The ultimate shoe for a second-grader to have on his feet in 1967 was the PF Flyer. It was a known scientific fact that we learned from its endless TV ads that you could simply run faster and jump higher with a pair of these beauties on than with a pair of a competitor's vastly inferior product.
I never had any high-tops like are illustrated here. I preferred the low cut "track shoe."
The shoe has a venerable history. It all started when B.F. Goodrich patented the Posture Foundation Insole in 1933. That's where the "PF" comes from, get it? It made for the most comfortable basketball shoe that could be found, now that your poor arches finally had some support. By the 40's, they were occasionally spotted on the feet of bobbysoxers sitting on drug store soda bar stools. Their popularity grew through the 50's, and by the time I was a kid in the mid 60's it was at its peak.
One of the things that made them irresistible to kids was the old trick used by Cracker Jack and sugary cereals: throw a prize in the box!
The Johnny Quest Decoder Ring was perhaps the most famous of prizes included, but they also inserted delights with a cowboy theme in earlier years. That seems kind of odd, when you think about it. Why would tennis shoes go along with arrowheads and branding irons?
Try as I might, I just couldn't find the name of that monkey that used to be on the TV commercials. Maybe a reader can help?
In truth, I only remember owning one pair of the magical PF Flyers. I wore mom down with begging only once. She preferred that I wear Ked's, a better value in her opinion. And no doubt they were. That money for the enclosed toy had to come from somewhere.
The shoes are still around, I'm happy to say, but they're not the King like they were in the 60's, when they were heavily advertised to kids watching Saturday morning cartoons.
A big thanks to Charlie's Sneakers Page for the great image of the vintage Flyers.
Comments (5)
"Running faster and jumping higher"
is a daily phrase out of my mouth.
I am always using it to describe the demands of the work environment in which I struggle.
I always make sure I mention P F
Flyers when I say it. I just
mentioned it ( the slogan) to
my friend Natalie fron Russia.
We are inventory analyst for a
large retailer in Michigan. It
was fun reviewing your article
Lynn White
Posted by lynn white | February 17, 2007 12:05 PM
Posted on February 17, 2007 12:05
I also fondly remember PF Flyers from my youth. So fondly, in fact, that I wrote a song about them. You can check it out at http://cdbaby.com/cd/billwoodard It's song #14 (you can listen to the 2-minute sample for for free).
I sent the song to the new PF Flyers' company (run by New Balance) and they enjoyed it. Hope you do to!
By the way, I'm wearing a pair of PF Flyers as I write this!
Bill Woodard
Posted by Bill Woodard | April 14, 2007 3:27 PM
Posted on April 14, 2007 15:27
where can i get the same exact pair of these at?
Posted by dougie | June 29, 2007 9:34 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 09:34
These were for sale on eBay. I'd check there.
Posted by Ron Enderland | June 29, 2007 10:17 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 10:17
I might have owned a pair of these at one time, but mostly had the low top knockoffs. Some may call them maypops or something else. The PFs were also in competition to Chuck Taylors. When I was in grade school, all the cool kids wore the Chuck Taylors! I remember a whistle was one of the PF flyer toys. It wasn't until highschool that the high top tennis shoe would show up again. Chuck Taylors worn with the color banded cotton socks. The sock worn down over the hightop. Usually your neighboorhood colors being worn. Of course we were considered Grits! Long hair, Chuck Taylors, rolled up jeans, white or black tee shirts and pastel colored jackets. Did we look stupid! This was mid seventies mind you!
Posted by Rivers End | May 27, 2009 5:21 PM
Posted on May 27, 2009 17:21