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Father of the Frisbee Dies At 90

Posted by timothy on from the contributed-many-years-of-aggregate-pleasure dept.

theodp writes "Walter Fredrick Morrison, whose post-World War II invention of a 'flying' plastic disc became the American recreational icon known as the Frisbee, has died at age 90 of age-related causes (great obit pic). Wham-O Inc. has sold more than 200 million Frisbees since Morrison sold the company the rights to what he called the Pluto Platter in 1957. The roots of today's aerodynamic Frisbees go back to 1937, when Morrison and his future wife tossed a large popcorn can lid back and forth for fun during a Thanksgiving party."

3 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. "invention" isn't the right word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    He didn't invent anything, he's just the one who had the idea of selling "popcorn can lids" as "flying disks" and convinced a toy company it was a good idea?

    1. Re:"invention" isn't the right word by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 1, Insightful

      He didn't invent anything, he's just the one who had the idea of selling "popcorn can lids" as "flying disks" and convinced a toy company it was a good idea?

      And you've sold several hundred million units of what, exactly?

  2. Re:Not accurate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Sure, discus is older, but last person I know who played catch with a discus ended up with about 12 stitches in his head.

    You can argue that frisbee is an evolution of the discus, and I would agree with you, but it is certainly a new and separate item.