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Diners Club, the world\u2019s first credit card, was used for the first time at Major\u2019s Cabin Grill in New York City on February 8th, 1950. Perhaps at odds with the debonair image the company went on to cultivate, the first iteration was made of cardboard, and required three signatories.\xa0\nFrank X McNamara claimed to have invented the product after previously dining at Major\u2019s and realizing to his horror that he\u2019d left his wallet at home. By the end of their first year in business, Diners Club signed up 42,000 card holders.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly unpick the role of Diners Club\u2019s PR man Matty Simmonds in the company\u2019s compelling origin story; commend the savviness of the start-up for targeting wealthy diners at elite restaurants; and explain why, in 1950s America, credit was a man\u2019s game\u2026\xa0\nPhoto: The National Museum of American History / Flickr CC\nFurther Reading:\n\n\u2018When Were Credit Cards Invented: The History of Credit Cards\u2019 (Forbes Advisor, 2021): https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/history-of-credit-cards/\n\n\n\u2018The surprising history of credit cards: How this tech has evolved and where it's headed\u2019 (CNET, 2022): https://www.cnet.com/features/the-history-of-credit-cards/\n\n\n\u2018How Credit Cards Were Invented\u2019 (NPR Planet Money, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IksSNiEo2g\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\n#50s #Science #Inventions #Food #Technology #US\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices