Jack in the Box

The first Jack-in-the-Box was Jack Johnson, who was one of the first African Americans to work in the toy manufacturing industry and design toys for the Whamco Corporation in the 1960s. Active from 1964 to his death in 1983.

His son Zachary Johnson, owner and CEO of Z.J. Toys, took the identity of Jack-in-the-Box from 1989.

Both used gadgets derived from novelty toys to fight crime.