Souled American: Flubber

BECAUSE DAD SOLD toys for a living (a mixed blessing, believe me), I was the first kid on our block to own a glob of Flubber, the "flying rubber" introduced in Disney's 1961 comedy, The Absent Minded Professor. A clear, glutinous substance, Flubber could be stretched, bounced, and used to pick up colored images, dirt, and bodily oils. A few hours of activity transformed the goo into a gray mucus the family dog truly savored. Unfortunately, the toy was yanked off the shelves after triggering allergic reactions in tender child flesh. [End Warning.]