The Yo-Yo Through Time Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pedro Flores

Pedro Flores' first yo-yo factory was opened in 1928 in the city of Santa Barbara, California, USA. He promoted contests which began a yo-yo craze. This is when Donald Duncan actually saw his very first yo-yo in action.
Pedro Flores came from the Philippines and immigrated to the United States of America in the year 1915.
Mr. Flores created his company and mass produced the "Flores Yo-Yo", which he got a registered trademark for. The Donald Duncan Yo-Yo Company eventually acquired this trademark when they purchased the rights back in 1929.

Source for this question: Duncan Yo-Yo(history) time line
and: About.com inventors.

Answer: Three Million

In 1930, Duncan, along with "Hearst Newspapers", started a yo-yo contest where the contestants had to sell three subscriptions to the paper, if they wanted to compete in the contest. An astonishing three million yo-yos were sold in a mere thirty days during one of these promotions.
William Randolph Hearst was the newspaper tycoon who owned the "Hearst Newspapers" and allowed Duncan to have free advertising while running his "sell three subscriptions to enter" contests. The yo-yos were produced in Luck, Wisconsin and due to so many sales, Luck became known as the "Yo-Yo Capital of the World".

Source: yo-yo.com and yo-yo retro

Answer: Harvey Lowe

In 1932 Harvey Lowe was only 13 years old when he won the first "World Yo-Yo Competition". This competition was held in London England. There were previous competitions that claimed to be world competitions but they were not recognized as being true world competitions. Harvey Lowe was a yo-yo demonstrator for the Cheerio Yo-Yo Company and represented China.
At one point between 1932 and 1935, Harvey taught the Prince of Wales how to use a yo-yo. Cheerio had Harvey's hands insured for 150,000 pounds, as recalled by Lowe.
In the year 2000 Harvey Lowe was honored with the title of Grand Marshal of the World Yo-Yo- Contest. The AYYA (American Yo-Yo Association) eventually inducted Harvey Lowe into their hall of fame in 2005.

Source: 2000 World Yo-Yo Contest interview with Lowe

Answer: Richard Nixon

In 1974, a short time before he resigned as President of the United States of America, Richard Nixon appeared at the "Grand ole Opry" with Roy Acuff. Mr. Nixon played yo-yo with Mr. Acuff. About twenty years later, that autographed yo-yo was sold. It was auctioned and had a sale price of $16,029.00

Source: Most Expensive Yo-Yo

Answer: Sons Jack and Don Jr.

Great success came to Donald F. Duncan's sons Jack and Don Jr. In 1959 they gave television advertising a try in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their sales shot up from $20,000 to $100,000, and this was just in the Philadelphia area. By 1962, because of television advertising, the sale of the yo-yo increased from approximately two million dollars per year to an incredible seven million dollars per year. It was a very huge struggle for Duncan to be able to fill all of the orders. It was truly record-breaking!

Source: Funding Universe

Answer: Yes

In 1965 there was a big court battle between Duncan and Royal Tops Company. Royal Tops Company was using the word "yo-yo" which Duncan fought to trademark. Eventually the name "yo-yo" was classed as a generic term and both companies were forced to declare bankruptcy because of all of the huge legal costs incurred during this court battle.

Source: Funding Universe

Answer: Chico, California

Chico, California, USA is the location where the first modern "National Yo-Yo Contest" was held.
There has been a "National Championship" held in Chico on the first Saturday in October since 1993 and is still a popular event up to and including 2008. It is expected to be a yearly event for many years to come.
In Chico you can find the "National Yo-Yo Museum" which houses the world's largest yo-yo and memorabilia display in the world. When the "National Yo-Yo Contest" is in full swing, there is also a "National Spin-top contest" being held.

Source: National Yo-Yo Contest and Museum

Answer: Australia, Britain and Japan

The yo-yo craze began again in 1996 with Australia, Britain and Japan being the major countries swept up by the madness. Duncan brought back the wonderful wooden "Duncan Super Tournament" yo-yo as a reproduction of their classic 1955 yo-yo model.
This new production of the old classic was produced in five different colors. The packaging for this particular yo-yo also included a copy of the original "1955 Yo-Yo Trick Book".

Source: Duncan Yo-Yo time line

Answer: Steve Brown

Mr. Steve Brown invented the "Freehand" yo-yo, in 2001. It was the very first yo-yo designed that could be used without having to be tied to your finger. It became the number one yo-yo for expert yo-yo players worldwide. Steve Brown did a three minute freehand routine in the "Bay Area Classic", completely blindfolded. In October, 2001 he was awarded a title that only eight people had ever been given before him. He had become the "U.S. National Yo-Yo Master".

Source: Duncan Yo-Yo time line

Answer: $400

The "FH Zero" yo-yo was mass produced during the 75th Anniversary celebratory year, for Duncan Toys, in 2004. It became the newest style of yo-yo for competition. The "Freehand MG" was also mass produced and released that same time. The amazing "Freehand MG" yo-yo sold for a whopping retail price of $400.00 in 2004.

Source: Duncan Yo-Yo time line