Play-Doh 60th Birthday
HASBRO’S ICONIC PLAY-DOH BRAND CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF INSPIRING KIDS
TO EXPLORE WHAT’S POSSIBLE
Timeless Favourite Stays Fresh with Introduction of PLAY-DOH Town, First-Ever World of PLAY-DOH Figures and Playsets
On the 16th of September 2016, World Play-Doh Day, Hasbro celebrates the PLAY-DOH brand’s 60th birthday. iconic yellow can has expanded into more than 80 countries across the globe with more than 3 billion cans of PLAY-DOH compound sold, making it one of Hasbro’s leading brands.
The PLAY-DOH brand continues to encourage creative, hands-on play this year with the introduction of PLAY-DOH Town, a new system of play that
“Throughout the past 60 years, the PLAY-DOH brand has evolved to meet kids’ ever-changing play styles, while continuing to deliver imaginative and open-ended play experiences which we know are very important to parents,” said Siphiwe Thabethe, Marketing Manager, Hasbro South Africa. “We are thrilled to introduce PLAY-DOH Town, which brings creative play together with figures and playsets, allowing kids to open their imaginations as they explore their Towns and create new stories each time they play.”
The PLAY-DOH Town line is available at retailers nationwide for kids 3 and up and includes playsets, vehicles and figures that work together to build a world for expansive, storytelling play. With scenes and themes that kids are familiar with, such as a Town Center, Pet Shop, Ice Cream Truck and Firehouse, and figures such as a police officer and a hairdresser, kids can use their imaginations to create unique stories each time they play.
The PLAY-DOH brand will also PLAY-DOH DOCTOR DRILL ‘N FILL playset as well as new licensed offerings from some of kids’ favourite properties.
A childhood staple since its introduction in 1956, the PLAY-DOH brand has continued to captivate the imaginations of children across the globe. PLAY-DOH compound is the #1 reusable modeling compound, with more than 500 million cans produced each year.
To celebrate Play-Doh’s 60th birthday tune into the Expresso show on SABC 3, Friday, 16 September from 6am.
Fans can follow the PLAY-DOH brand as it celebrates its 60th anniversary on Play-Doh South Africa’s Facebook page and share their own memories using #PLAYDOH. To learn more about the PLAY-DOH brand, visit http://www.hasbro.com/en-za/brands/playdoh or visit Play-Doh on:
#WorldPlayDohDay and #PlayDoh60
FUN PLAY-DOH FACTS:
- Four colours started it all- red, blue, yellow, and white. Now the PLAY-DOH brand is available in more than 50 colours!
- More than 3 billion cans, of Play-Doh compound have been squished and squashed since 1956.
- PLAY-DOH compound has three core ingredients: water, salt, and flour.
- Since 1956, more than three billion PLAY-DOH cans have been sold. That’s enough PLAY-DOH compound to reach to the moon and back THREE times.
- 1956 was the year the PLAY-DOH brand was born.
- The estimated weight of all PLAY-DOH compound sold is heavier than 10,000 brontosauruses.
- It would take more than 631 million PLAY-DOH cans to circle around the globe.
- PLAY-DOH compound was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.
- PLAY-DOH compound and playsets are sold in more than 80 countries.
- PLAY-DOH cans are made with a tapered edge to easily stack and store empty cans to reuse again!
- If you made a big ball of all the PLAY-DOH compound ever created, it would weigh more than 700 million pounds.
- PLAY-DOH compound is the #1 reusable modeling compound, with over 500 million cans produced each year.
- PLAY-DOH was originally used as wallpaper cleaner developed by a Cincinnati based soap company
- PLAY-DOH compound has been known to be used in activities that promote preschool readiness that are focused around the development of fine motor skills, hand eye coordination and creativity. Check out teaching tools and activities on http://www.hasbro.com/en-za/brands/playdoh
PLAY-DOH BRAND – 60TH ANNIVERSARY TIMELINE - A LOOK BACK AT THE COLOURFUL HISTORY OF ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S FAVOURITE TOYS
In 2016, the PLAY-DOH brand celebrates 60 years of creatable, colourful, makeable fun!
1950s
1956 PLAY-DOH brand modeling compound, a non-toxic reusable modeling compound developed by Rainbow Crafts in Cincinnati, is demonstrated and sold in the toy department of Woodward & Lothrop Department Store in Washington, D.C. PLAY-DOH compound is available in three colours, red, blue, and yellow, each sold in 1-gallon cans. Later that year, a 3-pack is introduced.
1957 The PLAY-DOH brand makes its way into homes across America when it’s featured on popular children’s television shows.
1958 The first 4-pack debuts at American International Toy Fair, including red, blue, yellow, and white PLAY-DOH compounds.
1960s
1960 The PLAY-DOH line expands with the introduction of its first playset, the PLAY-DOH FUN FACTORY set. The PLAY-DOH Pete logo also debuts in 1960, replacing the image of an elf that previously appeared on packaging.
1970s
1970 Advertising Age names the PLAY-DOH Pete television ad one of the top 100 best commercials.
1971 Kenner Products merges with Rainbow Crafts, and the PLAY-DOH brand becomes part of the Kenner line.
1977 The PLAY-DOH FUZZY PUMPER Barber & Beauty Shop playset, featuring a classic play figure whose “hair” can be extruded and styled, hits shelves.
1979 Children can now pretend to be a dentist with the introduction of the Doctor Drill 'N Fill playset!
1980s
1983 The PLAY-DOH Rainbow 8-Pack is introduced, adding four bright new colours to the line.
1986 The iconic plastic yellow PLAY-DOH can makes its debut! Packaged in a cardboard container for 30 years, PLAY-DOH compound is now packaged in a tightly-sealed, easy-to-open plastic container which allows for better storage extending its play.
1990s
1991 The PLAY-DOH brand becomes part of the Hasbro family through the Company’s purchase of the Tonka Corporation and its Kenner and Parker Brothers divisions.
1996 To mark its 40th year, the PLAY-DOH brand introduces two dazzling new compound colours: silver and gold.
1997 A favourite returns! Twenty years after its first appearance, the PLAY-DOH FUZZY PUMPER BARBER & BEAUTY SHOP playset is re-introduced for a new generation.
1998 PLAY-DOH compound is inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
2000s
2000 The PLAY-DOH Colourful Campaign collects more than 100,000 votes to determine the country’s favourite PLAY-DOH compound colours. Rose Red, Purple Paradise, Blue Lagoon and Garden Green win as favourites.
2006 To commemorate 50 years of PLAY-DOH fun, September 16th is deemed National PLAY-DOH Day, an annual celebration of creatable, colourful, makeable fun! The brand also releases a limited edition PLAY-DOH scented perfume in celebration of the anniversary.
2010s
2011 PLAY-DOH compound is named to the TIME Magazine list of “All-TIME 100 Greatest Toys.”
2012 PLAY-DOH introduces the Doh-Doh character. Appearing on packaging, and in commercials & animation shorts, the silly characters bring the fun and creativity of the brand to life.
2013 Creativity is taken to the next level with the introduction of PLAY-DOH PLUS, which allows little artists to create an amazing level of detail and realistic-looking results.
2015 Sept. 16, 2015 marked the first-ever WORLD PLAY-DOH DAY! Celebrated across the U.S. since 2006, excitement surrounding this annual holiday grew far beyond national boundaries to inspire artists across the globe.
2016 The PLAY-DOH brand celebrates 60 years of creative play, and introduces a new world of PLAY-DOH fun with the launch of the PLAY-DOH Town line.
