Milton Levine

The creation of a toy that would become an American classic was triggered in 1956 by a Fourth of July parade of ants at a Studio City picnic. While gazing at the industrious insects, novelty-toy entrepreneur Milton Levine was transported back to childhood and his uncle's farm, where he collected ants in jars and watched them "cavort," Levine told The Times in 2002. "We should make an antarium," he recalled announcing. With his brother-in-law, Levine soon devised what was eventually named Uncle Milton's Ant Farm, which was an instant hit in the fad-crazy 1950s.

The creation of a toy that would become an American classic was triggered in 1956 by a Fourth of July parade of ants at a Studio City picnic. While gazing at the industrious insects, novelty-toy entrepreneur Milton Levine was transported back to childhood and his uncle's farm, where he collected ants in jars and watched them "cavort," Levine told The Times in 2002. "We should make an antarium," he recalled announcing. With his brother-in-law, Levine soon devised what was eventually named Uncle Milton's Ant Farm, which was an instant hit in the fad-crazy 1950s.

The allure of ants may escape most people, but Uncle Milton Industries Inc. has based decades of success on the creatures. The Westlake Village toy maker is famed for inventing the ant farm in 1956 as well as other playthings in the science-and-nature niche. Uncle Milton's Ant Farm is so popular and has spawned so many imitators that company President Frank Adler may be only half joking when he says: "We do supply the ants from a secret source; we'd tell you but then we'd have to kill you. ... Competition is always seeking out that information."

The allure of ants may escape most people, but Uncle Milton Industries Inc. has based decades of success on the creatures. The Westlake Village toy maker is famed for inventing the ant farm in 1956 as well as other playthings in the science-and-nature niche. Uncle Milton's Ant Farm is so popular and has spawned so many imitators that company President Frank Adler may be only half joking when he says: "We do supply the ants from a secret source; we'd tell you but then we'd have to kill you. ... Competition is always seeking out that information."

Milton Levine took the pledge years ago: "I will not kill an ant," he says reverently. "They put my three kids through college." At a time when scientists were splitting atoms and building rockets, Levine harnessed the power of the harvester ant; and with his brains and their brawn, he built an empire based on sand and plastic. His Uncle Milton Ant Farm rocked the novelty world when it was launched in 1956, and since then more than 20 million units have sold.

Ants share many qualities possessed by the most admirable of human beings. Ants are loyal, industrious, cooperative and clean. Some ants are smart and are natural leaders. Others are not so smart and need to be told by the bosses what to do. When one of the dummies wanders off on his own, for instance, a leader raps him on the head with his feelers and orders him back in line.

"Uncle" Milton Levine estimates that he has given the bug to 9 million children. And in the process, he has made a fortune building and selling his Ant Farms. Ant Farm is a registered trademark of Culver City-based Uncle Milton Industries, although Steven Levine, Milton's son and heir apparent notes that formicarium is the proper name for the narrow terrarium that holds between 25 and 50 of the industrious insects.

It's all plastic and All-American. Uncle Milton's Ant Farm hit the toy market in 1956, when Milton Levine, a mail-order businessman who specialized in novelties such as spud guns and rubber shrunken heads, looked down at some bugs crashing his sister's Fourth of July pool party. As a child, Levine had turned Mason jars into ant observatories. Hmm, he thought, what if I could bottle and sell all the fun that kids have watching ants?

Little ants are a big deal. Uncle Milton Industries' Ant Farm of Culver City is 34 years old this month, but the slender, clear-plastic terrarium in which ants tunnel under a barn and windmill is making a comeback and breaking new ground. The ants and their farms were introduced last November to the Soviet Union at the U.S.

The Seal Beach Sun reports that a man "was attempting to open a car door" when the owner arrived, at which point the intruder "threatened him with a leaf blower." Luckily, police arrested the guy before he could blow away the victim. The suspect could face additional charges--it's not clear whether he was in compliance with local noise ordinances.

Milton Levine took the pledge years ago: "I will not kill an ant," he says reverently. "They put my three kids through college." At a time when scientists were splitting atoms and building rockets, Levine harnessed the power of the harvester ant; and with his brains and their brawn, he built an empire based on sand and plastic. His Uncle Milton Ant Farm rocked the novelty world when it was launched in 1956, and since then more than 20 million units have sold.

Ants share many qualities possessed by the most admirable of human beings. Ants are loyal, industrious, cooperative and clean. Some ants are smart and are natural leaders. Others are not so smart and need to be told by the bosses what to do. When one of the dummies wanders off on his own, for instance, a leader raps him on the head with his feelers and orders him back in line.

Why don't they admit it--this latest move by the Postal Service is a plot to drive us all slowly insane. Especially those of us who like things orderly, without loose ends. Nature likes things orderly. There are nine major planets, not 9 1/8. An elephant comes with one trunk, not 1. Why then, since the quarter is the coin of the realm, was the price of a first-class postage stamp raised to 22 cents? Why require the penny dreadful? Everybody carries quarters.

Thrift bashing is popular these days. Now it's spreading within the business. Westside Savings & Loan, a small Los Angeles thrift, last week announced its earnings for the fiscal year ended June 30, using the opportunity to take a swipe at its own industry. "In an industry fraught with bankruptcy and bailouts," began Westside's announcement, "Westside Savings & Loan officials have reported a fifth consecutive year of record profit."