Mar 5, 1963: Hula-Hoop patented [Happy Birthday!]

History.com ^ | Mar 5, 1963/2013 | staff reporter

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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.

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[svcw]

The hula hoop was around before 1963, so what are they celebrating.

[JoeProBono]

[Dysart]

Don’t try that today. You’ll throw your hip out so bad and probably need a replacement. Somehow I don’t think Freepers will make it past the panel with so much as a runny nose. I ain’t joking.

[stormer]

"It's for the kids..."

[1rudeboy]

Making this video possible! You can thank me when we meet.

[martin_fierro]

Yay

[beethovenfan]

They probably couldn’t start the company today.

[Disambiguator]

You know, for kids!

[Fiji Hill]

The Hula Hoop craze of the summer of 1958 hit West Whittier, Calif. hard. Everyone on our block soon owned one.

[Fiji Hill]

Hoopa Hoola--Betty Johnson (1958)

[Toddsterpatriot]

Thank you!

[Patriot Babe]

Thank God that is not a pic of the Wookie doing the Hula Hoop. Hate to see that big butt gyrating.

That brings back fond memories of me as a child doing that and was darn good at it. I think it would be a great weight loss exercise now =)

[Daffynition]

She was excellent! But I can’t relate to those *yeti* boots. :0

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I didn't think it was possible....you just outed yourself as a hula-hoop hater. How could you? ;)

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Scientology photobomb.

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I'm to be buried with my hula-hopp. It's in my will.

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