Performo Toy Company

The Performo Toy Company was established in 1925 by Torrence Leroy Dietz, in Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. They manufactured wooden toys in a building on North Spring Street. His business expanded rapidly, soon recruiting over 25 employees, and still having trouble filling demands for their popular toys. The corporation documents confirm the president of the toy company was Torrence Dietz and that Rene Grove was the chief designer and one of five partners. The company was capitalize with an initial stock offering of twenty-five thousand dollars. The original partners were Torrence Dietz, president (and salesperson), O.H. Watts, manager and treasurer, Clifford Funk, initially the secretary, and Rene Grove, principal artist and designer, and Elias Klahr, investor. (source financial records)

The company had a catalog of around 40 different toys, all of them distributed by the George Borgfeldt Company, including its most popular doll, a black and white mouse named Micky (US Patent #D70,840, received on August 17, 1926).

Rene Grove's younger brother, Larry Grove worked at the factory. After the mouse was created, Performo had a "Name the Mouse" contest. Larry submitted the name Micky and won the contest.[1]

Mickey Mouse vs. Micky Mouse debate

Performo Toy's Micky: August 17, 1926

Mickey Mouse is one of the most loved cartoon characters in the history of animation industry.

The similarities between both mice have led to speculation that Walt Disney stole his most successful idea from the Performo Toy Company. The wooden mouse was very popular in New York City (where Performo's distributor was located) in 1928. Coincidentally, at about the same time, Disney thought of the idea for his animation studio's new character and began drafting cartoons, which then aired as shorts, padding the time between one film and the next, and were extremely popular.

There is a well known legend in Middletown about how Performo Toy Company sued The Walt Disney Company, which included some coverage in the local paper. A conspiracy theory might have arisen from this story, however, History Detectives, a television program on PBS, conducted an investigation on the topic.[2] The historians and researchers of the PBS program conducted a nationwide search, finding that there are no records nor evidence of any legal action between the two parties. Inquiries to Disney historians and archivists resulted in a letter stating that no such action had ever existed between the companies. Hence the legend is dismissed as local gossip made urban myth.

Part of the program showed that Performo's Micky, while very close to Walt Disney's, actually grew more that way after the cartoon's success. Performo's Micky Mouse, without the "e", suddenly developed red shorts with white buttons, as was shown by a Mickey collector who had both products in his multi-room collection. The program's investigating historian concluded that it was a series of generic mice that featured in Felix the Cat (1922), Milton Mouse from Aesop's Film Fables (1920) or Ignatz Mouse from Krazy Kat (1914), which provided the inspiration for Mickey Mouse. When viewed side by side and in sequence of appearance, an evolution of the many mice in cartoons of the era is striking, if not conclusive.[according to whom?]

Further, in 1932 the sales of Mickey Mouse toy paraphernalia out-grossed the revenues for the films themselves, the first time that happened in the experience of Hollywood. At nearly the same time, Performo came onto hard times despite its rapid growth and filed for bankruptcy in 1933. The PBS historian concludes it became a victim of the depression like many other toy companies and other luxury goods producers while the movie tie-in enabled Disney's nascent toys and novelties business to weather the hard times of the Great Depression.

The Simpsons episode "The Day the Violence Died" bears a remarkable similar story line to the Grove–Disney debate.[according to whom?]

Bankruptcy

In the July 15, 1933 edition of the Press and Journal, the Performo Toy Company announced they were filing for bankruptcy. It is believed that the Great Depression forced them to padlock their doors.

See also

References

  1. ^ Andrews, Craig L. (2002). "A New Toy Mouse". Broken Toy: A Man's Dream, A Company's Mystery. AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781403303905.
  2. ^ "Episode 2, 2005: Mouse Toy". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-06-14.

Read other articles:

Yehezkiel 46Kitab Yehezkiel 30:13–18 pada suatu naskah bahasa Inggris dari awal abad ke-13, MS. Bodl. Or. 62, fol. 59a. Teks bahasa Ibrani disalin sebagaimana dalam kodeks bahasa Latin. Terjemahan bahasa Latin ditulis di bagian marjin.KitabKitab YehezkielKategoriNevi'imBagian Alkitab KristenPerjanjian LamaUrutan dalamKitab Kristen26← pasal 45 pasal 47 → Yehezkiel 46 (disingkat Yeh 46) adalah bagian dari Kitab Yehezkiel dalam Alkitab Ibrani dan Perjanjian Lama di Alkitab Kristen....

 

Area of naturally occurring land set aside for human enjoyment For the act of stopping a vehicle, see parking. For other uses of Park or Parks, see Park (disambiguation). Recreation ground redirects here. For other uses, see Recreation ground (disambiguation). Halley Park in Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia Safa Park in Dubai, UAE A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban ...

 

The Order of Lafayette is a patriotic, hereditary, nonpartisan, and fraternal organization established in New York City in 1958 by Colonel Hamilton Fish III (1888-1991), a former Congressman from New York and decorated veteran of the First World War. The Order's patron is the Marquis de Lafayette, the French officer who was commissioned a general in the Continental Army, and who served with George Washington during the American Revolution. The Order's principles are God, Unity, Peace, Honor. ...

Not to be confused with the former inline hockey team of the same name, the Philadelphia Bulldogs (Inline Hockey), or for the rugby league team previously known as the Philadelphia Bulldogs, the Philadelphia Fight. Philadelphia BulldogsFounded1961Folded1967LeagueUnited Football LeagueContinental Football LeagueBased inPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaArenaTemple StadiumChampionships2 (1964, 1966)Division titles1 (1964) Ticket stub The Philadelphia Bulldogs were a professional American football team ...

 

Each year, the jury of the Berlin International Film Festival is chaired by an internationally recognised personality of cinema. Being appointed to this position is the recognition of an outstanding career. This article lists all past presidents of the international jury, which is responsible for awarding the most prestigious prizes in the festival, including the Golden Bear and various Silver Bears. History Further information: Berlin International Film Festival § History The winners ...

 

American politician (1773–1833) Dominique BoulignyUnited States Senatorfrom LouisianaIn officeNovember 19, 1824 – March 4, 1829Serving with Josiah S. JohnstonPreceded byHenry JohnsonSucceeded byEdward Livingston Personal detailsBornCharles Dominique Joseph Bouligny(1773-08-22)August 22, 1773New Orleans, Louisiana, New SpainDiedMarch 4, 1833(1833-03-04) (aged 59)New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.Political partyDemocratic-Republican (Before 1828)National Republican (1828–1...

UK record label; imprint of Universal Music Operations Ltd. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Universal Music TV – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Universal Music TVParent companyUniversal Music GroupFounded1998GenreVarious...

 

Запрос «Пугачёва» перенаправляется сюда; см. также другие значения. Алла Пугачёва На фестивале «Славянский базар в Витебске», 2016 год Основная информация Полное имя Алла Борисовна Пугачёва Дата рождения 15 апреля 1949(1949-04-15) (75 лет) Место рождения Москва, СССР[1]...

 

Флаг гордости бисексуалов Бисексуальность      Сексуальные ориентации Бисексуальность Пансексуальность Полисексуальность Моносексуальность Сексуальные идентичности Би-любопытство Гетерогибкость и гомогибкость Сексуальная текучесть Исследования Шк...

MonzambanoKomuneComune di MonzambanoNegaraItaliaWilayahLombardyProvinsiMantua (MN)FrazioniCastellaro Lagusello, Pille, OlfinoPemerintahan • Wali kotaMaurizio PellizzerLuas • Total29,9 km2 (115 sq mi)Populasi (Dec. 2004)[1] • Total4.721 • Kepadatan16/km2 (41/sq mi)DemonimMonzambanesiZona waktuUTC+1 (CET) • Musim panas (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Kode pos46040Kode area telepon0376Santo/a PelindungSt. BartholomewSi...

 

خسوف القمر يوليو 2020 معلومات عامة نوع الخسوف خسوف شبه الظل القدر 0.3546 التاريخ 5 يوليو 2020 مرئي في أمريكا وأجزاء واسعة من أفريقيا غاما 1.3638- بُعد القمر 379,104 كيلومتر قطر القمر 0.525° - 0.534° ساروس 149 (3 من 72) بعد الشمس 152,095,171 كيلومتر قطر الشمس 0.524° الفترات (hh:mm:ss) شبه الظل 02:45:00 التوقيتات (ت �...

 

State church of Tuvalu Te Ekalesia Kelesiano TuvaluClassificationProtestantOrientationCalvinistPolityCongregationalAssociations Boys' Brigade International Fellowship,[1] Council for World Mission World Association for Christian Communication World Communion of Reformed Churches[2] Pacific Conference of Churches World Council of Churches RegionTuvaluHeadquartersFunafutiFounderElekanaOrigin1861Separated fromLondon Missionary Society, Christian Congregational Church of SamoaCong...

مقام أبي زمعة البلويمعلومات عامةجزء من مدينة القيروان العتيقة الدِّين الإسلام البلد تونس[1] تقع في التقسيم الإداري القيروان الإحداثيات 35°40′55″N 10°05′26″E / 35.68192°N 10.09049°E / 35.68192; 10.09049[2] الصفة التُّراثيَّة معلم أثري مصنف[1][3] (1912 – )جزء من مواقع التر...

 

Twin-engined, medium-lift helicopter manufactured by Leonardo AW139 An AW139 with Spain's Maritime Safety and Rescue agency Role Medium-lift SAR/utility helicopterType of aircraft National origin Italy Manufacturer AgustaWestland Leonardo First flight 3 February 2001 Introduction 2003 Status In production Primary users Italian Air ForceCHC Helicopter Irish Air Corps United Arab Emirates Air Force Produced 2001–present Number built 1100+ as of January 2021[1] Developed into Agus...

 

PT Samator Indo Gas TbkSebelumnyaPT Aneka Gas Industri (1971 - 2022)JenisPublikKode emitenIDX: AGIIIndustriKimiaDidirikan1916; 108 tahun lalu (1916)KantorpusatSurabaya dan Jakarta, IndonesiaTokohkunciArief Harsono(Komisaris Utama)Rachmat Harsono(Direktur Utama)Pendapatan Rp 2,204 triliun (2019)Laba operasi Rp 407,020 milyar (2019)Laba bersih Rp 100,971 milyar (2019)Total aset Rp 7,021 triliun (2019)Total ekuitas Rp 3,300 triliun (2019)AnakusahaPT Ruci GasPT Samat...

Series of political protests in Ukraine in 2004–2005Not to be confused with Orangist revolution.For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Orange Revolution. Orange RevolutionPart of the Colour RevolutionsOrange-clad demonstrators gather in the Independence Square in Kyiv on 22 November 2004.Date22 November 2004 – 23 January 2005(2 months and 1 day)LocationUkraine, primarily KyivCaused by The Kuchmagate crisis severely undermined the legitimacy of President Leonid Kuchma and...

 

Si ce bandeau n'est plus pertinent, retirez-le. Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus. Cet article ne cite pas suffisamment ses sources (avril 2021). Si vous disposez d'ouvrages ou d'articles de référence ou si vous connaissez des sites web de qualité traitant du thème abordé ici, merci de compléter l'article en donnant les références utiles à sa vérifiabilité et en les liant à la section « Notes et références ». En pratique : Quelles sources sont attendues ? Com...

 

Fabrizio MoroFabrizio Moro in 2018Background informationBirth nameFabrizio MobriciBorn (1975-04-09) 9 April 1975 (age 49)Rome, ItalyGenresPop rockOccupation(s) Singer songwriter musician Instrument(s) Vocals guitar Years active1996–presentLabelsSony Music, La Fattoria del MoroMusical artist Fabrizio Mobrici (born 9 April 1975), known by his stage name Fabrizio Moro, is an Italian singer-songwriter. He released his debut album in 2000 and he achieved commercial success in 2007, after w...

以下为2022年俄罗斯入侵乌克兰欧洲国家和地区的表态立场。  阿尔巴尼亚 阿爾巴尼亞總統伊利爾·梅塔於2月24日召開國家安全委員會會議,並發表聲明「強烈譴責俄羅斯對烏克蘭的軍事攻擊」,稱其為「無端和無理的升級」,「構成違反國際法、聯合國憲章、明斯克協議和布達佩斯備忘錄,並破壞整個歐洲的安全與和平」,同時對失去的生命表示悲痛,並「充分聲援烏�...

 

У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Пятигорск (значения). ГородПятигорск вид на город с горы Машук Флаг Герб 44°03′00″ с. ш. 43°03′36″ в. д.HGЯO Страна  Россия Статус Административный центр Субъект Федерации Ставропольский край Городской округ город-к...