Sunday, September 27, 2026

Question: In 1958, a California toy company set off one of the great fads of the century by mass-marketing a simple spinning plastic hoop. What was this now-classic toy?

Answer: The Hula Hoop. Richard Knerr and Arthur “Spud” Melin, who founded the California toy company Wham-O in 1948, rolled out a bright plastic version in 1958 and named it for the hip-swiveling Hawaiian dance. An estimated 25 million sold in just the first four months.