Applause Inc. was a company that produced stuffed toys and collectible figurines. Its principal subsidiaries included Dakin Inc. and International Tropic-Cal Inc. The Applause brand survives as part of Kid Brands.
History
The company was founded as The Wallace Berrie Company in 1966 by Wallace Berrie. In 1979, the company acquired the Applause division from Knickerbocker Toys. In 1986, the company changed its name to Applause Inc after a purchase by Jerrald A. Plebiew. In 1992, Applause released the Magic Trolls Babies toy line.
R. Dakin & Co.
On April 1, 1955, Richard Dakin, a San Francisco entrepreneur, started a business importing shotguns from Europe.[1] In 1957, his son, Roger, joined and imported battery-operated trains, and the manufacturer also sent samples of small, sawdust-filled cotton-velveteen-covered toys.[1] Roger quickly booked an order for three hundred pieces from a nearby department store.[1]