Yo-Yo

The yo-yo is one of the oldest and most popular toys in the world. The origin of the yo-yo is uncertain. Some stories trace it to such places as China, Greece, Egypt, France, and the Philippines. One thing is certain: In 1928, Filipino Pedro Flores brought the first yo-yo to the United States. At a yo-yo demonstration that Flores gave in San Francisco, California, in 1929, Donald F. Duncan (1891–1971) became intrigued by the toy disk on a string. Duncan quickly bought Flores' idea and started the Duncan Company to sell yo-yos. Duncan used catchy advertising campaigns. He sent yo-yo professionals throughout the United States and western Europe to demonstrate yoyo tricks and develop interest in the product. He set up yo-yo tournaments.

By 1946, the Duncan Company made its headquarters in Luck, Wisconsin, the "Yo-Yo Capital of the World." By 1962, the Duncan Company sold a record forty-five million yo-yos. The yo-yo was given special attention when President Richard Nixon (1913–1994) performed yo-yo tricks on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry (see entry under 1920s—Music in volume 2) in 1974 and when the yo-yo was one of the first toys taken into space in 1985. Yo-yos are now made by several companies and continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

—Sara Pendergast

For More Information

American Yo-Yo Association.http://www.ayya.net (accessed January 25, 2002).

Malko, George. The One and Only Yo-Yo Book. New York: Avon, 1978.

Zeiger, Helane. World on a String: The How-To Yo-Yo Book. Chicago: Contemporary Publishers, 1989.