Irvin Kipper

Irvin Kipper was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 13, 1916, and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1920. In 1944, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, ultimately becoming an officer and pilot of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II. While flying in Europe, Kipper named his B-17 "Purdy Gertie", after his wife, Gertrude.

On his 26th mission, Kipper was shot down over Bologna, where he was captured and spent more than seven months as a Nazi prisoner of war in the POW camps Stalag Luft III (celebrated in books, TV and film for "the Great Escape") and Stalag VII.[4] Kipper's camp was liberated by troops of George S. Patton in August 1945.[5]

When Kipper returned to Los Angeles after the war, he purchased a small store to sell flags. He then added balloons, which were a big hit, because rubber was rationed during the war. Then he added Slinky, board games, Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoy sets, Carrom Game Boards, and new toys as they were invented.[6]

FAO Schwarz opened up a short distance from Kip's Toyland, but they went out of business and Kip's Toyland is still flourishing.