Susan's Blog

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Play-Doh’s Big Five-Oh

Play-Doh turns 50 this year. Unlike most things, that does not make me feel old. I guess because I don’t really believe it. How can Play-Doh have an age? Wasn’t it always around? I always had some on hand, literally, and when it was on my hands, I would eat it. Why not? It said, “Non-toxic” right there on the little yellow barrel. If it was not meant to be eaten, why make it non-toxic and more importantly, why make it so tasty? Also, who could resist those colors? Is there anything as delicious and sensuous as the brand new cylindrical wedge of Play-Doh fresh from the can, unsullied by fat little hands, the mouth-watering bits of drier pieces clinging to its smooth sides?

They are apparently coming out with a pack of 50 colors in honor of this birthday. Ned wisely asked, “What’s the point? They’ll all be brown in the morning!” But you know, there is a point. Just because the joyful purity of color is ephemeral, doesn’t mean it is not worth having for that brief moment.

4 comments

Hoping the manufacturer will celebrate this great anniversary by bringing out a gluten-free version for our kids with celiac disease. Crayola Model Magic is good stuff, but not the same.

— added by kristina on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 10:21 am

Yes, there are fond memories of Play-Doh!

— added by Steve Sherlock on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 1:02 pm

wow. 50 years old. amazing! i love the comment about it all being brown the morning! glad to know it happens at every other house!

and, by the way, they do have a gluten free brand! Colorations makes it and it works beautifully!

— added by kyra on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 7:10 pm

“What’s the point? They’ll all be brown in the morning!”

But you can’t miss that brief (10-20 minute) moment where they are all mixed and psychedelic, right before they actually become purple-ish brown. It’s like a haleakala sunrise.

— added by Do'C on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 12:28 am