Our Favorite Toys: Inadvertent Inventions

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Scott Jensen, assistant professor of visual communications at Cazenovia College

CAZENOVIA, NY (09/08/2010)(readMedia)-- The seventh season of Cazenovia College's Faculty Library Lecture Series: "Great Minds / Great Ideas," at Cazenovia Public Library and the Manlius Library, begins Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, at 7 p.m. The series, sponsored by Doris Eversfield Webster, Cazenovia College Class of 1946, features noted faculty members from Cazenovia College discussing the lives and work of important thinkers who opened doors of opportunity for the human spirit. Ample time for questions and conversation follows each lecture. Complete information may be found at www.cazenovia.edu/greatminds.

Sept. 21, 7 p.m. at the Cazenovia Public Library, 100 Albany Street, Cazenovia, N.Y.

"What a Great Idea! The Inventive Minds behind Some of Our Favorite Toys," presented by Scott Jensen, assistant professor of visual communications.

Some of the playthings we love the most didn't actually start out as toys. A look at the unlikely origins of American classics like CrayolaTM Crayons, and their connection with Grant Wood; Silly PuttyTM , whose inventor spent five years trying to figure out what to do with it;, ScrabbleTM , would you believe Edgar Allen Poe played a role in its invention?; Play-DohTM, which started out as something else entirely; SlinkyTM, you won't believe what its inventor did; and the Wiffle BallTM, science, perfume packaging and golf balls? Each of the creators of these familiar items all started with a great idea... but didn't always know what to do with it. Discover the fascinating stories of these and some other familiar playthings in this fun, playful lecture.

Scott Jensen is an assistant professor of visual communications at Cazenovia College. He is also a cartoonist, illustrating a line of humorous greeting cards for Oatmeal Studios for almost 25 years and a cartoon strip, "The Hardware Life," for an international hardware publication. He is an experienced designer, writer and former ad agency art director. In his spare time, he likes to play with toys.

On Sept. 21, 7 p.m. at the Manlius Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Avenue, Manlius, N.Y.

"Real Horse Power!" presented by Karin Bump, professor of equine studies.

October 19, 7 p.m., at The Manlius Library: "What a Great Idea! The Inventive Minds behind Some of Our Favorite Toys."

October 19, 7 p.m., at the Cazenovia Public Library: "Numbers: How They Amaze Us."

For more information about the lectures, contact: Cazenovia Public Library at 315-655-9322, or visit www.midyork.org/cazenovia ; or the Manlius Library, at 315-682-6400, or visit www.manliuslib.org

Cazenovia College, named one of "America's Best Colleges" by US News & World Report, is an independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college. Located near Syracuse, N.Y., Cazenovia College offers a comprehensive liberal arts education in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. For more information, visit www.cazenovia.edu. ###