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42-463: From the late 1930s through the early 1960s, Dunkel also hosted a weekly radio program called "Dick Dunkel Football Forecasts". He also issued college basketball forecasts and rankings in conjunction with Converse , starting in the 1940s. Dunkel died at age 69 in December 1975 at Daytona Beach, Florida . From 1975 to 2002, Dunkel's son, Dick Dunkel, Jr., continued to issue ratings, but the popularity of

84-467: A buddy of mine who I used to skate with every day—he turned into a woodworker. So he gave me this scrap box of wood ... It just definitely started consuming me as skating did. I wanted to read about it, you know? Go on the internet and watch videos about it, and just learn anything and everything I could about woodworking. The first thing I ever made was a bench, and that's, kinda, what I've been making ever since. The cool thing about working with Product (RED)

126-630: A casual fashion accessory contributed to $ 2.4 billion in revenue in 2023. Forty-seven-year-old Marquis Mills Converse, a manager at a footwear manufacturing firm, opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February 1908, in Malden, Massachusetts . The company was a rubber shoe manufacturer, and its early inventory included winterized rubber-soled footwear, galoshes , tennis shoes, and some non-footwear items like automobile tires. In summer of 1916,

168-559: A large portion of Converse footwear—was created by Jim Labadini, an employee. Eltra was acquired by Allied Corporation in 1979. Allied moved out of the consumer products business in the 1980s, and in October 1986, Converse was acquired by Interco Incorporated and spun off in 1994. Converse lost its athletic shoe monopoly from the 1970s onward, as new competitors, including Puma , Adidas , and Nike , grew in popularity. A decade later, as Reebok introduced new designs and technology to

210-629: A lawsuit against 30 companies for allegedly infringing on its generic sneaker style's bumper toe, striped midsole, and toe cap. The brand argued that companies were violating an alleged common-law trademark by importing sneakers with similar elements. Several companies settled with Converse and they were dropped from the list. In November 2015, Charles Bullock, chief administrative judge at the International Trade Commission , preliminarily ruled that several brands Converse filed against were violating Converse's outsole design trademarks, i.e.

252-466: A low-cut style of All-Stars. By 1966, the shoe was also available in school colors. Converse customized shoes for the New York Renaissance (the "Rens"), the first all- African-American professional basketball team. The shoes were designed to be "non-skid", which gave basketball players better grip. An extra strip of rubber was eventually added to protect the shoes from constant pivoting; this

294-810: A mark that has never been matched by a professional basketball team. In 1939, the Rens won the first professional basketball championship, when they beat the Oshkosh All-Stars, a white team, 34–25, in the World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago. The team compiled a 2,588–529 record from 1923 to 1948. Important players on the Rens roster included Clarence "Fats" Jenkins , Pappy Ricks , Eyre Saitch , Bill Yancey , "Wee" Willie Smith , Charles "Tarzan" Cooper , Zack Clayton , John Isaacs , Dolly King , Pop Gates , and Nat Clifton . In 1936,

336-571: A new advertisement that was broadcast online in July 2014, in which he skateboarded through New York City in a newly launched skate shoe version of the Converse Weapon model. In February 2024, Converse and Phaidon launched a book titled Skateboard , about the history of skateboarding from the 1950s to today. The book was put together by Jonathan Olivares , a designer and skater. A special collection called "1Hund (RED)", whereby fifteen percent of

378-532: A permanent music recording studio, 5,000-square-foot (460 m ) gym with separate yoga studio, and a 3,500-square-foot (330 m ) retail store. In May 2023, Converse hired Jared Carver as the new president and CEO. Starting in July 2008, Converse sent around 180 cease-and-desist letters to over 30 companies that they claimed were violating the Chuck Taylor All-Stars trademark and selling so-called look-alike sneakers. In October 2014, Converse filed

420-451: A team of "ambassadors": Kenny Anderson, Anthony Pappalardo, Nick Trapasso, Sammy Baca, Ethan Fowler, Raymond Molinar, and Rune Glifberg . In 2012, the company added Jason Jessee and Mike Anderson to its ambassadors team. In August 2012, Converse sponsored a skate event at Huntington Beach , California , U.S. Trapasso, Tom Remillard, Aaron Homoki , Greyson Fletcher, Ben Raemers, Ben Hatchell, Robbie Russo, and Ben Raybourn participated in

462-578: Is an American lifestyle brand that markets, distributes, and licenses footwear , apparel , and accessories . Founded by Marquis Mills Converse in 1908 as the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden, Massachusetts, it has been acquired by several companies before becoming a subsidiary of Nike, Inc. in 2003. Converse initially produced winterized rubber-soled shoes and boots. During World War II , it shifted manufacturing to make footwear for

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504-503: Is just by doing the two things that I love, I'm also able to help people. In 2012, Converse was listed as a partner in the (RED) campaign, together with other brands such as Nike, Inc. , Girl, and Bugaboo. The campaign's mission is to prevent the transmission of the HIV virus from mother to child by 2015 (the campaign's byline is "Fighting For An AIDS Free Generation"). In the winter of 2018, Converse teamed up with several influential figures in

546-718: The Guns N' Roses music video " Estranged ". Converse re-released "The Weapon" classic (which Kobe Bryant wore at least three times in 2002 and Andre Miller wore in 2002 from mid-August to early September) several times from 1999 to 2003 and after, "The Loaded Weapon" in 2003, "The Weapon 86" in 2008 (and the Poorman version in 2009, and the John Varvatos version in 2012), "The Weapon EVO" in 2009, and its successor "The Star Player EVO" (sometimes reduced to "The Star Plyr EVO" or "The Star Ply EVO") in 2010. Before "The Weapon", Converse launched

588-541: The Renaissance Casino and Ballroom through an agreement with its owner, in return for the use of that facility as their home court. The Casino and Ballroom at 138th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem was an entertainment complex that included a ballroom, which served as the Rens' home court. The team eventually had its own house orchestra and games were often followed by a dance. Their subsequent financial success shifted

630-492: The "One Star" in 1974, the "Pro Leather" in 1976 and the "Starion" in 1984, all known for basketball and basketball performance. A redesigned model of the Chuck Taylor All-Star, the "Chuck Taylor II", was released in July 28, 2015. Incorporating Nike technology, it retains most of the original's outward appearance while employing newer materials for the insole. In 2019, Converse returned to performance basketball with

672-603: The 1920s and 1930s. They were originally known as the Spartan Braves, the basketball team of the Spartan Field Club, a Manhattan-based multi-sport amateur athletic organization whose initial focus was cricket. The Rens played their first game on November 3, 1923, winning against the Collegiate Five, an all-white team. Interracial games featured regularly on their schedule, drawing the largest crowds. In its first years,

714-528: The 1980s as retro-style casual footwear. Chuck Taylor All-Stars have made an appearance in over 650 films, such as Back to the Future , I, Robot , Grease and Stand by Me . David Tennant (playing the Tenth Doctor ) wore red and cream versions of Hi-top Converse on science-fiction show Doctor Who . In 1986, Converse released "The Weapon" basketball shoe. Manufactured in two color schemes to match

756-575: The 2017 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book lists Dunkel's selection as LSU. The July, 2023, website for the Dunkel Index displays revised rankings for seasons from 2002 to the present, based on "index rating for the season adjusted by won/loss record", which results in different top-ranked teams (compared to the Dunkel "pure index rating") for the 2005 through 2010 seasons. Converse (shoe company) Converse ( / ˈ k ɒ n v ər s / )

798-718: The All-Star Pro BB. Kelly Oubre Jr. was the first player to try out the new product, which combined the traditional Converse silhouette with the contemporary Nike technology. Thereafter Converse signed Draymond Green in March 2020, Natasha Cloud (the first WNBA player) in June, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in July, and, thereafter, Rudy Gay , P. J. Tucker , DeAndre' Bembry , De'Anthony Melton , Nickeil Alexander-Walker , Immanuel Quickley , Deividas Sirvydis , Jordan Clarkson , Josh Richardson , David Duke Jr. , Brandon Williams . Some of

840-578: The Converse basketball line was established; by 1917 the Converse All-Star basketball shoe was introduced and quickly became successful during World War I and the Spanish flu . In 1922, basketball player Charles H. "Chuck" Taylor walked into Converse complaining of sore feet, and Converse gave him a job as a salesman and ambassador. He promoted the shoes around the U.S., and in 1932 Taylor's signature

882-758: The Los Angeles area to create a collection paying to those who help move the culture forward in the city. Among those selected by the Boston-based footwear brand for this L.A.-themed collection are Vince Staples , Dr. Woo, Rocket, BornXRaised, and Clot. New York Renaissance The New York Renaissance , also known as the Renaissance Big R Five and as the Rens , were the first black-owned, all- black , fully-professional basketball team in history, established in October 1923, by Robert "Bob" Douglas . They were named after

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924-529: The Renaissance became the first top-level team to sign a four-year African American college star, David "Big Dave" DeJernett of Indiana Central . The Rens relocated during the 1948–49 basketball season to Dayton, Ohio , to replace the Detroit Vagabond Kings , who folded in December 1948. The Vagabond Kings had been playing in the racially integrated National Basketball League (NBL). The Rens played

966-416: The U.S. closed down, as production fully moved overseas. In April 2001, Footwear Acquisitions, led by Marsden Cason and Bill Simon, purchased the brand from bankruptcy and added industry partners Jack Boys, Jim Stroesser, Lisa Kempa, and David Maddocks to lead the turnaround. During this period, Converse moved its headquarters from North Reading, Massachusetts , to North Andover, Massachusetts . The company

1008-538: The aforementioned players also wear other brands. Gilgeous-Alexander, point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder , has become the new face of the brand. The shoe, "Chase the Drip" was released on September 13, 2022. In the 1980s, Converse sponsored several influential skaters including Jason Jessee , Rodney Mullen , and Mark Rogowski . Under the "Cons" name, Converse launched its skateboarding program in 2009 with

1050-528: The common law and found invalid Converse's federal trademark registration. The case was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which ruled that the ITC had used the wrong test and remanded the case. On remand, the ITC ruled that Converse's trade dress was protectable but not infringed. Converse started making an early basketball shoe in 1917 and redesigned it in 1922, when Chuck Taylor asked

1092-425: The company to create a better shoe with more support and flexibility. After Converse added Taylor's signature to the ankle patch they became known as Chuck Taylor All Stars. By the 1960s the company had captured about 70 to 80 percent of the basketball shoe market, but the shoe declined in popularity during the 1970s when basketball players wore competing brands. Chuck Taylor All-Stars enjoyed a comeback in popularity in

1134-581: The competition that was held. Raybourn eventually won the US$ 20,000 grand prize, and Homoki won the US$ 3,000 Best Trick contest. As of July 2014, the Cons skateboard team consisted of original members Anderson, Trapasso, Baca, and Glifberg, while Jessee, Anderson, Julian Davidson, Remillard, Zered Basset , Ben Raemers , Jake Johnson, Eli Reed, Louie Lopez , Sage Elsesser , and Sean Pablo were subsequently added. Bassett filmed

1176-478: The focus of black basketball from amateurism to professionalism. Initially, the Rens played mostly in Harlem, but Douglas soon realized they could book more games on the road, in larger-capacity venues, and took up barnstorming across the country for more lucrative payouts. The Renaissance are also the topic of the 2011 documentary On the Shoulders of Giants . The Rens were one of the dominant basketball teams of

1218-481: The kit colors of basketball teams, it has been available in both high-top and low-cut varieties. It had leather construction throughout, including the inside heel which was also heavily padded for comfort. The first endorsers of "The Weapon" were Larry Bird and Magic Johnson , who were prominently featured in a Converse commercial set in Bird's hometown of French Lick, Indiana in 1985. They were also worn by Axl Rose in

1260-453: The military. Initially, it was one of the few producers of athletic shoes and dominated the U.S. market, but lost its position in the 1970s as competitors introduced their styles. Converse's portfolio includes products under the Chuck Taylor All-Stars , Cons, Jack Purcell , One Star, and Star Chevron trademarks. It frequently collaborates on special-edition product releases with other brands such as John Varvatos . The growth of Converse as

1302-403: The military. After the war's end, the company resumed production of athletic footwear and chiefly made a high top shoe, in either black or white. In the 1950s and 1960s, Converse promoted an American image with its Converse Basketball Yearbook. Artist Charles Kerins created cover art that celebrated Converse's role in the lives of high school and college athletes. In 1957, Converse came out with

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1344-440: The pattern on the bottom of the sole of the shoe. The soles of the shoes are designed to allow players to jump or move in all directions. The diamond pattern makes this possible. Judge Bullock further ruled that while Skechers "Twinkle Toes" brands did share similarities to Converse, "Twinkle Toes" were different enough and marketed in a way for it not to be mistaken for Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Judge Bullock also ruled that most of

1386-415: The profits are used to support HIV/AIDS prevention, was released by the brand. One hundred artists from around the world were chosen to create designs for the collection as part of the (RED) campaign. Professional skateboarder Anthony Pappalardo released a (RED) edition of his high-selling signature skate shoe model in February 2010. Pappalardo explains: I got into woodworking about two years ago, through

1428-507: The remainder of the NBL season as the Dayton Rens , then disbanded after the NBL merged with the all-white Basketball Association of America to form the, also initially, all-white National Basketball Association which resumed play in the 1949–50 season. Writer and director Layon Gray off-Broadway production Kings Of Harlem pays homage to the Rens. The play centers around the 1939 season in which

1470-520: The shoes sold by Highline United under the Ash brand did not infringe and that Converse did not have a valid common law mark for its midsole. On June 23, 2016, the anniversary of the death of Chuck Taylor, the International Trade Commission ruled that Converse's alleged trade dress for the midsole design of a combined toe cap, toe bumper, and stripe was not entitled to trademark protection under

1512-502: The sports market, Converse was no longer the official shoe of the NBA. Although canvas-rubber shoes regained popularity in the 1980s as casual footwear, Converse eventually became too dependent on the "All Stars" basketball brand, whose market collapsed by 1989–1990. By 2000, Converse was slipping repeatedly into receivership as debt piled up yearly. Converse filed for bankruptcy on January 22, 2001. On March 30, its last manufacturing plants in

1554-566: The syndicated service declined. Starting in 2002, the rankings were prepared jointly by Dick Dunkel, Jr., Bob Dunkel, and John Duck, executive producer of the Daytona Beach News Journal . The following list identifies the college football national champions as selected by the Dunkel System, according to the 2015 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book. † Dunkel's archived official website gives USC as its 2007 selection, while

1596-537: The team strove to beat the Original Celtics , the dominant white team of the time, and claim the title of world champions. In their fifth encounter, the Rens did so for the first time, on December 20, 1925. During the 1932–33 regular season, the Rens compiled a record of 120–8 (six of those losses came at the hands of the Celtics, whom the Rens did beat eight times). During that season, the Rens won 88 consecutive games,

1638-530: Was acquired by the Eltra Corporation in 1972, and bought out one of its biggest competitors at the time, PF Flyers , from B.F. Goodrich . However, federal courts ruled the sale a monopoly and the deal was subsequently broken up through anti-trust litigation. Converse only retained the trademark rights to the Jack Purcell line, which it still produces. The chevron -and-star insignia—a logo that remains on

1680-593: Was added to the All-Star patch on the high-topped sneakers. He continued this work until shortly before his death in 1969. Sales for the All-Star soared until 1929 when the company fell into bankruptcy. In 1939, Converse was sold to the Stone Family, who owned Converse until 1972 when the Eltra Corporation proposed an acquisition. When the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, Converse shifted production to manufacturing rubberized footwear, outerwear, and protective suits for

1722-585: Was called the "pivot button". In 1962 , center Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scored 100 points in a National Basketball Association (NBA) game while wearing a pair of All-Stars, taking a 169–147 victory over the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania , on March 2. By the early 1970s, Converse had diversified to include manufacturing sporting goods and industrial products. Converse

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1764-487: Was located in the town of North Andover for 13 years. In July 2003, Nike paid US$ 309 million to acquire Converse. In January 2013, Converse announced plans for a new headquarters building. It was constructed near North Station in downtown Boston, on the Lovejoy Wharf , as part of a site overhaul and restoration of public waterfront access. The 10-story 214,000-square-foot (19,900 m ) office building includes

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