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Sponsors and Curators
The Museum of Yo-Yo History is a labor of love, and we would not be able to stay up-to-date with exhibits without the support of our sponsors and curators. Big thanks go to One Drop Design and Duncan for supplying us with their latest models, YoYoExpert for their help and support, and to Cody Orr, TotalArtist and YoYoBrothers™ for allowing us to use their collections!
If you're a manufacturer, or just a big collector and you want to help support the Museum drop me at line at chimera@yoyomuseum.com
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Hummingbird Smothers Brothers in Concert 1988 |
Exhibit #3002 |
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Type | Special Release |
Shape | Standard (-) |
Axle | Fixed |
Packaging | Display Boxed |
Construction | Three piece wood |
Response | None |
Gap | Fixed |
Condition | Mint |
Date | 1988 |
Owner | Rick Brough |
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A standard classic Hummingbird hardrock maple yo-yo, standard shape, stamped in dark brown with "Smothers Brothers in Concert 1988". A silouette of the Smothers Brothers is enclosed within a circle. Hard to find.
Compare also with Yo-Yo Man, v. 1 and Yo-Yo Man, v. 2.
This yo-yo commemorates The Smothers Brothers concert tour in 1988. To augment their act, "Yo-Yo Man" became part of their shows. Tom Smothers had created the mostly non-speaking character in the late '60s, a comedic performer of tricks using a yo-yo. The term "Yo-Yo Man" is registered in his name. In their 2008 tour, Yo-Yo Man was listed as the group's opening act.
Original retail price: $10 US.
In 1992, Salt Lake's Dale Myrberg went backstage at Las Vegas' Golden Nugget to see his friend, Tommy Smothers, the comedian, who has the term "Yo-Yo Man" registered in his name. Smothers was entertaining some kids by doing yo-yo tricks. When he saw Myrberg, he stopped in his tracks and asked him to take over. "Then," says Myrberg, "I heard this voice saying, 'Oh, look, there's the REAL Yo-Yo Man.' "It was Smothers' wife, Marci. That meant a lot to Myrberg, which is why he will sometimes sign an autograph as "the REAL Yo-Yo Man." But he has no intention of challenging the "Yo-Yo Man" title taken by Tom Smothers, because Smothers is his benefactor. Myrberg became nationally known in 1988 and 1989 when he appeared as a guest on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" on CBS Television. When asked how good Smothers is with the Yo-Yo, Myrberg smiles and says confidently, "On a 10 scale, Tom is 5 and I'm an 18." Myrberg considers Smothers "a class comedian," but says he doesn't do "the fancy two-handed stuff.*
* Lythgoe, Dennis (4 November 1994). "The Real Yo-Yo Man's a S.L. Man". DeseretNews.com. Last retrieved 21 October 2018.
Tom Smothers died of cancer December 27, 2023 at the age of 86.
The same silhouette image used on this yo-yo was also used on the Smothers Brothers yo-yo patch.
See also the Tom Kuhn "Smo-Bro" yo-yo by clicking "Close-up" in the exhibit. | |
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