Appreciating all that makes America special

Kid Stuff: Duncan Yo-Yo

 

Duncan yo-yos were so popular that they were included among the very first toys included in the National Toy Hall of Fame. Yes, there is one. Uploaded by yoyoz.co.uk.

It’s on a string. It goes down. It comes back up. What’s so great about that, to have it considered a Great American Thing? Duncan took this simple concept, which seems to date back to 500 B.C., and made it cool.

Uploaded by crunkish.com.

They did it in part by having yo-yo professionals – yes, professionals – go around the country doing exhibitions. Kids loved it. The youngsters who’d mastered the art of getting the yo-yo to “sleep” and “walking the dog” could now do more impressive tricks, such as “around the world” and “rock the baby.”

While yo-yos were on a par with hula hoops and frisbees as a fad toy of the baby boomer generation, they’ve definitely not gone away. There seems to be a yo-yo community thriving online and in the social media, and Duncan still sponsors traveling pros and world championships. Duncan yo-yos were included in the initial class of the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Take a look at the video below to see the amazing things done with a yo-yo today, something earlier Duncan generations couldn’t have imagined:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoBDUDL6Xis]

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