Apr 14 2015

How Slinky Works

50 min 4 movies discussed
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It has been called a "glorified spring", but Slinky is one of the best selling toys of all time. From accidental origins to an unlikely resurrection, Slinky has a pretty great back story.

AI Summary

# Stuff You Should Know: The Slinky Episode

This episode traces the fascinating history of one of America's most beloved toys—the Slinky—from its accidental invention during World War II to its status as a cultural phenomenon. Josh and Chuck explore how naval engineer Richard James discovered the toy after knocking over a spring, how his wife Betty coined the iconic name, and the remarkable story of how 100 million Slinkies sold in just the first two years. But the episode takes an unexpected turn when Richard makes a shocking decision that leaves Betty to salvage the company from near financial ruin, revealing a side to the Slinky's history that's far more dramatic than anyone would expect.


Movies Discussed

Love Is Blind
Love Is Blind
2020
★ 6.2
"Nancy Rodriguez from Netflix's love is blind season three — Referenced in a podcast advertisement for 'Chiquis and Chill' featuring a guest from the Netflix reality show."
Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle on 34th Street
1947 NR 1h 36m
★ 7.4
"The Santa from Miracle on 34th Street comes through and does like a little twirl — Chuck uses the movie as a reference when describing Richard James selling 400 slinkies in 90 minutes at Gimbles department store." — Chuck
The Ren & Stimpy Show
The Ren & Stimpy Show
1991 TV-Y7
★ 7.6
"Well, Ren and Stimpy fans, obviously, know what I just did. — Josh references the cartoon show when explaining how the 'Log' jingle was based on the Slinky jingle with replaced lyrics." — Josh
Toy Story
Toy Story
1995 1h 21m
★ 8.0
"Like in Toy Story. Exactly. Which they got some nice kickback money on that. — Josh references Toy Story when discussing the slinky dog toy, mentioning how the rear end of the dog is a slinky, similar to the character in the film." — Josh

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