The Fifties heralded a future populated with technological wonders that had previously been the domain of science fiction. The nation that had built the first nuclear bomb and led its allies in defeating fascism was now headed for the Moon.
Vice president Richard Nixon even boasted to Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev about the sophistication of American domestic appliances during their 1959 "Kitchen Debate."
It was the era of modernity, wipe-clean plastics, fear of Communism, and pride in the superiority of the American way of life.
It was an era where we were all kind of naive... Everybody just believed and cared. And there wasn't a huge amount of questioning...
- Sylvia Boyd
Meet Jon and Sylvia Boyd
I don't think we ever thought that we would have an opportunity to own a business together, because we really had no skills.
- Sylvia Boyd
In 1960, the Boyds moved from southern California to Fort Wayne, Indiana to become Tupperware distributors.
We were so excited, we didn't ask, "What's it going to cost us? What's waiting for us when we get there? What can we expect to make?" We asked nothing. We sold what little we had, we packed up and we left, and our parents are crying and saying, "What are these kids doing?" No, we didn't have any second thoughts. We had complete faith that the company was giving us the opportunity of a lifetime.
- Sylvia Boyd
At our rallies, my father would always dress up as the Tupperware lady. And it was this kind of yellow gingham dress with a pinafore and a wig with pigtails. And he'd come in with this high pitched voice and a feather duster. Oh my gosh, the hilarity. Just everybody laughing.
- Lorna Boyd (Jon and Sylvia's daughter)
We opened India, which was our greatest challenge and our greatest enjoyment. We were there for 15 months. Started with like zero and built to a really wonderful sales force, and they're doing great.
- Sylvia Boyd
I grew up with Ozzie and Harriet and Father Knows Best, just like everyone else... Tupperware flew in the face of that, because it took those moms out of the kitchen, where they were "supposed to be" and let them enter the work force, and let them have something outside the home.
- Lorna Boyd (Jon and Sylvia's daughter)
 |
|
|
|
