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A gracious welcome to all of you who adore or have been smitten by one of the signature shoes of the 1950's and 1960's,
the Spring-o-lators high heeled mule. Movie stars and starlets, pinup queens and B-movie babes, models
and showgirls, cocktail waitresses and ladies of the evening, socialites or the girl next door all could be
seen wearing this glamourous accessory with their full-skirted dresses, tight skirts or in a bathing suit by the pool.
How iconic was this shoe? Take a look at the original Barbie Doll by Mattel and you'll see that her exclusive
choice in shoes was the Spring-o-lator! And she had them in every color imaginable! To my mind, here are some
words that describe the Spring-o-lator...enticing, eyecatching, bewitching, scintillating and risque. It
certainly drew attention to its wearer and created desire in the hearts of men! The Spring-o-lator was certainly
not the first mule-type shoe or the only version of the mule during its lifetime, but its design and popularity far outpaced
the others and outlasted other designs like sling-back sandals, ankle-straps and other "open" designs. Only the wood
platformed, half metal heel mule sold by Polly's of California came close
in popularity and sex appeal.
Who Invented the Spring-o-lator?
The elastic arch sole that we refer to as the "Spring-o-lator" was granted a patent on October 11, 1954 to a
Mr. Maxwell Sachs, on a design submitted in December of 1951. (The original illustration on the patent application
is for a man's loafer or slip-on style shoe!) Beth Levine, the wife, designer and business partner of noted
shoe maker Herbert Levine, is creditied with taking that concept and designing a women's mule type shoe around that feature.
From the April 1954 Glamor Magazine, there appears a fashion photoessay which previewed "Beth
Levine's shoe in a black silk crepe...is a late day mule with "magnetic" attraction and the next thing to no shoe at all."
As new fashions had long lead times and magazines had deadlines several months prior to the publishing date, the
introduction of this new style of mule can be dated to late 1953-early 1954, while the patent was still pending.
An ad in the October 1954 issue of CHARM magazine from Mandel's of California, an upscale, high-fashion shoe retailer,
featured the "Magnet" shoe - it stays with you!" in black, navy blue and brown suede trimmed in matching faille
for $14.98. By the spring of 1955, Frederick's of Hollywood was selling the "new bare back...Amazing stay-on Spring-O-Lator sole"
for $16.95 in sizes up to 8 1/2 B. An illustration of the exposed design of the sole featured the description,
"Hidden magnetized spring in sole holds your shoes firmly in place!" By the summer of 1956, Chicago department store
and mail order giant Alden's advertsied "BAREBACK MYSTERY. What holds it on? The "Springolator"
Bareback defies gravity -- stays on, never slips!" And for $5.98 you could have a pair in pink kid or black patent, up
to size 9M. Of course, the reference to "magnetic" was only referring to the shoe staying on your foot as if it
were magnetized, a serious problem with other styles of mules!
Today, Spring-o-lators may be the most highly prized style of shoe available on the women's vintage clothing
market and certainly on eBay, with some fetching well over $100 a pair.
So ladies and gentlemen, let us salute Maxwell Sachs and Beth Levine! Please sit back and enjoy the one and
only "Bad Girl" shoe! All hail U.S. Patent Number 2,691,227
| GLAMOR MAGAZINE - APRIL 1954 - BETH LEVINE'S MULE |
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| THIS WIDE, TAPERED HEEL OF 1954 WOULD BECOME A PENCIL-THIN STILETTO IN JUST FIVE YEARS! |
Beth Levine’s shoe in a black
silk crepe…is a late day mule with “magnetic” attraction and the next thing to no shoe at all. The ingenious construction (contour-shaped foam rubber behind the ball of the foot, elastic under the arch
and attached to the sole cushion and to the heel) gives it its extraordinary “sticking power” – which will
very much keep the mule on the foot, and very much in the almost barefoot summer shoe picture.
Making it’s own footnotes, the newest version of the narrow heel --- as slim and delicate as ever, but slowing
down its final curve to straightness. (captioning from the original Glamor magazine April 1954
issue)
| VERY SPECIAL HERBERT LEVINE SPRING-O-LATORS |
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| A RARE FIND -- "MAGNET" TRADEMARK -- APPEARS TO BE AN EARLY MODEL OF THE SPRING-O-LATOR SHOE |
These Herbert Levine Spring-o-lators
have an air of mystery surrounding them. Was the term "Magnet" used prior to the trademark protection for
the term "Spring-o-lators" granted, thereby dating these shoes from 1953 or 1954? But, as seen in the photo below,
these shoes have the stiletto heel more commonly found in the early 1960's. The ornamentation on the heel is typical
of the artistic flair of a Herbert Levine shoe, and the name Joseph on the other shoe is the name of the store it was
sold from, believed to be in New Orleans. Since adding this photograph, I have seen a second pair of Herbert Levine
Spring-o-lators with the "Magnet" trademark and now assume that the Levines kept that for their own line of shoes while
"Spring-o-lators" was used for shoes made by other companies. It is a bit of a mystery to me and will require
more research!
| HERBERT LEVINE SPRING-O-LATORS circa 1956-57 |
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| THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GREEN SATIN VAMP IS SET OFF BY THE JEWELED HEELS |
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| STUNNING RHINESTONE CRYSTAL DESIGN INLAID ON THE GREEN SATIN HEELS |
The mule dates back to the ancient Sumerians and it was called a mulu. Centuries
later, it was the Italians (wouldn't you know!) who added a curved heel under it. "This sexualized both the foot and
the shoe by putting the shoe on a pedestal and leaving the foot half dressed and half undressed. It continues to
be popular throughout the world, and is often used as an evening shoe...its half-open half-closed look is designed on the
same principal as the see-through blouse or dress." The Sex Life of the Foot and Shoe, Dr.
William A. Rossi
DISCLAIMER
While this site features a few vintage pin-up photographs
that feature some nudity, it is included only for the historical context of the shoes featured here. The
real warning is addressed to those of you who may prefer "sensible" shoes. Please do not go any further than
this page as you may suffer permanent and serious brain damage and nightmares which the author cannot accept any
liability. If these statements have caused you pensive and thoughtful reflection, it may be advisable
to exit this site at this time. What you are about to see is NOT for the faint-at-heart or weak-at-ankle!
Not only do I love vintage shoes and fashions, it is the style and grace of the period from the 1950's thru the 1960's
that I find so irresistible. Oh, it's much better to be a woman today than back then, but that doesn't
mean we can't step back and enjoy our femininity. Wearing Spring-o-lators and a pair of vintage all nylon stockings
(nothing is sexier than a dainty garter belt!) is my way of recreating the glamour of the past. Men still
notice and appreciate this and since they are always thinking about sex, better to direct it to something that
would include dinner and tickets to the theater! Besides, you won't believe all the admiring looks you'll get from other
men and even women, too!
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| ZEBRA PRINT WITH WHITE BOWS FROM THE 1960'S |
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| IMAGINE BEING THE FEMME FATALE WHO WORE THESE FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN! |
| LEOPARD AND BRONZE SPRING-O-LATORS |
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| THESE SEXY SHOES ARE A SIZE 5 1/2 AND HAVE A FULL 4 INCH HEEL |
Notice the elastic band in
the middle of the sole of the shoe. The addition of this created a spring-like connection from the ball of the foot
to the rear of the heel, keeping the shoe comfortably on the woman's foot, thus the name "Spring-o-lators."
| THESE SEXY SIZE 5 SHOES HAVE A 4 1/2" SPIKE HEEL |
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| SOLD BY NORMAN KAPLAN SHOES IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA IN THE LATE 1960'S OR EARLY 70'S |
| THE PERFECT SHOES FOR "VIVA LAS VEGAS" |
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| LEOPARD PRINT SPRING-O-LATORS ARE THE QUINTESSENTIAL "BAD GIRL" SHOES |
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| CAMEL SUEDE AND A BIG LEOPARD BOW & HEEL - REASON ENOUGH FOR A FRESH PEDICURE! |
| M E O W !!! |
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| WEAR A PAIR OF HANES REINFORCED HEEL AND TOE STOCKINGS FOR ADDED GLAMOUR AND SEX APPEAL. |
| TOTALLY FIERCE "MAN BAIT" |
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| SPRING-O-LATORS MAY HAVE HAD THE GREATEST VARIETY OF ANIMAL PRINTS OF ANY STYLE OF SHOE OF ITS TIME |
| ZEBRA STRIPES ON PONY FUR |
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| THE EARLY 1960'S SAW MUCH INTEREST IN ANIMAL PRINTS FOR CLOTHING AND SHOES, A TREND REPEATING NOW! |
| AN UNUSUAL HEEL ON A PAIR OF SPRING-O-LATORS |
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| A CURVED METAL HEEL REMINDS ME OF FAMED DESIGNER ROGER VIVIER'S UNIQUE HEELS FROM THE 1960'S |
| A 1960'S MAGAZINE AD FROM MANDEL'S OF CALIFORNIA |
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| MANDEL'S MAIL ORDER ADS WERE IN MOST WOMEN'S MAGAZINES IN THE 50'S AND 60'S. |
| MORE MYSTERY -- THE "STAZ-ON" SPRING-O-LATOR |
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| THESE MID-1950's SHOES BY DESIGNER PALTER DeLISO FEATURE AN UNUSUAL VERSION OF THE SPRING-O-LATOR |
A contemporary of Beth and Herbert Levine, Palter DeLiso's designer
lines were often found in the high end shoe boutique of department stores in the 1950's and 1960's. This shoe dates
from the mid-1950's, right when the Spring-o-lator design was being granted a patent to Maxwell Sachs. If you look at
the elastic band it appears that it is narrower and attached differently than the more common Spring-o-lator sole.
While the Levine's refered to their sole as the "Magnet", did DeLiso call his "Staz-on" before the trademark was granted to
Sachs for Spring-o-lator? While this really isn't an earthshattering mystery, it does add to the mystique
and value of this shoe!
| MANDEL'S AD APPEARING IN SEPT 1955 CHARM MAGAZINE |
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| THE "CHUNKY" SPIKE HEEL OF 1954 BEGINS TO SLIM DOWN LITTLE-BY-LITTLE BUT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO |
| SEVEN PAIRS OF VERY FANCY SPRING-O-LATORS |
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| ONE WOMAN CERTAINLY LOVED HER "SPRINGO'S" FOR DRESS-UP AFFAIRS. THESE ARE STUNNING! |
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