United States. The company produced top
Top
A top is a toy that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. This motion is produced in the most simple forms of top by twirling the stem using the fingers. More sophisticated tops are spun by by holding the axis firmly while pulling a string or twisting a stick or pushing an auger as shown...
s, horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
-shaped magnets, and other toys until the vacuum forming
Vacuum forming
Vacuum forming, commonly known as vacuuforming, is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto or into a single-surface mold , and held against the mold by applying vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet.The vacuum...
devices of the 1940s and 1950s allowed the company to manufacture air-tight containers of transparent plastic. Such containers kept Wooly Willy's metal filings from leaking out and moisture that would rust the metal from leaking in. The artwork for the first Wooly Willy was created by artist Leonard Mackowski of nearby Bradford, Pa. His signature is found hidden in the grass on the reverse side. The Broadfield Toy Co., Inc., of Hempstead, New York
Hempstead (village), New York
Hempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
, United States created a similar toy called Whiskers in 1925.
Launch
Priced at US$0.29, Wooly Willy was successfully launched on the market in 1955. A buyer for G. C. MurphyG. C. Murphy
G.C. Murphy is a defunct chain of five and dime or variety stores in the United States.- Origins of chain :The chain was founded in 1906 in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, by George Clinton Murphy. Murphy had gotten his start in retail as a manager of a McCrory's store in 1896...
dime store chain initially purchased six dozen of the toy and expected not to sell them for a year. The buyer called Herzog just two days later and ordered a thousand dozen for nationwide distribution. F. W. Woolworth Company
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
also distributed the toy. More than 75 million Wooly Willies have been sold.
Funny Face, Brunette Betty, and Dapper Dan were similar toys. Dapper Dan was featured on a 10-1/2" x 14" display card and was billed on the card as a "secret agent
Secret Agent
Secret Agent is a British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on two stories in Ashenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham. The film starred John Gielgud, Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll, and Robert Young...
, chosen because of his easily disguised face. Alter his appearance to help him carry out his investigations." Pictures on the card depicted Dapper Dan as a scientist, detective, magician, and other characters.
Honors
Wooly Willy became a Baby BoomerBaby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
hit, and remains in production as of 2010 by Smethport Specialty Company, which is now owned by Patch Products
Patch Products
Patch Products is a family-owned company, leading the toy industry in design, manufacturing and marketing of games, children’s puzzles, toys, activities and teaching tools. Since 1985, Patch has developed high-quality, award-winning products that enrich lives by providing fun and interaction...
. In 2003, the Toy Industry Association
Toy Industry Association
The Toy Industry Association is a trade association that promotes the marketing of new toys, games, and puzzles. The organization usually has trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City during February. Consumers in general are not able to attend...
named Wooly Willy to its "Century of Toys List", a roll call of the most memorable and creative toys of the 20th century. In 2006, I Love Toys
I Love Toys
I Love Toys was the eighth in VH1's series of I Love… nostalgia shows. It premiered Monday, March 6, 2006, at 10:00 p.m. EST. It is a countdown of the 100 greatest toys, chosen partially through public voting on vh1.com and also consideration of "sales, historical significance and longevity,"...
, the eighth in VH1's
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
series of I Love… nostalgia shows, presented a countdown of the 100 greatest toys, chosen partially through public voting on vh1.com and also consideration of "sales, historical significance and longevity," according to VH1. Wooly Willy placed at #81.
Media Appearances
Dapper Dan was also the name of a fictional hair pomadePomade
Pomade is a greasy or waxy substance that is used to style hair. Pomade makes hair look slick and shiny. Unlike hair spray and hair gel, pomade does not dry and often takes several washes to remove...
in the Joel Coen film O Brother Where Art Thou?. The only other fictional hair pomade to appear in that movie is called "Fop".
In the Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
episode Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows
Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows
"Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows" is the seventeenth episode of the third season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 17, 2002...
, Lois Griffin converses with a real-life Wooly Willy.
In the movie, Robots, the main character - Rodney Copperbottom appears as a parody of Wooly Willy in a scene where he has been magnetized.
In a That 70s Show episode Red Forman
Red Forman
Reginald Albert "Red" Forman is a fictional character on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, portrayed by Kurtwood Smith.-Biography and personality:Red is one of the classic archetypes of the "grumpy man"...
is asked by his wife Kitty
Kitty Forman
Katherine Anne "Kitty" Forman is a fictional character on the Fox Network's That '70s Show, portrayed by comic actress Debra Jo Rupp. Kitty is a nurse but sometimes takes a break from her career to make peace in the family. She also has a very recognizable laugh and a fondness for square dancing...
to illustrate, (using Wooly Willy) just how bald their neighbor, Bob Pinciotti
Midge and Bob Pinciotti
Midge Pinciotti and Bob Pinciotti are two fictional characters on the popular Fox sitcom That '70s Show . They are the loving, lovable but dim-witted parents of the red-haired tomboy Donna Pinciotti , and Donna's less-frequently seen younger sister, Tina...
is after Red discovered he wore a toupee
In Bo Burnham
Bo Burnham
Robert "Bo" Burnham is an American comedian, singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and Internet celebrity. Writing comedic and satirical songs with a politically incorrect slant, he achieved fame when his YouTube videos took off; they have received more than 70 million views...
's song "Oh Bo" from his album Words Words Words
Words Words Words
Words Words Words refers to both a stand-up comedy routine and the derivative album by American comedian, Bo Burnham...
, he states that his fake mustache makes him appear like Wooly Willy.
Others
A Wooly Willy-inspired game called Sir Fuzzy Face has been launched on Windows Phone 7Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
.