The iconic air dancer, also known as the inflatable tube man or wacky waving inflatable tube guy, has entrenched itself as a quintessential advertising and promotional tool, particularly prevalent in the United States. But have you ever wondered about where they came from and how long have they been around?
Having lived in England most of my life and spent lots of time in America (I have dual citizenship), these are the types of questions I was thinking as I travelled across various states as we don’t ever see a wacky waving inflatable tube man outside businesses in the UK like you do here.
As we sell Custom Blow Up Dolls and over 50% of our orders come from America, I was keen to find out more about the Wacky Waving inflatable man.
So, let's rewind to the early 1990s, where the ingenious concept of the wacky inflatable guy first took shape. It was the brainchild of Peter Minack and Doron Gazit, both credited with its invention. Peter Minack's fertile imagination birthed the idea of a towering inflatable figure with long, flailing arms and a tube-like body, capable of dancing in the wind. Doron Gazit, an adept engineer, lent his expertise to refine the concept, crafting a prototype using nylon fabric and an electric fan to animate the figure through inflation. With the unveiling of the first wacky inflatable guy, its charm was irresistible, swiftly gaining traction as a novel and attention-commanding advertising tool.
It seems that these inflatables are a staple for certain businesses like car dealerships and are commonly used for grand openings. Their vibrant colors, funny movements, and eye-catching demeanour serve as potent magnets, drawing attention of passersby and potential customers.
Now, as we contemplate setting up our production unit in America in 2025 (more on that soon), the question arises: should we feature one of these Air Dancers outside?
Well, if you find them as funny as we do, you're in luck! You can now create your very own inflatable tube man right here that you can take with you wherever you go.
