How invented balloons

A Fun Bit of Balloon History 🎈

Did you know the modern latex balloon was invented during the Great Depression?

It all started with Neil Tillotson, a chemical engineer

experimenting with liquid latex in hopes of creating inner tubes. Instead, he dipped a piece of cardboard—sketched with a cat’s face—into the latex. When it dried, he had created the very first “cat balloon,” complete with ears!

Tillotson made about 2,000 of these balloons and sold them at Boston’s Patriot Day parade, launching what would become a beloved party staple for generations to come.

Later, in the late 1970s, another balloon innovation emerged: silver metalized balloons—commonly (but incorrectly) called Mylar. These were developed for the New York City Ballet and are actually made from metalized nylon. They're more durable and more expensive than latex balloons, and are often used for special messages and long-lasting décor.