Sixty-five percent dimethylsiloxane, 17% silica, 9% Thixatrol ST, 4% polydimethylsiloxane, 1% decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane, 1% glycerine and 1% titanium dioxide.

That’s what most of us simply call Silly Putty.

I remember cracking this stuff out of the plastic egg container it came in during the 1970s and rolling it on the Sunday comics to see images transformed. I would then stretch it to see Marmaduke and Dennis the Menace in distorted forms, until it made that unique “snap” sound. Silly Putty was — and still is — good, old-fashioned fun. Unfortunately, with the use of soy ink in newspapers today, the copying doesn't work as well.

The origins of Silly Putty are fascinating to me. During World War II, rubber products were rationed in the United States. To deal with the shortage, the government funded research for synthetic rubber compounds. Eventually, a non-toxic putty was invented that would bounce, stretch, not go moldy and have a high melting temperature. That sounded like a winner, but it unfortunately did not have the properties needed to replace rubber.

To this day, a clear-cut inventor of the putty cannot be determined. Crayola, the company that now owns Silly Putty, says James Wright first invented it in 1943. Earl Warrick took credit as well, insisting that he and his colleague, Rob Roy McGregor, received the patent for Silly Putty before Wright did. Harvey Chin said he deserved credit, too.

Regardless, in 1949, toy store owner Ruth Fallgatter came across the bouncing putty, and she and Peter C. L. Hodgson made a plan to market it. Sales were OK, but Fallgatter did not see a future in it. Hodgson did and moved forward with selling what he decided to call Silly Putty.

Initial sales were slow until a New Yorker article mentioned it. Hodgson then sold more than 250,000 eggs in three days. In 1957, Silly Putty was advertised on television commercials during “The Howdy Doody Show,” and sales skyrocketed.

Today, more than 20,000 eggs of Silly Putty are reportedly sold every day. Since 1950, more than 300 million eggs have been purchased.

That’s a lot of putty. And a lot of silliness. Thank goodness for dimethylsiloxane.

As always, thank you for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

FILM REVIEW
‘Hit Man’ is a must-watch for fans of quirky, well-written comedies

By David Rowley

“Hit Man” is a surprising gem that blends comedy, action and romance into an unexpectedly delightful package. At the heart of the film is Glen Powell, who delivers a standout performance as Gary Johnson, a mild-mannered college professor moonlighting as a fake hitman for the New Orleans Police Department. Powell co-wrote the screenplay with director Richard Linklater, making this film a personal project that showcases his versatility and range. His role requires him to adopt various personas to trap those looking to hire a hitman, and Powell’s ability to seamlessly shift between these identities is truly impressive.

[...]

CITYVIEW's seasonal guide for activities and things to do in Central Iowa

EXPLORE: Attractions

By Cyote Williams

Central Iowa is full of historical gems that mark the history, pride and essence of the state — and all are well worth a visit.

Jazz in July 2024
July 16, 23, 30 featuring a different lineup each week. See free jazz concerts on the newly renovated lawn of Hoyt Sherman Place. Bring your own blankets or chairs for the opening acts outside as the sun sets, then move indoors to the historic stage for the main event. 

Des Moines Playhouse. School of Rock. Jul 12-28.

Iowa Stage Theatre Company and Salisbury House & Gardens. Shakespeare on the Lawn - A Midsummer Night’s Dream. July 17-21. 

Polk County Heritage Gallery. Iowa Exhibited. Through Aug 15. 

— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

Deals today. The Hilltop Farms corn truck parks at the Waukee VisionBank parking lot around 9:30 a.m. and has sweetcorn, tomatoes, peaches and watermelons... Thursday nights starting at 5 p.m., Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines)… Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Thursday special is hot beef sandwiches with green beans $10... Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99... Aussie pies, savory and sweet, at St. Kilda's Collective (333 Fifth St., Valley Junction) farmers market stall are good deals at varying prices. Indoors, Thursday's happy hour brings gargantuan (pictured) $12 fried cod sandwiches, plus cheeseburgers, Cubanos, chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

The tradition continues
Madison County Fair offers events, exhibits and more July 17-21

By Rachel Harrington

If you are looking for a great place to spend some time this July, the Madison County Fair anticipates a week full of fun and entertainment. The county fair, which will take place July 17-21 at the Madison County fairgrounds in Winterset, will feature some annual fun as well as some new additions to the schedule.

Todd McCullough is the Madison County Fair Board president, and he couldn’t be more thrilled with the lineup for this year’s fair.
“The fair is free entry,” he says. “This year, we have some free entertainment. We added these events just to try something new this year,” he says. “The Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West Show will be one of the new entertainment events. We couldn’t book them last year due to their schedule being full, but we’re glad to get them this year.”

[...]

These celebrities were born on this date:  Jeff Hanna, Bruce McGill, Lisa Rinna, Kirk Whalum, Greg Grunberg, Alessia Cara, Lil Kim, Justin Chambers, David Henrie, Connor Paolo, Richie Sambora, Giorgio Armani, Mindy Sterling

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

Why do bees have sticky hair? THEY USE HONEY COMBS! - Jolene Goodman, Kris Laurson, Gail Tomlinson

Today's riddle

How do you reboot a robot?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Iowa Living magazines, contact:

Jolene Goodman
Vice President
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 319
Mobile: 515-326-0082
jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com

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