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Frisbee Inventor Dies
Walter Frederick “Fred” Morrison was a cultural innovator, opportunist, war hero and more. Yet most will remember him as the man who invented the Frisbee. His creation, one seemingly so simple you might initially feel it defies the idea of ‘invention’ at all, revolutionised recreational and competitive game play irreversibly. Fred Morrison passed away this month, on 9th February at the age of 90 as a result of natural causes. His creation of one of the best-selling and most versatile toys of the century render him a man not to be forgotten.
Today the Frisbee appears timeless, an institution in recreation without a beginning. Nevertheless the history of Fred Morrison and of American culture itself played a significant role in the development of the Frisbee (and all the brand’s imitators) widely used today. Initially, the idea came to Morrison from playing with a popcorn lid with his girlfriend, Lucile. Realising cake tins provided a more durable flying-disc, the pair began playing with and later selling these. Morrison started with a basic philosophy: ‘you could buy a cake pan for 5 cents, and if people on the beach were willing to pay a quarter for it, well, there was a business’. With the onset of the Second World War this business was put on hold. As part of the Air Force, Morrison was shot-down and held as a Prisoner of War in Italy for 48 days. Remarkably, the principle effect this experience had was to further his knowledge of the aerodynamics of flight, amounting to his design of the ‘Whirlo-Way’ in 1948. Post-War he capitalised upon contemporary fixation with the UFOs with his invention passing spells under the guise of ‘Flyin’ Saucer’ and ‘Pluto Platter’. In 1957 his patented idea was bought by prolific toy company Wham-O who settled on the name ‘Frisbee’, after the Frisbie Baking Company that had provided the initial inspirational tins. This company helped establish it as a serious sporting item. One of the earliest variations on the original game was Frisbee-Golf. They have continued to multiply and now include Disc-Dog, Friskee, Fricket and of course the student grown sport of Ultimate Frisbee. It seems wherever a ball is used, the Frisbee is not far behind.
The toy’s history is thus an amalgamation of love, the war effort, American culture and a powerful corporation. The one constant amidst this journey is of course, Fred Morrison. When people were still struggling to comprehend the discs’ unusual flight pattern, Morrison was there to assure them no “invisible wires” were being used. Furthermore he supported Wham-O as they developed the Frisbee for over 50 years, earning over $2 million in royalty payments. He went on to invent other toys including a water-filled bowling set. However the unsurpassable effect his first invention had upon his life is evident in his choice of autobiography title, “Flat Flip Flies Straight”, a segment from the instructions on an early flying disc.
As Fred Morrison would have most likely agreed it is the social impact of the Frisbee that will prove his most significant and enduring legacy. The idea itself sprung from a moment of blissful frivolity and the thriving nature of the business was initially due to his loving input into sales and demonstrations. Today it provides light relief from the institutional, competitive nature of many ball sports. It transcends cultures and generations in its popularity, entertaining friends, families and even dogs. To quote the man himself, 70 years after its invention, ‘the mystique has never worn off’.
Kent Touch This
By Anonymous on 25.2.2010
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This guy looks like a total legend! ;-)
By Augustine Lofts on 25.2.2010
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