Director Ken Sons & I started this adventure nearly four years ago when we went to a local Wiffle Ball tournament on a whim and "shot some footage." A lot of ground has been covered since that fateful day. We traveled to New York City twice to film at Toy Fair and the Times Square Toys R Us store. We went to Los Angeles to shoot at Mattel and at Otis College of Art and Design. Next it was off to Chicago to interview the grandson of the founder of Radio Flyer, the home of "America's Little Red Wagon." While we were there we visited Big Monster Toys, the most prolific toy design company in the world and met with John Spinello, developer of the game of Operation. Our most memorable trip was the one we took to meet Betty James, the developer of Slinky. She delighted us with story after story of developing Slinky with her husband in 1945, the introduction of the Slinky Dog in 1952 and even her run-in with the unpredictable Marvin Glass. When we were done chatting, Betty took us out for "The best mushroom soup in the world." And it was.
Toward the end of our time together, she excused herself from the room and returned a few moments later with a parting gift. It was a 1988 bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne, which Ken and I accepted with one caveat: Betty had to promised to come to the premier of the film and have a toast with us. She agreed.
Last year, Betty James died at the age of 90. The toast will still happen in about a month, bit it will be bittersweet.
















