This program was originally held in person at the Center for Jewish History on April 30, 2026, at 6:30pm Eastern.
Author Michael Kimmel discussed his latest book, PLAYMAKERS: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created the Toy Industry In America, with moderator Henry Sapoznik. Kimmel is the great-grandnephew of the founder of the Ideal Toy Corporation, the company behind the teddy bear and numerous iconic dolls, including the Betsy Wetsy. After retiring from a career in sociology, Michael Kimmel set out to tell his family’s story, only to discover that all the major American toy manufacturers of the mid-20th century were founded by Jews. Inspired to look further, Kimmel found that the entire culture of American childhood during that period, from toys to books, parenting manuals, and child psychologists, was led by Jewish creators and experts. Kimmel shares stories of Ideal Toy Corporation’s successes and failures, missed opportunities, regrettable choices, and some innovations stymied by prejudice. We hear about unexpected toy advocates Zora Neale Hurston and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Topics covered in this discussion:
- The invention of the teddy bear was inspired by a political cartoon by Clifford Berryman. The cartoon depicted President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt on a hunting trip, choosing to spare a bear’s life. Brooklyn candy retailer, Morris Michtom created a stuffed bear for his shop window and called it, “Teddy’s bear.” Soon, toy bears began to outsell candy.
- Curious George was inspired by the author’s escape from Nazi-occupied France on bicycles.
- In the first half of the 20th century, racist department store leadership refused to carry Black dolls in their stores, fearing that it would encourage Black clientele. This act of discrimination prevented the mass distribution of Black dolls and resulted in their early commercial failure.
Speakers
Michael Kimmel (author) is the great–grandnephew of the founder of the Ideal Toy Corporation, Michael Kimmel is a SUNY distinguished professor emeritus of sociology and gender studies and founder of the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities at Stony Brook University. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Henry H. Sapoznik (moderator) is the Peabody Award–winning co-producer of the 2002 NPR series The Yiddish Radio Project, a five-time Grammy-nominated producer/performer of over fifty recordings, and author of the award-winning book Klezmer! Jewish Music from Old World to Our World and recently published The Tourist’s Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City.
