50 years of the Hula Hoop® in Baltimore and beyond
On March 5, 1963, Wham-O’s co-founder, Arthur “Spud” Melin patented the Hula Hoop® (U.S. Patent Number 3,079,728). However, the folks at Wham-O can’t technically claim to be the first to spin hoops around their midsections. For centuries, many cultures have been using hoops for exercise and religious ceremonies. It just so happens that the sock hoppin’ 50’s and the gyrating hips of a king meant the time was right for the toy makers to introduce their hoop en mass to the hip-shaking American youth. The first modern Hula Hoop was first marketed 1958 leading to hundreds of millions of units sold before Wham-O’s patent was even granted.
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