Tube man
Inflatable moving advertising product
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Key Takeaways
- A tube man , also known as a skydancer , air dancer , inflatable man and originally called the tall boy , is an inflatable fabric stick figure that gains a dynamic dancing or flailing motion and human-like shape when air is blown through its tubing by a fan.
- They also have been used in entertainment, as well as in agriculture for a pest deterrent similar to scarecrows.
- Initially Minshall called the design "tall boy".
- He commissioned the working prototype from the Israeli artist Doron Gazit who had more experience with inflatables, and Arieh "LouLou" Dranger, both based in Los Angeles.
- Several months later, Minshall says he was informed that Gazit had quietly begun patenting and profiting from sales of the inflatable two-legged figures.
A tube man, also known as a skydancer, air dancer, inflatable man and originally called the tall boy, is an inflatable fabric stick figure that gains a dynamic dancing or flailing motion and human-like shape when air is blown through its tubing by a fan. Since the creation of tube men for the 1996 Olympic Games, they have been used to advertise retail businesses to passing motorists. They also have been used in entertainment, as well as in agriculture for a pest deterrent similar to scarecrows.
History
The tube man concept was created for the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony by Peter Minshall, a Trinidadian artist who sketched the idea while sitting in the bleachers of the Atlanta Stadium. Initially Minshall called the design "tall boy". He was inspired by the loose Calypso street dancers in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
He commissioned the working prototype from the Israeli artist Doron Gazit who had more experience with inflatables, and Arieh "LouLou" Dranger, both based in Los Angeles. The 60-foot "tall boys" debuted at the Olympics. Several months later, Minshall says he was informed that Gazit had quietly begun patenting and profiting from sales of the inflatable two-legged figures. Minshall felt Gazit should have informed him. He considered legal action but ultimately decided to avoid the potential trouble and expense.
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