Show host Hugh Downs

The first Slinky

The toy Slinky was invented and developed by naval engineer Richard James in
the early 1940s. He demonstrated his creation in November OF 1945 at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The toy was a hit, selling its entire inventory of 400 units in ninety minutes. James and his wife Betty formed James Industries in Philadelphia to manufacture Slinky and several related toys such as
the Slinky Dog and Suzie, the Slinky Worm. In 1960, Betty became president of
James Industries, and, in 1964, moved the operation to Hollidaysburg, Pa. In
1998, she sold the company to Poof Products, Inc. Industry experts predict the 
Slinky will make a comeback this year. 

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Slinky inventor Richard James

Betty James

Tom and Dick Smothers

Tom Smothers (Thomas Bolyn Smothers III), best known as the
zany half of the folk music comedy team The Smothers Brothers,
alongside his younger sibling Dick. Before fame, Tom was a
champion gymnast on the parallel bars in high school. He
began his music career as a regular on The Steve Allen
Show on NBC television. 

Actress/singer Anne Jeffreys had initially trained to become a vocalist,
but instead became a junior model with John Robert Powers. She is
best remembered for her appearance as the ghost Marion Kirby on
the CBS television sitcom Topper (1953-1955)