Inventor of Operation to Appear at CHITAG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Tim Walsh
Keys Publishing
PMB 180 5342 Clark Road
Sarasota, FL 34233-3227
(941) 926-8004
www.theplaymakers.com

Sarasota, Florida (August 6, 2004) – The inventor of Milton Bradley’s Operation game will be appearing at the Keys Publishing booth (#405) at the Chicago International Toy and Game Fair at Navy Pier. John Spinello will join author Tim Walsh in signing copies of Walsh’s new book, The Playmakers, personalizing the Operation chapter for fair-goers on Saturday, September 4th from 11:00AM-12:00PM. In addition, a drawing will be held to award one lucky gamester with an original 1965 Operation game autographed by Spinello!

In 1962, John Spinello was an industrial design student at the University of Illinois when he was given the assignment to design a toy. He scored the highest grade in the class with his electric game where players took a metal probe and carefully inserted it into different holes within an electrified box without touching the sides of the metal-framed openings. If they failed, a bell would startle them. After signing a deal with the legendary toy designer Marvin Glass, Spinello’s game evolved. The electric metal probe that players inserted changed into the now familiar electrified metal tweezers. The surgical theme was introduced and Operation was born, released by Milton Bradley in 1965.

“I know what this is… This is an espresso machine.”

“No, no wait. It’s a snow cone maker.”

“Is it a water heater?”

“No, it’s the prototype of everyone’s favorite Skill Game.”