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What company made Colorforms?
Colorforms Brand, LLCColorforms is a creative toy named for the simple shapes and forms cut from colored vinyl sheeting that cling to a smooth backing surface without adhesives....Colorforms.Gumby ColorformsInventor(s)Harry and Patricia KislevitzCompanyColorforms Brand, LLC (9 Story Media Group)CountryUnited StatesAvailability1951–present3 more rows
Where are Colorforms made?
Originally targeting other artists and adults, the product quickly became popular with children and the Colorforms® brand took hold. Orders for Colorforms® sets rushed in, and their operation began to quickly outgrow their tiny apartment, moving to a factory in New Jersey.
Can I make my own Colorforms?
Do you remember Colorforms? You can make your own set with some scrapbook paper and magnetic sheets!
What will Colorforms stick to?
Colorforms are a brand of window clings. Over time they can lose their ability to stick to a window. These vinyl sheets are usually used with a piece of coated plastic as the play surface, but by using static cling, Colorforms can hold on to any clean, dry surface.
What Are Colorfoms?
Colorforms are a popular toy made from different colored vinyl shapes that kids can mold and stick on a playboard to make pictures and stories.
Who invented Colorforms?
Colorforms were created by Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, who were both art students at the time. They wanted to create something that would allow people to put together colorful pictures of their choosing without having to spend a fortune on paint and supplies.
How many Colorforms were sold in 1990?
By 1990, over a billion Colorforms sets had been sold.
What did the Kislevitzes figure out?
The Kislevitzes figured they had a toy on their hands.
Is Colorforms on iPad?
In December, University Games will release iPad and iPhone versions of Colorforms. The company's president Bob Moog told CNN that for the first time, Colorforms products are going beyond static cling and vinyl. While the traditional boxed sets are still Colorforms' mainstay, a new product called Magic Fashion Show is larger in scale than traditional Colorforms sets. (The basic premise is creating and putting on a fashion show.) Colorforms' new Brush with Genius features an electronic paint brush.
Is static cling old fashioned?
But now, Moog continued, "with electronics and all the things that are going on, static cling is considered pretty old-fashioned to people. So what we've done to try to make it seem topical, and something that is on trend, we've re-positioned Colorforms and we now consider it a story crafting and storytelling product line. And what it offers children is the opportunity - without any parental involvement - to do open-ended, creative, imaginative play with and without electronics."
When was the first colorform made?
The first Colorforms set was created in 1951 and consisted of vinyl, geometric shapes in primary colors that could be fashioned into stories and patterns when affixed (via the magic of static cling) to a shiny, black laminated board. Square + triangle = house. Boom! Instant story.
Who shopped for Colorforms?
The Kislevitzes shopped Colorforms around. FAO Schwartz ordered 1,000 units. Orders increased, and more stores wanted to stock Colorforms on their shelves. Colorforms was also the first child's toy to be available in black boxes because, according to Pat, "precious things come in black boxes."
Do kids need a screen for Colorforms?
Colorforms, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month, is one of those nostalgic toys that still resonates, even though kids don't need some sort of screen - be it a TV, computer, iPad, iPhone or something similar - to stay engaged and entertained.
How many sets of Colorforms have been sold?
With over 1 billion sets sold, Colorforms have allowed generations of artists, children, and adults to stretch their creative muscles and easily create beautiful works of vinyl art. But it wouldn’t have happened if Harry and Patricia Kislevitz hadn’t decided to redecorate their bathroom walls.
What did the Kislevitz put in the bathroom?
Hoping guests would add to their creations, the Kislevitz placed some extra vinyl and a pair of scissors in the bathroom. When their friends became entranced with the myriad of colorful shapes and artistic possibilities, Harry and Patricia knew they were onto something.
Is Colorforms still in the Hall of Fame?
Even after nearly 70 years, Colorforms continues to be extremely influential in the toy industry. In 2020, the late Harry Kislevitz was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame because of the innovative practices he employed with Colorforms.
Where did the story of Colorforms begin?
Despite being an iconic toy, the story of Colorforms actually began in a bathroom!
Who made the first colorforms?
With some more design and development, Colorforms was born! The first Colorforms set was hand-cut by the Kislevitz themselves. A thimble, a bottle, and a medicine container top were just some of the shapes used to make that very first set.
When did Popeye become a toy?
In 1957 , the spinach-eating Popeye became one of the first ever licensed characters to be featured in a toy. Today kids can play with their favorite modern characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Barbie and PAW Patrol, as well as classics like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Snoopy.
Did the Kislevitzes stick vinyl together?
However, the Kislevitzes assumed no one else would find any interest in sticking the vinyl pieces together. They were content with simply entertaining themselves. But they did recognize how much fun could be had with the vinyl, so they encouraged house guests to join the fun.
What are some examples of licensed products?
Hundreds of brands were licensed. Batman, The Beatles, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Doctor Do Little, Gumby, The Fonz and Happy Days, Michael Jackson, Peanuts, Star Trek, Superman, Tarzan, The Smurfs, The Three Stooges, and Steve Urkel are a few examples. Because of these license products, Colorforms collectors compete actively with crossover collectors for sets.
What shows did Colorforms make?
In the 1970s, Colorforms continued its active licensing program. Colorform sets for the television shows Space 1999 and Star Trek were developed. Other sets from this period included Barbie, Scooby Do, Sesame Street, and Welcome Back Kotter.
How many Colorforms boxes were sold in 1990?
By 1990, Colorforms sold over one billion boxed sets. Licensed sets include New Kids on the Block, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and WWF Action.
What is a colorform?
Colorforms is a toy that consists of shapes cut from color vinyl that cling to a smooth backing surface. The shapes are used to create picture graphs and designs. The two polished surfaces stick to each other through a vacuum.
When did Popeye become a licensed character?
Colorforms pursued an active licensing program. In 1957 , Popeye became the first licensed character to appear in a Colorforms set.
Who designed the first Colorforms set?
Patricia designed the first Colorforms set consisting of shapes that included hand-cut thimble, bottle, and medicine container top. The first 100 sets were sold “on concept’ to FAO Schwarz in New York. Other stories quickly ordered sets. The Kislevitz moved to a factory in New Jersey. Paul Rand developed the company’s signature logo.
Who invented colorforms?
Friends visiting their bathroom enjoyed moving the forms around and well as cutting out and creating new forms. Harry and Partrica founded Colorforms in 1951.
What is a colorform?
Colorforms, which have “stuck” around for generations, could be classified as such a toy. Colorforms offer children the opportunity to adhere precut vinyl pieces -- geometric shapes, characters, clothing, furniture, cars, etc. -- to a laminated board, thus creating custom “scenes.”. Some youngsters, however, like thinking “outside ...
When did Colorforms start?
The Kislevitz’ created Colorforms in 1951, running the business in the home they bought in River Edge and producing the simple vinyl pieces and laminated boards at a factory in Ramsey. Since hitting the market, Colorforms have enjoyed broad appeal.
Who made the genius toy?
Genius! The toy was the brainchild of Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, artists from New York City who had acquired some rolls of vinyl sheeting and discovered their friends found it amusing to cut out pieces of the material and stick the scraps on the walls of their apartment. The rest is history.
Overview
Products
Original character sets focused on household themes such as Miss Weather, a girl whose wardrobe changed with the weather, and Miss Cookie's Kitchen, a woman with a variety of kitchen tools and utensils. Later sets relied on the use of licensed cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse and Gumby. Colorforms products have expanded beyond the simple "paper doll" concept to more than 75 Colorforms toy products currently in distribution, with more added every year.
Design
Colorforms are sheet-thin, die-cut vinyl pieces in colorful geometric "forms" and abstract shapes (figurative or object), often with over-printed images that are to be attached to a smooth plastic-laminated paperboard background, much like placing paper dolls against a paper backdrop. The pieces stick to the background without chemical or static adhesion, and in a secure but non-permanent manner when a vacuum is created between the two polished surfaces, holding the pie…
History
The Colorforms concept was developed by Harry and Patricia Kislevitz in 1951, firmly rooted in the Modernist design ethos and reflecting the Color Field abstract style prevalent at the time.
The basic concept behind Colorforms is the ability to adhere and reposition abstract and geometric color form shapes on random surfaces to create art. Both recent art students, the couple discovered the idea when they acquired several rolls of flexible paper-thin colored vinyl u…
Company timeline
• 1951 - Harry and Patricia Kislevitz experiment with new flexibly vinyl sheeting material to decorate their apartment by cutting out shapes and affixing them to smooth surfaces; they realize that this could be applied to an activity toy set, thus beginning the Colorforms concept.
• 1957 - Popeye becomes Colorforms' first licensed character applied to its products.
Licensed characters
The first Colorforms product to utilize a licensed character property featured Popeye, the King Features Syndicate cartoon character, released as a boxed set in 1957. Since then, licensed products have remained critically important to the Colorforms marketing strategy, with hundreds of brands connected to Colorforms. Later Colorforms licensed various properties, producing sets supporting varied cartoons, TV series, movie releases, and popular musical artists, like The Beat…
Other products
1968 saw an interesting diversion from the typical two-dimensional toy lines that Colorforms specialized in, when they released the Outer Space Men (a.k.a. Colorform Aliens) bendy action figures. This group of aliens, hailing from other planets in our Solar System, were designed to tie into the popularity of Mattel's Major Matt Mason astronaut line (1966); Colorforms nicely complemented the larger manufacturer's line due to Mattel's dearth of alien adversaries. Colorfor…
Ownership changes (1997–present)
In 1997, Colorforms was acquired by Toy Biz. A year later, Colorforms was sold off to University Games Corporation. In September 2014, it became a new division of Out of the Blue Enterprises, as Colorforms Brand, LLC. In January 2018, Toronto-based 9 Story Media Group acquired Out of the Blue, also inheriting Colorforms. In 2019, both companies teamed up with DHX Media to make Netflix's Charlie's Colorforms City.
What Are Colorfoms?
- Colorforms are a popular toy made from different colored vinyl shapes that kids can mold and stick on a playboard to make pictures and stories. They are one of the longest-selling toys in history. Since their inception in the 1950s, they have been loved by generation after generation. Lets take a look at the History of Colorforms!
Who Invented Colorforms?
- Colorforms were created by Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, who were both art students at the time. They wanted to create something that would allow people to put together colorful pictures of their choosing without having to spend a fortune on paint and supplies. In 1951, the creative duo purchased a lot of colorful vinyl rolls and began to cut out different geometric shapes which they …
The First Colorform Collaboration
- E.C. Segars beloved cartoon character Popeye The Sailor Man, with his ample muscles and trademark can of spinach, became the very first character licensed to have his own Colorforms set. Famed British rock group The Beatles would follow suit in 1964 after their earliest appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Two years later, a live-action television series called Batman featuring …
More Brand Deals in The ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s
- The major appeal of Mattels plastic Barbie doll was all the different outfits you could dress her up in. That was perfect for the Colorform clings. More properties like Sesame Street, Scooby-Doo, and Welcome Back Kotter would get their very own sets during the 1970s. With the arrival of the 1980s, Colorforms continued to rise in popularity. Soon, customers were offered even more sets …
The Toy Is Still Popular in 2000 and Beyond!
- In 2000, there was a lot of technology that people were getting rid of. With everything from cassette players to VCRs ending up in the trash, you might think that this would start to be the end of Colorforms, but that was simply not the case. Harry Potter, Spongebob Squarepants, Dora The Explorer, and other pop culture characters would appear as Colorforms sets for the first time wit…
What Are Colorforms Made of?
- Colorforms are made out of patented vinyl plastic. Thin sheets of the material are die-cut to make unique play shapes. The backgrounds and playboards for Colorforms are made of paperboard.
Do Colorforms Still Exist?
- Yes. Colorforms still exist and are being made and sold to this day. In total more than a billion Colorform playsets have been produced since their creation. Its amazing that a toy that was created in the 1950s is still going strong more than seventy years later and they show no signs of slowing down.