Joan Anderson, the remarkable figure credited with coining the name "hula hoop," has died at the age of 101. The former model, originally from Australia, was visiting her homeland when she became captivated by the sight of people agilely swirling wooden hoops around their waists. Enchanted by this new trend, she arranged for one of these whimsical toys to be shipped back to the United States.
Her inspiring story of introducing the hula hoop to the American market was highlighted in the 2018 documentary "Hula Girl," which detailed how she and her husband were instrumental in bringing this toy to a toy company executive's attention. They named it "hula hoop," referencing the captivating Hawaiian dance, yet their contributions largely went unrecognized throughout the hoop's meteoric rise in popularity.
In an interview featured in the documentary, Anderson recounted her meeting with the president of Wham-O, a leading American toy company, in the early 1960s. "We told him, 'we've called it the hula hoop.' He replied, 'looks like it has some merit, if it makes money for us, it's going to make money for you,'" she recalled. A "gentleman's handshake" was made, launching the hula hoop into commercial success almost overnight.
However, despite their initial partnership, over time, Anderson and her husband found themselves sidelined by Wham-O, leading to a lawsuit that, while yielding a financial settlement, failed to award them the recognition they richly deserved. As the narrative of the hula hoop's invention evolved, it erroneously referred to Anderson simply as an "Australian friend," a mischaracterization that deeply troubled her.
Born Joan Constance Manning in Sydney on December 28, 1923, Anderson had a flourishing career as a swimsuit model before meeting Wayne Anderson, a US Army pilot, at Bondi Beach, marrying shortly thereafter. The filmmaker who chronicled her life praised her resilience, remarking on the fulfilment of finally giving her the recognition owed after years of being overlooked.
Joan Anderson peacefully passed away on July 14 at a nursing home in Carlsbad, California, leaving an enduring legacy not only through her family spanning two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren but also through the cultural phenomenon that is the hula hoop. Her life, described as "wonderful" by her family, serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of creativity and perseverance.
Her inspiring story of introducing the hula hoop to the American market was highlighted in the 2018 documentary "Hula Girl," which detailed how she and her husband were instrumental in bringing this toy to a toy company executive's attention. They named it "hula hoop," referencing the captivating Hawaiian dance, yet their contributions largely went unrecognized throughout the hoop's meteoric rise in popularity.
In an interview featured in the documentary, Anderson recounted her meeting with the president of Wham-O, a leading American toy company, in the early 1960s. "We told him, 'we've called it the hula hoop.' He replied, 'looks like it has some merit, if it makes money for us, it's going to make money for you,'" she recalled. A "gentleman's handshake" was made, launching the hula hoop into commercial success almost overnight.
However, despite their initial partnership, over time, Anderson and her husband found themselves sidelined by Wham-O, leading to a lawsuit that, while yielding a financial settlement, failed to award them the recognition they richly deserved. As the narrative of the hula hoop's invention evolved, it erroneously referred to Anderson simply as an "Australian friend," a mischaracterization that deeply troubled her.
Born Joan Constance Manning in Sydney on December 28, 1923, Anderson had a flourishing career as a swimsuit model before meeting Wayne Anderson, a US Army pilot, at Bondi Beach, marrying shortly thereafter. The filmmaker who chronicled her life praised her resilience, remarking on the fulfilment of finally giving her the recognition owed after years of being overlooked.
Joan Anderson peacefully passed away on July 14 at a nursing home in Carlsbad, California, leaving an enduring legacy not only through her family spanning two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren but also through the cultural phenomenon that is the hula hoop. Her life, described as "wonderful" by her family, serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of creativity and perseverance.
