Gentle Giants: Inflatables & The Event Industry

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Jim Thomson: 2002 Festivals & Events Ontario Hall of Fame Inductee

Monday, September 24, 2007

Jim Thomson, Founder of Dynamic DisplaysJames Thomson, Dynamic Displays (retired), Windsor, Ontario

James Thomson is truly a dynamic individual, starting a business out of his home and growing it to an international supplier of inflatable balloons for the largest events across North America. In 2000, the Inflatable Advertising Dealers Association inducted James Thomson as their first Hall of Fame member recognizing his invention of the cold air inflatable as being the start of their industry as a whole. To note that inflatables of all types—helium, games and stationary—have made a most visible impact on the events industry as a whole is an understatement. Virtually every event in North America has some sort of inflatable featured either for sponsor visibility or as event decor and interactivity. This would not have existed without the creative genius of James Lorne Thomson. Jim Thomson's product has played major roles in eight Super Bowls, three Olympics, World Cup Soccer, PGA Tournaments, and countless parades and events worldwide. Jim Thomson's inflatables have become icons of the many local events that commissioned them—and his rental characters have brought these Ontario events to new heights. Jim retired in 2002 at the age of 70 following 40 years of tremendous contributions to the festivals and events industry in Ontario and around the world.
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from www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca

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The Birth of An Industry: Giant Inflatables Take to the Sky

Friday, September 21, 2007

Humpty Dumpty Sealed Rubber Helium Balloon
Dynamic Displays has come a long way since 1962.

I remember the days of typewriter tape and carbon paper—not necessarily with fondness, but certainly with some degree of nostalgia. Back then, the inflatable industry was just beginning to blossom, and Dynamic was not only riding on the cusp of progress, but was laying a lot of track too.

Acknowledged as the inventor of the cold-air inflatable, Jim Thomson was the first man to put a fan to fabric, eliminating many of the problems associated with the original heavy rubber balloons produced by companies such as Goodyear. Always a man excited by the promise of potential, Jim began Dynamic Displays literally in his backyard. He and his team contributed hugely to the development and refinement of Inflatable Costumes, Floats and the popular Helium Giant.

Where are we now? The industry has grown as large as its towering mascots, and parades are big business. We're still dedicated to innovation, and still defining what quality looks like.

So here's to progress—America, we'll see you on Thanksgiving.

http://www.fabulousinflatables.com

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