Frisbee Celebrates Their 50th BirthdayAugust 12th, 2007 During good weather you will find people of all ages throwing frisbees at the beach or one of Portland's many parks. It's a fun way to get your exercise. Frisbee Celebrates Their 50th Birthday More than a half century ago, New England college students were eating the product of Frisbie Pie Co. Even better, throwing and catching those empty Frisbie pie pans became a great game.
At the same time, the Wham-O company was making the Plato Platter, which was used in essentially the same way. It was invented by Fred Morrison. The students began calling the Platters Frisbies too.
Wham-O founders Rich Knerr and Arthur Melin obtained the marketing rights for the name college kids had moved onto their product. But they didn't spell it right, and the Pluto Platter became the Frisbee. Inventor Morrison thought it was a terrible name. Now, 87 years old and living in Carpinteria, Calif., Morrison says it just goes to show that he is a bad judge of names.
After 50 years, people still like to test their skill and physical condition playing Frisbee in the park, either with each other or with their dogs. Some dogs are excellent catchers.
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