- [Voiceover] They dance, they flail, they're a big wacky
and awkward way to get your attention.
But did you know these Tall Boys debuted
at the 1996 Olympics, as art?
(lighthearted Caribbean music)
Meet Peter Minshall, a prominent Caribbean artist.
Known in Trinidad as the creator of larger than life
dancing puppets created for Carnival.
His work made its way to a book called
Caribbean Festival Arts.
And that book made its way to a man.
A man on the steering committee of the Olympics.
Peter was commissioned to help create an unforgettable
opening for the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta.
In a moment nothing short of pure genius,
Peter returned to his roots by sketching
a puppet-like structure
but this time he turned it into an inflatable air-man
that would move and dance just like his manned-puppets.
For this he had to call in another artist,
Doron Gazit, an engineer who happened to be obsessed
with anything inflatable.
Between both men they were able to accomplish
the seemingly impossible:
60 foot inflatable two-legged dancing men.
The Tall Boys were nothing short of a success.
After they graced the Olympics, Gazit got a patent
and licensed the design to various advertisers.
Now they're everywhere.
Used car lots, cropped fields, shopping centers,
you name it.
So the next time you see a big ridiculous inflated Tall Boy
waving at you in the distance,
just imagine you're in the Caribbean
dancing along to the drum beat.
(lighthearted Caribbean music)