MILTON LEVINE, 97
Died Jan. 16, 2011. Mr. Levine gave millions of kids a sneak peak at the underground lives of ants with his Uncle Milton's Ant Farm which sold 20 million units.
I don't remember ever having one, but was fascinated with them and would spend a lot of time watching the little critters moving around in their tunnels. I have to admit I was a world-class ant killer and had regular wars with them, especially after being grossed out at the NC State Fair in Raleigh at a freak show tent that had a person in a ball with just head showing and a piece of wood propping open their mouth and ants climbing up the ball. Well, that's my excuse.
At a 4th of July picnic at Studio City, Ca., in 1956, Mr. Levine began watching ants and remembered collecting ants in jars as a child and said, "We should make an antarium."
He and his brother-in-law, E.J. Cossman came up with the familiar transparent habitat with a whimsical farm scene at the top.
You bought the habitat and then the ants would come by mail. People got a penny apiece for grabbing red harvester ants from the Mojave Desert.
Said Levine, "Ants work day and night. They look at the common good and never procrastinate. Humans can learn a lot from the ant."
The kits were an instant hit. They used sand at first, but switched to volcanic ash to make viewing easier.
Uncle Milton's Ant Farm is recognized as one of the Top 100 toys by the Toy Industry Association.
I don't remember seeing any for sale anymore when I "accidentally" get into a toy section.
Thanks, Uncle Milton
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