text: when was hoola hoop invented?   fascinating facts about the invention of the hula hoop by  richard p. knerr and arthur k. melin in 1958. hula-hoop®       you may think that the hula hoop was a fad born in the 1950s, but in fact people were doing much the same thing with circular hoops made from grape vines and stiff grasses all over the ancient world. more than three thousand years ago, children in egypt played with large hoops of dried grapevines.  the toy was propelled along the ground with a stick or swung around at the waist. during the fourteenth century, a "hooping" craze swept england, and was as popular among adults as kids.   the records of doctors at the time attribute numerous dislocated backs and heart attacks to "hooping."  the word hula became associated with the toy in the early 1800s when british sailors visited the hawaiian islands and noted the similarity between "hooping" and hula dancing.  in 1957, an australian company began making wood rings for sale in retail stores.   the item attracted the attention of wham-0, a fledgling california toy manufacturer. richard p. knerr and arthur k. melin, of wham-o, manufactured a plastic hoop in a variety of bright colors.  knerr and melin promoted it for months in 1958 on southern california playgrounds where they would do demonstrations and give away hoops to get the children to learn and play. their perseverence turned hula hoop into the greatest fad the country has ever seen. twenty-five million were sold in four months!  the hula hoop was introduced in 1958 and made the two men very rich indeed.     the fad died out in the sixties, but hula hoops are now very much with us again thanks to the fitness craze.  what better way to grind off those unsightly bulges around the waist and hips.   at a glance: in 1957, an australian company began making wood rings for sale in retail stores. the item attracted the attention of wham-0, a fledgling california toy manufacturer. the next year richard p. knerr and arthur k. melin, of wham-o, manufactured a plastic hoop in a variety of bright colors.   invention: hula-hoop / noun / brand name / tradeamark wham-o inc  function: a trademark used for a light plastic hoop that is whirled around the body for play or exercise by the movement of the hips.  patent: wham-o could not patent an ancient item  inventor: richard p. knerr and arthur k. melin      milestones: bc 1000 egypt children played with large hoops of dried grapevines. ad 1948 wham-o was born in a garage when they began producing slingshots that sold for 75 cents. 1957 an australian company began making wood rings for sale in retail stores.  1958 wham-o, manufactured a plastic hoop in a variety of bright colors.  hula-hoop, richard p. knerr, arthur k. melin, wham-o, toys, invention, history, inventor of, history of, who invented, invention of, fascinating facts.