953 nut 60,472 #1 Posted March 5, 2016 (edited) 3-5-1963 Hula-Hoop patented On this day in 1963, the Hula-Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company’s co-founder, Arthur “Spud” Melin. An estimated 25 million Hula-Hoops were sold in its first four months of production alone. In 1948, friends Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr founded a company in California to sell a slingshot they created to shoot meat up to falcons they used for hunting. The company’s name, Wham-O, came from the sound the slingshots supposedly made. Wham-O eventually branched out from slingshots, selling boomerangs and other sporting goods. Its first hit toy, a flying plastic disc known as the Frisbee, debuted in 1957. The Frisbee was originally marketed under a different name, the Pluto Platter, in an effort to capitalize on America’s fascination with UFOs. Melina and Knerr were inspired to develop the Hula-Hoop after they saw a wooden hoop that Australian children twirled around their waists during gym class. Wham-O began producing a plastic version of the hoop, dubbed “Hula” after the hip-gyrating Hawaiian dance of the same name, and demonstrating it on Southern California playgrounds. Hula-Hoop mania took off from there. Edited March 5, 2016 by 953 nut 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,744 #4 Posted March 5, 2016 2 hours ago, AMC RULES said: I think this gal has had a lot of dancing practice with a pole! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 42,277 #5 Posted March 5, 2016 Live entertainment for the BIG SHOW ??? Or not. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,220 #6 Posted March 5, 2016 Hula hoops have come a long way... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Sparky 526 #7 Posted March 5, 2016 Well hush my mouth, honey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
