User:Mikepaps/sandbox

History
Ray-Bans were first created in 1936. The idea of Ray Bans began some years earlier when Lieutenant John A. Macready (an American test pilot and aviator)returned from a balloon flying adventure and complained that the sun had permanently damaged his eyes. He contacted Bausch & Lomb asking them to create sunglasses that would provide protection and also look sophisticated. On May 7, 1937, Bausch & Lomb took out the patent, and the Aviator was made available to the public. The prototype, known as Anti-Glare, had a light frame weighing 150 grams. They were made of gold-plated metal with green lenses made of mineral glass to filter out infrared and ultraviolet rays. Pilots in the United States Army Air Corps immediately adopted the sunglasses. The army had intentions to have sunglasses that would protect the soldiers' eyes from harmful sun rays while maintaining a stylish look. The Ray-Ban Aviator became a well-known style of sunglasses when General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines in World War II, and photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them. Ray-Bans were quickly seen outside of just the army. Ray-Bans quickly gained popularity through other wars and even made a debut in the movies. In 1952, Ray-Ban created another style, the Ray Ban Wayfarer. The difference with these sunglasses were the plastic frames. This design rose in popularity soon after its release. By 1962, Ray-Ban started to create impact-resistant lenses. It was not until ten years later when the United States of America made impact-resistant eye wear mandatory through the FDA regulation. The Wayfarer sunglasses were seen on movie stars, TV stars, and musicians. Ray-Ban still remains a top designer in the sunglasses industry with their constant change in color, frames, and lenses.

1950's and 1960's
The fifties was when Ray-Bans had gained recognition through American pop-culture endorsements for the first time. Kim Novak and Marilyn Monroe wore Wayfarers in public and movies. Audrey Hepburn wore 2140 Wayfarers in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. As the style grew in popularity, celebrities such as James Dean, Bob Dylan, John F. Kennedy, and John Lennon were seen in public and on television and movies wearing Wayfarers.

1980's
As the 1970's lacked Public celebrity endorsements for Ray-Ban, the 1980's was the decade of revival for them. In 1982, Ray-Ban signed a deal with a California company for $50,000 a year in order to have product placement for the brand in movies and television programs.

1990's
The 1990's had no record of new celebrities adopting Ray-Ban eye wear publicly; however, product placement in movies and television continued.

2000 - Present
The Wayfarer model reaches the light of British pop-culture, as stars such as Lily Allen, Alexa Chung, and Agyness Deyn are seen wearing them in public or on television.

Ray-Ban's "Never Hide" campaign was launched in March 2007. The campaign consisted of a YouTube series and a film advocating customers to "Never pretend. Never be afraid. Never give up. Never Hide". The campaign also encourages people to live their lives with authenticity and no fear of judgement. Short YouTube videos part of the campaign show musicians and bands such as Slash of Guns N' Roses and Two Door Cinema Club wearing Ray-Ban products and playing live shows.