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I always knew my grandfather was one of the inventors of Barrel of Monkeys - but, truthfully, that was about all I knew. So, when someone asked me why Milton Dinhofer wasn't on the game's Wikipedia page, I wondered the same thing. The question set everything in motion.
Over the next several months, Grandpa and I worked together to bring the game's history into the 21st century. He recounted, in vivid detail, how Barrel of Monkeys came to market. He pulled out his original drawings, early plastic links, prototypes, press materials and business documents - all had been kept in a dusty box for too long. And then something extraordinary happened. It was 2015 - the game's 50th anniversary year - a fact neither of us realized when we began. Yet, in that single year, everything aligned. The Toy Book , the leading toy industry magazine, published my article: the first-ever telling of the game's 1965 launch. You can read it here. Even more amazing, Hasbro - the game's current parent company - hadn't realized the milestone either. Once we notified them, they issued a birthday shout out Soon after, Grandpa's alma mater did a feature article about his many inventions (including the first patented twisted straw). And, yes - together we finally updated the game's Wikipedia page. If you'd like to see the many creative ways people still find inspiration in Barrel of Monkeys, you can visit my Pinterest page My grandfather passed away on 10/12/2024 at the age of 101. I'm eternally grateful that I got to hear his story directly from him, and to share such extraordinary serendipitous moments together. -Tracy |
Original monkey sketch for Barrel Of Monkeys beside the game's original test links.
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