Ridiculous History
Episode: Don’t Be a Schmo Yo, Try a Yo-Yo!
Hosts: Ben Bowlin, Noel Brown
Date: March 26, 2026
Duration: ~55 min
Episode Overview
In this episode, Ben and Noel take a deep dive into the surprisingly rich and often absurd history of the yo-yo. Traversing ancient origins, debunked legends, and modern competitive yo-yoing, they unpack how a simple toy became both a cultural touchstone and a vehicle for clever marketing, with stops along the way for wild myths and notable figures.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. Personal Connections & Yo-Yo Terms
[00:00–02:33]
- The hosts reminisce about their childhood fascination with yo-yos, comparing it to stage magic.
- Introduction to classic yo-yo tricks: “walking the dog” and “rocking the baby.”
- Noel jokes about yo-yos coming back into the zeitgeist, with new generations making the toy “cool again.”
Quote:
"Whether you yourself cut your teeth walking the dog... or rocking the baby ... the history of the humble yo-yo is littered, riddled... with celebrity endorsements and very spectacular displays of yo-yo prowess." — Noel Brown (01:46)
2. Ancient & Global Origins
[07:45–12:13]
- Murky and debated origins: Carvings and frescoes resembling yo-yos date as far back as 400–500 BCE in Greece.
- Parallel development: Many cultures created variations of spinning or tethered toys.
- Possible Asian roots around 1000 BCE, but no direct record; discussion shifts to the diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, described as “pulling bell” or “pulling ring.”
- Diabolo is compared to spinning tops (devil sticks), with vivid analogies to modern toys.
Quote:
"A lot of countries have claimed to have invented this thing. And there, as we often see in history, seems to be a lot of parallel thinking..." — Noel Brown (08:44)
3. European Adoption and Early Popularity
[12:13–16:19]
- Late 18th-century France: Yo-yo-like toys crafted from glass or ivory (“Juju de Normandie”) and depicted in paintings of nobility, including King Louis XVII.
- Used as a diversion during stressful times (e.g., French Revolution).
- Britain: Called the “bandalore” or “quiz”; adopted by aristocracy and fashionable circles.
- Early yo-yo tricks and their physics explained, particularly “around the world” and centripetal force.
Memorable Exchange:
"Not everybody can own a full working guillotine. So you gotta...have something to do with your hands." — Ben Bowlin (13:26)
4. The Yo-Yo Arrives in America & The Patent Era
[17:07–21:02]
- 1866: The first U.S. yo-yo patent by James L. Haven & Charles Hettrick (Cincinnati, Ohio).
- Patent details include the innovation of “rim weighting” and the yo-yo as a “flywheel.”
- Emphasis on design and the beginning of mass manufacture.
5. Persistent Myths: The Yo-Yo as Weapon or Hunting Tool
[21:02–32:08]
- The oft-repeated narrative of the yo-yo as an ancient hunting weapon, especially in the Philippines.
- Dr. Lucky Meisenheimer (yo-yo historian) debunks popular myths: the story was likely invented and perpetuated as a marketing gimmick by the Duncan company.
- Evidence exists of yo-yos as potential weapons (e.g., garrote-like use, thick leather cords), but little to support the hunting legend.
- Notably, a letter from Filipino hero Dr. Jose Rizal mentions using a yo-yo as a “weapon of attack,” probably tongue-in-cheek.
Quote:
"It would seem...the hunting origin is pure fantasy. It was a memorable story and helped to sell yo-yos." — (paraphrasing Dr. Lucky Meisenheimer, 28:14)
6. The Flores-Duncan Revolution & Massive Marketing
[32:08–38:17]
- 1928: Donald F. Duncan sees Pedro Flores demonstrate yo-yo in San Francisco. Flores, a Filipino immigrant, is manufacturing and marketing the toy as “yo-yo” (Tagalog: “come-come”).
- Duncan acquires Flores’ business and trademark, then launches national marketing via celebrity endorsements, demonstration teams, and pivotal partnership with William Randolph Hearst’s newspapers (requiring kids to sell newspaper subscriptions to enter yo-yo competitions).
- The “Duncan Professionals” demonstrate tricks and foster yo-yo communities nationwide.
Quote:
"He assembles a crack team of yo-yo masters to demonstrate some basic tricks and get people on board with this toy." — Noel Brown (34:10)
7. Celebrity Endorsements & The Trademark Struggle
[44:39–46:57]
- Duncan leverages pop culture, getting stars such as Lou Gehrig and Hollywood icons photographed with yo-yos for promotion.
- Over four decades, “yo-yo” becomes synonymous with the toy itself, diluting the brand; after prolonged legal battle, Duncan loses the trademark in 1965—the term becomes generic in the U.S. (though not in all countries).
Quote:
"Duncan may have ruined themselves in their own effective marketing because their success...made the word yo-yo a household name, almost more than the association with Duncan." — Lucky Meisenheimer, as read by Noel Brown (45:57)
8. Modern Yo-Yo Evolution & Competitive Scene
[47:10–54:38]
- The 1960s: Decline in yo-yo popularity; resurgence in the 1980s due to plastic and ball-bearing axle innovations (allowing longer “sleeps”—a yo-yo spinning in place at the string’s end).
- Major sleep-time records:
- 1991: Fixed axle record—51 seconds (Dale Oliver)
- 2001: 13 minutes, 5 seconds (Rick Wyatt)
- Modern yo-yos reach up to 8,000 RPM, made from advanced metals.
- Yo-yoing gains sub-culture status (connection to musicians like Faye Webster); National and World Championships grow, with Chico, California as a U.S. hub.
- The “freestyle” revolution: Counterweight yo-yos, not attached to the finger, enabling highly complex tricks.
- Modern trick names riff on skateboarding and magic: Mach 5, Popping Fresh, Trapeze, Buddha’s Revenge, Skin the Gerbil, Gyroscopic Flop, and more.
Quote:
"If you have [kids] and you want them to have something kinetic ... forego the nunchucks and get the yo-yo." — Ben Bowlin (51:10)
Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Don’t be a schmo yo. Try a yo-yo.” — Episode title, recurring refrain (07:45, 54:53)
- "There are other countries like Canada where the word yo-yo is still under trademark protection." — Noel Brown (47:11)
- (Discussing Napoleon yo-yoing before Waterloo) "What a flex to walk around before you go into Waterloo." — Ben Bowlin (13:55)
- "The reason all of this works is because of centripetal force and gravity." — Noel Brown (16:19)
- (On yo-yo tricks): "We're talking about things like the elevator, the brain twister. These all sound like roller coasters." — Noel Brown (51:45)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–02:33 – Hosts’ yo-yo memories and introduction
- 07:45–12:13 – Ancient origins and Asian variations
- 12:13–16:19 – European yo-yo mania
- 17:07–21:02 – U.S. patent, early American history
- 21:02–32:08 – Debunking the yo-yo weapon myth; Dr. Jose Rizal’s letter
- 32:08–38:17 – Pedro Flores, Duncan, and American commercialization
- 44:39–46:57 – Celebrity promotions, trademark battles
- 47:10–54:38 – Modern advancements, competitive yo-yoing, trick evolution
Conclusion
Ben and Noel wrap up by celebrating the yo-yo’s uncanny resilience—a toy that, while simple, carries a hefty load of history, mystique, and marketing genius. They encourage listeners to pick up a yo-yo and give it a spin, emphasizing the fun, nostalgia, and even artistry involved in mastering its tricks.
Final Quote:
"So don’t be a schmo yo. Get out there and try yourself a yo-yo." — Noel Brown (54:53)
Recommended for:
Fans of quirky history, toys, pop culture, or anyone surprised to learn that yo-yos have been pitched as hunting weapons, aristocratic amusements, and countercultural performance art.