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A Foy Timeline

The following is a timeline highlighting the life, work, and legacy of Peter Foy. It of course just touches on a fragment of the rich life and many contributions of Peter Foy and his family and the family of employees at Foy Inventerprises. Note: RED entries highlight technical innovations

[skip ahead to: 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 ]

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1925	Peter Stuart Foy is born on July 11, 1925 in Kensington, London. This infant never knew that his destiny was set by his birthplace.
1928	At the age of 3, Peter Foy makes his stage debut in in the London musical review, Life is a Circus
1937	Last flying act in the US before Foy's arrival.
1939	At 14 years old, Peter is awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Italia-Conti Theatrical School in London, which had also schooled Noel Coward, Anthony Newley and many other great stars of the world stage. Peter makes his acting and flying debut as a sea witch in a Christmas Pantomime
1940	Peter Foy flies in *Where The Rainbow Ends*.
1941	Peter becomes the Youngest Professional Stage Manager in the U.K.
	Peter acts in a production of *Peter Pan*, playing the role of "Slightly", the same role that had earlier been played by Noël Coward	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\phyllis_calvert.jpg$
1942-47	Peter joins the RAF as a Navigator and Entertainment Officer. He continues writing and acting actively through 1949 though he continues to act on occasion until 1957
1942-43	Peter acts on stage and in film
1947	Peter Foy flies his first Peter Pan, Phyllis Calvert, at Scala Theatre in London
1950	*Peter Pan* opens on Broadway with Jean Arthur as Peter. Peter is in charge of the flying as a representative of Kirby's Flying Ballets.	Phyllis Calvert
	The New York Times Reports (8/11/1950): "Peter Foy, who supervises the flying apparatus in ‘Peter Pan’ has written the book for a new musical entitled ‘*The Man Who Could Fly.’ The music has been composed by Walter Handel.* The book is said to deal with a Milque-toastish type of individual who discovers he can fly and thereby becomes the idol of society."
1952-53	Peter Foy creates the first "flying ballet on ice" for *The* *Ice Capades*
1954-55	Mary Martin's musical version of *Peter Pan* opens on Broadway. Peter Foy directs the flying. For this production, he developed his Inter-Related Pendulum System allowing for far more spectacular flights.	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_marymartin.jpg$
1956	The Mary Martin production of *Peter Pan* is broadcast live on January 1, 1956, but it is not recorded.
	In Kansas City, Foy designs flying sequences for the first ever outdoor production of Peter Pan
	Foy flies Lucille Ball in a delightful episode of *I Love Lucy*, "Little Ricky’s School Pageant" (Season 6, Episode 10)
1957	Flying by Foy™ is founded	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_flybyfoy.jpg$
	Peter Foy makes his last appearance as an actor.
	Peter designs flying sequences for the first-ever theatre in the round staging of *Peter Pan* - in a tent in Sacramento, California. This introduces theatrical flying to the world of the musical tent thetre.
1958	Peter provides flying sequences for *Music With Mary Martin,* a concert tour
	Foy develops his Floating Pulley System
	Peter Foy acts on Broadway in *Small War on Murray Hill*
1959	For theatre-in-the-round productions, Foy develops a Mini Floating Pulley System
	Foy creates flying sequences for The Ford Show on television
	*Music With Mary Martin,* is televised on March 29, 1959 on NBC	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_meninspace.jpg$
	Foy creates flight sequences for the pioneering television production, *Men Into Space* - considered by many to be the most realistic depiction of early missions into space. The series is broadcast through 1960.
1960	A new production of *Peter Pan* With Mary Martin is created for television. This time it is recorded so that many new generations can appreciate it. The video production is in color and is rebroadcast in 1963, 1966, 1973, and 1989
	Foy also creates flying effects for *The Chevy Show* on Television that year
	Pater Foy and his lovely wife Barbara Foy are both guests on *The Groucho Show, formerly called You Bet Your Life.* The show airs June 26, 1960.
1961	Foy creates flying effects for the *Shirley Temple Show* on Television. 5 people fly in this version of *Pippi* *Longstocking. (1/7/1961) In March, both Peter* and Barbara Foy work on Shirley Temple's TV version of *The Little Mermaid* (3/5/1961)
	Peter Foy flies Garry Moore and Carol Burnett over the heads of the audience in a special broadcast of *The Garry Moore Show*
1962	A Primitive Track-On Track™ is system developed for the Seattle World's Fair. This system revolutionizes theatrical flight, allowing for flights in environments with minimal available height, and allows for superb control, being especially useful in film work to come.
	Peter Foy is the guest on *Best of Groucho* on Television 6/11/1962	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_fantasticv.jpg$
1963	The Track-On Track™ system is improved and is patented.
	Peter Foy returns to the Garry Moore Show to fly Dorothy Loudon in the show's opening sequence.
1965	Foy provides extensive flying systems making the filming of *Fantastic Voyage* possible. The film wins that year's Academy Award™ for special effects.
	To aid in the film's floating effects, Foy develops and then patents the Multi-Point Balance Harness.
	For even more advanced floating illusions, Foy develops the Fiberglass Body Tray
1966	For the *Lido* show at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas, Foy develops the Dual Wheel Floating Pulley system
	*It's a Bird...It's a Plane...Its Superman* opens on Broadway featuring Flying by Foy®
	Peter Foy is a guest on *The Tonight Show* (5/31/1966)
1967	Foy Inventerprises™ is formally incorporated to reflect the growing depth of Foy's accomplishments in the breadth of the industry.
	Foy creates the flight sequences for *The Flying Nun*. The series is produced through 1970.	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_flyingnun.jpg$
	Foy creates flying sequences for *Disney on Parade, featuring Twin Flying Carousels*
	Foy designs a Motorized Floating Pulley System.
	Foy flies Gene Kelly on television in *Jack and the Beanstalk*.
1968	The Floating Track System is Introduced.
	Foy flies Barbra Streisand in the film, *Funny Girl*
	Foy flies Richard Dawson on *Rowan and Martin's Laugh- In* on television
1969	With PZAZZ produced in Las Vegas, Foy introduces his Motorized Track-On Track™ System
	Foy works with NASA and the television industry to be able to provide simulated coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing should live coverage be impossible. $Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\images\more2.gif$ Moon Simulations
1971	The 1971 *Lido* edition in Las Vegas introduces a Directional Turn-Around System to stage flight as well as Endless Curtain Wipes
	For a production at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Foy develops a Serpentine Flying Track over the audience and a Bi-Part Austrian Carousel Curtain.
	Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory features Flying by Foy	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\playbills\playbill_wiz.gif$ $Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_sandyduncan.jpg$
1975	*The Wiz* opens on Broadway, with Flying by Foy
1976	The Danny Kaye production of *Pinocchio* makes its TV debut on March 27, 1976. Danny Kaye and Sandy Duncan both fly in the TV production.
1977	The Ice Capades "Flying Ballet" introduces the Fully Motorized, Trussed Non-Visible Compensator System.
	The prestigious Neiman-Marcus Holiday Catalog offers as a holiday gift for the well-to-do, lessons in ballet flying from Peter Foy. Requirement: 15-foot ceilings in your home.
1978	Peter Foy provides all sorts of flying for the film, *The Wiz*. For one scene he is called on to fly a whole nursery full of live babies!
	Peter Foy, with Choreographer/Dancer Tomm Rudd stage an astonishing flying ballet sequence for "Trilogy" with The San Francisco Ballet
1979	The manual compensator system is introduced
	The Sandy Duncan edition of *Peter Pan* opens on Broadway and runs until 1980. Peter's son, Garry Foy supervises the project. This is the edition which first introduced the now standard flight over the audience.
	Governor Hugh L. Carey of NY awards Peter Foy a special state award for his contribution to the arts.	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\angel_small.jpg$
1980	Foy introduces flying angels to The Crystal Cathedral
	Foy provides flying sylphs for the Rudolf Nureyev-Boston Ballet production of *La Sylphide* at the Uris Theatre on Broadway
1981	*The Little Prince and the Aviator* opens on Broadway. Foy flies Michael York for the production.
	Flying by Foy wins a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award
1982	*All-Time-Good-Time-Knickerbocker-Follies*, featuring a host of Broadway stars, and directed by Pat Birch for the re-dedication of "The Egg" theatre in Albany NY becomes a Foy Family affair. Joining writers Ralph Allen and Hugh Wheeler, Peter Foy writes a segment of the show about Sandow, billed as "The World's Strongest Man" at the Chicago Columbian Exposition. Peter's wife, Barbara is a featured singer, and son, Garry Foy provides much of the flight direction. The show featuring gobs of flying is revived the following year as a reprise.	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_atgtkf.jpg$ Flying Butterfly, All-Time-Good-Time-Knickerbocker-Follies, 1982
1984	The Foyal Track System™ is Fully Developed.
	The Crystal Cathedral angels are now flown using a Motorized Dual Pulley system.
	Peter Foy and Mary Martin (70) team up again as flying partners for a benefit to aid San Francisco General Hospital's Trauma Center	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_nina.jpg$
1985	The Ultra-Lift™ system is developed from the manual compensator system
1986	Foy is responsible for the flying sequences in the TV show, *The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket*
1987	An article in the New York Times cites "more than 4,000 shows" produced to date with Flying by Foy! By now he is working on approximately 200 shows a year with 150 of them being editions of *Peter Pan*
1988	*Nina and the 12 Months, makes its debut in Tokyo, with 13 Flying simultaneously, 12 Lifting in Sequence Forming Circle in Air, Revolving, Separating - Landing Individually Whilst Nina Spirals in Center.*
1989	The Royal Opera House in London presents *Un Re In Asolto* with 19 Flying At One Time. The system is motorized With Programmed Control.	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_jeromerobbins.jpg$
	Foy makes his debut in Russia with the NY State Theatre Institute production of *Peter Pan*
	*Jerome Robbins' Broadway* opens, featuring Flying by Foy
	March 24th marks the last network broadcast of the Mary Martin 1960 Color edition of *Peter Pan*	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_nysti_pan.jpg$ Peter Pan in Russia, 1989
	Flying by Foy estimates it has provided flight for over 3,000 productions of *Peter Pan* to date.
1990	*The Flower Expo (Expo '90)* in Osaka, Japan, introduces the first Completely Self-Contained Radio-Controlled Flying System On Curved Track.
	Foy collaborates with David Lynch, Martha Clarke, Nicholas Cage, Laura Dern on the TV Film: *Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted*
	The Cathy Rigby production of *Peter Pan* opens on Broadway with Flying by Foy
	Foy reports in a New York Times interview that by now he has "sent more than 1200 Peters aloft"!
1991	Paula Abdul's *Under my Spell* tour (through 1992) features Flying by Foy	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\playbills\playbill_angels.gif$
1992	Foy provides flying effects for the film, *Brain Donors*
1993	*Angels in America* opens on Broadway with Flying by Foy
	*Fool Moon* begins the first of three Broadway runs with Flying by Foy®
1994	Foy flies Garth Brooks across Texas Stadium
	*The Lion King* Opens on Broadway with Flying by Foy®
1995	*The Who's Tommy* on Broadway features Flying by Foy®	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_tommy.jpg$
1996	*Hunchback* Opens at the New Orleans Superdome. 24 performers are flown in the show!
	*The Shoji Tabuchi* Show-Branson,MO utilizes Flying by Foy. For this show, the S-Class control is developed
	Foy provides flying effects for the film, *Bogus*
1997	The prestigious United States Institute for Theatre Technology presents a special award to Peter Foy "In recognition of a lifetime of achievement in the advancement of Entertainment Technology, Safety, Artistry, and Innovation."	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\playbills\playbill_lionking.gif$
	*The Lion King* Opens on Broadway, featuring Flying by Foy!
1999	Foy designs flying sequences for the *Backstreet Boys World Tour* which utilizes five Fully Automated Truss Systems
	*Aida* Opens on Broadway utilizing a Double Decker Ultra-Lift with Programmable Controls
	Foy provides flying services for the televised ESPY Awards.	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_pegusis.jpg$ Pegasus System® 2001
2000	Foy designs flying sequences for a production of *Hans Christian Anderson* at The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco
	One of the largest productions of *Peter Pan* ever, is mounted in Australia by Sydney's Capitol Theatre at a cost of almost $6 million. Flying is by Foy (of course!)
	Foy's Five Truss Programmable System is redeveloped and Improved
2001	Aida begins its national tour using Foy's newly developed Daedulus Control System™
2002	Foy designs flight sequences for *Carnivale* at Radio City Music Hall using the newly developed Pegasus Control System™	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_carnivale.jpg$ Radio City, 2002
	Foy provides flying services for *Microsoft's Global Summit* at the New Orleans Superdome
	Peter Foy is interviewed on Weekend Edition with Scott Simon for NPR. listen in.
	Flying by Foy is featured at the *MTV Music Video Awards*
2003	Flying by Foy is featured on *The Grammy Awards™*
	For the inauguration of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of The National Air and Space Museum, the Foy team flies a full-scale exact replica of the Wright Flyer over the heads of the dignitaries!
	Foy collaborates with Martha Clarke on a production of *The Midsummer Night's Dream* at The American Repertory Theatre based at Harvard
	Foy provides flying effects for *Celine Dion's - A New Day* at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
2004	Flying by Foy is again featured on the *MTV Music Video Awards*
	Nadia Comăneci flies over Times Square courtesy of Foy, delivering the Olympic torch to the City of NY on its way to Greece for the *Summer Olympics*	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_olympics.jpg$ Olympics Opening 2004
	Flying by Foy provides the central imagery for the opening ceremonies of the 2004 *Summer Olympics*
2005	Peter Foy passes away on February 17, 2005
	The legacy continues. On his passing, Foy left a legacy of innovation and artistic excellence that caries on today through the work of the many artists and engineers at Foy Inventerprises. The timeline continues!
	"Peter Foy" is a clue on *Jeopardy*, ironically within a day of his passing.
	*Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* opens on Broadway featuring Flying by Foy	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_tarzan.jpg$
2006	*Tarzan* Opens on Broadway featuring Flying by Foy
	*Threepenny* *Opera* opens on Broadway, with Flying by Foy
	The engineers at Foy Inventerprises create a "flying machine" that flies over the heads of the audience in a production of *Babes in Toyland* at Dollywood
2007	*MTV Awards* feature Flying by Foy
	*The Pirate Queen* Opens on Broadway with equipment and programming provided by Foy.
	Santa flies at Radio City, courtesy of Flying by Foy!
	*Finding Nemo*, the Musical, opens at Disney World with Flying by Foy
	Other Highlights of 2007 - A sampling: - 400 productions in N. America in 2007 - 60 productions in the UK over the holiday season alone - *Peter Pan* presented in Korea - *Lion King* presented on Broadway, South Africa, 2 US tours, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Paris - *Spamalot* presented on Broadway and in Las Vegas, London, and Australia - *Mary Poppins* on Broadway - 11 Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Ships with Foy shows! - *Saturday Night Live* - J-Lo Fashion Rocks Show - *Wicked* presented in Tokyo - Flavor Flav Roast in LA - *College Road Trip,* Feature Film	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\foy07_0115.jpg$
2008	*The Tony Awards* feature flying sequences designed by the artists at Foy
	*Billy Elliot* opens on Broadway with Flying by Foy.
	*The MTV Film Awards* feature Flying by Foy
	Flying by Foy is featured on *Dancing With the Stars* 3/24/2008	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\timeline_clarke.jpg$ Rehearsal for Garden of Earthly Delights 2008
	Flew JabbaWockeeZ on *America's Best Dance Crew*
	Martha Clarke's seminal dance work *Garden of Earthly Delights* is revived after extensive planning and rehearsal at the Foy flight studios in Las Vegas. For this production, the Foy designers develop the Foy Flight Assist System, a hybrid system incorporating the advantages of computer and manual control into a single system
2009	*You're Welcome America; A Final Night with George W. Bush, written and performed by Will Ferrell makes its Broadway debut on February 5th, with flying by Foy! Other projects of 2009 include:* U2 360° Tour Miley Cyrus Wonderworld Tour MTV, VMA Awards Grammy Awards Kids Choice Awards Tony Awards American Music Awards The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien 9/17/2009 VIDEO The Colbert Report Dollywood (2 shows) Shedd Aquarium’s FantaSea 9 to 5 on Broadway	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\playbills\ferrellbush.jpg$
	The Opening of London's Darwin Centre features Flying by Foy (14/9/09) SEE THE VIDEO	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics\darwin_tiny.jpg$
	Foy provides flying effects for the debut opera by Stephen Schwartz, Seance on a Wet afternoon, Commissioned by Opera Santa Barbara	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\playbills\ferrellbush_large.jpg$ $Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics2010\bep_tn.jpg$
2010	Foy flies Taylor Swift and Laura Belle Bundy for *The Country Music Awards* on CBS, April 18, 2010	$Description: Description: C:\Users\JamesH\Documents\FLYING BY FOY\FBF Website\graphics2010\acadawards2010b2_tn.jpg$
	Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts presents the first production of *Disney’s Tarzan* since it played on Broadway....Foy provides the flying of course
	Foy provides spectacular Ice Flight effects at the *Summer in Abu Dhabi* Festival in July
	Foy provides spectacular flying sequences for Broadway's Green Day musical, *American Idiot*
	Foy again provides flying for the *MTV Video Music Awards, this time flying 5 performers including Chelsea Handler*