WDW at 50: What else is turning 50 with Disney World
Walt Disney World isn’t the only household name turning 50 this year. Here is a look at 15 companies and products that debuted in 1971 that are also celebrating their golden anniversary.
Lucasfilm
There is another division of The Walt Disney Co. celebrating a 50th birthday—Lucasfilm, the company behind the Star Wars universe. George Lucas founded Lucasfilm in 1971 as a “rebel base” of sorts in San Francisco’s Bay Area, a place the filmmaker chose to “shake up the status quo…of how movies were made and what they were about.”
The NASDAQ
The world’s first electronic stock market opened Feb. 8, 1971, in New York City. Before its opening, stock traders needed to be in a physical location where brokers would gather to negotiate orders. The name was an acronym for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. It is now the second-largest stock market (the New York Stock Exchange is still No. 1).
Starbucks
On March 30, 1971, three friends from the University of San Francisco opened a coffee house called Starbucks at 2000 Western Ave. in Seattle, Wash. The company has grown to more than 30,000 locations worldwide in more than 70 countries, including locations inside Walt Disney World theme parks and at Disney Springs. Ever wonder where the name Starbucks came from? The founders thought words starting with “st” soudned powerful, so they brainstormed and eventually came upon Starbuck, the name of the first mate in “Moby Dick.”
Weebles
Remember the catchphrase, “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down”? That came about when the roly-poly Weeble came on the scene on July 23, 1971, from Hasbro’s Playskool division. The egg-shaped toy contains a weight at the bottom center. When you lift it off the ground and release it, gravity will bring the toy back into an upright position.
FedEx
This logistics and delivery service was founded on June 18, 1971, in Little Rock, Ark., as Federal Express Corp. by Frederick W. Smith. The Yale University graduate came up with the idea to create a system designed for urgent deliveries for a term paper. While Smith’s professor didn’t think much of the idea, Smith went on to create the company and begin operations in Memphis. In 1994, the company shortened its name to FedEx.
Cup Noodle
Since its introduction in 1971 by Nissin Foods, this single-serving instant ramen that required only boiling water to prepare has helped feed many financially-strapped college students. The three original Cup O’ Noodles flavors in the U.S. were beef, chicken and shrimp.
Greenpeace
In 1971, a group of environmental activists boarded an old fishing boat and set sail to Amchitka island off of Alaska to try to stop a U.S. nuclear weapons test. They never made it to their destination. Infighting and egos got in the way as the crew could not agree on a direction to go, and eventually the boat was intercepted by the U.S. Navy. The boat was named “The Greenpeace.” This was the first mission of an environmental organization that has grown with offices in more than 55 countries and over 2.9 million members worldwide.
Monster and Flintstone cereals
In 1971, two competing cereal brands were introduced to grab kids: Monster cereals by General Mills, and Pebbles (Flintsone) cereals from Post. In March, the chocolate-flavored Count Chocula and strawberry-flavored Franken Berry hit the shelves. The two monsters—Count Alfred Chocula and Franken Berry—were featured in commercials arguing over which cereal was better. In October, Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles, featuring characters from “The Flintstones” cartoon, joined them on the shelves. In those advertisements, Barney Rubble would sneak some spoonfuls of Fred Flintstone’s cereal.
Herbel Essences
Clairol Herbal Essence Shampoo started debuted in 1971 with a cartoon image of the nature girl in a pool on the front label. The original color of the shampoo was green. Now called Herbel Essences, there are over two dozen different collections for all kinds of hair.
The Quarter Pounder
A McDonald’s franchise owner in Fremont, Calif., was experimenting with some new menu items after noticing a void in the offerings. He felt there was a need for a burger for adults with a higher ratio of meat to bun. And in 1971, the Quarter Pounder was created. It became a huge success, eventually spreading around the world. But because many countries do not use the U.S. system of weights and measurements the name may be different. In French-speaking Canada it is known as “Quart de livre.” In Russia it is called the “Grand Cheeseburger.” And, as we all know from the film classic “Pulp Fiction,” in France the burger is called “Royale with Cheese.”
Bed Bath & Beyond
In 1971, Warren Eisenberg and Leonard Feinstein left their management jobs at a discount chain store believing that specialty stores were the wave of the future. So they opened a store in Springfield, N.J., called Bed ‘n Bath. Fourteen years later in an attempt to compete with a superstore called Linens ‘n Things, they rebranded to Bed Bath & Beyond.
Cuisinart
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate with a love of French food created the company Cuisinart in 1971 and developed the food processor. The name comes from the combination of “cuisine” and “art.”
Jiffy Lube
Edwin H. Washburn opened the first Jiffy Lube on 36th Street in Ogden, Utah, in early 1971. After building seven franchises he sold them all to a football coach at Western Maryland College in 1979. W. James Hindman relocated the headquarters to Baltimore, Md. It is now owned by the Shell oil company and has about 2,000 Jiffy Lube franchises.
Sunglass Hut
Started in 1971 as a freestanding kiosk in Miami’s Dadeland Mall by local optometrist Sanford L. Ziff, Sunglass Hut has grown to 2,000 retail outlets in 20 countries. It is now owned by Italian-based Luxottica Group, the world’s largest eyewear company.
